The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Extended + Theatrical Set (4K Ultra HD + Digital) Expired

You'd be right if it was feasible for 8K displays to catch on. But it just absolutely isn't unless some other upgrade (like HDR or Atmos) is packaged with it. It's physically impossible to see a difference at anything above 4K unless your display is larger than 100" or you are sitting closer than 6 feet from it. We are not running into technological limitations, but limitations from room layouts. Even if 100" displays were more affordable, you're really needing a dedicated "man cave" environment for it.

On my 65" (which is about as large a TV as anyone else has that I personally know) 4K itself was no big deal compared to HD. HDR and Atmos were a much bigger upgrade.

Not if Ras-al-ghul uses Kryptonite on Batman.

Well you guys are kinda over simplifying and confusing much of this.

1st off let's clear one thing up, "Atmos" has nothing to do with 4K/8K that's all AQ.

What something was shot in isn't the main factor on the PQ you are watching, it's the transfer of it that counts the most.
It's not uncommon to have a "2K" transfer having a better PQ than a "4K" transfer.

Technically it may be true it's "physically impossible to see a difference" BUT what is perceived is a different story.
Just look at what you perceive, "4K" vs "HD" it's "no big deal"!

HDR CAN be a benefit but only if the transfer is good AND your equipment can take full advantage of it. Most displays can't take full advantage of HDR capabilities also.

There is a PQ difference between a 65" OLED vs TCL, people will debate how much and or the worth of that difference but there is one.

How your player processes the PQ to your display plays a big role here also.

This is done thru tone mapping and since there is no set standard on the best way to do this, everyone has their own process.

As fun as this conversation is it's all comes down to perception!
Just look at streaming, many people think it's "good enough" and/or is "good".
How often do you read someone saying" people still buy disc!"

Same happens with AQ many people see "Atmos" and think it's better.
They buy an OLED and use a "Atmos" soundbar or entry level speakers and that's great!

I'm not confusing anything here Jack!
- Atmos has nothing to do with AQ. It's a surround format for positional audio. OK, we know what you meant, and I guess I could have been clearer.
- Atmos has everything to do with 4K in that they relied on each other to make it to market. And that might seem like a stretch but this is my whole point. UHD is a package deal with 3 different potential upgrades in one format. The resolution bump is a distant 3rd in terms of impact in the real world. But at least I can point to real tangible features that I am excited about with UHD. Atmos to me is the best thing to happen to home theater audio since the DVD format. I also thought HDR was stunning on my $900 65" TCL ... not exactly enthusiast equipment.

Even with this, UHD player and content sales are in the toilet. This should have been an enormous year! We couldn't go to theaters and UHD brings potentially better PQ into your home. UHD should be on fire right now and it's slowly dying. No way could another resolution bump succeed without sister technologies packaged with it.

I am not sure what you're driving at with "perception" - those of us buying UHDs are already chasing quality we can't always perceive, and we know it. And even then we know there's no benefit to 8K.

This might seem like I'm taking this too seriously, and I definitely am, but I'd hate for someone to hold off on buying the LOTR trilogy because they think bigger and better is coming. This is it! I have 100% confidence that this is the last time these movies will be put on physical disc because there are no meaningful improvements left to be made.

Ignoring, of course, the inevitably overpriced Supreme Nerd Set coming this year that packages the same movie discs with exclusive bonuses of Peter Jackson's dog's production diary videos.

Well you guys are kinda over simplifying and confusing much of this.

1st off let's clear one thing up, "Atmos" has nothing to do with 4K/8K that's all AQ.

What something was shot in isn't the main factor on the PQ you are watching, it's the transfer of it that counts the most.
It's not uncommon to have a "2K" transfer having a better PQ than a "4K" transfer.

Technically it may be true it's "physically impossible to see a difference" BUT what is perceived is a different story.
Just look at what you perceive, "4K" vs "HD" it's "no big deal"!

HDR CAN be a benefit but only if the transfer is good AND your equipment can take full advantage of it. Most displays can't take full advantage of HDR capabilities also.

There is a PQ difference between a 65" OLED vs TCL, people will debate how much and or the worth of that difference but there is one.

How your player processes the PQ to your display plays a big role here also.

This is done thru tone mapping and since there is no set standard on the best way to do this, everyone has their own process.

As fun as this conversation is it's all comes down to perception!
Just look at streaming, many people think it's "good enough" and/or is "good".
How often do you read someone saying" people still buy disc!"

Same happens with AQ many people see "Atmos" and think it's better.
They buy an OLED and use a "Atmos" soundbar or entry level speakers and that's great!

Well sorry "Jack" but now you are contradicting yourself also!.
"Atmos has nothing to do with AQ. It's a surround format for positional audio", I think that's the opposite of "clearer"!

"Atmos has everything to do with 4K", NO it has nothing to do with 4K or UHD as a matter of fact!
4K or UHD is about PQ, object based soundtracks(ie Dolby Atmos/DTS:X) is the AQ part, two separate things.

They are NOT "relied on each other" or even a "UHD is a package deal"!
There are BD disc that have object based soundtracks and 4K or UHD disc that don't.

"I am not sure what you're driving at with "perception" ", then you say "those of us buying UHDs are already chasing quality we can't always perceive"!
You gave a perfect example of it.
"I also thought HDR was stunning on my $900 65" TCL ... not exactly enthusiast equipment"!

Clearly you "perceive"(understand) that there is better "quality" PQ than what your are looking at but you don't think it's "worth" the value to get it(or be an enthusiast).
So no matter what you are watching(4k or UHD), you're not taking full advantage of it because of your equipment(s).

"even then we know there's no benefit to 8K.", even to your admission(opinion) this is not so when you said "It's physically impossible to see a difference at anything above 4K unless your display is larger than 100" or you are sitting closer than 6 feet from it"

I do agree with you that object based soundtracks is the biggest upgrade BUT it's really only worth it if done properly.
Unfortunately most people have not experienced what it can actually do.
The good thing is since people "perceive" what they are hearing is true "Atmos", then it's reality to them and that's all that matters https://static.slickdealscdn.com/ima...ies2/peace.gif

The only 4k uhd player i have is a PS5. How does it compare to a dedicated $400 4k uhd disc player?

Unfortunately some 4K discs don't always include the best audio. Actually some regular blu-rays have better sound tracks than their 4K counterparts, have no clue why the studio does this????

The only 4k uhd player i have is a PS5. How does it compare to a dedicated $400 4k uhd disc player?

You're definitely right that Atmos is not exclusive to UHD which I did not know. I even had some HD blu rays with Atmos on them myself. But Atmos is way more cut and dried than you are making it out to be. I have speakers in my ceiling. Some discs send sound to them and some don't. If there are consumers out there that think an Atmos track sounds better on a soundbar from Costco, they just don't understand what the technology is. If they have a soundbar with upward-firing height speakers, then they probably read the box and understand what it's doing and enjoy that feature for what it is. At no point in the process does Atmos improve anything about what comes out of, say, your left channel speaker. Are you suggesting there are people who think it does?

I talk about my old $900 TV because I'm trying to get into the mind of the type of person that would need to buy a theoretical 8K format. I'm running a projector at 120" now ... I definitely "perceive" and value 4K. There is simply no overlap in the technology needed to benefit from 8K, at the size needed, at a price smaller than 5 digits. The best LG can do is an 88" OLED that costs $30,000. If someone buys it with plans to sit farther than 5 feet away, they are wasting their money. 3D had a much lower cost of entry and much more tangible benefit and it flopped hard. Innovation in the TV space is going to be cost reduction on OLED and similar emitter technology (Quantum dots?) until large screens with perfect contrast, intense colors, and no burn-in are affordable. 8K resolution isn't going to drive that.

I am trying to help people understand that they can safely purchase this movie set because there will never been an 8K physical release (streaming someday, sure). What are you trying to do exactly? Nitpick everyone's use of terminology? We know what we're talking about.

For example?

I've never watched these. I know some movies people say theatrical is better while others prefer extended. Which version is better to watch for a first view? Does extended actually add to the story or is it just extra stuff that drags it out unnecessarily?