topic Re: Dull image with UHD - HDR sky content in Sky Q

Dull image with UHD - HDR sky content

BigChris65 — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 15:01:01 GMT

Have been running Sky Q for a few years paired with a Samsung Q90r TV. Today had to have a new Q box fitted as after 6 years the old box was having some issues. The old box whilst used for Sky Q and UHD content, was not HDR ready but the new box obviously is. Now having some issues as when selecting UHD content on Sports for example, it really dulls it down to the point it is too dark to view happily. This includes the menu system as well which is also affected. Wanted to see if changing from 10 bit to 8 bit made a difference which it did, but then had no sound.

Any help/advice would be greatfully received. Hoping this isn't a compatibility issue with the Q box and a Samsumg TV.

Thanks

Re: Dull image with UHD - HDR sky content

nigea99 — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 15:22:03 GMT

@BigChris65 wrote:

Have been running Sky Q for a few years paired with a Samsung Q90r TV. Today had to have a new Q box fitted as after 6 years the old box was having some issues. The old box whilst used for Sky Q and UHD content, was not HDR ready but the new box obviously is. Now having some issues as when selecting UHD content on Sports for example, it really dulls it down to the point it is too dark to view happily. This includes the menu system as well which is also affected. Wanted to see if changing from 10 bit to 8 bit made a difference which it did, but then had no sound.

Any help/advice would be greatfully received. Hoping this isn't a compatibility issue with the Q box and a Samsumg TV.

Thanks

Hi @BigChris65

We know that SKY's HLG version of HDR can appear too dark on under spec'd TVs but yours is not one of them.

I have found this post from @cuke a while ago when the very dark House of The Dragon aired and was an issue for many TVs where he states a bright image on his Q90R - by tagging him here maybe he will see this post and may be able to offer advice

House of The Dragon discussion - Q90R ref

Dropping the image to 8 bit should have no effect on the Sound so not too sure what is happening there

Re: Dull image with UHD - HDR sky content

MightyQuinn — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 15:23:04 GMT

Hi @BigChris65 A darker picture while viewing HDR means your TV has not switched to HDR. Make sure that the HDMI input on the TV is set to Enhanced (or whatever Samsung call it). You can always switch it manually by choosing HLG HDR on the TV.

Re: Dull image with UHD - HDR sky content

Padam_Padam — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 15:26:24 GMT

@BigChris65

Your TV will need a different set of picture settings for HLG HDR content. You need to play something with HLG on Sky and tweak your settings until you get it to a place that you think looks good. The TV will remember these settings the next time it detects an HLG HDR signal from the Q box.

If you can't get it to look good enough then, as others have suggested, just use 8 Bit for standard UHD without HDR.

Re: Dull image with UHD - HDR sky content

BigChris65 — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 16:24:45 GMT

Not sure on the 8bit thing either. Also tried it in 1080p and 1080i and does the same with those as well.

Re: Dull image with UHD - HDR sky content

oldfella — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 16:34:38 GMT

@BigChris65 wrote:

Not sure on the 8bit thing either. Also tried it in 1080p and 1080i and does the same with those as well.

Hi @BigChris65

Are you. Sure your Q box is HDR compatible?

Hardware version number	Type of Sky box	Software version number	HDR-capable?	Upgrade available?
32B0xx	Sky Q 2TB	Q250.000.11.00L	No	Yes - you can upgrade to the latest Sky Q 2TB box.
32B1xx	Sky Q 2TB	Q250.000.11.00L	Yes	No - you're already on the latest Sky Q 2TB box.
32B2XX	Sky Q 1TB UHD or Sky Q 2TB*	Q250.000.11.00L	Yes	Check the * information below the table.
32Cxx	Sky Q 1TB	Q250.000.11.00L	No	Yes - you can upgrade to a Sky Q 1TB UHD Box
32Dxx	Sky Q Mini box	Q250.000.11.00L	No	No - you already have the latest Sky Q Mini box

Re: Dull image with UHD - HDR sky content

BigChris65 — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 16:49:09 GMT

@Padam_Padam

Thanks for the tip, have done this and has made some improvement.

Re: Dull image with UHD - HDR sky content

BigChris65 — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 16:51:44 GMT

@oldfella

Yes is one of the compatible ones. 32B12C

Re: Dull image with UHD - HDR sky content

Godfrey — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 17:35:59 GMT

@BigChris65 Try these settings

Picture Mode Movie

Backlight 50

Brightness 0

Contrast 50

Sharpness 0

Colour 25

Tint (G/R) 0

Apply Picture Settings Current Source

Digital Clean View Off

Auto Motion Plus Settings Off

Local Dimming High

Contrast Enhancer High

Film Mode Off

Colour Tone Warm 1

White Balance

Gamma HLG

. HLG +1

RGB Only Mode Off

Colour Space Settings Auto

Re: Dull image with UHD - HDR sky content

cuke — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 12:54:26 GMT

@BigChris65 wrote:
Have been running Sky Q for a few years paired with a Samsung Q90r TV. Today had to have a new Q box fitted as after 6 years the old box was having some issues. The old box whilst used for Sky Q and UHD content, was not HDR ready but the new box obviously is. Now having some issues as when selecting UHD content on Sports for example, it really dulls it down to the point it is too dark to view happily. This includes the menu system as well which is also affected. Wanted to see if changing from 10 bit to 8 bit made a difference which it did, but then had no sound.
Any help/advice would be greatfully received. Hoping this isn't a compatibility issue with the Q box and a Samsumg TV.
Thanks

I have a Q90R samsung as well and the picture quality with Sky HDR, f1 for example, is very good. However, as has been pointed out, it does vary from source to source.

I've been watching Mary & George and the PQ with that is a abysmal excuse for anything approaching HD even though it is meant to be HDR.

Re: Dull image with UHD - HDR sky content

Padam_Padam — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 14:13:34 GMT

@cuke wrote:
@BigChris65 wrote:
Have been running Sky Q for a few years paired with a Samsung Q90r TV. Today had to have a new Q box fitted as after 6 years the old box was having some issues. The old box whilst used for Sky Q and UHD content, was not HDR ready but the new box obviously is. Now having some issues as when selecting UHD content on Sports for example, it really dulls it down to the point it is too dark to view happily. This includes the menu system as well which is also affected. Wanted to see if changing from 10 bit to 8 bit made a difference which it did, but then had no sound.
Any help/advice would be greatfully received. Hoping this isn't a compatibility issue with the Q box and a Samsumg TV.
Thanks

I have a Q90R samsung as well and the picture quality with Sky HDR, f1 for example, is very good. However, as has been pointed out, it does vary from source to source.
I've been watching Mary & George and the PQ with that is a abysmal excuse for anything approaching HD even though it is meant to be HDR.

It doesn't need HDR - it needs a better script, better direction and better editing. I thought Mary & George was such a let down. Yet another total damp squib of a Sky Original.

Re: Dull image with UHD - HDR sky content

Oyodin — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 19:57:17 GMT

On my Sony TV, in the brightness settings, select HDR tone mapping, brightness preferred, and this gives a much brighter HDR picture

Re: Dull image with UHD - HDR sky content

Chodley — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 07:18:48 GMT

@Oyodin wrote:
On my Sony TV, in the brightness settings, select HDR tone mapping, brightness preferred, and this gives a much brighter HDR picture

I think that will make SDR stuff use HDR tone mapping which is inaccurate but yeah will definitely be brighter. It shouldn't affect HDR tagged stuff though. But then some TV options are not very intuitive.

Re: Dull image with UHD - HDR sky content

G+Dub — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 20:23:04 GMT

I had an LG CX and Sky F1 looked fantastic via Sky Q in HDR. I changed to Sky Stream, and it still looked fantastic.

I then upgraded my TV to a Samsung S90d, a far brighter TV, and it's exhibiting the exact issues described here. Even down to the menu system being darker if I click the home button when viewing F1 in HDR.

On any other content the TV burns your eyes out. Sky F1 regular HD also looks great.

When watching UHD it has the HDR logo above the picture mode in the menu, so it's definitely enabled. I've turn off all the eco-twaddle exactly as I did with my CX. Plus all the usual stuff like turning off logo dimming and this made no difference.

Is this a Samsung issue? Then again, this is the only source exhibiting this problem.

Re: Dull image with UHD - HDR sky content

Chodley — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 07:05:08 GMT

Try iplayer. That uses HLG too.

Re: Dull image with UHD - HDR sky content

cuke — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 09:30:33 GMT

@G+Dub wrote:
I had an LG CX and Sky F1 looked fantastic via Sky Q in HDR. I changed to Sky Stream, and it still looked fantastic.

I then upgraded my TV to a Samsung S90d, a far brighter TV, and it's exhibiting the exact issues described here. Even down to the menu system being darker if I click the home button when viewing F1 in HDR.

On any other content the TV burns your eyes out. Sky F1 regular HD also looks great.

When watching UHD it has the HDR logo above the picture mode in the menu, so it's definitely enabled. I've turn off all the eco-twaddle exactly as I did with my CX. Plus all the usual stuff like turning off logo dimming and this made no difference.

Is this a Samsung issue? Then again, this is the only source exhibiting this problem.

No it isn't it is a Sky issue, I now also have a S95D and the UHD HDR, not confusing it with UHD only, picture also looks brilliant. But make sure your tv is set to either filmmaker mode, or standard if you prefer, and the peak brightness is set to high.

Depending upon which size of S90D you have, and which country you are in, you might have a LG woled panel anyway, not a qd-oled version.

Re: Dull image with UHD - HDR sky content

G+Dub — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 11:13:02 GMT

Picture is set to Standard. Filmmaker is even darker. Peak brightness is high.

Mine is the 55" so it's not like the extreme smallest and largest sizes that use the different panel type.

Best I could do was increase the contrast enhancer to high, and the HLG level and shadow detail to 2.

Very very poor and shoddy buying a new 2024 panel that wasn't exactly a budget model, and having to spend an evening anoraking on forums and faffing with settings, when my 4 year old LG was plug and play.

Keen to understand why Sky's implementation of HLG is beautiful on the LG but unwatchable on the Samsung, and therefore which of them have the ability to fix it and how.

I was new to this having only just bought the TV, but after a further Googling I see this has been going on a good year and there is apparently no resolution.

Re: Dull image with UHD - HDR sky content

Mister_Dalek — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 11:21:24 GMT

@G+Dub

There are many things to like about Samsung TVs, but also many things to annoy. I used to be a fan of their TVs but after a paricularly bad customer service experience with them a few years ago I'll never buy another one.

I use a lot of different TV panels during the course of my job and it has to be LG, Panasonic or Philips for me now. I still have a 6 year old Samsung LCD panel in my office which is still going but it only gave an acceptable picture after messing with the service menu, which is never ideal.

Sky UHD is so dull it’s not worth watching

Vino — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 21:07:10 GMT

How do I improve the brightness and contrast when watching Sky Sports on UHD...?????

Re: Sky UHD is so dull it’s not worth watching

BenJoBanjo — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 21:11:43 GMT

@Vino

By making sure your TV is set up correctly and has a high enough peak brightness for the HLG format of HDR that Sky uses.