Adjusting the picture

[Bluenose1940]

I have just purchased a KD-55A85 TV and am having problems with adjusting the picture.

I have downloaded the item "Our definitive guide to the perfect TV picture settings" but this isn't really very helpful at all.  I have also saved this file to a USB stick and have plugged it into the TV but even that doesn't seem to be very helpful as the file simply appears a quite a small image in the top left hand corner of the screen.

It makes reference to things like 'Eco' which I cannot find anywhere in the menus.  It mentions keeping the 'Backlight' setting at 7 or 8.  Again, I can't find anything relating to 'backlight'.

When I look at the 'Brightness' section that appears to be set at 'Max' but is actually greyed out and so I can't make any adjustment there. The TV is only really comfortable watching whilst the picture mode is set to 'Vivid' any other setting at the moment is too dark.

Even my remote is different to what is described in the instructions as I don't have 'Options' or 'action' buttons.

Surely there must be some updated instructions somewhere that covers the newer TV's.  There isn't even a decent 'user manual' available anywhere.  In the old days you could always count on getting a good one with the TV but not anymore.

Any help will really be greatly appreciated.

[royabrown2]

@Bluenose1940 

If that’s the document I think it is (you didn’t give a URL), it’s a Community posting from 2015, and yes, the UI was rather different then.

While the thick manual that comes with these TVs these days turns out to be the same few sketchy pages in forty different languages, you will find the interactive Help on the TV to be the equivalent of quite a comprehensive manual.

And at this reference:-

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/televisions-projectors-oled-tvs-android-/kd-55a85

you will find a downloadable ‘how-to’ on adjusting your picture settings, fully up to date and relevant to your TV; and you can also download the web guide version of a rather more comprehensive manual by clicking through Manuals there.

[Bluenose1940]

Thank you so much for your very helpful reply royabrown2.

I have been and had a mooch around your link and there is certainly some very helpful stuff there.

I have managed to improve the picture somewhat but, even now, having got an acceptable image on one programme, when I switch channels I end up with an image that is too dark again.

I'm beginning to wonder if I've chosen the right telly!

Perhaps it's just because I'm not tech savvy enough at 80!!

Thanks again for your input.

[royabrown2]

@Bluenose1940 

While there a few things with these Sony TVs that give people pause, picture quality and control is second to none.

When you say ‘channels’, do you mean, say, BBC1 versus ITV, or do you mean inputs, e.g. HDMI 1 versus HDMI 2, or versus broadcast TV?

If the former, then I would be surprised, but have no suggestions for that.

If the latter, though, you can choose if your picture settings are to apply to one individual input, or all of them; and maybe you are in ‘individual’ mode.

If so, go to the input you have got how you want it, find the ‘Apply To’ individual/all picture setting choice, and set it to ‘all’.

Once you have done that, or if you already have, and one input is not quite right, you can adjust that individually.

NB: if my username were like yours, it would be Rednose1945 😛

[Bluenose1940]

Hi again,

Thank you once again for your valuable input.

I'm really struggling with this at the moment.  I can only get to what I would call a 'watchable image' by setting the picture to 'Vivid' but the recommendation appears to be to not use this setting over much.  The image that we are watching is definitely too dark for us.  The surprising thing is that the 'Brightness' setting seems to be on 'maximum' but is always greyed out and won't allow me to make any adjustment.  Not that there would be any as it is 'seemingly' already set at maximum.

To give you an example, in my study (it's really a bedroom!) I have a Phiips 43PUS7555 which is a 4K Ultra HD HDR Smart TV and, at the moment it is far superior to the Sony as far as the picture is concerned.

Exactly the same can be said of the TV in the bedroom which is a  Samsung UE32T5300 HDR Smart 1080P TV, this too is a far more acceptable picture than I am getting on the Sony, at least at the moment.

I will keep trying to see if I can get it sorted. I'm sure (I hope) that I will get there in the end😉

[royabrown2]

@Bluenose1940 

When you select Vivid, some other settings are preset, like Brightness, and so are greyed out.

If you came off Vivid, you would be able to adjust Brightness; but as you say, you need all the Brightness you can get.

Shame it’s an OLED, so there is no Backlight for you to adjust 😛

[Win_88]

I agree with @royabrown2 as Sony TVs are praised for nothing more than picture quality. Using presets like Vivid may disable some settings so for finer tuning, try changing it to custom.

still not sure if the picture you're watching is from Digital broadcast or an external input, but one thing that comes to mind is that OLED TVs don't get as bright as older panels, especially if you're watching sth in HDR, not sure if this is relevant.

[Bluenose1940]

I have now managed to get what I would call an 'acceptable picture' although I still regard it as slightly dark.

Thank you once again folks for your valued input, it is very much appreciated.

I watch most of my TV via SkyQ

[Win_88]

There has to be a point where it's just what the panel is capable of. Not necessarily a fault per se.

[royabrown2]

@Bluenose1940 

Can you post a screenshot?

I always say these TVs are at their best as display screens for Sky Q, ignoring all the Android gubbins they are cluttered with, so I’m surprised you can’t get it perfect.