topic Re: HDMI Range set to "Limited" on Sony TV in Sky Q

HDMI Range set to "Limited" on Sony TV

hanpan87 — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 09:22:59 GMT

For the longest time I've been wondering why HDR programs on SkyQ have such crushed black levels. I was toying around with the picture settings and noticed that when HDMI Range is set to "Auto" on my Sony TV, it is essentially treated as "Limited". Manually setting it to "Full" fixes the issue and I get a lot more dynamic range.

This hasn't been a problem when viewing any other source (BluRay, Netflix, Amazon Prime etc). Is there any reason why the "Auto" setting when viewing Sky content is treated as Limited?

For info this is the Sony setting in question:

https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/articles/00013709

Re: HDMI Range set to "Limited" on Sony TV

oldfella — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 10:05:37 GMT

@hanpan87 wrote:

For the longest time I've been wondering why HDR programs on SkyQ have such crushed black levels. I was toying around with the picture settings and noticed that when HDMI Range is set to "Auto" on my Sony TV, it is essentially treated as "Limited". Manually setting it to "Full" fixes the issue and I get a lot more dynamic range.

This hasn't been a problem when viewing any other source (BluRay, Netflix, Amazon Prime etc). Is there any reason why the "Auto" setting when viewing Sky content is treated as Limited?

For info this is the Sony setting in question:

https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/articles/00013709

Hi @hanpan87

What model is your Sony TV?

Re: HDMI Range set to "Limited" on Sony TV

simon194 — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 10:15:59 GMT

@hanpan87 wrote:
For the longest time I've been wondering why HDR programs on SkyQ have such crushed black levels. I was toying around with the picture settings and noticed that when HDMI Range is set to "Auto" on my Sony TV, it is essentially treated as "Limited". Manually setting it to "Full" fixes the issue and I get a lot more dynamic range.

This hasn't been a problem when viewing any other source (BluRay, Netflix, Amazon Prime etc). Is there any reason why the "Auto" setting when viewing Sky content is treated as Limited?

For info this is the Sony setting in question:
https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/articles/00013709

Maybe it's the way HLG works because it doesn't use metadata like other HDR formats which the TV may be using to automatically switch to "Full" when set to Auto.

I could be completely wrong but it seems logical.

Re: HDMI Range set to "Limited" on Sony TV

cuke — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 10:33:23 GMT

It's probably the default setting for the Sony tv. I doubt if it it is anything to do with metadata as my Samsung interprets the HLG signal correctly as HDR and sets the gamma correct for that format.

Re: HDMI Range set to "Limited" on Sony TV

MightyQuinn — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 10:36:25 GMT

@hanpan87 wrote:
For the longest time I've been wondering why HDR programs on SkyQ have such crushed black levels.

Hi @hanpan87 I have never experienced "crushed black levels" on my Sony XR-55A95K viewing HDR from the Sky Q box. Simply a stunning picture. The TV is set to bulk standard Standard setting.

Re: HDMI Range set to "Limited" on Sony TV

simon194 — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 10:55:23 GMT

@MightyQuinn wrote:
@hanpan87 wrote:
For the longest time I've been wondering why HDR programs on SkyQ have such crushed black levels.
Hi @hanpan87 I have never experienced "crushed black levels" on my Sony XR-55A95K viewing HDR from the Sky Q box. Simply a stunning picture. The TV is set to bulk standard Standard setting.

We don't know the model of the set. If it's one that had HLG added then there may be an issue with HLG detection. As the linked article from 2019 says :

"There is small possibility that the connected HDMI device will send wrong dynamic range information"

HLG doesn't send any dynamic range information, it relies on the extended gamma curve being detected and processed by the TV.

Re: HDMI Range set to "Limited" on Sony TV

hanpan87 — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 19:12:37 GMT

Hi @oldfella sorry I forgot to include that!

It is a 2020 Sony BRAVIA KD55XH9005BU 55" Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR LED TV.

Another thing I've just thought is that I'm not using the default sky HDMI cable (I had to buy a longer one as my TV is wall mounted and cables are channeled through the wall) - could that be a reason?

Re: HDMI Range set to "Limited" on Sony TV

oldfella — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 21:37:27 GMT

@hanpan87 wrote:

Hi @oldfella sorry I forgot to include that!

It is a 2020 Sony BRAVIA KD55XH9005BU 55" Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR LED TV.

Another thing I've just thought is that I'm not using the default sky HDMI cable (I had to buy a longer one as my TV is wall mounted and cables are channeled through the wall) - could that be a reason?

Hi @hanpan87

Longer HDMI cable could be the issue.

A decent 4K or 8K High speed 48 Gbps will work up to about 4M.

Re: HDMI Range set to "Limited" on Sony TV

hanpan87 — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 14:23:47 GMT

Thanks @oldfella I have just checked and I'm using HDMI 2.0 Cable Ultra High Speed 18Gbps which I bought nearly two years ago.

Time for an upgrade it seems!

Re: HDMI Range set to "Limited" on Sony TV

oldfella — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 15:53:17 GMT

@hanpan87 wrote:

Thanks @oldfella I have just checked and I'm using HDMI 2.0 Cable Ultra High Speed 18Gbps which I bought nearly two years ago.

Time for an upgrade it seems!

What length is it @hanpan87 ?

Re: HDMI Range set to "Limited" on Sony TV

steve30x — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 16:03:51 GMT

@hanpan87 wrote:
Thanks @oldfella I have just checked and I'm using HDMI 2.0 Cable Ultra High Speed 18Gbps which I bought nearly two years ago.

Time for an upgrade it seems!

If the cable is more than 5meters long then you will need an optical HDMI cable. A normal HDMI cable thats longer will have a lot of signal degradation. You don't need to spend a small fortune on an optical HDMI Cable. They can be bought for about €20