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Ultra HD Blu-ray is finally official. The spec has been confirmed and now we have news of the first official Ultra HD Blu-ray players and accompanying discs.
4K TVs went on sale in the UK some four years ago, back in 2012, although it was only really in 2014 that saw all the big manufacturers get on board. But in 2015 we were finally given 4K Ultra HD TV ranges across a spread of screen sizes and with more realistic prices.
IFA 2015 saw the launch of the world's first Ultra HD Blu-ray player, from Samsung, and the announcement of the first Ultra HD Blu-ray release. It was promptly followed by a Panasonic 4K player, which was due to go on sale in November 2015.
Unfortunately neither of those managed to make their way to the UK. However at CES 2016, we were given the news we've been longing to hear. Players from both Samsung and Panasonic will be coming to Europe this year.
So what is Ultra HD Blu-ray, how and when can you get it, and how much will it all cost? Allow us to provide some answers...
Ultra HD Blu-ray specification
A preliminary spec was revealed at CES 2015 but now the Blu-ray Disc Association has made the Ultra HD Blu-ray spec official (along with the name and the logo).
The new format will support a resolution of 3840 x 2160, as well as high dynamic range (HDR), higher frame rates (up to 60 frames per second) and object-based immersive sound, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
HDR pictures can be delivered in one of two ways: either using the BDA-developed “BD HDR” section of the new specification, or via compatible HDR formats such as Dolby Vision.
Video will be encoded under the High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard, and use 10-bit colour depth and the Rec. 2020 colour space.
The new discs will also support the optional digital bridge feature, which will allow you to copy Ultra HD Blu-ray content to an external hard disk drive and to portable devices, such as smartphones and tablets.
The spec also mandates that all Ultra HD Blu-ray players will be able to play legacy Blu-ray discs.
Victor Matsuda, chairman, BDA promotions committee, said: "For years, Blu-ray Disc has set the standard for high-definition picture and audio quality in the home. Ultra HD Blu-ray will do the same for UHD home entertainment."
Ultra HD Blu-ray discs
First things first, you will need a new Ultra HD Blu-ray player to play Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. The spec allows for discs in three sizes: 50GB with 82 Mbit/s, 66GB with 108 Mbit/s, and 100GB with 128 Mbit/s.
While Ultra HD or 4K video is the focus, 3D will also be enabled on UHD Blu-rays. This is only for 3D films in Full HD, however - there are no plans for Ultra HD 3D films.
In terms of audio, it's all about Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, both of which can be found on select Full HD Blu-ray discs.
As for Hollywood Studios themselves, 20th Century Fox, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group and Warner Bros. Entertainment are all members of the Blu-ray Disc Association.
And the BDA is confident Ultra HD Blu-ray discs will deliver better performance than 4K streaming services. Ron Martin, VP of Panasonic's Hollywood Lab and a crucial player in the development of Ultra HD Blu-ray, told What Hi-Fi?: "[A disc format] is the only repeatable, reliable way to do it. Streaming has certain advantages but many disadvantages."
The first Ultra HD Blu-ray release was supposed to be Kingsman. But since that confirmation, several more titles have been announced, some of which are on sale now. Don't expect them to come cheap though, the latest releases will set you back around £30 per disc, while older titles are expected to cost a more manageable £16. Amazon US has a decent range of discs available to pre-order, but there's so sign of any on the UK site.
πηγή: WhatHiFi
4K TVs went on sale in the UK some four years ago, back in 2012, although it was only really in 2014 that saw all the big manufacturers get on board. But in 2015 we were finally given 4K Ultra HD TV ranges across a spread of screen sizes and with more realistic prices.
IFA 2015 saw the launch of the world's first Ultra HD Blu-ray player, from Samsung, and the announcement of the first Ultra HD Blu-ray release. It was promptly followed by a Panasonic 4K player, which was due to go on sale in November 2015.
Unfortunately neither of those managed to make their way to the UK. However at CES 2016, we were given the news we've been longing to hear. Players from both Samsung and Panasonic will be coming to Europe this year.
So what is Ultra HD Blu-ray, how and when can you get it, and how much will it all cost? Allow us to provide some answers...
Ultra HD Blu-ray specification
A preliminary spec was revealed at CES 2015 but now the Blu-ray Disc Association has made the Ultra HD Blu-ray spec official (along with the name and the logo).
The new format will support a resolution of 3840 x 2160, as well as high dynamic range (HDR), higher frame rates (up to 60 frames per second) and object-based immersive sound, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
HDR pictures can be delivered in one of two ways: either using the BDA-developed “BD HDR” section of the new specification, or via compatible HDR formats such as Dolby Vision.
Video will be encoded under the High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard, and use 10-bit colour depth and the Rec. 2020 colour space.
The new discs will also support the optional digital bridge feature, which will allow you to copy Ultra HD Blu-ray content to an external hard disk drive and to portable devices, such as smartphones and tablets.
The spec also mandates that all Ultra HD Blu-ray players will be able to play legacy Blu-ray discs.
Victor Matsuda, chairman, BDA promotions committee, said: "For years, Blu-ray Disc has set the standard for high-definition picture and audio quality in the home. Ultra HD Blu-ray will do the same for UHD home entertainment."
Ultra HD Blu-ray discs
First things first, you will need a new Ultra HD Blu-ray player to play Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. The spec allows for discs in three sizes: 50GB with 82 Mbit/s, 66GB with 108 Mbit/s, and 100GB with 128 Mbit/s.
While Ultra HD or 4K video is the focus, 3D will also be enabled on UHD Blu-rays. This is only for 3D films in Full HD, however - there are no plans for Ultra HD 3D films.
In terms of audio, it's all about Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, both of which can be found on select Full HD Blu-ray discs.
As for Hollywood Studios themselves, 20th Century Fox, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group and Warner Bros. Entertainment are all members of the Blu-ray Disc Association.
And the BDA is confident Ultra HD Blu-ray discs will deliver better performance than 4K streaming services. Ron Martin, VP of Panasonic's Hollywood Lab and a crucial player in the development of Ultra HD Blu-ray, told What Hi-Fi?: "[A disc format] is the only repeatable, reliable way to do it. Streaming has certain advantages but many disadvantages."
The first Ultra HD Blu-ray release was supposed to be Kingsman. But since that confirmation, several more titles have been announced, some of which are on sale now. Don't expect them to come cheap though, the latest releases will set you back around £30 per disc, while older titles are expected to cost a more manageable £16. Amazon US has a decent range of discs available to pre-order, but there's so sign of any on the UK site.
πηγή: WhatHiFi
