watch high dynamic range (HDR) films or start your gaming console, the issue might not stem from an error you made during the purchase. Instead, it could be related to your HDMI configurations.
Contemporary televisions promise brighter highlights, more profound contrast, and richer colors with HDR, but these enhancements only manifest when the appropriate HDMI settings are activated. Nevertheless, TVs may come with these configurations turned off by default, even if they entirely support HDR. Some brands hide the essential toggles deep within their menus, labeling them with obscure terms like Enhanced format, HDMI signal format, or Enhanced VRR. Sony’s documentation also states that HDR may not trigger unless the proper HDMI input mode is chosen. This implies that a high-end streaming device, next-generation console, or high-bandwidth Blu-ray player might end up outputting standard dynamic range without your awareness. The picture remains functional, but it falls significantly short of the quality you paid for.
To complicate matters further, HDMI ports are not always equivalent. On certain TVs, only specific inputs can support full-bandwidth 4K HDR at 60 Hz or 120 Hz, and connecting to the incorrect port can silently degrade image quality. So if you’ve been questioning why Dolby Vision appears subdued, why games seem less lively, or why highlights never truly stand out, these two overlooked HDMI settings could be the bottleneck obstructing your HDR experience.
