As technology continues to evolve at a more rapid rate than ever before, it can be a constant battle to ensure that you have "the latest and greatest" audiovisual equipment. It seems that as soon as you have the newest thing, you hear about a new product or new copyright standard that won't work with your current equipment. This can be frustrating because most consumers don't upgrade their entire A/V system all at once, but rather one piece at a time.

If you are going to be replacing any equipment any time soon, you want to "futureproof" your investment as much as possible so that anything that you purchase down the road will work with the rest of your system. To do that, there are several things that you should be aware of to help you make the best purchase possible.

HDMI 2.0(a)--Look for equipment that has HDMI 2.0 which allows increased frames per second in your high resolution picture and allows multiple video streams. For example, if you have a 4K TV and you want to play content from a 4k Blu-ray player, your receiver would need to be able to pass through HDMI 2.0 content. Most current equipment on the market is HDMI 2.0 compatible.
HDCP 2.2--This is the newest copyright protection standard (specifically for 4K content.) While it won't affect your 1080p viewing, when you get a new 4K TV and/or more 4K content becomes available, everything in your system will need to be able to pass through HDCP 2.2. So, whether you are looking at a new receiver or new TV or even a new soundbar, check the specs to see if it is HDCP 2.2 compatible.
Dolby Atmos sound--Dolby Atmos is the newest surround sound standard. There are multiple configurations of this type of surround system but you will need Atmos enabled speakers and probably 2-4 additional speakers once you decide to upgrade. The sound difference truly is stunning and gives you a much more immersive feeling, like you are part of the movie. In order to achieve this quality, the receiver needs to be able to process the encoding of Dolby Atmos and tell the speakers what to play. Even if you aren't ready to install additional speakers, if you need to upgrade your receiver, consider looking for one that does Dolby Atmos so that when you are ready, you will have the capability to transform your surround system to Dolby Atmos.

Streaming capabilities--As the way people watch TV continues to evolve, there is a greater push for watching streaming content (think Netflix, HBO2Go, sports, Amazon Prime, etc.) While most TVs on the market have Smart TV features for streaming, many new receivers are also adding those features, so be on the lookout to make sure your new device has what you want. Does your new device have the ability for wireless connectivity? Can you use features like Bluetooth or Airplay to display content? Keep in mind that Netflix and Amazon Prime are now streaming 4K content with more to come. Although this is compressed 4K, it still has a clarity beyond regular high definition streaming and will provide enhanced viewing.

Understand that you may be resistant to the need for a 4K TV, but the industry is moving in that direction and before you know it, only 4K TVs will be available for purchase. (Read our previous blog on 4K displays to find out why they can be a great thing, even if you don't care about the higher resolution). As 4K content becomes more commonplace from sources such as Blu-ray players to Netflix, you will need everything in your system (ie. receivers, Blu-ray Players, new AppleTV, TV) to be able to pass through the content in order to get the enriched picture and sound.

Here at Annapolis Home Automation, we want to help you make the best decisions possible. Let us use our expertise in the audiovisual industry to your advantage. Give us a call today at 410-707-5383 to find out how we can help you work within your means to achieve the system you desire.