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

• Optimal HDMI signal formats

Picture Settings

• Mixed SDR/HDR content with one profile
• Gaming
• Dolby Vision content

Device Settings

• Xbox Series X/S
• PS5
• Apple TV

Disclaimer

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

  Click through any Untested Formats showing up below to allow them being used