topic Re: Hdr picture quality in Sky Glass

Hdr picture quality

bazwilkinson85 — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 20:30:46 GMT

I've not had a HDR TV before. I didn't really notice the picture quality being anything amazing when we purchased Sky Glass and assumed HDR was more of a marketing gimmick than anything else. Anyway, a friend was over and said that hdr doesn't look like it's on, and that our TV looked washed out and a pale tiny of pink. Didn't really think anything of it then he showed me his hdr TV and wow - really bright, the colours popped and it looked amazing. I'm now convinced I haven't turned on the hdr or something on Sky Glass, or can't get it working. I've tried content that's hdr on Disney+ and YouTube and whilst it looks a little brighter, it's nothing at all like what I'd call HDR. What are the best settings for the TV to get hdr on and working? Is there perhaps something wrong with my set? I have the hdr / vision package so assume it should all be ok...

Re: Hdr picture quality

TimmyBGood — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 21:45:31 GMT

@bazwilkinson85 wrote:
Didn't really think anything of it then he showed me his hdr TV and wow - really bright, the colours popped and it looked amazing. I'm now convinced I haven't turned on the hdr or something on Sky Glass, or can't get it working.

Glass is a mid-range (although not mid-priced) set from 2021: it really cannot hope to be favourably compared with more recent LCD sets in the same price range*, particularly as these have prioritised peak brightness with the specific intention to maximise the effect of HDR. Even at launch the limitations of the Glass hardware was remarked on in all independent reviews: while these have subsequently been addressed to some degree with software tweaks they fundamentally remain in place as the build specification has never been revised.

* and absolutely not with any recent OLED or micro-LED

Re: Hdr picture quality

TimmyBGood — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 21:44:38 GMT

@bazwilkinson85

For settings, try the Vivid mode and make sure automatic backlight adjustment is switched off. Unfortunately peak brightness is still under 700 nits though as that's what the pandemic-era LED array can produce.

Re: Hdr picture quality

bazwilkinson85 — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 02:18:50 GMT

It's disappointing then, it was sold as a HDR screen but it doesn't sound like it is then? Is that a false product claim then? Hdr has been around since well before 2021...

Re: Hdr picture quality

TimmyBGood — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 08:27:48 GMT

@bazwilkinson85

An 'HDR screen' in context means one with an operating system, and chipset capable of interpreting High Dynamic Range data and a panel able to display an image using this. It doesn't guarantee a set has the contrast and brightness to do it justice (which is largely a product of panel and backlight)

Re: Hdr picture quality

Mister_Dalek — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 07:05:48 GMT

@bazwilkinson85 wrote:
It's disappointing then, it was sold as a HDR screen but it doesn't sound like it is then? Is that a false product claim then? Hdr has been around since well before 2021...

TV manufacturers can legitimately advertise their products as having HDR if they are compatible with HDR10, HLG or Dolby Vision.
What they do not advertise is how bright the actual TV panel can go in order for the HDR to show properly on-screen.
You can buy a £250 TV from a supermarket which has HDR which can't go bright enough to do it justice. You can buy a £300 TV from a supermarket with HDR which can do it justice.
All of this confirms that you should never believe advertising, and when spending hundreds of pounds on a TV (or over £1000 in the case of a 65" Sky Glass) you need to do your own research to confirm whether the brightness of the TV will be able to show HDR in all its glory.

Re: Hdr picture quality

bazwilkinson85 — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 07:14:14 GMT

Yes, do regret it a bit. Never mind, roll on 2027 when I can get rid of it 😬

Re: Hdr picture quality

TimmyBGood — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 08:55:31 GMT

@bazwilkinson85

You can choose to 'get rid of' a Glass set at any time, as long as you either pay off the loan balance or keep making the monthly repayment on the finance plan. Unfortunately they don't have second hand resale value anywhere near the purchase price.

The separate Sky content subscription, even if on an 18 or 24 month minimum term, can be transferred to a Stream puck for use with the more capable television set of your choice.

Re: Hdr picture quality

bazwilkinson85 — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 08:50:12 GMT

Thanks - no sense in getting rid if I need to keep paying for it once it's gone AND another TV. Will just make do, just a bit disappointed after seeing actual HDR to come back to this. Does seem like a bit of false advertising to the average consumer.