topic Re: HDR content too dark in TV

HDR content too dark

nikhm — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 09:26:01 GMT

I have a Samsung UE75TU7000KXXU TV and when watching HDR content the dark scenes are unwatchable.

I have gone through the expert picture settings to see if anything can get this working but to no avail.

I use both built in apps and an external Apple TV, as this allows the viewing of extras that the app does not.

I have the issue with everything that I watch that has HDR content.

If I cannot get this resolved then I may need to return the TV and purchase a competitors as this is a big issue to me.

I look forward to you getting back to me as soon as you can.

Re: HDR content too dark

Ric09 — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 22:47:30 GMT

Please update any response you get. I have the exact same tv size and model and have the exact same problem. Bought less than 2 weeks ago as a bday treat to myself but its been more of a nuisance than a gift.

Re: HDR content too dark

nikhm — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 18:13:01 GMT

I will but I wouldn't hold your breath as I am not hopefull of Samsung getting back to me.

Re: HDR content too dark

JamesW4 — Sun, 26 Jul 2020 18:22:10 GMT

I have the same model and the same problem with dark scenes being impossible to see. I tried the service menu trick that others have mentioned, which made it slightly better, but still too hard to tell what is going on. Poor from Samsung. They need to provide an update to fix this.

Re: HDR content too dark

nikhm — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 17:43:29 GMT

I don't think that Samsung monitor these forums as I have not heard anything back from them. I have checked my Firmware for the TV every few days but I am at the latest version of 1115.

I use an external Apple TV and have changed the settings on that to be 4K SDR and turned match content off. This has sort of worked but defeats the object of having an HDR TV.

I think I will raise a support call with them as see what they say.

I will try and keep you posted.

Re: HDR content too dark

nikhm — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 19:26:13 GMT

I have just spent the last hour on a live chat with Samsung and it seems to be resolved now. I have not fully tested yet but there is a firmware update that I installed via a usb drive.

I first went to this page

https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/model/UE75TU7000KXXU/

And downloaded the 1302.5 update.

I then followed the instructions here. https://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/FM/202006/20200616125127573/2020_TV_Firmware_Upgrade_Instruction_T-KTSU2DEUC.pdf

All seems good so far. I will let you know if I have any other issues.

Re: HDR content too dark

JamesW4 — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 20:47:07 GMT

Thanks Nikhm. I'll give that a go.

Re: HDR content too dark

James6666 — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 09:27:57 GMT

Does it fix the issue

Re: HDR content too dark

DVC1985 — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 12:18:26 GMT

That's great, nikhm. Thank you!

I can confirm, I've just installed the 1302.5 update on my 50" TU7000 and it has 100% fixed the HDR issues with the Netflix & Amazon apps(I don't have Disney+ so can't comment on that app). The TV is now watchable again!

Re: HDR content too dark

James6666 — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 14:15:08 GMT

Does it show as 1302 or 1302.5 thsnks

Re: HDR content too dark

nikhm — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 21:16:34 GMT

On the download website it is 1302.5

once installed the tv says 1302

fully fixed the issues on my tv.

Re: HDR content too dark

katonanorbert — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 11:00:53 GMT

I just wanted to post an update to talk about my situation, hopefully it will be useful for folks still having the same problem. I bought a new Q80T in late Nov 2020 that had the 1403 software version (as I remember), and had the same issue especially with HDR Netflix content. For example The Crown S04 and many other series and movies streamed in HDR were so dim and washed out. I tried to fix it by changing the default "Normal" picture settings: changed a lot of picture parameters to max including gamma, contrast enhancer etc. - so it was better but still dim and washed out. The weird thing is that it was not happening to all the HDR content. For example the series "Dark" and the silly Eurovision movie were pretty great in HDR before the magic solution (detailed below) came.

I updated the OS to 1460 (which was not offered by the TV software as an automatic update but I downloaded it from the website), also set the picture to Film mode (while keeping the high gamma settings) and now the HDR looks great, I tested with all the materials that were crappy, and everything looks much-much better now. I don't know if it's because of the OS update, or the internal Netflix app got an update, or just Film mode makes other special changes to the image processing that is not accessible directly from the menu... no idea. So I'm very happy now! I want to believe that Samsung realized the issue and released something in the background to fix it.

Re: HDR content too dark

MotiY — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 07:58:24 GMT

I have the Samsung QE65Q95T new TV with the same problem. I tried update the firmware to the latest 1460.9 (Dec 8, 2020) and the picture was improved but only a little, almost negligible.
Few pictures before the update from "Queen's Gambit" , with and without HDR (note: for the Non HDR I set my Netflix account to "standard" not "Premium"... this was the only way, the TV don't allow you to cancel the HDR....👎😞No HDRwith HDRNo HDRwith HDR

Again, after the update, there was almost no improvement

Re: HDR content too dark

katonanorbert — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 13:55:37 GMT

Yes, Queen's Gambit is a good test material, however it's a little washed out in SDR as well. I'm not sure it's a 100% valid comparison, but definitely shows something: I made photos about the SDR and HDR representations of the same Queen's Gambit scenes with my DSLR camera using the same manual shutter and aperture settings, the only biasing factor could be that for the SDR material I used my Mede8er desktop media player (this was the only way I could quickly change between HDR/SDR content). For the HDR material I used built-in Netflix app. Settings are definitely different for SDR and HDR, but the basis for both is Film mode.

I tried to catch exactly the same scenes, but it's not perfect. Please ignore red/green crosshatch effect on the screen, it's obviously not the content but some DSLR camera sensor - TV anti-reflective layer interference. At first glance SDR seems better, but HDR also brings the same amount of lightness but in more granual style showing more details on the face and in the background - which would be its purpose.

Re: HDR content too dark

nickveekens — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 19:48:09 GMT

I have the same problem. Tried every setting possible. For now I just stick ro 1080 or non HDR 4K for the moment with local dimming and contrastimprovement set to max. If I set these

Re: HDR content too dark

RussN — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 17:14:43 GMT

I have a TU8000 55 and same thing just called support and they had me update to the 1460.9 update. I did nothing. I called back and got transferred several times, when I I told them I would like to report a know issue regarding the HDR dark issue they hung up on me. Anyone know how to report this so they work on fixing this bug in the next release??

By the way you can improve it at the device level in settings, but I want it fixed on the TV, I should have to go through an external device to fix this.

Re: HDR content too dark

MotiY — Sun, 20 Dec 2020 19:06:08 GMT

Hi,

The combination of Gamma and Enhanced Contrast solved the problem, Thank you!

Now not only you, me too is very happy...

To Summarize the solution for all:

1. Disable the Picture "intelligent Mode" to Enable other picture modes

2. Set Picture mode to Normal, Film or Filmmaker Mode. These modes enables the Gamma settings
3. In one of the above Picture modes:

Set the Contrast Enhancer from "Off" to "Low" or "High" (I recommend to try both settings)
Set the Gamma from 0 to 2 or 3 (I recommend to try both settings)

4. Enjoy...

Note: As mention in other post, not all HDR titles have this problem. Some HDR title can be perfectly seen with the picture "Intelligent Mode".

A picture I took (with my phone so the automatic color made the picture with blue tone...):After CorrectionBefore Correction, "Intelligent Mode"

Re: HDR content too dark

RussN — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 18:01:00 GMT

If you use the Gamma method do you have to switch back for shows that don't have the HDR issue?

Re: HDR content too dark

nickveekens — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 18:08:25 GMT

Thr Gamma thing works but shouldn't be necessary. It's like buying a car that can only drive in reverse.

I want to use ANY mode on the TV, not just Movie, without HDR/local dimming/subtitle trouble. That's what I expect from a €4000 screen.

Samsung be responsible and solve these issues!

Re: HDR content too dark

RussN — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 18:16:47 GMT

I could not agree more. I already tried calling to put in a request to fix this at the TV level so we are able to toggle back and forth if necessary hdr to sdr. I didn't get anywhere though.