IS 4K AVAILABLE THROUGH SKYQ?

[Simon92]

I am planning on switching to Sky from Virgin Media and at the same time switiching to a top of the range 4K TV replacing the plasma I have had for years. My priority is to achieve the best 4k picture quality that I can as and when it is available. Had a tough four years at the hands of a couple of cancers and now is the time to indulge.

I have spent recent weeks(maybe it's months) trying to educate myself  about TV delivery currently as is and have frankly reached a point of numbness. "Something" needs to happen. I am there on hardware and having had a couple of specialists to survey the scene and am content that we can have a pretty good go at securing a quality TV and broadband service across the three storey house my wife and I live in.

In the last few days I have received several independent pointers to try and go for SkyQ if possible. But today I have been advised that SkyQ boxes cannot deliver 4K. UHD yes but not 4K. I had thought that UHD and 4K are one and the same. At best further online checks leave me blurry on the answer to this. My impression as things now stand is that "strictly" they are NOT the same BUT for the TV consumer they might be. True 4K only really coming into play in a cinematic scenario. My domestic viewing will be 55" max.

So. Putting all other issues aside my question is - Is a SkyQ 2T UHD box capable of delivering 4K or is that something that can only be achieved by good quality streaming? 

I hope this makes sense as in the pursuit of quality this relative layman is becoming lost and to be honest a bit disheartened and yet excited at what may lie ahead.

Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi! 

[PandJ2020]

---

@Simon92 wrote:

But today I have been advised that SkyQ boxes cannot deliver 4K. UHD yes but not 4K. I had thought that UHD and 4K are one and the same. At best further online checks leave me blurry on the answer to this. My impression as things now stand is that "strictly" they are NOT the same BUT for the TV consumer they might be. True 4K only really coming into play in a cinematic scenario. My domestic viewing will be 55" max.

So. Putting all other issues aside my question is - Is a SkyQ 2T UHD box capable of delivering 4K or is that something that can only be achieved by good quality streaming? 

---

UHD and 4k are the same.  3840 x 2160.  

As well as UHD there is potentially HDR for the latest Q box.  (These may be harder to get)

However, whilst the Q box can output 4k you have to be aware of what native material there is.  Most of the UHD material is downloadable - live channels are limited to Sports.

There is some material on 'normal' Sky channels to download as well.  The majority of channels are HD and the TV would upscale.

In terms of streaming applications I wouldn't use the Q box at all.  Ensure your TV has the apps you intend to stream - without going into technical detail this is always be better than the Q box.

[Simon92]

@PandJ2020 Thank you. Really appreciate you taking the time to comment. 

[nigea99]

---

@Simon92 wrote:

I am planning on switching to Sky from Virgin Media and at the same time switiching to a top of the range 4K TV replacing the plasma I have had for years. My priority is to achieve the best 4k picture quality that I can as and when it is available. Had a tough four years at the hands of a couple of cancers and now is the time to indulge.

I have spent recent weeks(maybe it's months) trying to educate myself  about TV delivery currently as is and have frankly reached a point of numbness. "Something" needs to happen. I am there on hardware and having had a couple of specialists to survey the scene and am content that we can have a pretty good go at securing a quality TV and broadband service across the three storey house my wife and I live in.

In the last few days I have received several independent pointers to try and go for SkyQ if possible. But today I have been advised that SkyQ boxes cannot deliver 4K. UHD yes but not 4K. I had thought that UHD and 4K are one and the same. At best further online checks leave me blurry on the answer to this. My impression as things now stand is that "strictly" they are NOT the same BUT for the TV consumer they might be. True 4K only really coming into play in a cinematic scenario. My domestic viewing will be 55" max.

So. Putting all other issues aside my question is - Is a SkyQ 2T UHD box capable of delivering 4K or is that something that can only be achieved by good quality streaming? 

I hope this makes sense as in the pursuit of quality this relative layman is becoming lost and to be honest a bit disheartened and yet excited at what may lie ahead.

Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi! 

---

hi @Simon92 

4K  is often referred to as UHD (Ultra High Definition) and for most purposes are interchangeble.

The other aspect that often gets confused with 4K is HDR (High Dynamic Range) which often is used with 4K/UHD although it is independent and can be used with HD - but most services do only use HDR with UHD content

It is HDR that is most noticeable

Anyway to answer your question - yes SKY Q does support UHD and HDR although the original 1TB box did not support UHD at all and the 1st version  of the 2TB SKY Q boxes were UHD capable but   not HDR capable.

If seeking SKY Q then make sure you specify you want a UHD/HDR capable box - the latest 'Standard' box for new customers is a 1TB UHD/HDR capable box

Note to use UHD/HDR on SKY services you need the UHD add on (like other services such as Netflix/Disney+/Paramount which all require their premium subscription)

BTW Even though the SKY Q boxes have apps we generally advise to use the TV's own apps (or even 3rd party devices such as Firesticks) one reason being SKY Q does not support one type of HDR called Dolby Vision, but generally the apps are better on the newer hardware (SKY Q now being over 10 years old)

BTW SKY Q minis do not support UHD at all 

I,  also,  guess I should ask if you have considered SKY's streaming only service - SKY Stream which fully supports 4K/HDR & I think may even support Dolby Vision

[stereohaven]

---

@Simon92 wrote:

My priority is to achieve the best 4k picture quality that I can as and when it is available. 

---

Glad to hear your health is on the up 👍🏻

If the above is your goal, then Sky Q is not the answer here, it's Sky Stream.

It not only handles 4K UHD HDR like Sky Q, it supports Dolby Vision via apps and delivers a superior picture across all formats due to newer chipsets and the higher bandwidth streaming can provide.

If your broadband isn't up to scratch, streaming happily may be difficult and in that case, Sky Q is a proven, solid solution, but Sky Stream has a better picture in every format from standard definition upwards.

[Simon92]

@stereohaven That's great! Spells things out. Given out fibre broadband source is solid the bit looks like Sky Stresming is the answer. Thank you SO much. Really appreciated to you and all.

[TimmyBGood]

@Simon92 

I believe Virgin has a dedicated UHD channel for entertainment content which Sky does not.

[Simon92]

Should read "our" broadband 

[ozsat]

Yes - they also have the two extra Sky Sports UHD channels in their EPG which makes recording easier than SkyQ.

And TNT Sports Ultiamtes - which is on both - seems to be just £18pm on VM.

But I don't think the UHD movies are HDR on there.

---

@TimmyBGood wrote:

@Simon92 

I believe Virgin has a dedicated UHD channel for entertainment content which Sky does not.

---