New Apple TV 4K: two settings to change for better picture quality

Two tweaks for the new streaming box

The new Apple TV 4K has arrived after a four-year wait, and according to What Hi-Fi? it works almost perfectly with its default settings. The publication says the picture and sound are better than before, even though the price has risen and the design is familiar.

There are, however, two settings the site recommends changing straight away. Both are easy to find and take only a moment to adjust.

Where to find the Match Content options

What Hi-Fi? directs owners to the Settings menu, then the Video and Audio sub-menu, and finally the Match Content option. Inside it are two switches: Match Dynamic Range and Match Frame Rate.

Both are turned off by default. That means the Apple TV sends everything to the TV using the dynamic range and frame rate chosen during setup, most likely HDR at 50Hz.

Why the defaults can hurt picture quality

With the switches off, a non-HDR film running at 24 frames per second is converted to HDR and 50Hz before it reaches the screen. What Hi-Fi? notes that converting standard dynamic range content to HDR may not preserve the filmmaker's intended look.

The frame rate conversion can also cause judder, a stuttering effect in motion. Turning both settings on lets the box output each film or show in its original format and at the correct frame rate, which the site says gives a more accurate picture and smoother movement.

The small trade-off to accept

There is one downside. When you start content with a different dynamic range or frame rate from the current output, the Apple TV shows a brief black screen while it switches modes.

What Hi-Fi?'s reviewer considers this a small price to pay for better AV performance. The publication also praises the box's upscaling of HD and standard definition material, and says the audio improvements are more noticeable than the gains at 4K.