OT: Any tech savvy/home entertainment people here?
Sorry if I'm not "categorizing" this the right way. I know it's not "The Longship" stuff but, I figured since it's the offseason...
I have a specific question, and I can't figure it out on Google. I'll be as specific as possible for anybody who feels like helping.
I recently bought an entirely new entertainment center: TV, receiver, and streaming box (AppleTV). Everything I had was archaic (meaning anything over 5 years old apparently), and I wanted a quality 4K picture. So I purchased (these are the exact orders from Amazon):
Sony KD60X690E 60-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV (2017 Model)
Yamaha NS-SP1800BL 5.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker Set
Pioneer Surround Sound A/V Receiver - Black (VSX-532)
And then, which I didn't buy via Amazon, the brand new Apple TV4K model when it came out in October.
So in theory, I should have all the components I need... but my problem is that I'm not getting a 4K feed through my AppleTV.
The Sony TV itself, of course, is a smart TV and has YouTube and Netflix built in. When I view any 4K content through the television, it's clearly 4K. Amazing picture.
The AppleTV, I view THROUGH my receiver. And when I look at the same content on YouTube and Netflix that should be 4K, the difference is noticeable when it's through AppleTV.
I know this is wordy and confusing, but my conundrum is this: from everything I've read (and lots has been vague), my receiver shouldn't hinder the picture quality, nor should the HDMI cables (all new) connecting the TV/receiver/AppleTV. I find it hard to believe this was an oversight on Apple's part. Lots of people use a receiver as their go-through.
A couple other important notes:
- My internet quality is top speed
- I'm hardwired in on the AppleTV (not the Sony TV itself)
- Before I hooked up my AppleTV to the receiver, I first programmed it using the TV (TV to AppleTV via HDMI) so the AppleTV would initially recognize it as a 4K. That seemed to work... or so I thought
Thanks in advance. And I fully expect this to slowly slide down the board as I realize we're just getting into the good part of free agency shortly.
I would think the receiver would effect the image quality if it doesn't have HDMI 2.0
Updated 4k devices made a physical change to the HDMI ports. Old ones used 1.6, new 4k ones have a 2.0.
The Apple device certainly is using an HDMI 2.0 output connector. The TV's inputs certainly are HDMI 2.0 inputs.
I'd guess the receiver output port is 1.6 and it doesn't have the bandwidth to pump 4k out; it converts to a lower signal quality.
If your reciever is 4k ready than i guess nevermind, just my first thought/hunch. ...What if you plug the Apple TV device directly into your TV just to see how it looks? Does it look any better?
Will try and help all I can.
Are all the settings on the Apple TV set to 4K? Sometimes you need to dig into the settings to set this up. On the Pio AVR did you make sure the HDMI input on the AVR is the correct one (pass through or upscale to 4K) to the Apple TV? Then you might have to dig into the Pio manual to see if there are any settings that need to be set up to ensure the 4K is going through the Apple Tv and Pio to your Sony. A lot of my AVRs needed to be set up this way in the menu. There might just be a lot of handshake issues between the different brands. Might have to do a trial and error with the different HDMIs on the back of the Pio to the Apple TV and then the main HDMI to the Sony TV. Sometimes just the nature of different brands not playing nice.
Sorry but I haven't invested or kept up with all the AVRs lately. I used to have a couple of Pio AVRs, and sometimes it's just a matter of Apple TV and the Pio having handshake issues like stated above. In the end, I bought a different AVR that played nice with the other brands.
Lastly, check out the AVS forums and read the threads on AppleTV 4K and Pio VSX 532. Lots of information on there and you can go pretty crazy on setting up all your gear.
Good luck and enjoy your new toys!
Sounds like Apple wants you to access 4k movies through iTunes, I’m not sure, read this:
https://www.cnet.com/products/apple-tv-4k/review/
Hey, at least no one has suggested unplugging everything for 30 seconds! You know we're trying lol!
@"BlackMagic7" said: Hey, at least no one has suggested unplugging everything for 30 seconds! You know we're trying lol!Okay, have you turned your system and components off for an appropriate amount of time and then restarted. Did this solve your problem? Yes, good job. No, ask a competent friend for advice.
Al
@"BlackMagic7" said: If your reciever is 4k ready than i guess nevermind, just my first thought/hunch. ...What if you plug the Apple TV device directly into your TV just to see how it looks? Does it look any better?
Looks to be 4K ready via the specs.
And yes, I'd plugged into the TV directly and it looks perfect...
@"grpape" said: Will try and help all I can.Are all the settings on the Apple TV set to 4K? Sometimes you need to dig into the settings to set this up. On the Pio AVR did you make sure the HDMI input on the AVR is the correct one (pass through or upscale to 4K) to the Apple TV? Then you might have to dig into the Pio manual to see if there are any settings that need to be set up to ensure the 4K is going through the Apple Tv and Pio to your Sony. A lot of my AVRs needed to be set up this way in the menu. There might just be a lot of handshake issues between the different brands. Might have to do a trial and error with the different HDMIs on the back of the Pio to the Apple TV and then the main HDMI to the Sony TV. Sometimes just the nature of different brands not playing nice.
Sorry but I haven't invested or kept up with all the AVRs lately. I used to have a couple of Pio AVRs, and sometimes it's just a matter of Apple TV and the Pio having handshake issues like stated above. In the end, I bought a different AVR that played nice with the other brands.
Lastly, check out the AVS forums and read the threads on AppleTV 4K and Pio VSX 532. Lots of information on there and you can go pretty crazy on setting up all your gear.
Good luck and enjoy your new toys!
I haven't begun the operating process yet, but I think your solution is probably the most tried and true. And thanks for the idea on that forum - gonna check that out now.
Thanks for the help, guys! I was dreading a response of, "Oh yeah, that ABC model doesn't support XYZ" unbeknownst to me.
Looks like I've got a project for the night.
@"KingBash" said:@"BlackMagic7" said: If your reciever is 4k ready than i guess nevermind, just my first thought/hunch. ...What if you plug the Apple TV device directly into your TV just to see how it looks? Does it look any better?
Looks to be 4K ready via the specs.And yes, I'd plugged into the TV directly and it looks perfect...
if the appletv looks perfect when plugged straight into the tv then the issue is somewhere woth the reciever. when the reciever handshakes the HDMI. the Appletv may be detecting it as a 1080p connection and not 4k. then the AppleTV may be defaulting to a 1080p signal.
https://www.lifewire.com/this-is-why-apple-tv-4-doesnt-play-4k-4074142
I have a Pioneer VSX90 AVR that upscales to my xbr940c sony. I have one HDMI from the receiver that runs to the HDMI 2.0 on the TV and the 4k image works perfectly. The issue here is that the default setting through the receiver is not set to 4k unless you access it through pioneers set up. There should be an app that you can download for the AVR that shows you video feed in and out of the receiver along with audio settings. I use this app (which is accessed through your smart phone) to check my audio feeds whenever dolby atmos is available, etc. I would download the app from the app store, which is called icontrolAV5 for my receiver and probably the same for yours, and make sure your video feeds are going in and out in 4k. Some pioneer receivers only offer 4k passthrough and not upscaling, make sure your receiver is allowing the 4k signal to get through or upscaling to it. Also, make sure you are using a 3d or 4k capcable hdmi cable that runs 18GB per second from your receiver to the TV, a bottleneck there is the worst place to have your worst cable. As someone who dealt with this when I purchased my new AV stuff last year, I know how frustrating it can be to try and get this to work properly with all the software BS and settings you need to go through for the best picture.
@"quattrovike" said: I have a Pioneer VSX90 AVR that upscales to my xbr940c sony. I have one HDMI from the receiver that runs to the HDMI 2.0 on the TV and the 4k image works perfectly. The issue here is that the default setting through the receiver is not set to 4k unless you access it through pioneers set up. There should be an app that you can download for the AVR that shows you video feed in and out of the receiver along with audio settings. I use this app (which is accessed through your smart phone) to check my audio feeds whenever dolby atmos is available, etc. I would download the app from the app store, which is called icontrolAV5 for my receiver and probably the same for yours, and make sure your video feeds are going in and out in 4k. Some pioneer receivers only offer 4k passthrough and not upscaling, make sure your receiver is allowing the 4k signal to get through or upscaling to it. Also, make sure you are using a 3d or 4k capcable hdmi cable that runs 18GB per second from your receiver to the TV, a bottleneck there is the worst place to have your worst cable. As someone who dealt with this when I purchased my new AV stuff last year, I know how frustrating it can be to try and get this to work properly with all the software BS and settings you need to go through for the best picture.Interesting! I'm heading to work now but will give this a shot when I'm home tonight. I might PM you later on...
Thanks man.
I used the HDMI cable that came with my Wii U to do 4k/60hz out of my PC, as well as a generic $5 Amazon Basics cable. It pumps out 4k/60hz fine.
Probably not working because of the HDMI cables. For 4K and 4K/HDR, you need to have high bandwidth cables with HDCP 2.2 to display some source material. Note that "high bandwidth" doesn't equate to "expensive". Also note that you will need to use these cables from the Apple TV to the receiver and from the receiver to the TV.
This is the cable I used for my 4K set-up.
https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-115428-Certified-Premium-Speed/dp/B01GCGKI3O
@"lakeerievike" said: https://www.lifewire.com/this-is-why-apple-tv-4-doesnt-play-4k-4074142That article is from 6/2017 and talks about why the original Apple TV doesn't play 4K video.
The Apple TV 4K was released in 9/2017 and does play 4K video.
KB, I am invested in this dilemma. What was the outcome lol
@"Canthony" said: KB, I am invested in this dilemma. What was the outcome lolHa ha! Forget about which QB will steering the Viking ship in 18'.
"Like sand in an hour glass".......
Hope you got your gear to work King. It can get frustrating. Everything has to be on the same network, all cables compliant, all the gear able to do what you want, everything set up correctly in the menus, etc. etc.
It is, however, an addicting hobby. Buckle up!
@"grpape" said:@"Canthony" said: KB, I am invested in this dilemma. What was the outcome lolHa ha! Forget about which QB will steering the Viking ship in 18'.
"Like sand in an hour glass".......
Hope you got your gear to work King. It can get frustrating. Everything has to be on the same network, all cables compliant, all the gear able to do what you want, everything set up correctly in the menus, etc. etc.
It is, however, an addicting hobby. Buckle up!
Sorry sorry, work has been a disaster. Don't fret, sir. This is a project that will be tackled, but most likely this weekend...
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