xbox one vs apple tv 4th generation streaming quality

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xbox one vs apple tv 4th generation streaming quality

Hello,

With my Xbox One S (and even more so with my Xbox One X), I notice the picture quality is better than it is with my Apple TV 4th generation (haven't yet set up my Apple TV 4K, so not sure how the 4K version stacks up against Xbox One). My 60 inch TV is 1080p (Pioneer Elite Kuro plasma). I am doing an apples to apples comparison here. For example, the same episode of a series on Hulu or Amazon Prime Video looks smoother on either of the Xbox Ones relative to the 4th generation Apple TV. This is especially so with lower quality videos such as older shows like Sopranos. With the Apple TV, there is more noticeable "noise"/"graininess" in the background, whereas this is non-existent/much less prominent with Xbox One S (and even better with Xbox One X). To put it more crudely, the image on either Xbox One looks more like a HD image whereas the Apple TV image looks more like SD. I called Apple TV support a few times and they directed me to the app developers. One person said the Xbox One has a much better graphics processor.

I prefer the Apple TV over the Xbox One for numerous reasons and wondering if anyone has any thoughts/solutions here.

I've eliminated variables like poor HDMI cables. All my streaming devices and other home theatre devices are connected to a Panamax power conditioner/voltage stabilizer, so are receiving "clean" power.

Thanks.

Lion184

Apple TV (4th generation), iOS 11.0.2, null

Posted on Feb 3, 2018 9:56 AM

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Answer 1

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lion184 Author

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Feb 5, 2018 12:12 PM in response to nal13483

Thanks for your reply! I have my streaming devices going through a high end Lumagen video processor, so would prefer not to connect them directly to my TV (or a 4K TV I buy in the future). Today, I noticed that via a new TVOS update, they have added the "match content" feature even for those using the 4K TV with 1080p content. This prevents apple TV from upscaling all sources to 1080p/4K (depending on you TV's capabilities) and can result in better image quality for non 4K video sources. I turned it on and the older shows on Amazon PRime Video (like Sopranos) that looked fairly grainy before no longer look that way. The image now is more or less on par with the Xbox One X. Very happy about it!

Lion184

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Answer 2

nal13483

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Feb 4, 2018 6:47 PM in response to lion184

Try connecting the HDMI cable from ATV direct to your TV, not via home theatre. Use ARC to bring audio to home theatre with a different HDMI cable.

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Answer 3

nal13483

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Feb 7, 2018 6:47 PM in response to lion184

From what I see the "match content" feature only matches the 'frame rate' and 'dynamic range' not the resolution , the apple tv still upscales resolution from 1080p to 4K. So we are still stuck with ATV's inferior up conversion.

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Answer 4

lion184 Author

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Feb 7, 2018 7:30 PM in response to nal13483

You raise an interesting and very valid point. According to this website, the upscaler in Apple TV 4K is quite good.

https://www.reddit.com/r/appletv/comments/7jancc/apple_tv_4k_match_output_resolu tion_to_content/

Like you, I find that hard to believe - a $199 device cannot be packed with a video processor like the one Lumagen uses. I am upgrading my Lumagen 1080p upscaler to its 4K equivalent (it costs about 30 times the Apple Tv 4K). Lumagen's video processors are very high end and do an amazing upscaling job. I am going to want that device and not the Apple 4K TV do the upscaling to 4K. Will have to figure out if there is a way to prevent the Apple TV from upscaling. I don't think there is.

That being said, turning on match content does help as I've noted above.

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xbox one vs apple tv 4th generation streaming quality

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