If you watch a high-quality 2020 AI upscale of the DS9 pilot, "Emissary," the difference is night and day.
Fans have long debated which Star Trek series stands as the pinnacle of the franchise. While The Next Generation gave us philosophy and The Original Series gave us icons, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9) gave us depth. However, watching Season 1 of DS9 on modern 4K televisions can be a jarring experience.
The pursuit of the "best" 4K AI upscale for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine star trek deep space 9 s01 ai upscale 4k 2020 best
Muddy textures on Cardassian architecture, Bajoran uniforms, and the intricate makeup of the alien diaspora. The 2020 Breakthrough: Enter Topaz Video Enhance AI
The Verdict: Is the 2020 4K AI Upscale the Definitive Way to Watch? If you watch a high-quality 2020 AI upscale
Before 2020, upscaling was mostly "interpolation"—software just guessed where pixels should go, resulting in a blurry, "waxy" mess. The release of specialized AI software like changed the game.
: In Season 1, Odo’s liquid-man makeup often looked like a featureless mask in SD. The 4K AI upscale restores subtle shading, making René Auberjonois’ performance even more expressive. However, watching Season 1 of DS9 on modern
: A 1080p release from late 2020 that provided a balanced middle ground in file size (~12 GB per season) compared to the much larger Project Defiant files (~26 GB per season). Viewing Considerations Project Defiant: DS9 4K Upscale of Season 1 Now Available
If you own the DS9 DVD box sets, you can rip the episodes to your computer using and upscale them yourself.