4K TV Reviews

Unit-to-unit sample variations, the viewing environment, and the source might render these recommendations less than optimum. They're only provided here as a potentially useful starting place.

The settings shown here most likely to translate reliably from one sample to another are those involving specific features with only a few selections, such as Noise Reduction. The ones most likely to be subject to sample variations are video controls offering a wide range of adjustment, such as white balance (or grayscale) and color Fine Tune (color management or CMS).

Even relatively small differences in the common control settings, such as Contrast, Brightness (which is actually Black level), and Gamma, can shift the white balance, though the resulting visible change may be minor. Production tolerances can do the same.

We strongly recommend that you find the optimum basic video settings for your sample by using one of the many available 2K/SDR setup discs, such as the Disney WOW or the Spears and Munsil High Definition Benchmark (a UHD/HDR version is in the works and may be available by the time you read this). These will help you set the basic controls correctly, such as Brightness (Black level), Contrast, Sharpness, Color, and Tint.

Experimenting with the more complex color calibration and other controls in the user menus will do no harm; the changes can be easily reset. But adjusting these by eye is unlikely to produce an accurate result and is no substitute for a full calibration. The latter is best left to a trained and properly equipped technician such as those certified by the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) or THX.

However, unless you know exactly what you're doing avoid accessing a set's service menu. While such menus are locked, and the codes needed to open them aren't readily available, they're not impossible to find. Make an error in a service menu and you can void your warranty, have trouble reversing your changes, or even permanently brick the set. I never use service menu controls to configure a TV.