We have been hearing about 4K or Ultra HD for a couple of years now. But even as 4K televisions become cheaper and smaller, there is still a serious dearth of content shot and broadcast in resolutions better than Full HD. All of India’s top DTH players have launched 4K set-top-boxes that are capable of streaming 4K quality content, whenever that becomes available in the real sense. Here is our review of the Videocon d2h 4K set-top-box
Videocon d2h 4K set-top-box
Videocon launched its 4K service just before the ICC Cricket World cup and beamed one channel with some of the matches in 4K. However, the World Cup does not seem to have given the expected push for 4K content and televisions. I expect this to really take off around the Olympics next year, by when 4K could well become the standard that FullHD is now.
4K PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
SYSTEM DETAILS
SYSTEM DETAILS
- System Capabilities DVB-S2; MPEG-4 Part10, HEVC
- Demodulator Front End DVB-S2 8PSK and QPSK
- Video Decoder MPEG-4 PART 10; HEVC up to 4K p60
- Video Format PAL
POWER SUPPLY
- Input Voltage Range AC 100 – 270, 50-60 Hz
- Power Supply Adaptor DC 12V / 3.17A, 38 Watts
- Power Consumption 38 W
- 1 Satellite Signal Input F-Type Female IEC 60169-24
- Composite Video Output IEC 48B Sec 316 (RCA) Female (Yellow)
- Composite Audio Output IEC 48B Sec 316 (RCA) Female (White & Red)
- HDMI Video Output HDMI Receptacle Connector
- SPDIF Output Optical
- USB Port USB Type A Socket [2 No.s]
- Ethernet Connection RJ 45
GENERAL
- Dimensions 300 mm (W) x 193 mm (D) x 57.5 mm (H)
- Net Weight .86 Kg
- Operating Temperature Range 0-50 deg C
- HDMI Cable HDMI 19P / M Moulding Type; 1500mm
- Remote Batteries CR2025
Price: Rs 6,590 for STB + installation.
Set-top-box
The 4K STB seems a bit larger than regular set-top-boxes and has a gold branding that is hard to miss. Maybe Videocon wants to suggest that this is the gold standard for television content at the moment. The remote too has the gold branding. It is easy to grip and navigate, which is important given that we use the STB remote more than the actual TV remote these days. There is an HDMI port at the back that connects to the TV. What I like about the Videocon service is the fact that the box switches to life almost instantly and there is no latency like in other STBs.
4K content
Yes, you have an expensive 4K television. Yes, you have a costly 4K set top box. But no, there is no 4K content that you will love watching. Videocon service has one channel that constantly breaks 4K content. But there is a limit to how much snow boarding you can watch a day. The entire channel is a rerun sung plays the same videos on loop.
However, it is a great showcase of the what 4K offers. I have always considered 4K content a bit better than what the human eye sees and there is something eerily ethereal about watching pictures that are so clear. And the Videocon d2h 4K gives you a good sneak peak into what the future of television holds for us. It is stunning, it is how television should be. For the record, I tested the service on a 55-inch Philips 8500 series — a separate review of the TV will follow soon.
Right now the single channel is easy to access on a single click. But maybe when more channels come, the UI will need to show that more for users with the 4K set top box. They will not want to watch even full HD content on 4K televisions and that experience is far from good.
Should you buy?
Maybe not now. At the moment it does not make much sense for you to get a 4K STB unless you have already invested in a 4K television. For those who plan to buy a 4K television set this year, Videocon seems to be a good upgrade option.
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