SONY BRAVIA KD55XF9005 HDR Content Dark - Please Help!

[Oldfish1]

Hello all! 

I hope you can help with an issue I’ve been experiencing with watching any UHD HDR content on Sky Q, Netflix etc on the SONY BRAVIA KD55XF9005.

The Problem ☹️

When I’ve downloaded any films via Sky Q which are in Ultra HD AND HDR, they are very very dark. If I download a film in just Ultra HD, without the HDR then it is much brighter.

This also happens with HDR Netflix content too.

Any ideas why? From the research I’ve done, this TV should be capable of playing all of this content without experiencing the dark washed out colours! 

[Oldfish1]

Here are photos to try and help explain! 

The new Sonic movie below when downloaded in both formats. With HDR, it is much more darker and washed out!

UHD

 

UHD + HDR

[royabrown2]

Please ignore.

[Joe_Dohn]

Try using the Action Menu button on your remote and then changing the HDR and brightness settings around while watching the movie.

You can update the TV via a USB stick btw.

[Oldfish1]

Hi Joe,

thanks for your reply.

the options I have for HDR mode are

HDR10

HLG

or Auto

The brightness is already set to max.

does this mean if I change this, I’ll have to change the settings every time I want to watch a move in HDR UHD?

[LightFoot]

Hi @Oldfish1   

Looking at your images I very much doubt that HDR is kicking in. If it was then the “Sonic The Hedgehog” text would be must brighter. If you press the Action Menu -> Picture, does it indicate HDR in the top right hand corner.

Also just checking, what hardware version is your Sky Q box? Is it 32B0,1or2. Also are you connecting it direct to the TV in HDMI 2 or 3 with Enhanced format set on plus you are using the Sky Q supplied HDMI short lead?

[Oldfish1]

Hello!

Thanks for your response, really appreciate trying to get to the bottom of this.

You’re correct, HDR is not kicking in. Currently the HDR mode is set to auto, which when playing normal UHD content is obviously fine. But any HDR UHD content is dark.

When I manually change it to HDR10, the picture is much better. But that seems like a bug to manually change it every time I load up a film from the SKY Q menu.

Sky Q’s hardware version is 32B106.

Im using the short sky supplied HDMI cable, and its in HDMI3.

I hope this helps to answer your questions,

Thank you

[LightFoot]

Hi @Oldfish1 

Yes, 32B1xx is fine for HDR.

Is the HDMI lead connected direct to the TV (not through a soundbar etc.).

Have you set the HDMI signal format to Enhanced format. If you are on the latest software. Home -> Settings -> Watching TV -> External inputs -> HDMI signal format -> Enhanced format. If you are on an earlier software release it will be in a different place.

Have you set the Sky Q Picture resolution to 2160p 10-bit (note HDR will not work with 8-bit).

The TV HDR should be on Auto.

Note Sky Q outputs HDR as HLG (not HDR10).

I will attempt to get an example of Sky Q showing Sonic in HDR on my KD-55XE9305.

[LightFoot]

[HannahEd01]

Try disabling the light sensor. Let me know if that worked.