4k Video Artifacts

[dkaudio]

I am getting bad 4k pixilation/artifacts. I have never owned a 4k player before and also just added the XMC-2, the issue does not seem to happen with DVD's...below is my equipment:

XMC-2 (have tried two because my first one had issues so I returned it and Emotiva sent me a replacement)
Sony UBP-X800 (I own two, one for upstairs and one for downstairs, I have tried both)
Monoprice 4K Premium certified HDMI cables (ordered new ones, the new ones do the same thing)
Vizio E70-F3 4k TV

Here is a picture, it does it throughout Blu-ray and 4k UHD. Not sure why the pictures are loading upside down but you get the idea.

Any ideas?

[bootman]

Try forcing your bluray player to 4k output vs auto.
That looks like an upconverted non 4K signal to me.

BTW press info on the XMC to see what it says about the signal.

[dkaudio]

Dec 15, 2020 21:07:19 GMT -5 bootman said:

Try forcing your bluray player to 4k output vs auto.
That looks like an upconverted non 4K signal to me.

BTW press info on the XMC to see what it says about the signal.

Pic below, both TV and XMC-2 info show 2160p. Turned 4k upscaling off and Output video resolution to 4k with the same result.

[bootman]

Dec 15, 2020 22:07:27 GMT -5 dkaudio said:

Dec 15, 2020 21:07:19 GMT -5 bootman said:

Try forcing your bluray player to 4k output vs auto.
That looks like an upconverted non 4K signal to me.

BTW press info on the XMC to see what it says about the signal.

Pic below, both TV and XMC-2 info show 2160p. Turned 4k upscaling off and Output video resolution to 4k with the same result.

View AttachmentView Attachment

How does it look with the player plugged in directly to the display on that same HDMI port. (and then another port if still bad)

[doc1963]

Dec 15, 2020 19:14:23 GMT -5 dkaudio said:

I am getting bad 4k pixilation/artifacts. I have never owned a 4k player before and also just added the XMC-2, the issue does not seem to happen with DVD's...

Since it sounds like this may be the first time you’ve had external 4K components attached to the TV, have you went into the TV’s settings menu and turned on the “Full UHD Color” setting for that HDMI input...?

Until recently, all 4K TVs came from the factory with that setting turned off. Since your TV is a slightly older model, I’m sure it is off by default.

Also make sure you are using HDMI Out 2 on your XMC-2 as that is noted as the “primary” HDMI output. Other than for this, there is no special setup required on the XMC-2. Once you’ve checked and enabled the setting on your TV I’ve me above, your player should automatically detect and initiate a new HDMI handshake.

Hope this helps... 😊

[housetech]

I got a new Sony X900H and had pixelization and an image like your last picture from DTV. Finally turned off 1080p (1080i only) on DTV and fixed it.
So my guess is to down grade to 1080 on everything and work your way up in resolution on  each device until it re-appears- then you know what it is.
Maybe do a hard reboot on each also- at the same time, i.e. unplug everything.

[dkaudio]

Dec 16, 2020 17:02:01 GMT -5 bootman said:

Dec 15, 2020 22:07:27 GMT -5 dkaudio said:

Pic below, both TV and XMC-2 info show 2160p. Turned 4k upscaling off and Output video resolution to 4k with the same result.

View AttachmentView Attachment

How does it look with the player plugged in directly to the display on that same HDMI port. (and then another port if still bad)

Player plugged directly into the TV does the same thing so the issue is not with the XMC-2, good. I cannot try another TV input without taking the TV off the wall since it is flush mounted.

Dec 16, 2020 17:37:59 GMT -5 doc1963 said:

Dec 15, 2020 19:14:23 GMT -5 dkaudio said:

I am getting bad 4k pixilation/artifacts. I have never owned a 4k player before and also just added the XMC-2, the issue does not seem to happen with DVD's...

Since it sounds like this may be the first time you’ve had external 4K components attached to the TV, have you went into the TV’s settings menu and turned on the “Full UHD Color” setting for that HDMI input...?

Until recently, all 4K TVs came from the factory with that setting turned off. Since your TV is a slightly older model, I’m sure it is off by default.

Also make sure you are using HDMI Out 2 on your XMC-2 as that is noted as the “primary” HDMI output. Other than for this, there is no special setup required on the XMC-2. Once you’ve checked and enabled the setting on your TV I’ve me above, your player should automatically detect and initiate a new HDMI handshake.

Hope this helps... 😊

I checked the TV input setting and Full UHD color was already on. I am using the primary of the XMC-2 (HDMI out 2).

Dec 16, 2020 19:16:46 GMT -5 housetech said:

I got a new Sony X900H and had pixelization and an image like your last picture from DTV. Finally turned off 1080p (1080i only) on DTV and fixed it.
So my guess is to down grade to 1080 on everything and work your way up in resolution on  each device until it re-appears- then you know what it is.
Maybe do a hard reboot on each also- at the same time, i.e. unplug everything.

I did a reset on the player and TV and it is still resulting in the same pixilation artifact. I have also tried many settings on the player, I will keep playing around in the player settings.

[foggy1956]

Dec 17, 2020 11:43:27 GMT -5 dkaudio said:

Dec 16, 2020 17:02:01 GMT -5 bootman said:

How does it look with the player plugged in directly to the display on that same HDMI port. (and then another port if still bad)

Player plugged directly into the TV does the same thing so the issue is not with the XMC-2, good. I cannot try another TV input without taking the TV off the wall since it is flush mounted.

Dec 16, 2020 17:37:59 GMT -5 doc1963 said:

Since it sounds like this may be the first time you’ve had external 4K components attached to the TV, have you went into the TV’s settings menu and turned on the “Full UHD Color” setting for that HDMI input...?

Until recently, all 4K TVs came from the factory with that setting turned off. Since your TV is a slightly older model, I’m sure it is off by default.

Also make sure you are using HDMI Out 2 on your XMC-2 as that is noted as the “primary” HDMI output. Other than for this, there is no special setup required on the XMC-2. Once you’ve checked and enabled the setting on your TV I’ve me above, your player should automatically detect and initiate a new HDMI handshake.

Hope this helps... 😊

I checked the TV input setting and Full UHD color was already on. I am using the primary of the XMC-2 (HDMI out 2).

Dec 16, 2020 19:16:46 GMT -5 housetech said:

I got a new Sony X900H and had pixelization and an image like your last picture from DTV. Finally turned off 1080p (1080i only) on DTV and fixed it.
So my guess is to down grade to 1080 on everything and work your way up in resolution on  each device until it re-appears- then you know what it is.
Maybe do a hard reboot on each also- at the same time, i.e. unplug everything.

I did a reset on the player and TV and it is still resulting in the same pixilation artifact. I have also tried many settings on the player, I will keep playing around in the player settings.

Interesting as i have a completely different tv

[garbulky]

Dec 15, 2020 19:14:23 GMT -5 dkaudio said:

I am getting bad 4k pixilation/artifacts. I have never owned a 4k player before and also just added the XMC-2, the issue does not seem to happen with DVD's...below is my equipment:

XMC-2 (have tried two because my first one had issues so I returned it and Emotiva sent me a replacement)
Sony UBP-X800 (I own two, one for upstairs and one for downstairs, I have tried both)
Monoprice 4K Premium certified HDMI cables (ordered new ones, the new ones do the same thing)
Vizio E70-F3 4k TV

Here is a picture, it does it throughout Blu-ray and 4k UHD. Not sure why the pictures are loading upside down but you get the idea.

Any ideas?
View Attachment
View Attachment

Try setting the color to 4:2:0 RATHER THAN 4:4:4 ?

[housetech]

When I was fighting with XMC-1, Damián had me switch HDMI inputs from 2.0 to 1.4 resolutions. Try that, then back to 2.0.
That's a weird problem. As Bootman stated, plug each source into TV one at a time & try without XMC-2 in the chain.
Can you unplug every XMC input then use XMC > go to OSD without issues? Then input each device one at a time.

Good luck, hope you can figure it out.
HDMI is such a pita.

[dkaudio]

Dec 17, 2020 15:36:45 GMT -5 garbulky said:

Dec 15, 2020 19:14:23 GMT -5 dkaudio said:

I am getting bad 4k pixilation/artifacts. I have never owned a 4k player before and also just added the XMC-2, the issue does not seem to happen with DVD's...below is my equipment:

XMC-2 (have tried two because my first one had issues so I returned it and Emotiva sent me a replacement)
Sony UBP-X800 (I own two, one for upstairs and one for downstairs, I have tried both)
Monoprice 4K Premium certified HDMI cables (ordered new ones, the new ones do the same thing)
Vizio E70-F3 4k TV

Here is a picture, it does it throughout Blu-ray and 4k UHD. Not sure why the pictures are loading upside down but you get the idea.

Any ideas?
View Attachment
View Attachment

Try setting the color to 4:2:0 RATHER THAN 4:4:4 ?

It was on auto, I tried 4:2:2, was the lowest option. Still getting the same results.

[dkaudio]

Dec 17, 2020 19:10:49 GMT -5 housetech said:

When I was fighting with XMC-1, Damián had me switch HDMI inputs from 2.0 to 1.4 resolutions. Try that, then back to 2.0.
That's a weird problem. As Bootman stated, plug each source into TV one at a time & try without XMC-2 in the chain.
Can you unplug every XMC input then use XMC > go to OSD without issues? Then input each device one at a time.

Good luck, hope you can figure it out.
HDMI is such a pita.

I tried taking the XMC completely out of the chain, it still did it direct to the TV.

[dkaudio]

Was a huge pain but I tried a different input on the TV, same thing! I've tried just about every setting in the player. Movies are unwatchable with pixelated blocks constantly dancing all over the screen. Any other ideas? I appreciate all the help.

[ttocs]

Dec 17, 2020 20:08:28 GMT -5 dkaudio said:

Was a huge pain but I tried a different input on the TV, same thing! I've tried just about every setting in the player. Movies are unwatchable with pixelated blocks constantly dancing all over the screen. Any other ideas? I appreciate all the help.

Bear with me here please. There's a few things to check. It looks to me like a color depth issue, with no fine gradation of color, just big color blocks all the same. Some call it "banding". I contend that there are no missing pixels, just messed up color.

You posted a photo of what I initially thought was what the TV was reporting, but in fact that is what the player is Outputting. I know this because that's the exact same menu as my X700, and mine is set to Auto for Output Video Resolution and works fine. Please post a photo of the Info being reported by the TV. Also, please post what the TV's HDMI Inputs are set to, I need the exact wording so I can find more info on this because the manual, like most manuals these days, sucks (technical term, meaning: Useless (almost), non-helpful, bag of garbage).

Is your player the Sony UBP-X800M2? (This model is DV compatible according to what I've read from Sony.)  If so, did you update the firmware for Dolby Vision compatibility?

What format is the disc in the photos you posted? HDR-10 or Dolby Vision? It helps to know the source info.

From the Sony player, there is only one HDMI cable connected to the Out-1 output which carries Video/Audio, and no HDMI cable connected to the "Out-2 For Audio", correct? And that cable is plugged in ALL THE WAY into which HDMI Input on the TV is being used? I don't think it matters which one in this case, but good to know. If using the ARC input, try a different one or make sure ARC is off in the TV settings, even if only for diagnosis, because who knows what it might be doing?

The HDMI inputs on the TV are rated at:
2160p@60fps. 4:4:4, 8-bit
2160p@60fps, 4:2:2, 12-bit
2160p@60fps, 4:2:0, 12-bit

When the player is connected directly to the TV, does the TV report the same color depth as the processor reported?

Is the TV set to any sort of "gaming mode"? If so, turn it OFF, this might increase the frame rate causing the color depth to suffer (wild guess here). What video mode is the TV set for?

My tv is rated differently than yours, but I think this is still a valid point to make. When I change the HDMI Input settings from "Enhanced" to "Standard", the result is less color depth. Notice the difference in this composite image.


So when yours shows 4:4:4 SDR, that's not HDR. The XMC-2 is saying it's 12bit, but your TV can't show 12bit 4:4:4 color, so it's gotta be 8bit that's showing up.

edit: One last thing. In photos of the back of your tv it shows "Best" printed above HDMI-2 input. If that is the case, that's the input I would use.

[dkaudio]

Dec 17, 2020 23:08:01 GMT -5 ttocs said:

Dec 17, 2020 20:08:28 GMT -5 dkaudio said:

Was a huge pain but I tried a different input on the TV, same thing! I've tried just about every setting in the player. Movies are unwatchable with pixelated blocks constantly dancing all over the screen. Any other ideas? I appreciate all the help.

Bear with me here please. There's a few things to check. It looks to me like a color depth issue, with no fine gradation of color, just big color blocks all the same. Some call it "banding". I contend that there are no missing pixels, just messed up color.

You posted a photo of what I initially thought was what the TV was reporting, but in fact that is what the player is Outputting. I know this because that's the exact same menu as my X700, and mine is set to Auto for Output Video Resolution and works fine. Please post a photo of the Info being reported by the TV. Also, please post what the TV's HDMI Inputs are set to, I need the exact wording so I can find more info on this because the manual, like most manuals these days, sucks (technical term, meaning: Useless (almost), non-helpful, bag of garbage).

Is your player the Sony UBP-X800M2? (This model is DV compatible according to what I've read from Sony.)  If so, did you update the firmware for Dolby Vision compatibility?

What format is the disc in the photos you posted? HDR-10 or Dolby Vision? It helps to know the source info.

From the Sony player, there is only one HDMI cable connected to the Out-1 output which carries Video/Audio, and no HDMI cable connected to the "Out-2 For Audio", correct? And that cable is plugged in ALL THE WAY into which HDMI Input on the TV is being used? I don't think it matters which one in this case, but good to know. If using the ARC input, try a different one or make sure ARC is off in the TV settings, even if only for diagnosis, because who knows what it might be doing?

The HDMI inputs on the TV are rated at:
2160p@60fps. 4:4:4, 8-bit
2160p@60fps, 4:2:2, 12-bit
2160p@60fps, 4:2:0, 12-bit

When the player is connected directly to the TV, does the TV report the same color depth as the processor reported?

Is the TV set to any sort of "gaming mode"? If so, turn it OFF, this might increase the frame rate causing the color depth to suffer (wild guess here). What video mode is the TV set for?

My tv is rated differently than yours, but I think this is still a valid point to make. When I change the HDMI Input settings from "Enhanced" to "Standard", the result is less color depth. Notice the difference in this composite image.
View Attachment

So when yours shows 4:4:4 SDR, that's not HDR. The XMC-2 is saying it's 12bit, but your TV can't show 12bit 4:4:4 color, so it's gotta be 8bit that's showing up.

edit: One last thing. In photos of the back of your tv it shows "Best" printed above HDMI-2 input. If that is the case, that's the input I would use.

I'm using HDMI input 2 on the TV now...kind of stinks because I use ARC for OTA viewing which is only 1, oh well.

Game low latency and film mode on the TV are off.

Blu-ray player is not M2 so it has no DV. From the player, only HDMI 1 is being used, not HDMI 2. Cables are fully inserted, I even bought new 4k certified cables thinking that may have been the issue.

Discs I have tried:
John Wick 3 4k UHD, rented so not sure what format.
Planet Earth Blu-ray (pictures taken from this disc), just says video format High Definition 1080i.
Black Hawk Down 4k UHD, 2160p UHD 2.40:1 HDR 10. XMC-2 shows 4:4:4 12bit

Picture of what the TV is receiving, not much info, I know.



Picture of TV HDMI 2 input settings



Picture of TV video settings



2 Pictures of Blu-ray player video settings

[ttocs]

Dec 18, 2020 10:55:17 GMT -5 dkaudio said:

I'm using HDMI input 2 on the TV now...kind of stinks because I use ARC for OTA viewing which is only 1, oh well.

Game low latency and film mode on the TV are off.

Blu-ray player is not M2 so it has no DV. From the player, only HDMI 1 is being used, not HDMI 2. Cables are fully inserted, I even bought new 4k certified cables thinking that may have been the issue.

Discs I have tried:
John Wick 3 4k UHD, rented so not sure what format.
Planet Earth Blu-ray (pictures taken from this disc), just says video format High Definition 1080i.
Black Hawk Down 4k UHD, 2160p UHD 2.40:1 HDR 10. XMC-2 shows 4:4:4 12bit

Man, this really is baffling.

So here's something, when I set my tv HDMI inputs to Standard, the XMC-2 reports a lower incoming color depth because the devices are sensing the capability of the tv. But with your setup playing Black Hawk Down, the XMC-2 is reporting a color depth your tv is not capable of displaying - according to the chart from Vizio, although maybe at the slower frame rate it can display 12bit 4:4:4.  ? ? ?

Do both the tv and the player have the latest firmwares?
Try setting the Full UHD Color to OFF and see if anything looks different, whether it's the same, better, or worse.
I don't know what else to suggest.

[cawgijoe]

This is very weird.

So, the TV without going through the XMC-2 is displaying the same picture issue as it was when going through the XMC-2....any chance you know someone who can bring their 4K bluray player over?

[doc1963]

Dec 18, 2020 11:12:59 GMT -5 ttocs said:

Dec 18, 2020 10:55:17 GMT -5 dkaudio said:

I'm using HDMI input 2 on the TV now...kind of stinks because I use ARC for OTA viewing which is only 1, oh well.

Game low latency and film mode on the TV are off.

Blu-ray player is not M2 so it has no DV. From the player, only HDMI 1 is being used, not HDMI 2. Cables are fully inserted, I even bought new 4k certified cables thinking that may have been the issue.

Discs I have tried:
John Wick 3 4k UHD, rented so not sure what format.
Planet Earth Blu-ray (pictures taken from this disc), just says video format High Definition 1080i.
Black Hawk Down 4k UHD, 2160p UHD 2.40:1 HDR 10. XMC-2 shows 4:4:4 12bit

Man, this really is baffling.

So here's something, when I set my tv HDMI inputs to Standard, the XMC-2 reports a lower incoming color depth because the devices are sensing the capability of the tv. But with your setup playing Black Hawk Down, the XMC-2 is reporting a color depth your tv is not capable of displaying - according to the chart from Vizio, although maybe at the slower frame rate it can display 12bit 4:4:4.  ? ? ?

Do both the tv and the player have the latest firmwares?
Try setting the Full UHD Color to OFF and see if anything looks different, whether it's the same, better, or worse.
I don't know what else to suggest.

HDMI 2.0 does support 4:4:4/12bit at 24Hz, but not 60Hz (exceeds the 18Gbps limit), but I agree that this one is a real head scratcher...

[KeithL]

HDMI 2.0 is the hardware standard that describes how the video signal is transmitted.

So it describes how each sort of signal should be transmitted - assuming that the devices at each end both support it and agree to use it.

The fact that HDMI 2.0 supports a certain sample rate, bit depth, or color space does NOT necessarily mean that YOUR TV or YOUR SOURCE supports it.

When your source and your TV negotiate the connection they are supposed to exchange information and select a mode that both support.

However sometimes this doesn't work right.

This can occur if your cable has insufficient bandwidth and the necessary negotiations become garbled or don't finish completely...

But it can also occur for a variety of other reasons.

Dec 18, 2020 11:24:59 GMT -5 doc1963 said:

Dec 18, 2020 11:12:59 GMT -5 ttocs said:

Man, this really is baffling.

So here's something, when I set my tv HDMI inputs to Standard, the XMC-2 reports a lower incoming color depth because the devices are sensing the capability of the tv. But with your setup playing Black Hawk Down, the XMC-2 is reporting a color depth your tv is not capable of displaying - according to the chart from Vizio, although maybe at the slower frame rate it can display 12bit 4:4:4.  ? ? ?

Do both the tv and the player have the latest firmwares?
Try setting the Full UHD Color to OFF and see if anything looks different, whether it's the same, better, or worse.
I don't know what else to suggest.

HDMI 2.0 does support 4:4:4/12bit at 24Hz, but not 60Hz (exceeds the 18Gbps limit), but I agree that this one is a real head scratcher...

[KeithL]

Not to oversimplfy... but it looks like what I would call an issue with actually decoding the image.

(It looks like what happens when a computer with insufficient power tries to decode a complex video stream.)

(h.265 video streams, which are used for 4k UHD content, especially at higher bit rates, require a LOT of processing power to decode properly.)

I suspect that it may be the TV's fault.

(The TV should only negotiate to receive video formats that it can actually support.)

It looks like the TV is negotiating to accept a video stream that requires a lot of processing power to decode properly...

Then "when the rubber hits the road" it lacks the processing power to handle the signal properly...

If that's the case then the solution may to manually configure the source to limit itself to an easier to decode video signal.

I would try playing an ordinary Blu-Ray disc... and configuring the player NOT to upscale or up-sample it.

A normal Blu-Ray disc is recorded at 1080p, 30 FPS, and chroma 4:2:0 .

That is a setting that ALL normal HD TVs should be able to handle properly.

Then, if that looks good, start trying higher resolutions and sample rates.

(However, if you have long-ish cables, I would also try a nice short two meter cable... just to rule that out as a contributing factor.  )