Dull image with UHD - HDR sky content

[BigChris65]

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

[nigea99]

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@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

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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

[MightyQuinn]

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.

[Padam_Padam]

@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. 

[BigChris65]

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

[oldfella]

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@BigChris65 wrote:

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

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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

[BigChris65]

@Padam_Padam 

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

[BigChris65]

@oldfella 

Yes is one of the compatible ones. 32B12C

[Godfrey]

@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

[cuke]

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@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

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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.

[Padam_Padam]

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@cuke wrote:

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@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.

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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. 

[Oyodin]

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

[Chodley]

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@Oyodin wrote:

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

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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.

[G+Dub]

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.

[Chodley]

Try iplayer. That uses HLG too.