I would guess that the reduced resolution is the product of signal compression. If so, there likely wouldn't be any way to turn it off (what if everyone turned it off?). As I understand it, X1 boxes aren't tuner boxes like we used to have which recieved all the channels at the end of the cable and decided what proceeded to the TV but the X1 box sends a request to a "main server" that responds with the one channel we want to see and it alone is streamed (that would explain the delay in changing channels and other sluggish response from the remote). This frees up an immense amount of bandwidth and if they can compress that one channel down some more they save more bandwidth. This feature wouldn't have an OFF setting either (what if everyone turned it off?). Who knows, maybe in the future one might be able to pay to upgrade to "TRUE 4K" service. Awesome.
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