Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Resolved Question

UHD TV Concerns

Mar 16, 2018 7:53AM PDT

Hello,
So I have bought for myself an expensive Samsung UHD TV thinking the picture quality will satisfy my every nitpicky needs, since it should be very good.
However ever since I just have frustration because of trying to send over DVD quality content and youtube, and desktop picture through Chromecast, and never can get a satisfying picture, because either it seems too dim, too dark for me, if I set it to show the color range of the source and not the native colors, or if I turn up the nativ colors, I get a brighter picture, but also detail loss. HDR+ mode would provide a center range but it is also darknes the picture and also pales skins and such.
My question is, that I need to live with this, since I should have just bought a HD TV to get more accurate picture, or I can do something with fiddling with more settings I do not understand?
THere are settings like "White Balance" or setting a Custom "Color Space", but there are a lot of sliders in these ones, and I do not understand what should I do with them. Could I get a closer to real, better picture quality with fiddling with these settings? If I could, can someone tell me how? Can someone tell me a setting, with numbers, how it should look good?

Sincerely
Richard Kutsera

Discussion is locked

Ryuuzaki88 has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer
- Collapse -
I wonder. Is HDMI 1 special in any way?
Mar 24, 2018 1:51PM PDT

I ask since you know your set and I'd have to google, read the manual.

I've heard of calibration limitations if the port is not HDMI 2.x (for UDH 4K sets), has CeC or ARC.

- Collapse -
Actually don't know
Mar 24, 2018 2:31PM PDT

I actually don't know this, neither I know what CeC or ARC means. I looked at the printed manual I did not find information about this. I will look into E-manual tomorrow(it is too late at night for now for me to care), but as I see it on the behind of the tv, at the HDMI ports it simply says "HDMI in 1" "HDMI in 2" but at "HDMI 3 in" it also says "(ARC)". So I am guessing the 1 and 2 are okay, and only 3 is limited?

- Collapse -
You have jumped out of the arena
Mar 24, 2018 3:11PM PDT

Simple google searches will clear up those terms. A lot more reading through the specific model thread at AVS will help you understand the parameters you are working with when either adjusting or calibrating your rig. Read then return here if needed to firm up your situation. Right now you are still firmly in entry level territory. Best to leave the hard stuff alone for now IMNSHO.

- Collapse -
Leaving hard stuff alone
Mar 24, 2018 3:18PM PDT

THat is what i am trying to do, I am trying to leave it alone, and watch the tv as it looks nice, not caring if it is different than what the laptop shows since it does not seem like I could do anything about it. The limit on the HDMI port does not matter since the Chromecast device itself limits the color range anyhow, and it cannot be avoided...maybe with a Chromecast Ultra, I do not know what color range that sends...

The laptop concerns me still for my drawings. I need a little chance for that the colors I use when I draw are at least close to standard colors, that is what I bought the Sypder 5 Express for. I need to wait for that, and hope that what it does will make me content, instead of screwing it up, and do the opposite.

- Collapse -
New Update: Service menu?
Mar 29, 2018 11:55AM PDT

Hello,
Just I thought I update on new findings, altough Im going home for Easter and you will probably also be offline for a while. Anyway, I got to know that there is a "local dimming" function possibly in my samsung tv, that causes my picture quality to worsen. I certainly do not see it as bright as my monitors.
Unfortunately, I only have a smarth remote with my tv, and the Service Menu by my findings is only acessable by pushing certain buttons that are not present on the smarth remote. I have ordered an universal samsung remote from e-bay, I will try with it after Easter when it arrives.
Do you think it is worth it, or too risky? I heared it can screw up the tv. I would just want to check if there is a local dimming option that I can turn off for good.

- Collapse -
I continue to write
Mar 29, 2018 12:14PM PDT

That anyone getting into the service menu and messing up the TV deserves what they did. They do explode, scream and screech over how much it can cost to get the TV working again.

- Collapse -
Service help?
Mar 30, 2018 12:39PM PDT

Well, and can I get help from professionals, like on phone or something? That feature really annoys me, and if there is a way to turn it off I would really like to. It darkens the picture, and it is very visible at some instances.

- Collapse -
Answer
Chasing the dream?
Mar 24, 2018 3:47PM PDT
http://www.samsung.com/de/tvs/uhd-mu6449/UE55MU6449UXZG/ for my reference.

As to the 4-4-4 color space, all this means is that the color gamut can be less on one device than the other.

So for calibration it is possible to get the output to match from Chrome to other as long as we are in the overlapping color space of the two or more devices.

Sorry but this will as if I am speaking Greek here. You can find and learn about as you have time. I don't see how I can condense in one paragraph. EXAMPLE of images that may NEVER MATCH across devices are easy to locate. EXAMPLE: https://webkit.org/blog-files/color-gamut/

And what color gamut is covered at https://www.rtings.com/tv/tests/picture-quality/wide-color-gamut-rec-709-dci-p3-rec-2020

Be aware that since today's TVs do not cover the entire HUMAN COLOR GAMUT is is not possible to calibrate this. As stated from link:
"Because no TVs can fill either of the wide color spaces, it’s not possible to calibrate their color for those spaces. Their reproducible limits will not be able to match the established limits of the space, meaning there is no usable reference for calibration to work off of, and no way to judge when the calibration is “done.”"

--> So the TV has limits, you know your ChromeCast has limits so the only way to get these to match is to calibrate PLUS understand the limits.
- Collapse -
To calibrate...
Mar 24, 2018 4:06PM PDT

As well as I understand now I would either need further equipment, or the help of professionals, to match the two color spaces to make the image identical or near identical. I am trying to be content with what I have now, you are now making that harder XD

I will wait for Spyder 5 express and MAAAYBE I will try that to calibrate "right colors" on some ports with it if it is possible(Express is automatically calibrating ICC profiles onto computers, so I can only "calibrate" tv-s if it can also be just used to show the data, and than I try to change the picture of the tv with manually changing settings, so that the new data the Spyder 5 shows is closer to 6500K and 2.2 gamma... which is a pain, so I might just leave the tv as it is ^^"(

- Collapse -
Well that's true and untrue.
Mar 24, 2018 4:15PM PDT

If you select a color that is outside the TV colorspace then fail it will (thanks Yoda.)

If you select a color that is inside the TV color gamut but inside the color space of one source but not the other, another fail.

So to get it to match you have to get a color that is inside the TV color gamut as well as what the device can product. This is like the holy trifecta.

I think by now you get it or have a huge headache.

- Collapse -
I get what, I don't know how
Mar 31, 2018 12:03AM PDT

I get that I have to match the colors, I just don't really know how to do it. Both "White Balance" and "Custom Color Space" are things I do not know how to finetune, I just see a bounch of numbers, and color names, and phrases like "gain" or "offset", I don't know how to change which number in order to get to one conclusion. That's why Im saying I'd need a tool, or the help of professionals.

I have now found out that what caused dimming on my tv at certain parts could very well be a feature called "local dimming" or some similar name, that is built into the tv, and CANNOT be turned off in the menus at all. Thats my new big concern... that is very stupid. I need to find out if I can do something with it, or can get help to have it turned off...

- Collapse -
OMG
Apr 1, 2018 6:31AM PDT

Please review the suggestions in thread. Stay out of the service menu!

- Collapse -
It's April 1st.
Apr 1, 2018 9:56AM PDT

I can only guess you are playing an April Fool's joke here. The advice was given. The effects were agreed with and yet, this.

If this TV is stupid, then you won't be happy with most sets with HDR today.

- Collapse -
I sent that on 31th March
Apr 1, 2018 1:29PM PDT

It was not a joke... Basically, whenever there is a dark background, with bright letters in front, such as every credits at the end of movies, many loading screens in videogame walktrhough videos, the letters are almost unreadably dim, because of this feature. It can appear on many other scenes or areas, it is annoying, and I do not understand why do I have no choice to turn it off with an option in the user's menu for this, and why is there a function to have it turned off in the service menu, if I cannot ask service to turn it off for me???

- Collapse -
Those are questions to the makers and more.
Apr 1, 2018 1:48PM PDT

I consider annoyances in HDR to be just that. There are so many settings that some will find useful and others that just don't work for you. I think that today you will have to learn to go with what works.

In your case you are asking for what this set and maker does not do. I see good advice and more. If this is unacceptable, return it and try other models but for HDR, today it's good for HDR content and lackluster or bad for non-HDR content. Those that want it all will be riled.

- Collapse -
Don't think I am able to return
Apr 1, 2018 2:21PM PDT

I have heared that if I already updated firmware or tweaked with internet settings I cannot return the TV now anyway, and I bought it weeks ago..

I also read that if I just enter the service menu and find an option called "CE dimming" I can turn it off and no problems occure. I just get my picture settings resetted which I can easily do again. If i do not find "CE Dimming" it means I cannot turn it off even in the service menu which sucks.

I also heared however things that may help, without the service menu, but I remember putting things to these settings and not sure if they worked...
THey say that if I change the source's name to "PC" it should disable local dimming.
I will check for that, but I am currently abroad, not with my tv.

I also heared, that the local dimming(CE dimming, auto dimming whatever the name is with each model) is actually off in "MOVIE" Picture mode. Which would be great, but my tv does not have that mode, at least not in Hungarian language.
It has a mode that I am guessing would be "Vivid" in english, because that is what it does to the picture.
It has a "Natural" mode, a "Normal mode" which I guess would be "Standard" in english. and a "FILM mode"... I am hoping that this "Film mode" is actually what forums call "Movie mode" with it's english name, and that it will actually be so easy to get rid of local dimming as to switch to this picture mode...but I remember switching to this mode before, I just don't remember if the dimming was there than or not, and I think film mode is dimmer anyhow...

Sigh.... I guess you are right, if none of this works I'll just have to live with it...

- Collapse -
Just my take on this.
Apr 1, 2018 2:33PM PDT

Just forget HDR and try the Disney WOW calibration. If you get into the service menu the screeches on the web are there for the reading (listening?) No one I know will advise using that without telling folk "you're on your own."

So why not try it? You are in warranty so if it messes up, call them to sort it out.

- Collapse -
Maybe I will... :/
Apr 3, 2018 11:29AM PDT

Yeah, I am back home now, and I tried, but I do not think "Film" picture mode on my TV is what they call "Movie" mode for other TV-s. In any picture modes, or other changes, I notice this thing where if there is a very dark scene, such as a black background with some white letters, or icons or whatnot(such as credits of movies/loading screens of videogames) it turns the whole picture dimmer. I know this, from that if I push the "Home" button, than, bringing up the menu of the TV, than the letters and icons brighten back up(which I guess means the "CE Dimming" turns off automatically in the menus.)

The whole thing might as well mean, that my TV is a low category model so these modes are not even built in, nor any chance to turn the CE Dimming off, not even in the service menu. It would mean I just need to live with it...

I might gonna try service menu, but I have to wait now, until my universal samsung uhd tv remote arrives(which is ETA 6th-10th of April), since I only have a smarth remote, which does not have the buttons to push the code in with, to enter the service menu.

I "hear" the screeches, but I just cannot imagine how simply ENTERING the service menu, looking around would completely screw up the TV. The Service Menu ishould not just be a "self destruct button", it should have a function that lets technicians do things with the TV. THAT I can see how going in THAN messing with all kinds of settings I do not understand could easily make the TV faulty... Im not planning to do that, all I would do is enter, go to advanced settings to see if there is "CE dimming" or any "dimming", than if not than be disappointed, turn the tv off than back off so it resets... IF there is such option, than go to that option, and switch it from "On", to "Off", than turn off the TV and turn it back On.,, That should be all...

Post was last edited on April 3, 2018 11:35 AM PDT

- Collapse -
Now that you know.
Apr 3, 2018 11:34AM PDT

If any maker hears you tell them you were in the service menu they call that out of warranty. Why should they cover this? It's just like a car. You use it differently and if they find out, you pay to put it back to working condition.

While I like having the service menu for reasons, some folk today get upset when makers or support charges to undo the changes.

Again, don't tell anyone you did this. "What service menu?"

- Collapse -
Lieing, or paying, I see, but why not help?
Apr 3, 2018 11:39AM PDT

I do understand that I'd either need to lie, or pay. I do not like to lie, can't lie, and lieing can also be uncovered, they could come out and tell "yes, you were in the service menu, we see it"....

I do have money. If I screw up I can pay it(altough of course I would not like to but again, I do not understand how just going into the service menu would kill the tv if technicians coming out are SUPPOSED to do that).

What I also do not understand, is if there is a service menu, and there is an option in the service menu to turn CE dimming off, WHY cant I ask them, to help me turn the function off, without screwing up the TV, OR, ask them to (for money if necessary, again I could pay) come out and turn it off for me?

- Collapse -
Sorry but I think you need more explanation.
Apr 3, 2018 11:57AM PDT

No one I know in this field will assist in the service menu. Even I don't use it often and know to never let the owner know about it. It's a great way to create troubles.

Others and I consider it helping to never supply information that can do harm or cause a repair bill.

As to why they won't tell you, it's probably the same reasons as I see above and here.

- Collapse -
Why is it there, than?
Apr 3, 2018 12:21PM PDT

I still do not understand, how just entering that menu could cause damage/harm, and that why could not a trained technician just come over to my house, after I explained him, I want local dimming off, type in the code that ""I DONT KNOW ABOUT"", to enter the service menu "I AM NOT SUPPOSED TO", and turn the function OFF, for ME, THAN EXPLAIN TO ME THAT I SHOULD NOT DO THIS AT ALL, WITHOUT HIM.

Seriously, If it is so much a secret and so damaging that none can use it, what is it for? Why is it even there? So people screw with it and need to buy new tv-s? Just for that? Is it like computer viruses and antivirus softwares?

- Collapse -
New Update: Sypder 5 express
Apr 5, 2018 4:33AM PDT

Now I got my Spyder 5 express the other day, and I calibrated my laptop's screen and the screen of the second monitor hooked up to it. It seems nice, the colors seem "right" if I look at the example pictures the software provides, although it is limited, as with Spyder 5 pro I could set it to make it 6500k , 2.2 gamma automatically for me, whileas with Express it said I need to set my favourted brightness and set it to 6500k which I could not... Still it looks kind of nice the two screens almost identical, a little bit yellowish for my eyes yet but I read everywhere that someone who looked at blueish toned screens a lot needs to get used to it.

Now, I heared about methods to use different software with Spyder 5 express, to be able to calibrate the UHD TV, manually changing the tv-s settings until the software says the white balance is right, and whatnot. However, the problem is (I think) that my laptop shows Full Color range(0-255), while the Chromecast sends Limited RGB(16-235). I can see the difference for example in red not being red enough... like, when I watch youtube video on my laptop, the red line showing where the video is(progress bar?) is pure red on the laptop's screen, whileas "weaker" red, less saturated, more orangeish or I don't know how to explain on the TV. This is with "Automatic" color space. With "Native" color space, the red turns pure red, but other colors go off.

I assume I am incompetent to match the colors, I would need the work of professionals for this, because in order to make it work one needs to know what are they doing, when setting Custom Color Space, and White Balance. I tried, for example in custom color space going to "RED", and push back on the "green" in red, it changed the progress bar color more towards red but screwed up other colors... It would need much more fine tuning, that I am not capable off.

I heared, there is a "Chromecast Ultra". Do you know stuff about it?
I tried to ask on Chromecast's own forum, if Chromecast Ultra gives Full RGB(0-255) or is the same as 2.0 giving only LImited. THey could not tell. They sent me to a page where the technical details of Chromecast Ultra are, but I did not find info about if it sends full or limited color range. Can you tell?

- Collapse -
Answer
Model number
Apr 9, 2018 11:13PM PDT

Please send a Model number Happy

- Collapse -
Model Number is...
Apr 10, 2018 3:05AM PDT

The TV is a Samsung UHD TV and the model number is: UE55MU6449UXZG