ROKU-4K-ULTRA-vs-Others.txt 2/26/2019 One Bug- Caution for use of Headphone with the Remote - DO NOT try to turn off TV using the roku remote while you are watching something with Headphone. If your headphone volume was set 30, as soon as you hit the power button on the remote, it shoots the volume to 100. It hurts on ear. Having used the Roku ecosystem for several years, I was looking forward to using my new Roku Ultra. Connecting to an old 1080p TV, the installation was easy, and this Roku worked perfectly. Adding a microSD was simple and improved the Ultra's performance. So far, so good https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B07HDHXZH4/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_hist_5?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=five_star&showViewpoints=0&pageNumber=1 I've used Roku for years,including several different models. Roku has recently released The Roku Channel,which has hundreds of free movies.It is ad supported.And now Locast.org app gives you free local broadcast stations CBS,NBC,FOX,ABC and PBS.Locast now offers local TV network broadcasts for New York,Boston,Chicago,Houston,Dallas,Denver areas and plans to add many more cities.This means many folks will no longer need antennas to watch local networks for free. Roku has just about every app you can imagine (YouTube/Pandora/Netflix/Amazon/Hulu/HBO Now) plus tons of more apps in many different categories.Roku Ultra is their top of the line device,and has many unique features that the other models do not have.Here are some points to consider when deciding on which model of Roku to buy: 1)If you need to connect by WiFi in a room far away from your WiFi router,I would recommend the Roku Streaming Stick PLUS or Roku Ultra. 2)If you have a 4K TV,I would recommend the Roku Ultra or Roku Streaming Stick PLUS. The Premiere 2018 model also plays 4K video. 3)To search for content using your voice,go with either the Streaming Stick,Streaming Stick PLUS or Ultra.All 3 of these models also have a remote that can control the power and volume on a TV.There is also a Roku app for Android & iPhone/iPad that lets you use your smartphone/tablet to control any Roku device and use your phone/tablet on-screen keyboard or voice for searches. 4)If you want a wired ethernet connection,go with the Roku Ultra. 5)If you want to connect to an old TV with RCA/Composite audio/video jacks,you will need the Express PLUS 6)The Express and Premiere 2018 models have a remote where it has to be pointed at the device,unlike the other Roku models. 7)If you are only going to buy one Roku device,I would recommend the Roku Ultra.The Ultra has many unique features that the other Roku models don't such as: -Gaming buttons to play video games -Remote finder to find a lost remote control -Ethernet port for a wired connection -Micro SD card slot -USB Port -Night listening mode (this lowers the volume of loud,explosive sounds and raises the volume of soft sounds like whispers.Bravo!) -Headphone jack on the remote for listening without disturbing others For those who have not used a Roku before,here are some tips that might be helpful: 1)There is no monthly fee to use a Roku.There are many free channels/apps with free movies,music and TV programs and some people use Roku only for the free channels and do not pay any fees. You do NOT have to enter credit card info if you only wish to view free content and you can always add credit card info to your account later for paid channels/apps.If you plan on viewing free content only,I suggest setting up a Roku account before you activate the device.When you reach the page to enter credit card info,some browsers will show a "Skip,I'll add later" option at the bottom.If you do not see this option,simply log out of your account,then log back in.You may have to then enter a different activation code for your device if you skip entering credit card info during device set up,but you do NOT have to enter credit card info if you only want to view free content. 2)Some of the most popular free channels/apps are: YouTube,Pandora radio,The Roku Channel,Pluto TV,Tubi TV,Crackle,CBS News,NBC News,ABC,PBS, PBS KIds and many more.You can also find a free live stream of FOX News on YouTube by searching "Fox News Live" on YouTube. 3)Some of the most popular paid channels/apps are Netflix,Hulu,Amazon video,HBO Now,Vudu,Sling TV,Spectrum TV and Direct TV Now. 4)If you are looking for a bundle of channels of live TV to replace cable TV,check out Sling TV,YouTube TV,Spectrum TV,Direct TV Now,Hulu,Pluto TV and Playstation Vue.All of these are paid services except for Pluto TV,which is free. 5)To find and add new channels on Roku,just press the Home button on the remote control,scroll down and select "Streaming Channels".There you will find thousands of channels/apps in many different categories and many of them are free. My one gripe about Roku (and other streaming devices) is the lack of a fully functional web browser and I hope Roku will include web browsing on models in the near future.I have been surfing the web on the big screen for years and find it ridiculous when an internet connected TV device does not allow you to surf the internet and forces one to switch to yet another internet connected device to do so. I am aware of the screen mirroring function from a smartphone/PC/tablet but find that a poor excuse to not include a web browser.Many people who type a lot of messages and/or emails like myself prefer typing on a wireless keyboard rather than a phone/tablet/remote control. Bottom Line:You can now get a Roku device to replace your cable TV box & service or to replace an antenna for free local network TV.And of course you can create your own custom TV experience that simply is not possible with cable or antenna TV. === Purchase There's NO going back to Satellite or Cable! Outside of the initial purchase cost of ROKU and your recurring internet Bill, THIS IS FREE TV. Don't let the other reviews mislead you about credit cards. YOU DON'T NEED A CC to watch ROKU programming, and there's a LOT of programming to watch! If I remember correctly, all you need to activate your ROKU is a valid email address to register your device. ROKU is also Google and Amazon video friendly. If you subscribe to Amazon Prime, you can get that on your ROKU. You can also get YOUTUBE, YouTube TV , and VUDU 4K on this ROKU ultra 4k device. Can firestick do all that? NO! To the best of my knowledge, you can't add KODI add-ons to ROKU like you can with the firestick. Addressing other reviews that complain about credit cards- that's for other add on services, like HULU, SLING, NETFLIX, etc. ROKU doesn't charge you for that, it's those services that charge you for those specific services. ROKU ULTRA 4K supports DOLBY ATMOS and HDR 10 up to 60fps. IDK if Dolby Vision is any better than HDR, and if it is, I doubt I'd be able to discern the difference. Technology is getting to the point where it's getting beyond the limits of human perception. From 20 ft I can barely tell the difference between 1080p and 4k. Anyway, some folks complain about no support for Dolby Vision. Hey, it's HDR compliant. All the DOLBY VISION TV's I know of also support HDR. I've seen the store displays. I can't tell the difference. My current TV is a 70" Vizio 4k with HDR. When I watch true 4k material from the ROKU ULTRA it's amazing how much depth perception I perceive in the screen. It's very comparable to 3-D, but no glasses are required. I subscribe to HULU for about $13/month, and am a PRIME member. I also watch a lot of VUDU content. I have more than enough options for my viewing habits. My firestick is collecting dust now. BTW, if you want 4k material, you may need to upgrade your data plan to around 20+ mbps. I think 8-10mbps was adequate for 1080. If you're only getting internet speed of 10 mbps or less and can't get 4k to stream, that's not ROKU's fault. That's your ISP's fault or YOUR fault for not doing your homework and thinking it out. If you're on the fence about this, or getting a firestick device- get this ROKU ULTRA. With the voice command features, the lost remote finder, the ability to use your remote with the supplied wired ear buds to listen to programming without disturbing anyone else are winning features in my book. I'd buy it again and highly recommend this device to anyone with a 4k ultra HDR compliant TV and internet service capable of streaming 4k material. ///// Verified Purchase I've been using Roku devices for about six years, and it has been great seeing the company continue to improve its product, especially as more people cut the cord with their cable companies. Roku's flagship device, the Roku Ultra, is one of the best streaming devices on the market today, which is not surprising because it is a small but powerful machine, reasonably priced, that can access virtually all of the popular streaming services. I'll give a little breakdown of my thoughts and experiences with the device. ------------------ Appearance ------------------ The Roku Ultra is about as inconspicuous as a device could be: a small, unobtrusive black box that can easily disappear behind your television or in a media cabinet. It measures about 5" x 5" and is less than an inch tall. There are three jacks in the back of the device for a power cable, an Ethernet cable, and an HDMI cable to connect to your television, as well as a slot for a MicroSD card. The remote is small and fits comfortably in your hand, and it has shortcut buttons that give you one-touch access to some of the most popular streaming services: Netflix, SlingTV, Hulu, and CBS All Access. The remote also has a headphone jack so you can watch content without bothering anyone else, and this packaging of the Roku Ultra actually comes with a pair of "premium" JBL headphones. One thing I love about the Roku Ultra is that the device itself is QUIET. Previous Roku models had fans in them, and while I wouldn't call them loud, they produced a constant background hum. The Ultra is essentially silent. --------- Setup ---------- Setting up the device couldn't be much easier, and instructions are included right in the box. Basically, connect the device to your television via the HDMI cable, connect an Ethernet cable if you have one, plug in the power cable, and put batteries in the remote. The on-screen instructions will lead you through everything from there, including registering the device to your Roku account (including creating an account if you don't already have one). Once you're connected the device will automatically search for and install firmware updates, then update any of the apps that are pre-installed (including those you have attached to your Roku account). Then you just have to log into each app for the different streaming services (Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc.). ------------------ Functioning ------------------ Navigating the Roku menus and watching content is pretty straightforward, especially with such a simple remote control. The interface may be a little clunky, but at least it is easy to use. Most of the menus you use, though, will be within the apps for each streaming service, and some services have better menus than others (Netflix's could use some improvement, for example, but that isn't Roku's fault). As for the actual viewing experience, the quad-core processor means that any hiccups are likely due to problems with the streaming service, your internet service, or your home network (either wired or WiFi) rather than with the Roku device itself. The Ultra is capable of high quality video output, including 4K and HDR. As for audio, it can handle things like DTS Surround Sound and Dolby ATMOS without batting an eye. A brief word about the headphones: This version of the Ultra includes a pair of "premium" JBL headphones. I tried watching a few shows with them, and to be honest I wasn't blown away. Headphones are a very personal thing, and some people just prefer the sound of some brands more than others. Personally I have never had much luck with this type of headphone shape. So while including the headphones is a nice gesture, I don't think they are a strong reason by themselves to choose the Ultra over another model. ---------------------- Other Features ---------------------- The Roku Ultra has some other nice features: 1) The remote control doesn't need to be pointed directly at the Ultra, so you can hide the device in a cabinet or somewhere else out of sight. 2) The remote control can also control your television (for many TV models), which is especially nice for changing the volume level with the buttons on the side of the remote. 3) The microSD slot allows you to insert a microSD card, which can cut down the load time for some apps. 4) If you lose your remote, the "remote finder" function will cause the remote to beep when you press a button on the Ultra. 5) There is "night listening mode" which equalizes volume levels (decreasing the volume of louder moments and increasing the softer ones). 6) A USB port allows you to view content stored on a USB device. Is there anything I would change about the Roku Ultra? A few things: - First, I wish the remote control had buttons that could illuminate because locating the button you want to push can be challenging in a pitch black room. - Second, I wish the four "shortcut" buttons on the remote were programmable. For example, I don't subscribe to CBS All Access, so I would love to be able to re-assign that button to, say, Prime Video. I've read that certain companies have paid good money to be included on those shortcut buttons, so I understand why they can't be changed, but still... it would be nice! ---------------------------------------- Ultra vs. Other Roku Models ---------------------------------------- Many of the higher tier Roku devices share similar features, so it can be challenging to determine whether the Ultra is worth its premium price. To assist with that, here are some features are unique to the Ultra: - Night listening mode - Headphone jack on the remote - Remote finder function - Micro SD slot and USB port - Improved connectivity (i.e. "best" wireless connection and an Ethernet port) The first four things in that list are "neat features," but in my opinion the improved connectivity is the real selling point because it contributes to improved audio and video output. Admittedly I'm a bit of an audiophile, but I absolutely hate pixellation, pauses in shows and movies, buffering, and any other glitches that hamper the viewing experience. The "improved connectivity" comes in two forms: first, the Ultra uses dual-band wireless connectivity, and second, there is an Ethernet port. Even with the improved WiFi functionality, I HIGHLY recommend using a wired network connection for the Ultra if you possibly can because it will give you the most stable connection. If you subscribe to a high-speed internet service, have a good router, and locate your Ultra near the router or another wireless access point, connection problems may not be an issue; but even then, I favor the wired connection! ------------------- Bottom Line ------------------- The Ultra is only one of several great streaming devices made by Roku. Whether it is worth its price depends on how much you value the extra features, which include the headphone jack, remote finder function, USB and Micro SD ports, and night listening mode. But if you are looking for the best viewing experience, the biggest selling point is the improved connectivity via dual-band WiFi or, better still, the Ethernet port. If, like me, you value the quality of the A/V experience, the Ultra is the way to go. //////////////// I purchased six of these cables, and have tried all of them. They will NOT support Dolby Vision. They will support 1080p, but they are apparently NOT Certified Premium. If you watch 4K with Dolby Vision or any HDR, do not use these. Monoprice has a great cable that works flawlessly. Make sure it says Certified Premium if you use cables for 4K Dolby Vision content.