It’s the holiday gift-buying season, and we know many people consider giving their families the gift of an upgraded television for their living rooms or home theaters. It’s a great gift that the whole family can enjoy and the televisions currently on the market boast improved picture quality and more technological advances than ever!
We recently published a blog post about HDR televisions, which take advantage of one of the more recent advances in television technology. HDR televisions offer viewers a more realistic picture, without being hyper-realistic. There’s also a considerable amount of buzz in the industry about televisions that support 4K, and even 8K, video, and OLED technology, which allows for better contrast and thinner screens.
We could talk all day about the latest in television technology, but what we wanted to bring up in this blog post is something people often fail to consider when buying a new television: what gear they’ll need to purchase in order to make sure they get the best performance out of their new screen.
HDMI Cables
Unless it’s been a while (like ten years) since you’ve upgraded your HDMI cables, the ones you currently have are probably just fine. Check that your current cables are High Speed with Ethernet HDMI cables, and if they are, you can plug them in to any television currently on the market. If they are Standard Speed cables, you will need to purchase new, High Speed cables.
HDMI Hardware
If you’re upgrading to a 4K television or an HDR television, you will likely have to upgrade some hardware as well. Older receivers and other gear can limit the performance of your new television, so make sure you have equipment that is compatible with your new television’s technology. For example, if you are purchasing a television that supports 4K video, you will need a receiver with a designation of Version 1.4 or higher. If you go with a HDR television, you should purchase a Version 2.0a receiver.
When it comes to streaming devices, make sure you have one that will be compatible with your new television as well. All of the most popular streaming devices (Amazon Fire, Chromecast, Apple TV, Roku, and Nvidia Shield) now have products that work with 4K HDR televisions, but many of them were only released recently, so you’ll likely have to upgrade if you want to get the best picture out of your streaming content on your new television.
Consult with Good Sounds
Consulting with a professional Orange County audiovisual company like Good Sounds is always a great idea before making major changes to the technology in your home theater, like purchasing a new television. We can advise you on the best television to fit your needs and viewing preferences, and also take care of upgrading any supplementary equipment.
In addition, we can help you if you’d like to do a complete overhaul of your Orange County home theater. With the latest advances in television technology, now is a great time to upgrade your home theater to give your family a truly spectacular home viewing experience.
If you don’t currently have a home theater, the home theater experts at Good Sounds can design one for you using the latest in audiovisual technology. Contact us today to set up a consultation in your Orange County home.
