Do not buy a 4k monitor or TV until HDMI 2.0 comes out this year!

[Robert Bentley]

[h=3]I had no idea about HDMI 2.0. Currently they are finalizing the details on it and it is supposed to come out this year. Apparently this is why some of the old 4k TVs are starting to rapidly drop in price, to unload them. The Seiki 4k TV is now going for around $965.99 on Amazon...
http://www.amazon.com/Seiki-Digital-SE50UY04-50-Inch-120Hz/dp/B00BXF7I9M

Here is a great article explaining HDMI 2.0..
http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/hdmi-2-0-explained/

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ARTICLE:

"The first crop of 4K Ultra HD TVs from Sony, Samsung, LG and Toshiba have HDMI 1.4 ports that can feed full resolution 2160p (4096 x 2160) Ultra HD signals, but there’s a catch — they can only do so at 24 or 30 frames per LG 84 inch 4K TVsecond. That’s works fine for movies, but is of no use for gaming and gaming and only some TV broadcasts, which require 50 or 60 fps."

"Another thing worth noting is that the current HDMI 1.4 limit of 24 fps in 4K is also in 8-bit color. Ultra HD is expected to bump that up to 10 or 12-bit. With the faster 60 fps rate, twice the data throughput will be needed to push all that — something HDMI 1.4 simply cannot do."

So to some up, you'll need HDMI 2.0 to get the 10 to 12 bit color if you want to grade your footage properly and to future proof yourself a bit with dealing with higher fps.[/h]

 

[Todd T]

I love the the progression of technology and marketing...:smilewinkgrin:

It's about time for all of that old 1st generation 4K technology to be replaced...

... this is why some of the old 4k TVs are starting to rapidly drop in price, to unload them.

 

[PatrickFaith]

8 bit color drives me crazy, i so wish 10 bit was standard on everything.

 

[Marc Wielage]

So to sum up, you'll need HDMI 2.0 to get the 10 to 12 bit color if you want to grade your footage properly and to future proof yourself a bit with dealing with higher fps.

You assume a 10-bit display will be affordable. I'm skeptical of that, at least in the immediate future.

 

[Matt Ryan]

You assume a 10-bit display will be affordable. I'm skeptical of that, at least in the immediate future.

You doubt Vizio? haha. They are supposedly coming out with 10 bit UltaHD displays soon. We will see though.

 

[Stacey Spears]

10-bit 4:2:0 is a bad design for HDMI 2.0.

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

10-bit 4:2:0 is a bad design for HDMI 2.0.

Totally agree. Unfortunately, nothing better is coming alone any time soon....

 

[Bob Gundu]

For those who want to understand everything 4K, compression, and bit depth, I thought Joe Kane does a great job. If you want to skip to the 10 bit section, it's around 48 minutes. I watched the whole thing which was eye opening. Joe feels 4:4:4 is the only way to go.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZqhA3iIHm4&feature=youtu.be

 

[Rob Anderson]

Everything everyone posted here is true... But honestly, for < $1,000 buying a 4K monitor today will not disappoint. With all of the shortcomings, the Seiki is a wonderful monitor that does an excellent job showing off 4K footage and revealing what will be possible. And it's cheaper than a 27" Apple Thunderbolt Display.

No harm at all in getting your feet wet. Can't say I agree with the overall message of not buying 4K right now.

 

[L. Langer]

Based on the latest grumblings from those who are involved in designing and manufacturing the chipsets, I expect the spec to be more or less finalized and announced at CES 2014 and then we'll get the hardware in 2015. It is what it is. If you need it, go out and buy it. If you don't, sit and wait.

 

[Les Dittert]

The article says it, the current sets are fine for watching movies. We make movies, right? 60 hz is for games or general desktop stuff.
For the rare user here that does finish at 4k, the Amazon Seiki is amazing.

 

[Rob Anderson]

I have a split PC/Mac shop. On the PC side, we've got Seiki's connected to Windows 8 machines and we couldn't be happier. Massive desktop, full screen programs, and whenever we get the time, even a game here or there. And quite honestly, even at 30 hz, gaming is incredible. NEED FOR SPEED is stunning, as are other titles like BATTLEFIELD, and so on.

Not sure why people aren't interested in a $950 4K monitor that can deliver all of that. We sure are.

As I said, it shows what will be possible and it gets your feet wet. Nothing like getting to show a client how their 4K footage really looks. Also makes for a sweet comparison when we're up against 2K Alexa stuff. Short of a cinema screen, what else are you doing that on right now? I'm planning on keeping our first Seiki mobile and mounted on a cart. I love to wheel it into client meetings and show them what we do.

The only thing I'm missing is the REDRAY. *cough*