Home Entertainment has jumped by leaps and bounds in recent years. Streaming 4K movies from Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and the new Disney+ app have raised the bar to the point where they have become pretty much the standard for movie watching these days. What most people don’t realize is that 4K HDR Blu-Ray discs deliver even higher audio and video performance than streaming, making for a luxury experience that you can enjoy without breaking the bank. There are about 600 4K HDR Blu-Ray titles currently available. Here are a few that maximize the home theater experience, as well as best-of-breed equipment that will deliver an amazing experience.
Must See In 4K HDR:
The Revenant
This film is beautifully shot. It was made for 4K HDR and the biggest dang home theater screen you can find. Raise the volume, enjoy the flawless picture and expanded color palette.
Planet Earth II
The second installment of BBC’s Planet Earth, narrated by David Attenborough, is 4K royalty. With breathtaking cinematography and stunning footage this is a jaw dropping 4k and home theater experience. Make time for this.
Life of Pi
Hailed as “The Next Avatar. A Visual Miracle” by Time magazine, Life of Pi was visually stunning to begin with. Watch it in 4K with superior audio and you will never forget it.
Black Panther
If you have seen it watch it again in 4K. Marvel movies are released at lightning speed these days. Black Panther is visually arresting and jumps on 4K, with a great message. Remember it won Oscars for both costume and production design.
Blade Runner
This is a double dip nod to the sci-fi peeps out there. Both Blade Runner: The Final Cut with Harrison Ford and Blade Runner 2049 starring Ryan Gosling are must haves. The original version shows amazing transitions the promise of 4K and how it is fulfilled. Blade Runner 2049 is a work of art. This film was made to be seen in 4K. You will want a stout home theater with volume, lots of volume.
The setup:
With this list you are not going to want to cut corners. To start you need a player. The entry level player we recommend is the Sony UBP-X800M2, an affordable 4K Blu Ray player that will not break the bank. Pair it with a 4K HDR TV and you’ll be off to the races. An intriguing alternative for those of you who want to own their own reference movie collection is a Kaleidescape movie player. They have a full library of downloadable 4K titles with a sleek player/storage unit. If you are going the trick out your space into a dedicated theater space, our go to is the Sony VPL-VW695ES projector paired with a Stewart 138” fixed screen, perforated to allow for placement of the front speakers behind the screen, just like they do it in the theater.
Without a doubt the 800-pound gorilla you want for audio playback format in a full home theater is Dolby Atmos. Atmos is the most immersive, realistic audio format available today- truly an experience beyond compare. For a full Dolby Atmos experience we recommend the Sony STR-ZA5000ES receiver, a combination of in-ceiling and in-wall speakers from Monitor Audio, paired with JL Audio subwoofers- your custom Home Theater design expert can help you choose the perfect models for your space.
One final note .. you might want to know ... “ what’s the deal with 8k ? “. Keep an eye out for our next blog where we’ll walk you through this new and exciting technology, and when you should consider taking the plunge.
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