Recently, the concept of 8K is very popular, but do you know what 8K is? Except for industry professionals, people may not be able to tell the specific parameter details and industry standards, but everyone should agree that 8K technology is ahead of the currently popular 4K technology. So what is 8K? In addition to being “clearer” than 4K, what other advantages does 8K have? How to achieve an 8K video LED wall.
What is 8K?
Before we can understand 8K, we need to talk about the concept of pixels and video resolution.
Pixels:
- The little dots you see when you zoom in on an image are pixels.
- All the dots (pixels) come together to form a complete image.
- A pixel is the smallest unit of a captured image.
Video Resolution:
- Video resolution is the number of pixels contained in each frame.
- Resolution = number of pixels in horizontal direction x number of pixels in vertical direction.
In general, the higher the video resolution, the more pixels it contains and the clearer the image will be.
Now that we understand the concept of video resolution, let’s understand what 8K is.
8K is the Ultra HD video technology that comes closest to the true vision of the human eye and is the top specification in the current Ultra HDTV standard. Its core feature is first and foremost its ultra-high resolution, with each image consisting of 4,320 vertical lines from top to bottom, and each line consisting of 7,680 horizontal pixels, for a total of 33 million pixels to make up an image.
The video resolution of 8K is four times that of 4K, with more than 8 million pixels per frame, and more than 16 times that of 1080P, with more than 2 million pixels per frame. Because of its ultra-high resolution, 8K video has a much finer and clearer image with rich, lifelike detail. In addition to resolution, 8K also has a wide color bit width, high frame rate, and other index characteristics. Let us check how big the gap is between 1080P and 8K image.
The above image shows the human eye feels the same clarity, 1080P, 4K and 8K can present the size of the screen. To put it another way, for an 85-inch TV with 8K technology, we will not feel the pixel dots when we watch from 0.5m away from the screen, but 4K must be at least 2.7m and 1080P need to be a long way from the screen.
Development and Challenges of 8K Video Technology
As early as 2005, Japan’s NHK TV demonstrated this technology at the Aichi Expo and used it in a live broadcast in 2006. Because of the uncompressed video transmission at that time, the total volume of the 20-minute video reached 4TB!
The huge amount of storage space not only affects the development of 8K video technology, the signal transmission is also a very high challenge. Subsequently, after a number of iterations of technology updates, now through hardware codec technology, has been reduced to 8K video size, so that it can be played out on home computers and TVs.
Although 8K display devices are available today, they have not been massively popularized in broadcast television, mainly due to high production costs and imperfect transmission technology.
Production Costs
Although the price of 8K TV on the market is affordable, the cost of producing 8K TV programs is still high, 8K TV programs want to go into the common people’s homes, there is still a long way to go.
Producing mature 8K technology programs is more demanding and difficult to shoot and edit.
One minute of 8K video is about 194GB of memory, and the requirements for storage devices are much higher than traditional video technology.
Currently, 8K technology is used in the broadcast of mega events such as the National Day parade and the global Olympics.
Transmission Technology
In the process of 8K video transmission, video codec and transmission bandwidth are two key influencing factors, and although there are technical solutions, they are still not perfect.
8K video data volume is huge, the transmission process needs to be compressed and decompressed, which involves the video codec technology. At present, the codec technology standard is constantly developing and upgrading with the maturity of 8K technology.
- The traditional video codec standard H.264 is insufficient to meet the compression ratio of 8K video with excessive data volume, and it is difficult to meet the transmission requirements.
- In 2013, the International Telecommunication Union ITU promulgated the H.265 standard, which is twice as efficient as H.264 in compressed video.
- In 2020, the new generation standard H.266/VCC will reduce the video bit rate by half compared with H.265 without affecting the picture quality.
8K video has high transmission bandwidth requirements, combined with the current 5G technology, can effectively solve the transmission bandwidth problem.
- 5G has high-speed transmission, and low-latency characteristics, and the peak rate can reach 20Gbps.
- The current commercial 5G download speed has reached 90~100MB/S, which meets the transmission requirements of 8K video.
In addition, the 8K standard also includes specifications for color space, color depth, refresh rate, and even audio standards in broadcast television.
How will 8K change our lives?
Although we can’t see 8K TV programs at home yet, the day will come as 8K technology matures. So in addition to TV programs, what application can 8K be used in the future, and how will it change our lives?
With the development of “5G”, “VR/AR”, “AI” and other technologies, 8K can be combined with them in different applications:
Distance Learning
Combined with 5G technology,8K will help the further development of remote online teaching. For example, during an epidemic, the application of 5G+8K technology can provide an immersive teaching experience for students studying at home.
Home audio-visual
Combined with VR/AR technology, 8K technology applied to home TVs will provide users with a more realistic immersive experience.
Telemedicine
With the technical means of 5G+8K, top medical experts can share medical experience and remote consultation in different places in real-time, winning time for patients. In clinical surgery, clear and precise images can provide a more realistic display of the internal organs and structures of the human body, providing a guarantee for more in-depth surgery.
Security Monitoring
The rich and fine details of 8K images make it unnecessary for surveillance departments to set up multiple cameras to see different areas, and can better restore the real details of information in the same scene, saving costs.
Overall, 8K UHD video technology provides the most extreme and realistic viewing experience so far, and in the future, it will be combined with all kinds of technologies to bring us new scene, new vision and new experience with UHD video as the carrier.
How to archive 8K LED video wall
Above, we have mentioned that although 8K is not popular in the consumer TV field, it is important in some commercial areas, such as: large-scale security surveillance video walls, stage performances, and high-definition advertising backdrops. So, How to build an 8K LED video wall?
To achieve an 8K resolution LED video wall system (7680 x 4320 pixels), we would need 33,177,600 pixels in total. The system mainly consists of two parts, one is the LED display panel and the other is the HD video processor. For LED panels, It is recommended to use LED display screens with pixel pitch lower than P1.53, such as: P1.53, P1.25, and P0.95 LED video wall. For video processors, we recommend NovaPro UHD Jr.
Size and Pitch:
| Pixel Pitch | Approximate Area Size (m²) |
|---|---|
| P1.53 | 79.44 |
| P1.25 | 51.84 |
| P0.95 | 29.90 |
SightLED’s 8K LED Video Wall Solution:
At SightLED, we can provide many HD indoor LED video walls for 8K. Our experts can help you figure out the best options for your needs.
1)HD SL-A series HD LED Display
HD SL-A Series LED displays are designed to meet all kinds of project requirements. Our cabinets come in different sizes: 320mm x 640mm, 640mm x 640mm, 960mm x 480mm, and 640mm x 480mm. You can mix and match these sizes for any project.
HD SL-A Series HD LED displays are great at dissipating heat and are easy to install. With the inner fixed reinforcement plate and shockproof design, you can use these cabinets for over 10 years without any problems. You’ll find our cabinets are accurate, fast, lightweight, and flexible, which makes them perfect for all kinds of installation applications.
- Pixel Pitch：P1.25/P1.53/1.66/1.86/2/2.5mm
- Strong stability: Use high-quality components and sophisticated processing technology to ensure high quality.
- High gray: Perfect grayscale performance when brightness down to 20%.
- High contrast: high-quality black LEDs make the image clear and sharp.
- Super wide viewing angle with exquisite image: the view angle is up to160 °/160 °
- High refresh rate: No stripes for HD camera shooting.
2)HD SL-B series HD SL-B LED video wall
The HD SL-B Series HD LED Display is designed to deliver an amazing visual experience. With a 16:9 screen ratio, it perfectly matches most standard videos, providing stunning 2K, 4K, and 8K displays. You’ll enjoy a clear, crisp, and vibrant viewing experience.
Installation is easy and fast, thanks to our lightweight yet durable standard brackets. You’ll find transportation and setup a breeze. Our HD LED screens are built to adapt to different installation environments, so you can be sure they’ll perform great every time.
- Pixel Pitch：P1.25/1.53/1.66/1.86/2/2.5mm
- High-Quality Black LEDs
- Unparalleled Display Quality
- 16:9 Perfect Sizing
- Magnetic Module
- High Reliability
- Silent Running
- Compact & Lightweight
- Superior Heat Dissipation Performance
- Seamless Splicing
3) HD SL-C series LED video walls
The HD SL-C series LED video walls are built with an aluminum frame for precision and strength, so they’re great at dissipating heat. They come in a few different sizes, including 1000x250x33mm (5.8kg), 750x250x33mm (4.4kg), and 500x250x33mm (2.9kg).
These video walls are super slim, only 33mm thick, you can wall-mount them without taking up much space. Thanks to front maintenance design, hard connections to reduce errors, you will get fast install and stable performance.
In addition, the HD SL-C series supports hot swapping and wireless connection. The modules use HUB connections for safer signal transmission, you can count on continuous operation and uninterrupted maintenance.
For 8K display, You will enjoy a higher refresh rate of up to 7680Hz, which reduces screen flicker and enhances image clarity.
- Pixel Pitch：P1.25/1.53/1.66/1.86/2/2.5mm
- Slim design: thickness 33mm
- Light weight: <5.8kg
- Completely front access, easy for maintenance
- Wireless connection, more stable
- Hight contrast & Refresh rate
8K Video Wall Controller
The NovaPro UHD Jr is NovaStar’s all-in-one controller with top-notch video processing and LED screen configuration features.
It can handle 4K×2K@60Hz image processing with a bunch of different video input connectors. The NovaPro UHD Jr delivers top-notch video through Neutrik Ethernet and optical fiber ports.
This 8K Video wall controller is perfect for stage control, conferences, exhibitions, and high-end rental applications. It’s also great for fine-pitch LED displays. Try out the NovaPro UHD Jr and see how it can transform your visual presentations!
- HDMI / DP / DVI / 12G-SDI
- 10,400,000 pixels
- 3 Layers + 1 BKG
- HDR10-Optima, Low Latency
- Provides 1 × DP 1.2, 4 × DVI, 1 × HDMI 2.0 with loop output and 2 × 12G-SDI with loop output.
- Provides 16 × Neutrik Ethernet output and 4 × optical fiber output, with loading capacity up to 10,400,000 pixels.
- The maximum width is 16K and maximum height is 8K.
Conclusion:
As technology advances, 8K offers unparalleled image clarity, vibrant colors, and incredible detail, making it ideal for a range of Ultra HD applications.
Although we have introduced 8K technology and how to build an 8K LED video wall some guide. If you need more details, please feel free to contact us.
8K Video Walls FAQs:
Why choose 8K resolution?
Choosing 8K resolution provides superior image quality and a seamless real-time video experience. The high pixel density eliminates blur and pixelation, providing clear, crisp visuals ideal for gaming, presentations, and other high-resolution applications.
Can 8K video walls support HDR?
Yes, most 8K LED video walls support HDR technology. HDR makes colors pop and makes images look more realistic.
Can you customize your 8K video walls?
Yes, we can customize them. 8K video walls can be made to fit any space and suit any need. They can be shaped and sized to suit your requirements, so you can be sure of getting the best viewing experience.
How much do 8K video walls cost?
The cost of 8K video walls varies widely depending on factors such as panel size, software, maintenance, and installation. Due to the advanced technology involved, these video walls can be quite expensive.
What’s the difference between 8K and 4K?
The main difference between 8K and 4K resolutions is the number of pixels. An 8K display has four times as many pixels as a 4K display, which makes the image much sharper and clearer. 8K screens pack in up to 33 million pixels, which makes for a super smooth and detailed visual experience.
What’s the deal with 8K video walls in terms of power and connectivity?
8K video walls use a device called a loop-through to connect multiple displays, so you can use one input to feed all the screens. They’re powered by special software, like Nastar, which manages and controls the visual content.
