The race is on to get the latest and greatest electronics at deep discounts. But as technology advances, so, too, does confusion over what devices are now compatible with each other.
Take 4K televisions, for example. The technology has four times as many pixels as high definition, making for extremely smooth and crisp visuals. But a little-known copyright protection in some 4K devices could dampen your highly-anticipated home entertainment experience.
Ruthie Moore is a self-described “gamer” from Chicago who waited several years for the new Xbox One S to hit the market. The entertainment system can output 4K visuals from streaming video services and 4K Blu-ray discs. It can also “upscale” 1080p video game visuals to 4K.
“The way that they’re able to make the graphics look? I mean, it’s astounding,” Moore said.
Moore recently purchased the Xbox One S and a 4K television from Best Buy. She said she asked specifically for a 4K television that would be compatible with the system.
But once it was set up, Moore said the picture was not exactly what she expected it to be.
“I go and check my settings and it says, ‘your content cannot be scaled up to 4K’. It doesn’t say why, though,” Moore said.
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Home entertainment technology experts say some 4K devices contain a copyright protection called HDCP 2.2. That means not all 4K televisions can display the 4K visuals from newer components.
“You can’t just hook it up and get the content,” said Chad Taylor of Abt. “You have to have something descrambling it.”
Experts say there may be older televisions with HDCP 2.1 that may inadvertently block 4K signals from newer HDCP 2.2 devices like Blu-ray players, stereo receivers and game consoles.
The good news, according to experts, is that most new “tier 1” 4K televisions will work with 4K devices.
However, Taylor said the key to a true 4K experience is the content. He said that is currently limited to 4K Blu-ray movies and streaming video from services like Netflix. Video games currently are not made in 4K. Although, the visuals can be “upscaled”.
Taylor said it’s important to keep this information in mind if you’re in the market to purchase new electronics.
“It’s another couple questions to ask the person you’re working with to make sure you’re getting the right product that fits your needs,” Taylor said.
Fast Internet service is also required for optimal 4K streaming, according to Taylor. He said consumers should have at least 25-30 MB minimum, while 100 MB is recommended.
Meanwhile, Moore said she’s finally getting the entertainment experience she was hoping to see.
“I have been playing NBA 2K17 pretty much non-stop since it came out and I am thoroughly impressed,” Moore said.
NBC 5 Responds contacted Best Buy, which later swapped out Moore’s television with another model.
“Once we were notified of Ms. Moore’s issue, we quickly stepped in to deliver and mount a new, compatible television for her,” said Best Buy spokesperson Ryan Stanzel.
The manufacturer of Moore’s first 4K television, however, said the model was actually HDCP 2.2 compatible. A spokesperson said some of the earlier models required the user to activate a copy protection setting in the menu. Still, the manufacturer has discontinued the model originally purchased by Moore and said the steps to activate HDCP 2.2 compatibility have been eliminated in its newer models and HDCP 2.2 is the default.
