Buying a 4K TV is one thing. Seeing it’s 4K picture is another.
What you need to see 4K. Credit Coco Parisienne/Pixabay
Sometimes people make the jump from an HD (1080p) TV to UHD (4K), get their new screen set up at home, and find themselves underwhelmed and disappointed with the result. Often, the problem is they’re sitting too far away from the screen to see the difference between 4K and 1080p. However, it could also be that one or more of the components in the video chain doesn’t support 4K or the copy protection that’s used with 4K content. Here’s what you need to see a full 4K picture on a 4K TV.
Every component in the video chain must be able to handle 4K content. Credit: Zdenet/Pixabay
The video chain and copy protection
Every hardware component in the chain from the video source to the screen must be capable of handling 4K content. Video sources can include smart TVs, streaming devices like Roku and Chromecast, video game consoles, set-top boxes, Blu-ray players, smartphones and tablets. You may not be getting a 4K image on your TV if you have an older video source. For example, the Xbox One X and One S and the PS4 Pro support 4K while the Switch, the original Xbox One and PS4 and the PS4 Slim do not. Likewise, some Chromecast and Roku streaming sticks support 4K while others don’t.
If there’s a component in the video chain like a soundbar or an AV receiver or processor that sits between the source and the screen, it must also be capable of handling 4K. Some older models may support 4K on some of their HDMI inputs but not others. Check the documentation for your hardware to make sure you’re connected to a 4K video input.
The HDMI cables that connect the hardware components must also work with 4K. This shouldn’t be a problem if your cables were manufactured after 2009. Cables do wear out, however, and the cheaper they are the more likely they will fail. If your cables are very old, you might want to think about replacing them.
4K video content is subject to HDCP 2.2 copy protection. This shouldn’t be a problem for a later model 4K components from name-brand manufacturers. However, off-brand components (including the TV) and older components from name-brand manufacturers may support HDCP 2.
