Engadget: Simple Calibrations Can Improve 4K TV Picture Quality

Engadget said the first step is to change the picture mode. Televisions typically offer presets such as vivid, gaming and sports, which adjust settings for different types of content. Vivid modes increase brightness, saturation, sharpness and contrast for a more eye-catching but less accurate image, while gaming modes prioritize low latency. Engadget recommended looking first for movie or filmmaker mode, which usually turns off motion smoothing, post-processing and sharpness features. Filmmaker Mode is an official specification endorsed by Hollywood directors including Martin Scorsese and Denis Villeneuve, though it is not available on all TVs. Movie mode may vary by set but generally aims for a more natural picture.

If movie mode does not disable motion smoothing, action clarity or similarly named options, Engadget advised turning them off manually. At their worst, motion smoothing settings inject fake video frames to make low-frame-rate content play at higher frame rates. Movies are shot at 24 frames per second for a reason, and motion smoothing can make them look unnatural, producing what is often called the soap-opera effect. Engadget noted that Tom Cruise once filmed a public service announcement asking viewers to turn off motion smoothing. The publication also said users should check the settings of connected devices such as game consoles and streaming boxes to ensure they are playing in 4K and outputting the best possible quality.

After choosing a preset and disabling post-processing or over-sharpening, Engadget said viewers should work through picture settings one by one. These include brightness, contrast, sharpness, color temperature, color gamut, tint and gamma. Because display panels can vary even between two units of the same TV model, each set may need different adjustments. A dedicated calibration tool is ideal, but Engadget said eyesight is sufficient for most people. It suggested using TV test patterns, such as a YouTube playlist of professional calibration patterns, to get a more objective sense of the changes.

Engadget also recommended turning off eco mode settings except for the inactivity timer. Eco modes almost always compromise picture quality by reducing brightness and similar settings, and they do not save much energy or money, the publication said. Turning the TV off when it is not in use is sufficient. Many TVs apply picture changes only to the current input, which can be useful if a console and a streaming box need different settings. Users who want the same picture across all inputs should look for an apply-to-all option.

Many 4K TVs now support Dolby Vision, a specialized version of HDR that deepens contrast and dynamic range while preserving color, Engadget reported. Dolby Vision mode should activate automatically when supported content is played, usually by briefly displaying a Dolby Vision badge on screen, and Engadget said it is best to leave it on. If multiple Dolby Vision modes are available, such as Dark, Bright or Normal, Normal is generally the best choice. Bright is better during the day when a room has a lot of natural light, and Dark is best in very dark rooms. Normal is standard Dolby Vision.