Digital Review Apple TV iTunes: 4K HDR Titles (Bitrates, Peak/Avg Brightness, Atmos) Thread (1 Viewer)

[thebox]

This thread is dedicated to cataloguing and discussing 4K HDR titles available on Apple TV iTunes (for purchase/rental), focusing on bitrates, peak/average brightness (HDR metadata) and Dolby Atmos performance.

I'm committed to updating the thread weekly (starting with daily updates) with newly added 4K titles to my library and data points. If you have tools for testing or insights to share, feel free to contribute your own findings!

P.S: HDR metadata, when present, helps displays perform proper tone mapping by providing info about the content's brightness levels and guiding their tone mapping curves. Some HDR content lacks metadata or has incomplete metadata. In such cases, displays rely on their built-in tone mapping algorithms, which may result in inconsistencies in HDR reproduction.

P.S2: General audio bitrates on Apple TV iTunes are as follows:

• Dolby Atmos: 770 kbps
• Dolby Digital 5.1: 386 kbps

 

[thebox]

Elysium (2013)

• Dolby Vision: Yes
  • Natively graded in Dolby Vision: No (or Unknown)
• Dolby Atmos: Yes
  • Natively mixed in Dolby Atmos: Yes
• Mastered Color Space: DCI-P3
• HDR MaxCLL (Peak Brightness): 3150 nits
• HDR MaxFALL (Average Brightness): 950 nits
• HDR Tier: Excellent HDR Range
• Dolby Atmos Score (out of 50): 42/50
• Atmos Performance: Good
• Native Resolution: True 4K (Digital Intermediate)
• Peak Bitrate: ~30 Mbps
• Average Bitrate: ~25 Mbps
• Real Bitrate (Sustained): ~25 Mbps
• Frame Rate: 23.976 fps
• Aspect Ratio
  • Original: 2.39 : 1
  • Streaming: 2.39 : 1

Observations:

• Shot digitally on RED Epic cameras.
• HDR Grade Type: HDR10 and Dolby Vision versions exist but derived from an SDR master (not native HDR).

 

[Bartman]

Thanks for starting this. I assume your internet connection is not limiting bit rates? So peak bit rate is 1/3 of that from the best UHD Blu-rays. This is obviously movie dependant but a side by side (ATV+ vs UHD) comparison (data & picture quality assessment) on a reference system would be instructive?

 

[thebox]

Thanks for starting this. I assume your internet connection is not limiting bit rates? So peak bit rate is 1/3 of that from the best UHD Blu-rays. This is obviously movie dependant but a side by side (ATV+ vs UHD) comparison (data & picture quality assessment) on a reference system would be instructive?

Hi Trevor,

My internet speed is ~938Mbps with a minimum network bandwidth of ~200Mbps, so bitrate limitations aren’t an issue (I always check before measuring). I let the stream stabilise at 4K resolution and use the Apple TV Developer HUD to monitor bitrates.

A side-by-side comparison (ATV iTunes vs UHD BDs) is a great suggestion, but my physical library is limited compared to my digital collection. UHD discs still offer superior quality, especially for audio (e.g., 770Kbps vs 3-7Mbps for Atmos or DTS-HD). I now prefer streaming for convenience unless the title is a must-have with reference PQ/AQ. I have some movie comparisons here , if you're interested.

Screenshots also can’t fully capture a screen’s dynamic range, which limits their usefulness...

 

[thebox]

The Karate Kid (1984)

• Dolby Vision: Yes
  • Natively graded in Dolby Vision: Yes
• Dolby Atmos: Yes
  • Natively mixed in Dolby Atmos: No (or Unknown)
• Mastered Color Space: BT.2020
• HDR MaxCLL (Peak Brightness): 1045 nits
• HDR MaxFALL (Average Brightness): 207 nits
• HDR Tier: Limited HDR Range
• Dolby Atmos Score (out of 50): 44/50
• Atmos Performance: Good
• Native Resolution: True 4K (Digital Intermediate)
• Peak Bitrate: ~31 Mbps
• Average Bitrate: ~25 Mbps
• Real Bitrate (Sustained): ~28 Mbps
• Frame Rate: 23.976 fps
• Aspect Ratio
  • Original: 1.85 :1
  • Streaming: 1.85 :1

Observations:

• Shot on 35mm film.
• HDR status: Remastered for 4K HDR. Limited HDR impact due to its original cinematography.

 

[thebox]

Baby Driver (2017)

• Dolby Vision: Yes
  • Natively graded in Dolby Vision: Yes
• Dolby Atmos: Yes
  • Natively mixed in Dolby Atmos: Yes
• Mastered Color Space: DCI-P3
• HDR MaxCLL (Peak Brightness): 1041 nits
• HDR MaxFALL (Average Brightness): 273 nits
• HDR Tier: Limited HDR Range
• Dolby Atmos Score (out of 50): 50/50
• Atmos Performance: Excellent
• Native Resolution: 2.8K, finished with a 2K Digital Intermediate (Upscaled 4K for UHD releases)
• Peak Bitrate: ~31 Mbps
• Average Bitrate: ~25 Mbps
• Real Bitrate (Sustained): ~25 Mbps
• Frame Rate: 23.976 fps
• Aspect Ratio
  • Original: 2.39 :1
  • Streaming: 2.39 :1

Observations:

• The production showcases a mix of digital and film cinematography, utilising the Arri Alexa Mini and Alexa XT Plus (known for their high dynamic range and suitability for fast-paced car sequences) for digital capture, complemented by the Arricam LT and ST models (renowned for capturing smooth and detailed motion) and the Panavision Panaflex Millennium XL2 (a favourite for high-budget productions delivering rich colour depth) for 35mm film sequences.

 

[Chris Will]

Is, when it comes to digital store fronts, is the general consensus that the Apple TV Store, or iTunes, has the best quality?

And what is its actual name these days since Apple seems to have dropped the iTunes name almost everywhere.

 

[Neil S. Bulk]

• Dolby Atmos Score (out of 50): 44/50
• Atmos Performance: Good

How do you come to these numbers and ratings? It seems subjective, while other details such as peak and average brightness and bitrate are all objective.

 

[thebox]

How do you come to these numbers and ratings? It seems subjective, while other details such as peak and average brightness and bitrate are all objective.

Hey Neil,

I use an automated setup for analysing Dolby Atmos (or EAC3-JOC) on streaming services. Here's my process:

1) Calibrated microphones (MiniDSP UMIK-1) placed at key positions.
2) HTPC (with ASIO drivers, 5.1.2 bed layer) running REW and my own Python scripts.
3) Playback of key scenes (via streaming platforms).
4) Audio capture from the AVR to evaluate:

• Height channel activity (*see below)
• Dynamic range
• Dialogue (center channel)
• LFE activity (still fine-tuning this part)

Results are processed through my trained AI model (part of my 4K database project for movie suggestions as well, though this feature is currently disabled for (again) further fine-tuning). Then, the model compares the data to real Dolby Atmos reference demos (extracted from UHD BD discs, one per genre) to assess mix quality, generating a Dolby Atmos score (between 30-50) and a brief report for each movie.
... Last but not least, I subjectively (as you mentioned) compare my own impressions to the generated score. If I feel it’s overrated, I adjust the ranking accordingly (e.g, from Good to Average or Excellent to Good). However, I’ve never had to adjust a score from Excellent to Average or vice versa, if that were to happen, it would indicate a major flaw in my "system".

* For height channels, I only analyse how often they're used during key scenes. This is a simplified approach focused on Height channel activity, not object-level decoding like a Trinnov, which can easily cost over $20K (at least here in Australia).

 

[thebox]

Is, when it comes to digital store fronts, is the general consensus that the Apple TV Store, or iTunes, has the best quality?

And what is its actual name these days since Apple seems to have dropped the iTunes name almost everywhere.

Chris,

Many users (myself included) still refer to it as iTunes to differentiate it from the Apple TV+ streaming service, which often causes confusion.

In terms of quality, the general consensus is that the Apple TV store offers some of the best quality for digital purchases (I can't compare it against to Movies Anywhere, as I'm not based in the US and can't sign-up even when using a VPN). They frequently upgrade movies to 4K HDR (including Dolby Vision) at no extra cost and their Dolby Atmos support is top-notch. I believe it's a solid choice for building a high-quality library, especially if you're not looking to spend significantly more on UHD physical media (still the king).

P.S: I may soon update my own Streaming Services' Statistics to include Apple TV (Buy/Rent) along with the missing overall bitrate values per service. Thank you for the 'implicit' reminder!

 

[thebox]

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)

• Dolby Vision: Yes
  • Natively graded in Dolby Vision: Unknown (likely)
• Dolby Atmos: Yes
  • Natively mixed in Dolby Atmos: Yes
• Mastered Color Space: BT.2020
• HDR MaxCLL (Peak Brightness): 2636 nits
• HDR MaxFALL (Average Brightness): 747 nits
• HDR Tier: Excellent HDR Range
• Dolby Atmos Score (out of 50): 49/50
• Atmos Performance: Excellent
• Native Resolution: True 4K
• Peak Bitrate: ~31 Mbps
• Average Bitrate: ~25 Mbps
• Real Bitrate (Sustained): ~29 Mbps
• Frame Rate: 23.976 fps
• Aspect Ratio
  • Original: 2.39 :1
  • Streaming: 2.39 :1

Observations:

• The production primarily utilized the Arri Alexa 65, the Red Komodo and Red V-Raptor cameras. The source formats are ARRIRAW (6.5K) and Redcode RAW (8K). Although not publicly specified, it is likely to have been graded natively in Dolby Vision!

 

[Chris Will]

My go to store front is Apple's, especially since I am heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem. I was just curious what you and others thought.


I really appreciate this thread, subjective or objective, doesn't matter to me. I hope you keep it up. There is a severe lack of digital store front movie reviews across the sites I visit on a regular basis.

 

[Jeff Whitford]

Thank you for doing this thread and the link to your comparisons thread. I've been trying to find UHD disc to streaming with little luck. It will be nice to have it somewhere I frequent often. I would love to have the comparisons in this thread. Again, THANK YOU!!!!!

 

[thebox]

My go to store front is Apple's, especially since I am heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem. I was just curious what you and others thought.


I really appreciate this thread, subjective or objective, doesn't matter to me. I hope you keep it up. There is a severe lack of digital store front movie reviews across the sites I visit on a regular basis.

Thanks Chris, I'll never stop!

 

[thebox]

Thank you for doing this thread and the link to your comparisons thread. I've been trying to find UHD disc to streaming with little luck. It will be nice to have it somewhere I frequent often. I would love to have the comparisons in this thread. Again, THANK YOU!!!!!

Hey Jeff,

I was in the same boat. After two years of collecting my own data, I decided to take the first step and create my first Google spreadsheet. However, the list grew so much that I had to convert it into a proper database. A few months later, I decided to share it with the world.

Thanks for the words, they’re fuel for this passionate hobby!

P.S: It's on my to-do list, but I'll definitely be adding more UHD vs Streaming factor/quality comparisons over the next month and will let you know when I update them.

 

[thebox]

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

• Dolby Vision: Yes
  • Natively graded in Dolby Vision: Unknown (likely)
• Dolby Atmos: Yes
  • Natively mixed in Dolby Atmos: Yes
• Mastered Color Space: DCI-P3
• HDR MaxCLL (Peak Brightness): 897 nits
• HDR MaxFALL (Average Brightness): 497 nits
• HDR Tier: Excellent HDR Range
• Dolby Atmos Score (out of 50): 50/50
• Atmos Performance: Excellent
• Native Resolution: True 4K
• Peak Bitrate: ~31 Mbps
• Average Bitrate: ~25 Mbps
• Real Bitrate (Sustained): ~25 Mbps
• Frame Rate: 23.976 fps
• Aspect Ratio
  • Original: 2.39 : 1 (1.90 : 1 - IMAX, some scenes)
  • Streaming: 2.39 : 1

Observations:

• Shot primarily on the Sony CineAlta Venice IMAX and Sony CineAlta Venice Rialto IMAX. Captured in 6K, the footage was processed and color-graded before being finalised in a 4K Digital Intermediate (DI). While the DI format confirms high-quality HDR grading, IMDb does not explicitly list Dolby Vision as part of the native grading process, leaving uncertainty about whether Dolby Vision metadata was applied during post-production or later in the mastering stage...

 

[thebox]

La La Land (2016)

• Dolby Vision: Yes
  • Natively graded in Dolby Vision: Yes
• Dolby Atmos: Yes
  • Natively mixed in Dolby Atmos: Yes
• Mastered Color Space: DCI-P3
• HDR MaxCLL (Peak Brightness): 1009 nits
• HDR MaxFALL (Average Brightness): 999 nits
• HDR Tier: Excellent HDR Range
• Dolby Atmos Score (out of 50): 50/50
• Atmos Performance: Excellent
• Native Resolution: 2K (Upscaled 4K)
• Peak Bitrate (Static): ~64 Mbps
• Average Bitrate (Static): ~25 Mbps
• Real-Time Average Bitrate: ~25 Mbps
• Frame Rate: 23.976 fps
• Aspect Ratio
  • Original: 2.55 : 1 - CinemaScope
  • Streaming: 2.39 : 1 (2.55 : 1 - CinemaScope)

Observations:

• Shot primarily on Super 35mm film using the Panavision Panaflex Millennium XL2, paired with Panavision Primo, C-, and E-Series anamorphic lenses for its signature CinemaScope look. One scene was captured on Super 16mm. The film was finalized in a 2K Digital Intermediate (DI). Despite a native 2K DI, the movie was released in Dolby Vision HDR.
• MaxFALL (the brightest full-frame average) being nearly identical to MaxCLL (peak pixel brightness), 999 vs 1009 nits, suggests a metadata error rather than actual brightness levels. Typically, MaxFALL is much lower, as only a few pixels reach peak brightness. This likely results from a rounding issue or an improperly set MaxFALL cap.

 

[thebox]

Just a couple of minor comments:

1) The HDR metadata is retrieved using an HDFury Integral 2 device.
2) Bitrate details section has been updated to reflect the following terminology:

• Peak Bitrate (Static): ~XX Mbps
• Average Bitrate (Static): ~XX Mbps
• Real-Time Average Bitrate: ~XX Mbps

Where:

• Static values are set by the streaming service
• Real-Time values are measured during playback.