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4k tv, so what’s that all about?
I wrote this December, it's now only 7th Jan and the prices are down already! Sony 55" now £2899,down £300, 65" £3999, down £1000! When going ahead best check at the time for the best price
It’s the next generation, above Sky HD, above blu ray, it’s the pinnacle, and it’s here now!
If you’ve read my blogs you will know that I can be cynical about technology for it’s own sake so it’s a real recommendation when I say it’s great!
4k refers to the resolution of the screen or projector. Most are now 1920 by 1080, the resolution of blu ray. 4k jumps to an amazing 3840 by 2160, 4 times the number of individual pixels.
I first experienced 4K early this year courtesy of Sony, whose £ 16,500 projector demonstrated an amazing 10’ wide picture with video supplied by Sony Pictures Division. This was ground breaking, but pointless unless you had the source material? In fact no, as the much greater pixel count means that the picture is brighter, more defined, better for movement, and all round superior even when using 1080p blu ray.
While you have to take a company the size of Sony seriously you have to remember, betamax, minidisc, and elcaset! The difference here is that this is the new agreed standard, far superior even on current resolutions, and fil m content will follow. If you are investing in a top level projector then you have to consider 4K, especially as the original £16500 VPL1100ES has been joined by the VPL 500ES at ‘only’ £ 8799
It’s still a lot, but not for this! As with all new technologies the prices come down quickly, but with projectors some price reductions don’t make sense as there is also a huge amount of the performance in the lens quality, just like with a proper camera compared to a phone camera.
4k is also a reality for large screen tvs, with Panasonic, Sony, and Samsung all launching new screens.
Panasonic have a 65” at £5499, Sony have a 55” and 65” at £ 3299 and £ 4999, and Samsung offer 55 and 65, again at £ 3299 and £ 4999
When you are ready to treat yourself to the next generation give me a call, here is a summary of why you should:
1 Makes today’s HD look better
2 Futureproof yourself for future transmissions
3 Correct resolution for digital photography
4 Ready for 4k blu ray
5 Ready for next generation SKY Ultra HD
6 Ready for 4k gaming
7 It’s not a fad like 3D!
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Linn is 40 years old this year. 20th September saw the celebration of this and the launch of a brand new Linn technology, Exakt. Their source first motto is taken even further by Exakt, taking the source performance all the way into the loudspeaker.This follows on from their work on DS and takes it to a new level.
From the Linn digital streamer the signal is preserved in the digital domain with an 'exakt link ' into the speakers, in this case the Klimax 350As. Here it is split in bass/middle/treble still in the digital domain, eliminating crossover distortion. It is then converted into analogue to go into the amplifiers and on to the speaker drive units.
This new signal path arrangement means less loss over the process with a resulting improvement in clarity and dynamics. It's a big difference.
Another feature of the new layout, now that we have precise control over the frequency bands, is a room correction system.
Many rooms do not allow for the perfect placement of speakers and so domestic harmony means a compromise position. No more! Exakt allows the same top performance irrespective of placement. How? Phone me, it's too long to explain here.
Or check it out with 2 animations on www.linn.co.uk
These technologies are available now in new Klimax systems and are also available as an upgrade for owners of existing Linn Klimax systems.
Price? Klimax systems are the top level, the current level is £ 45,000 for DS, amplifier, and speakers. The new Exakt level is £ 50,000.
