Special Report- State Of Play

Home-entertainment equipment has changed out of sight in recent years. From super-crisp images to voice-controlled audio, here’s what’s new and exciting today, writes Sarah Pickette.

- Sarah Pickette

Technology has reached a tipping point in our living rooms: digital streaming has opened the floodgates so there are virtually limitless options for what we can watch and listen to, as well as how and when. “Just as our viewing options are broader than ever, our televisions are bigger, better and smarter,” says Sean Dixon, director of Harvey Norman in Preston, Victoria. “Not so long ago, the 55-inch was considered a big TV, but we’ve seen a spike in sales of 75-inch models recently and that’s because of the buzz around 4K viewing.”

Ultra High Definition or 4K (a reference to the horizontal display resolution of approximately 4000 pixels) screens play digital images of such clarity that you no longer need to sit a certain distance back from them to take in the picture. They’ve also driven an overwhelming improvement in colour richness, black purity, brightness, contrast and how much detail you can see in any given shot. And as more manufacturers roll out this technology, 4K screens are coming down in price (from about $600 for an entry model to $4000-$6000 for a leading brand).

Technology forges the way for content and there’s no shortage of exciting 4K news, with Foxtel just launching its own 4K channel, allowing sports lovers to see their games in crystal-clear definition. Apple, Netflix, Stan and Amazon Prime all have 4K offerings, and you can also use a 4K screen to its potential via a Blu-ray player and compatible games consoles.