jeudi 25 août 2016

Netflix on Bolt: HEVC @ 1080p?

I have a Roamio rather than a Bolt, so can't answer this for myself. I know the Bolt can decode streams encoded in the most advanced codec, HEVC (also known as h.265), which is what Netflix uses for all of their UHD 4K streams. But Netflix apparently also encodes at least some 1080p content in HEVC as well. According to this page testing Netflix on the Nvidia Shield (which, like the Bolt, can handle UHD video and HEVC encodes), Netflix replaces its normal top-quality 1080p stream, encoded in the older h.264 codec at 5.8 Mbps, with a 1080p stream encoded in HEVC at 5.16 Mbps. Additionally, they offer an even higher 1080p HEVC stream at 6.96 Mbps. Both of those streams would presumably look better than the normal top-quality 1080p h.264 5.8 Mbps stream available on most streaming boxes, including the Roamio. So, even if you don't own a UHD 4K TV and therefore can't access UHD streams from Netflix, your Bolt may be giving you higher-quality 1080p HD from Netflix than you'd otherwise get.

You can check out which kinds of streams Netflix is serving your Bolt using this test video: http://ift.tt/2bAUAJ5
The test video is titled El Fuente: 60 Main10
As the video progresses, it changes the resolution, bitrate and possibly codec of the stream it serves you, with the information printed on-screen.

I'm curious whether Bolt owners see the 5.16 and 6.96 Mbps 1080p HEVC streams from Netflix. I'm also curious if seeing those streams is dependent on whether or not you're subscribed to Netflix's most expensive $12 premium plan (which is required for UHD 4K) or if you can access them with the $10 standard plan.


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