No 4K HDR streaming for HBO Max. Here’s why that should matter to you

If you have one newer television that supports 4K resolution and high dynamic rangeyou probably want to maximize its potential. The easiest way is to stream current 4K HDR videos from an app like Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime, Vudu or Apple TV. Each of these sources can give you beautiful, powerful images that are yours chic television seem to be. Sure, Netflix charges $ 16 a month (£ 12 or AU $ 20) per month – $ 3 more than the non-4K plan – but with its extensive collection of 4K, HDR, and Dolby Vision Content, video nerds like me like to pay. The same goes for people who have nice audio systems that support Dolby Atmos Surround sound.

HBO max, the new service, launched last week for $ 15 a month, doesn’t offer 4K HDR or Atmos content at all, and I think this is a big missed opportunity. HBO Max executives acknowledge that this is a shortcoming: 4K HDR is “a super high priority,” said Andy Forssell, HBO Max Product Manager, in an interview the day it was launched. He said the decision was about prioritizing certain functions over others during the development process. “Just know it’s a hard calculation. In the end we have to make the right calls and I think we made the right calls to start.”

A spokeswoman for HBO Max told CNET that “4K HDR, Dolby Vision, HDR10 Plus and Dolby Atmos are on our roadmap,” but neither she nor Forssell would indicate when these enhanced audio and video formats would be available.

Continue reading: HBO Max Rating: 10,000 hours of great TV and movies, but still incomplete

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HBO Max: How to get it

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HBO Max currently has the best video quality HD Dolby Digital 5.1 currently offers the standard dynamic range and the best audio quality. It is the same as HBO Well, HBO Go and the HBO channel that you can get from your cable company. In my experience streaming HBO now over the years its HD looks mostly good, but no HD can keep up with real 4K HDR, especially on a good TV.

The lowest point for HBO streaming quality has been reached The last season of Game of Thrones with an episode called The Long Night, also known as The Battle of Winterfell. Plagued by video artifacts and patches of obscure darkness, much of the episode looked bad. And I’m not the only one who noticed – the “too dark” complaint caused a sensation and I even gave people advice how to adjust your TVs to compensate.

Fast forward to December last year when the Blu-ray came out in 4K HDR. It looks spectacular. Comparison of the two on newer 4K HDR TVs in mine reviewI found that the high dynamic range version was cleaner, clearer, full of pop and just a feast for the eyes.

Yes, part of the difference can be attributed to the fact that I viewed a Blu-ray disc and did not stream it. However, in my experience with other 4K HDR streaming services, this is not a big factor. 4K HDR on iTunes, Vudu and Netflix can look as good as Blu-ray and is better than the non-4K and non-HDR versions.

Furthermore game of Thrones and other recent HBO titles, HBO Max’s huge collection of films could really benefit. Titles available elsewhere in 4K HDR include:

• joker
• 2001: A space odyssey
• Blade Runner: The Final Cut
• Wonder woman
• A star is born (2018)
• The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Many of them are shot and mastered in 4K HDR (or higher), but some, like 2001 and The Wizard of Oz, received elaborate 4K HDR remasters with the original film and look much better than the HD versions like Game of Thrones Season 8 .

Of course, there are many things on HBO Max that wouldn’t benefit from 4K treatment (I’m looking at you, friends). And maybe Warner wants to continue to benefit from 4K HDR purchases and rentals of newer 4K titles like Joker for other services. In the meantime, it costs studio money to remaster older content like the HBO classics The Sopranos and The Wire in 4K.

But for my part, I would like to see as much 4K HDR as possible while streaming. And as a relatively expensive service, HBO Max shoots itself in the foot by not including as much as possible at the start. Disney Plus is the opposite: At the start, Star Wars, Marvel and Pixar films as well as originals were offered The Mandalorian, in 4K, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Half price of HBO max.

Bottom line? Movies and recent HBO shows like Game of Thrones, Westworld (That has a limited 4K Blu-ray) and guardians (4K Blu-ray on June 2nd) belong on HBO Max in maximum quality. For large Max titles like Green Lantern and The Snyder Cut finally hit, i hope i can see them in 4K HDR.