Playback paths and evidence¶
At a glance
Describe what happens to the source before judging quality. A more complete signal path is not, by itself, proof of a visible improvement.
Practical playback paths¶
| Path | Picture treatment | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Full composition → higher-precision output | BL, EL and RPU contribute; precision is retained through a qualified transport | Filters, arithmetic, metadata and physical output still need validation |
| Full composition → 10-bit output | FEL is reconstructed, then rounded or dithered before output | Quantisation occurs earlier; implementations can differ before this step too |
| BL + adapted DV metadata | FEL residual is omitted; suitable RPU information is retained/adapted | Metadata is not a replacement for the missing residual; source/mapping consistency must be checked |
| HDR10 base playback | Uses the compatible base picture without DV processing | No DV residual or display-management benefit; not necessarily poor-looking |
| Playback failure | Container, decoder, profile handling or output negotiation fails | An HDR10-compatible BL does not guarantee every app can open the complete file |
These are processing categories; the Video page ranks them for FEL discs by fidelity to the disc, including the riskiest case of base layer plus unmodified metadata. They are not verdicts on how every title looks. On a MEL source, omitting an inactive residual has a different significance from omitting an active FEL residual. On an HDR10-only source, there is no FEL information to recover.
Evidence levels used in this wiki¶
| Level | What is demonstrated | What remains unproven |
|---|---|---|
| P0 · Base layer | HDR10-compatible picture plays | DV metadata or FEL use |
| P1 · Base + metadata | Appropriate RPU data is used or forwarded | FEL reconstruction |
| P2 · FEL composition | BL, EL and RPU contribute to the image | Reference-matching arithmetic and filters |
| P3 · Bounded mathematical validation | Intermediate values match a named oracle on a stated corpus | Every legal stream or physical HDMI output |
| P4 · Transport validation | Logical samples and metadata verified at HDMI output | Display light output or perceptual superiority |
| V · Perceptual evaluation | A controlled viewing/listening result | Mathematical identity |
P3/P4 need an actual report. No device is assigned a locally measured P3/P4 result in this edition.
Function, accuracy and visibility¶
Function: is the residual active? Accuracy: how far does output differ from the chosen reference? Visibility: can that difference be seen under controlled conditions?
A 10-bit dithered image may look very close to a higher-precision one. A small systematic numerical error may also be visible in a particular gradient. Neither conclusion follows from a format label alone.
Picture output · Player comparison · Test design
Reviewed 6 November 2026 · EDITORIAL · classification and evaluation framework