You bought your TV at a fair price. Why, therefore, does the film seem more like a fading postcard or a radioactive swamp than the cinematic masterpiece you were promised? In actuality, the majority of TVs don’t look their best right out of the box. The good news is that you can obtain a visible boost without spending any more money.
We requested insider knowledge from Panasonic TV and home AV expert Michael Price. It turns out that even little adjustments to your settings and maybe your furnishings might have a big impact.
1. Verify that showroom mode is not selected.
Michael offers the most straightforward advise for those who have just purchased a television: “Take it out of the ‘dynamic’ or ‘vivid’ mode.”
“In the store, such modes catch your eye, but they’re not practical. To begin, put your TV in either “normal” or “movie” mode. From there, you can easily modify the color, contrast, and motion. That will have a significant impact on its own.
2. Fight the reflections
Michael claims that reflections are “one of the biggest killers of picture quality.” “The black levels are squashed and the entire image appears washed out if ambient light is bouncing onto the screen, especially from windows.”
To put it another way, your Saturday night box set binge may not be benefiting from that gorgeous south-facing lounge. Michael advises planning your arrangement carefully: “Avoid positioning your TV directly across from a window. No matter how excellent your TV is, watching football in the afternoon when the sun is flooding in will make it less enjoyable. Blinds, curtains, or even just moving a lightbulb may have a significant impact.
Remember where you sit, too. Viewing at an angle might cause the image quality of LED TVs to deteriorate. Rearranging to be more face-on to the screen is worthwhile if you often find yourself in the sofa’s corner.
3. Move away from the button for brightness.
Your first reaction may be to turn up the brightness when you’re wondering, “just what’s going on in this Game of Thrones battle scene?” Michael advises against it, saying that increasing brightness actually makes the blackness higher, giving you flatter, greyer shadows. It is not at all helpful.
Changing the contrast is the preferred course of action. “I usually advise folks to utilize the contrast option rather than turning up the brightness. You keep some of the black detail by stretching the contrast between the darkest and brightest places.
As Michael notes, “everything ends up either dazzling white or pitch black” if you go too far. However, a little contrast adjustment may clarify the image without bleaching it completely.
4. Make the movements smooth. Only a little
Motion settings are a contentious topic. Some people switch them off as soon as their TV is delivered, while others swear by them. Michael is squarely in the center. Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie, the director of Top Gun Maverick, released a public service announcement a few years ago advising viewers to entirely off motion smoothing since it gave movies a very fake “soap opera effect.” Indeed, it was sensible counsel for older TVs, he admits.
However, things have changed. High-end TVs nowadays manage motion more delicately. “We call it Intelligent Frame Creation on Panasonic sets,” Michael explains. “I would suggest turning off the movie if you want to view it just as the filmmaker intended. Keep it at the lowest setting, however, for regular TV, sports, or even action movies. It will lessen judder and blur without making the image seem dramatic during the day.
The secret is moderation. He says, “Never put it on maximum.” People detest the abnormally smooth, video-like appearance that results from it. However, a minimal setting provides a pleasant equilibrium.
5. Make the color warmer
Have you ever noticed how people’s features might sometimes seem too pale, too orange, or simply off? Your color settings are most likely to fault. Putting your TV in “movie” or “filmmaker” mode is one method to get around this, Michael explains. “Skin tones and colors appear more natural because those modes are made to be closer to the industry standard.”
However, not everyone enjoys such viewing modes on a daily basis. He acknowledges that “if you’re watching daytime TV with the curtains open, they can look a bit dull.” Therefore, adjusting your color temperature settings is a smart compromise. Typically, you’ll see “cool,” “normal,” and “warm.” Selecting one of the warm settings is always what I advise.
Why? We are used to viewing the world in warm tones since our eyes developed under a yellow sun. At first glance, the cooler settings may seem brilliant and dazzling, but that’s not realistic since the whites are somewhat blue. Skin tones in particular seem significantly better when you switch to warm.
Michael cautions that some tweaking may be necessary. When opposed to the zingy cold setting, warm might first seem a little bland. However, if you give it some time, you’ll see that it looks a lot more like reality. Additionally, because you won’t be gazing at intense blue light, it will most likely lessen eye strain.
6. Consider the actual space.
Aside from settings, Michael claims that the surroundings of your TV have a significant impact. Michael remarks, “I frequently witness people mounting their televisions too high up the wall, and then you’re looking up at it on an angle.” Ideally, you should sit face-on and the screen should be as near to eye level as feasible. You may get the most accurate image in this way.
Lighting is important as well, but don’t go overboard. “Watching in a completely dark room can cause eye strain because your pupils will constantly dilate and contract as you look from the TV to the surrounding darkness.” Maintain some ambient light at all times, such as via curtains or a bulb in the corner. Just make sure the screen isn’t directly illuminated.
Additionally, Michael says that blackout shades are not necessary. “Balance is more important. Although you want to eliminate sharp reflections, it is more pleasant to observe with a modest level of ambient light.
Simply said, you don’t have to purchase a new television. A few simple adjustments to the visual settings, together with a more comfortable couch, may completely revitalize your screen.