Dolby Vision has become a key selling point for streaming platforms. Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video and Apple TV+ proudly tell us that the best HDR quality is just a click away. Yet behind this seductive promise lies a far more complicated reality.
Dolby Vision is not a single format. Its different versions vary considerably depending on the distribution mode: streaming, UHD Blu-ray disc, broadcast, etc. So, despite advances in streaming, UHD Blu-ray remains the best source today for enjoying Dolby Vision in its most accomplished version. We explain why.
Dolby Vision has multiple facets
Unlike HDR10, which is based on a standardized structure, Dolby Vision comes in several “profiles”, each adapted to a specific delivery mode: streaming, UHD Blu-ray, broadcasting, remux files, etc.
Streaming platforms generally rely on so-called “single layer” profiles, in which a single video stream contains both the image and Dolby Vision metadata. This is the case with profiles 5 and 8.x, widely used on Netflix, Disney+ and other streaming services.
On paper, these profiles are still effective: they enable dynamic HDR reproduction, with convincing brightness and contrast. But they only reflect a simplified version of Dolby Vision.
UHD Blu-ray discs, on the other hand, use the far more comprehensive Profile 7. The latter is available in the MEL (Minimum Enhancement Layer) version, which is fairly similar to what you’ll find in streaming, or in the FEL (Full Enhancement Layer) version, which is far more technically demanding.
This is precisely where the real difference in quality between streaming and Blu-ray comes into play.
MEL, FEL: what really differentiates streaming from UHD Blu-ray?
Dolby Vision MEL provides a slight improvement designed to optimize certain nuances in brightness and color. It’s a welcome development, but one with fairly limited effects.
Dolby Vision FEL, on the other hand, adds a complete second video layer that enriches the HDR10 base with valuable information for dark scenes, subtle gradations, fine textures and cinematic grain.
This additional layer can represent several megabits per second of video data, which no streaming service can transmit. In particular, it enables much finer management of shadows, as well as much greater image stability.
Considered the format’s most advanced form, Dolby Vision FEL is only available on UHD Blu-ray discs. Other platforms don’t offer this level of quality, and neither do MKV or MP4 files.
The limitations of streaming in relation to actual bandwidth
Regardless of Dolby Vision profiles, another major constraint affects streaming quality: bandwidth. Platforms have to distribute their content on a massive scale, and deal with highly variable connections for different users. As a result, the video stream is highly compressed to adapt to the available bandwidth, which has a direct impact on image quality.
In practice, a movie in Dolby Vision on Netflix or Disney+ fluctuates between 12 and 20 Mb/s, rarely more than 25 Mb/s.
In contrast, UHD Blu-ray offers data rates of between 50 and 80 Mb/s, with peaks of up to 128 Mb/s.
The difference is considerable. The higher the compression, the greater the deterioration of:
- fine details, especially in textures and faces
- gradual transitions in gradations (skies, mist, smoke, shadows)
- the natural look of cinema grain
- stability in dark scenes
- sharpness in fast movements
This is why films such as Dune, The Batman, 1917 and Blade Runner 2049 offer a far superior visual experience on UHD Blu-ray than via their Dolby Vision release on platforms.
Why UHD Blu-ray remains the benchmark for discerning movie lovers
When you put everything into perspective, the advantage of the physical disc becomes obvious. It offers:
- more comprehensive Dolby Vision, thanks to Profile 7, including FEL
- much higher bandwidth, guaranteeing a stable, rich image
- smoother compression that better respects the director’s intentions
- far superior audio quality, with lossless Dolby Atmos
- a visual and audio experience more faithful to the studio master
Streaming remains extremely practical, but its technical limitations are very real. Today, UHD Blu-ray remains the most reliable solution for home theater enthusiasts keen to preserve the original quality of a film.
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