As one of TechRadar’s TV reviewers, 4K Blu-ray is integral to my testing process. That’s because 4K Blu-ray discs provide consistent picture quality, along with a higher bitrate compared to streaming (128Mbps for 4K Blu-ray vs 17-25Mbps average with 4K streaming). They also provide uncompressed soundtracks, making them a superior option for audio testing.
As part of TechRadar’s Home Theater Week, I thought I’d share what 4K Blu-rays I use for testing not only the best TVs, but also the best soundbars and best projectors. There are four discs I routinely use, though my rotation has changed over time and I’m always discovering new discs for testing via our monthly Blu-ray Bounty feature, where we review the best 4K Blu-ray releases from each month.
Black levels and contrast
The main disc I use for testing a TV’s black levels and contrast is The Batman. This disc was mastered at 400 nits of brightness, compared to the industry standard of 1,000 nits, making it a challenging source for TVs and projectors to handle. One of the movie’s opening scenes, at Mayor Mitchell’s house, is great for testing how well a TV can reveal shadow detail, and it also shows up any black crush (a loss of detail in darker areas).
This scene also features shots of lamps and torches balanced against dark surroundings, which is perfect for evaluating contrast. Here I’ll be looking for both high peak brightness and deep black levels, something the best OLED TVs often display.
Other discs I use for testing black levels and contrast include Alien: Romulus, a movie that features many scenes with deep shadows, especially in the shots of space and dark tunnels.
Nosferatu also features several challenging dark scenes, such as one where Hutler first visits Count Orlock’s castle. Dark City is a new 4K disc that I will be adding to my rotation, thanks to its many scenes with deep black levels and strong contrast.
Color
There are several discs I use for color testing, but my primary one is Wicked. Not only does Wicked feature incredibly vibrant and punchy colors that convey the magical feel of Oz, but its colors also strike a balance between gaudiness and realism.
The Wizard & I scene is my go-to as it features a tree with bright pink flowers, Elphaba’s green skin and the blues of the students’ uniforms.
Other discs I use for evaluating color include the animated movie The Wild Robot. I have also used La La Land, looking at the vibrant blues and purples in the night sky and Mia’s yellow dress in the A Lovely Night musical scene. All of these discs are great for evaluating color, but Wicked is the most essential one for me.
Motion handling
For motion testing, my primary 4K discs are No Time To Die and Top Gun: Maverick. In No Time To Die, a scene early on where a camera pans across a cemetery on a rocky hillside can easily reveal judder and motion blur artifacts. Watching it also lets me explore a TV’s motion settings to determine if they can reduce those artifacts without adding a soap opera effect to movies.
Top Gun: Maverick features many scenes with fast-moving jets and quick panning camera shots. Famously, Tom Cruise and director Joseph Kosinski said this movie should be viewed with all motion settings turned off. Unfortunately, that won’t be a good idea for TVs that are ill-equipped to handle fast motion.
Black and white uniformity
Although it may not be the first thing you’d think of nowadays, it’s important to test TVs using black and white images. These are useful for testing screen uniformity, which is a TV’s ability to evenly display areas of the same color, black, white, and gray included.
Many recent movies (Mad Max: Fury Road and Furiosa, Oppenheimer) feature black and white scenes, and more black and white movies are getting 4K Blu-ray releases, so there is a practical benefit here as well.
While I’ve come across several great black and white movie discs in my Blu-ray Bounty reviews, I continue to use the black and white scenes in Oppenheimer, especially one where Strauss and Oppenheimer first meet at the university. This scene has an excellent balance of black (Oppenheimer’s suit and the office), white (the common room window, building and some details on Strauss’ suit) and gray tones, making it perfect for testing screen uniformity.
Sound quality
Another important aspect of TV testing is the set’s built-in sound. How accurate is the bass, soundstage and speech performance? It’s important to know this with TVs and some projectors, as it will tell you if you’re going to need to factor a soundbar into your budget.
My main 4K disc for testing sound is The Batman. I use the Batmobile/Penguin chase scene where the Batmobile is first introduced. The rumble of its engine is perfect for testing bass power and control, and the ever-present rain is good for testing height channels. With constantly swerving traffic, bullets and car collisions, this scene is also great for testing sound effect mapping, or the connection between the sound and the action on screen.
I also use Top Gun: Maverick for testing Dolby Atmos and surround effects, primarily the Darkstar mission in the movie’s opening. I will also use musicals such as Wicked and La La Land for testing, evaluating the clarity of vocals, the balance of instruments, and the soundstage width.
