Settings Transcript: Sony BRAVIA XR A95K
Introduction
After buying a new TV, in my case the 65 inch variant of the Sony BRAVIA XR A95K, I needed to know the optimal picture settings to get the most out of my new QD-OLED display. YouTube brought me to the video Sony A95K QD OLED In Depth Best Settings And Setup Guide | SDR | HDR10 | Dolby Vision | PS5 | Xbox (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC2NYJ6fWHk) created by the YouTube channel Classy Tech Calibrations (https://www.youtube.com/c/ClassyTechCalibrations).
Since the settings made sense to me and gave a very good quality output I am satisfied to recommend this video to tune the A95K.
This article about the video is meant as a text-based reference and/or a complement to help understand the settings discussed. In my opinion, precise text is sometimes more easily understood than an audio-visual explanation.
I will go over the main three topics of Optimal HDMI signal formats, Picture settings for different content and then some Device settings but I omitted some details to only focus on the important core.
Navigation
Picture Settings
Device Settings
Disclaimer
During this article I give credit and mention multiple times where these settings come from.
The settings described here are an exact copy of what is shown and explained during the video.
My work entailed compiling the settings into a text-readable format (this article) for later reference and/or to complement the understanding of the video.
Also, this post will never be monetized and will not contain any affiliate links.
Optimal HDMI signal formats
found under Settings -> Channels & Inputs -> External inputs -> HDMI signal format
For these settings to make sense, we need an AV-Receiver connected to HDMI 3, and all your devices (except the Gaming console) connected to the AVR. Your 4K/120Hz (and optionally VRR) compatible Gaming console should be connected to HDMI 4.
- HDMI 1: Enhanced format
- HDMI 2: Enhanced format
- HDMI 3 (eARC/ARC): Enhanced format
- HDMI 4: Enhanced format (VRR)
If you have a Dolby Vision compatible AV-Receiver and streaming device (which is connected to the AVR), use these settings:
- HDMI 1: Enhanced format
- HDMI 2: Enhanced format
- HDMI 3 (eARC/ARC): Enhanced format (Dolby Vision)
- HDMI 4: Enhanced format (VRR)
Picture Settings: Mixed SDR/HDR content with one profile
Basic
1. Picture mode: Cinema
2. Auto picture mode: Off
Ambient Optimization Pro
1. Ambient light sensor: Off
Brightness
1. Brightness: 35 - Max (SDR) // Max (HDR)
2. Contrast: 90
3. Gamma: 0
4. HDR tone mapping: Gradation preferred
5. Black level: 50
6. Black adjust: Off
7. Adv. contrast enhancer: Off
8. Peak luminance: Low
Color
1. Color: 50
2. Hue: 0
3. Color temperature: Expert 1
4. Live Color: Off
Clarity
1. Sharpness: 50
2. Reality Creation
Reality Creation: Auto
3. Random noise reduction: Auto
4. Digital noise reduction: Auto
5. Smooth gradation: Low
Motion
1. Motionflow
Motionflow: Custom
Smoothness: Min
Clearness: Low
2. CineMotion: Low
Video signal
1. HDR mode: Auto
2. HDMI video range: Auto
3. Color space: Auto
Picture Settings: Gaming
Basic
1. Picture mode: Game
2. Auto picture mode: Off
Ambient Optimization Pro
1. Ambient light sensor: Off
Brightness
1. Brightness: Max
2. Contrast: 90
3. Gamma: 0
4. HDR tone mapping: Gradation preferred
5. Black level: 50
6. Black adjust: Off
7. Adv. contrast enhancer: Off
8. Peak luminance: Medium
Color
1. Color: 50
2. Hue: 0
3. Color temperature: Expert 1
4. Live Color: Off
Clarity
1. Sharpness: 50
2. Reality Creation
Reality Creation: Auto
3. Random noise reduction: Off
4. Digital noise reduction: Off
5. Smooth gradation: Low
Motion
1. Motionflow
Motionflow: Off
Smoothness: Min
Clearness: Low
2. CineMotion: Off
Video signal
1. HDR mode: Auto
2. HDMI video range: Auto
3. Color space: Auto
Picture Settings: Dolby Vision content
(accepting a slightly wrong white point / color temperature, for other solutions, refer to the video mentioned in the Introduction section)
Basic
1. Picture mode: Dolby Vision Dark
2. Auto picture mode: Off
Ambient Optimization Pro
1. Ambient light sensor: Off
Brightness
1. Brightness: Max
2. Contrast: Max
3. Gamma: 0
4. HDR tone mapping: Off
5. Black level: 50
6. Black adjust: Off
7. Adv. contrast enhancer: Off
8. Peak luminance: High
Color
1. Color: 50
2. Hue: 0
3. Color temperature: Expert 2
4. Live Color: Off
Clarity
1. Sharpness: 50
2. Reality Creation
Reality Creation: Auto
3. Random noise reduction: Off
4. Digital noise reduction: Off
5. Smooth gradation: Low
Motion
1. Motionflow
Motionflow: Off
Smoothness: Min
Clearness: Low
2. CineMotion: High
Video signal
1. HDMI video range: Auto
2. Color space: Auto
Device Settings: Xbox Series X/S
to be executed on the Xbox itself, NOT the TV
'HDR Game Calibration' Steps
1. Press LB, LT, RB, RT together during the HDR Game Calibration to get an HDR info display in the top right corner
2. During Minimum Luminance (black background), with the D-Pad, set the value to
MinTML: 0.000
3. During Maximum Luminance (black background), with the D-Pad, set the value to
MaxTML: 1000
4. During Maximum Luminance (white background), with the D-Pad, set the value to
MaxFFTML: 1000
Device Settings: PS5
to be executed on the PS5 itself, NOT the TV
'Adjust HDR' steps
1. Adjust HDR 1/3:
Hold 'Down' on the D-Pad until it doesn't get any darker, then press 'Up' 15 times
2. Adjust HDR 2/3:
Hold 'Down' on the D-Pad until it doesn't get any darker, then press 'Up' 15 times
3. Adjust HDR 3/3:
Hold 'Down' on the D-Pad until it doesn't get any darker
Video Output settings
found under Settings -> Screen and Video -> Video Output
1. Resolution: Automatic
2. 4K Video Transfer Rate: Automatic
3. VRR: Automatic
Apply to Unsupported Games: Off
4. ALLM: Automatic
5. HDR: On When Supported
6. Deep Color Output: Automatic
7. RGB Range: Automatic (Recommended)
8. Enable 120 Hz Output: Automatic
Device Settings: Apple TV
to be executed on the Apple TV itself, NOT the TV
found under Settings -> Video and Audio
1. Format: 4K SDR
2. HDMI Output: RGB High
3. Match Content
Match Dynamic Range: On
Match Frame Rate: On
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