Which HDR formats should a Smart TV be able to handle?

When it comes to HDR, there is often a lot of confusion among consumers because there are so many different formats on the market. HDR stands for High Dynamic Range, i.e. image content with a high dynamic range, also known as a high-contrast image. The higher the brightness value of a Smart TV, the better the HDR effect comes into its own. Owners of an OLED or QLED TV device benefit particularly well.​​​​​​

Some smart TVs from LG have their own WebOS that users can use to control apps

(LG)

The aim of HDR is to display the image output on the Smart TV as faithfully as possible. For this purpose, when the source material is played back, HDR meta information about the image settings is sent, which contains the image values ​​of the original. The most important HDR formats include:

• HDR10: HDR10 is a static basic format. This means that the image information is converted at the beginning of playback and remains the same throughout the film. The number 10 stands for 10-bit color depth.
• HDR10+: The HDR format HDR10+ or ​​HDR10 Plus is a development by the TV manufacturer Samsung. The open standard can also be used by other manufacturers. HDR10+ is a dynamic HDR format, which means that the contrast and brightness values ​​are supplied for each film scene on the meta level and implemented by the TV.
• Dolby Vision: Dolby Vision is also a dynamic HDR format developed by Dolby and for which TV manufacturers have to pay licensing costs. Dolby Vision allows up to 12 bits of color information and is particularly popular in Hollywood.
• HLG: Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) is an HDR format that can be used by TV broadcasters during live transmissions, e.g. B. at soccer or other sports events.
• HLG+: The dynamic variant of HLG, also called HLG Plus.

Which sound formats are important for a Smart TV?

The same often applies to sound formats as to HDR formats: the more expensive the Smart TV, the better audio formats are available. A current Smart TV should support at least the formats DTS and Dolby Digital. Better still Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby Atmos.

The most important formats include:

• DTS: If you want to enjoy your films and series with surround sound, should pay attention to the support of DTS Surround Sound on the Smart TV. It is a multi-channel sound technology that supports 5.1 home cinema systems, for example.
• DTS-HD: With the DTS-HD standard, users can use the Restore studio sound almost 1:1.
• Dolby Digital: The Dolby Digital sound format is also a multi-channel format whose patents have now expired and which is therefore supported by most Smart TVs.
• Dolby Digital Plus: The audio format Dolby Digital Plus supports up to 7.1 channels and was developed, among other things, for the coding of multi-channel streaming and download content. Only uncoded stereo sound is available.
• Dolby Atmos: A feature of Premium Smart TVs is the support of Dolby Atmos. The audio format allows the playback of 3D sound, as is also used in cinemas. The viewer gets the impression that objects move three-dimensionally in space. For example, a train that runs from the back left to the front right.
• Dolby TrueHD: The same applies to Dolby TrueHD as to DTS-HD. Here, too, the original studio sound can be restored almost 1:1.
• THX: THX is not an audio format, but a collection of standards that loses more and more importance. It defines requirements for loudspeakers, room illumination, spectator seating positions, etc.

TV manufacturer Hisense uses its own TV OS VIDAA U Smart TV for its Smart TVs

(Hisense)

What are the system requirements for a Smart TV?

In order for a Smart TV to be able to fully develop its range of functions, a broadband connection is absolutely necessary. If broadband Internet is not available, switching to a LTE flat rate is an alternative. If the WLAN or internet coverage at home is too weak, you can also set up a mesh WLAN with the help of a WLAN Mesh Sets help.

One ​​of the main areas of application of a Smart TV is video streaming from services such as Amazon Prime Video or Netflix.

Smart TV system requirements – HDMI interface

Should films and series with Prime Video and Netflix viewed on a Fire TV device must be connected to an HDMI port that supports HDCP 2.2. All other devices that are part of your home theater (e.g. HDMI receivers and soundbars) must also support HDCP 2.2.

Smart TV system requirement – Internet bandwidth for video -Streaming

In order to ensure trouble-free transmission of videos, the bandwidth should be at least 6Mbit/s with HD quality. The video streaming service Netflix recommends the following bandwidths:

• 0.5 Mbit/s minimum bandwidth
• 1.5 Mbit/s recommended Internet Bandwidth
• 3.0 Mbit/s Recommended Internet Bandwidth for SD Quality
• 5.0 Mbit/s Recommended Internet Bandwidth for HD quality
• 25 Mbit/s Recommended Internet bandwidth for Ultra HD quality (4K UHD)

Amazon recommends an internet bandwidth of at least 15 Mbit/s for streaming in 4K Ultra HD.

Smart TV System requirement – ​​DVB-T/S/C tuner

Even if video streaming is becoming more and more popular, you should also pay attention to other sources. Cable connection (DVB-C) or a satellite system (DVB-S) are still often used for traditional linear television. Reception via a terrestrial antenna (DVB-T) is still possible.

So if you are planning to buy a Smart TV, you should find out about the im Smart Home inform existing connections. The easiest way is to use a variant with Triple Tuner, which then has a DVB-T(2), DVB-S(2) and DVB-C tuner on board. If a satellite signal is available as a reception source at home, a twin tuner offers real added value because it can receive two satellite signals at the same time. This means that one channel can be viewed and another recorded at the same time.

If in doubt, these can also be retrofitted in the form of a set-top box. The newer DVB-T2 tuner is backward compatible with a DVB-T tuner. The same applies to satellite receivers. Conversely, however, there is no compatibility. The respective further developments promise higher transmission rates and use different coding techniques.

The Smart TV Samsung RU7179 offers a screen diagonal of 75 inches and is good value for money

(Samsung)

What resolution do Smart TVs have?

In general, Smart TVs come in almost all sizes. The television sizes often start with a screen diagonal of 32 inches. Probably the most popular size at the moment is the 55 inch TV. A 32-inch TV usually offers Full HD resolution. From a TV size of 43 inches, current TVs provide a 4K UHD resolution.​​​​​

In the table we have listed size, resolution and recommended seat distance:

inchesdiagonal in cm, approx.resolution Ideal seat pitch, approx.3281Full HD, 1,920 x 1,080 pixels2 m431084K UHD, 4,096 x 2,160 pixels1.60 m491234K UHD, 4,096 x 2,160 pixels1.80 m551394K UHD, 4,096 x 2,160 pixels2,160 m651634K UHD, 4,096 x 2,160 pixels2.50 m751904K UHD, 4,096 x 2,160 pixels2.80 m

Smart TV resolution – 4K Ultra HD replaces HD resolution

In recent years the 4K UHD resolution has become more and more popular. Anyone who wants to buy a Smart TV that is larger than 32 inches will almost inevitably come across a 4K UHD Smart TV . HD content is upscaled to UHD resolution. Although this does not deliver as sharp an image quality as a native 4K resolution, it is still an improvement compared to Full HD.

The range of UHD/4K video material is also constantly growing and is available from different sources. Above all, the streaming services Netflix and Amazon should be mentioned, but the current generation of game consoles or selected 4K Blu-Ray media are also available.

Smart TV resolution – 4K UHD for photos

The display of photos on the TV is still underestimated but is becoming more and more popular. In particular, newer smartphones with their very good camera functions are increasingly replacing the digital camera. Thanks to mobile device transmission of content to the Smart TV, the high-resolution images from the mobile phone can then be conveniently viewed on the television.

Smart TV resolution – difference between 4K and Full HD

Full HD (also known as 1080p) stands for a resolution of 1920×1080 picture elements (pixels). The vertical pixels, i.e. the height of the screen, are 1080 pixels and in total you get around 2 million pixels on a Full HD television set. In contrast, 4K or UHD (Ultra High Definition) works with around 8 million pixels, i.e. 4 times as many. The UHD and 4K formats are often used the same thematically, with UHD having a resolution of 3840×2160 pixels in 16:9 format and 4K only appearing on digital cinema screens. A 4K resolution is only slightly wider than UHD, namely 4096 pixels with the same number of columns. In normal usage, however, the term 4K has also become commonplace for the UHD format. In any case, the result is a clearly detailed 1080p image in both cases and the difference is immediately visible.

LG offers a dashboard for smart TV models that also provides information about devices connected to the smart home

(LG)

How does a Smart TV connect to the Internet?

Smart TVs should either have WiFi or an Ethernet (LAN) port.

• WLAN: If the Smart TV is in a different room to the Internet modem, the device should have integrated WLAN. The configuration is done in the settings menu of the TV. Users should have their home network name and password ready.
• Ethernet (LAN): Users get the best Internet connection when they use the Smart TV connect via LAN cable. The LAN connection on the TV is often also called an RJ45 connection.

The connection of a Smart TV to the Internet is usually done in the following 6 steps:< /strong>