YOU may be missing out on a sharper picture by making a common mistake on your Roku-compatible TV.
Whether you’re hunkering down for movie night or watching a live sports game, picture quality can make or break the viewing experience.
Display technology called 4K Ultra High Definition with High Dynamic Range delivers the clearest image possible.
The term 4K Ultra High Definition can be broken into two parts.
For starters, 4K is the highest-resolution signal available for in-home movies and TV.
UHD is a broader term encompassing more pixels, better color, and higher frame rates than HDTV.
Meanwhile, HDR describes a stark contrast between the brightest whites and blackest blacks.
Despite these qualifications, your television may not be displaying the best picture possible.
Many 4K TVs limit playback to a lower frame rate to retain compatibility with early Ultra HD Blu-ray players – remember those?
Frame rate is measured in frames per second. This metric describes the number of times your device’s hardware redraws the screen every second.
Not only is playback blurrier with a lower frame rate, but some channels will not play 4K HDR content unless 60fps is supported. (Yes, that includes Netflix.)
To support higher frame rates, the HDMI connection with your TV and any other devices like an audio/video receiver or soundbar must be configured to use HDMI 2.0 or later.
Incorrect HDMI settings on your TV or an incompatible HDMI port may cause your streaming player to default to a lower resolution even when it is capable of more.
In just a few steps, you can improve picture quality and pave the way for a more pleasant viewing experience.
It’s best to temporarily connect your Roku player directly to your TV and adjust the HDMI settings for your TV first.
Navigate to the settings menu on your TV and enable HDMI 2.0 mode or later on the specific input you are using. (Instructions for specific TV models are included below.)
After adjusting the HDMI settings on your TV, be sure to check the capabilities of the HDMI connection.
On your Roku player, head to “Settings” and navigate to “Display type,” followed by “Automatic.”
If the detected capabilities are not what you expect, check which HDMI ports on your TV support 4K at 60fps.
Once you confirm that the capabilities of the HDMI connection match the specifications of your TV, reconnect your AVR or soundbar and adjust HDMI settings on that device.
After you finish adjusting the HDMI settings on your AVR or soundbar, check the capabilities of the HDMI connection using your Roku Player once again.
If you run into errors, ensure the HDMI port on your AVR or soundbar supports 4K at 60fps.
HDMI ports near the front panel of an AVR may have limited 4K support.
Hisense: Switch to the Roku player input and then press Menu and go to Picture > HDMI 2.0 Format > Enhanced Format
LG: Go to Home > HDMI > Settings > Advanced > Picture > HDMI ULTRA DEEP COLOR > On > Restart
Philips: Go to Preferences > HDMI mode > (select the Roku player input) > 4K Mode
Roku TV: Go to Settings > TV Inputs > (select the Roku player input) > HDMI Mode > Standard or Auto
Samsung: Different models may vary. Try one of the following: Go to Menu > Picture > Picture Options > HDMI UHD Color > On > Restart
OR go to Settings > General > External Device Manager > HDMI UHD Color > On
Sony: Go to Home > Settings > External inputs > HDMI signal format > HDMI > (select the Roku player input) > Enhanced mode and the TV will reboot
It is worth noting that Roku players with HDR support come with an HDMI 2.0-compatible cable.
You might consider buying a Premium High Speed HDMI Cable or Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable for the strongest connection.
The latter is generally regarded as a better option, but be prepared to pay more.
If picture quality experiences a sudden drop with a 4K HDR signal, replace any older cables with one of the high-speed cables mentioned above.
