Anyone with a Samsung QE55Q70R or greater please run following test.

Plec

Plec

Plec

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I'm troubleshooting and would be really grateful of a comparison.

I won't bore you with the details but suspect i may have a Local Dimming issue with the Samsung QE55Q70R. So i ran the below Local Dimming test and was surprised to see that the smaller the little white square/circle became the darker it became - the smallest becoming almost grey in colour (square shape affected the most).

I would be really interested with any other users results (or similar TV) as if they're similar i'll chalk it up to an over aggressive software technician at Samsung (there's no option to disable to test without :/). And if you have a stable white colour throughout - RMA back to John Lewis.

*If anyone else has local dimming on a similar TV i would be interested in their results, too - as i may change panel but like the depth of blacks and vibrant colour (although, the depth of blacks may be a byproduct of possible LD problems).

Link to video for TV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3So8OFdqcdA&t=54s



And if you have the time this 4k firework test - my colour results are very muted. The TV can't decide whether to be bright or dull :/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnU7VrgaXyI&t=77s

 
Poneros said:
This is actually a well known problem with Samsung sets (and also some other brands who prefer to black crush over bloom).

eg: https://youtu.be/226kWMOVGGc?t=214

It's also a problem in tests like when you have a white full circle spinning around on black background to test local dimming. In that case as it goes faster it starts disappearing.

https://youtu.be/7enMF35hFJ4?t=292

As you correctly intuited, it is a problem of the LD algorithm. Sony LCDs do not suffer from this, but they have more blooming instead. The only alternative would be OLED if you want both very strong black levels & no blooming & no vignetting around bright areas (as above). That of course has other trade-offs.
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Thanks for the clarification @Poneros - and great examples - has certainly helped solidify the users comments i've read tonight.

It would seem i have a 'normal' panel. I should have paid less attention to pro reviews and more to the average user's comments. But, I could have ended up spending double the money for the same issue had I not read all the comments - i.e. that it affects the whole QLED range - and i think i do prefer zero bloom and deeper blacks and no risk of burn (i have young kids) for average viewing. Time will tell i guess...

mmj_uk said:
Isn't this working as intended? as I recall Samsung optimised their QLED's for black level whereas the alternative is the Sony implementation where you get a lot more blooming around tiny bright spots.
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Yes and no, to a degree.

I had read about the two trade-offs in both designs - but from pro reviews i didn't realise the full implications of either. The first video @Poneros linked to would have certainly been useful when i was making my decision. That said - the colours and deep blacks are impressive and what you can't see you don't miss. If I hadn't noticed the muted text colours in the formula 1 series i was watching I wouldn't have run the Local Dimming test and subsequent 4K Firework test. Both exaggerate the flaws of the screen far more than any viewing i've done so far - in fact up until today i've been really impressed with the panel.

Ignorance would have been bliss on this occasion as it seems you have to select a foible either way. Personally, i dislike visible blooming and there's a definite risk of burn with kids/wife which is why i opted for QLED - but must admit i'm surprised at how aggressively the software technicians at Samsung apply it. It needs a moderate tweak IMO - as i now have an RMA to cancel (luckily they weren't in stock).

hornetstinger said:
Can you tweak the fald settings be interesting if you can and how it would do it.
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I tried numerous permutations but to little effect - other than ruining my nuanced calibration (saved but will take an age with individual sources after factory resets). After reading user reviews in more detail, even the Samsung flagship models suffer from this so I'll stick with my middle-of-the-road panel as it fitted the kid's (xbox) and my criteria for the next couple of years. Hopefully, they'll be a panel with a happy middle ground between the 2 options by then. Plus, 55" doesn't look as imposing as i initially thought so I may jump to 65" next time... :)
 
robfosters said:
My one goes darker, but nowhere near grey. Just a slightly dimmer white.

TV is a Q85, standard picture mode, high local dimming and high contrast enhancer. Was the same with low contrast enhancer too.
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Thanks for the feedback @robfosters.

Yes, the Q85 (nice panel) has substantially more zones than that of the Q70 - but the relative issue exists in all models but not to quite the excesses of the q70 range. Almost, considered upgrading to the Q90 - but i'm upgrading computers and monitors too (unfortunate coincidence) and the thought of returning and spending more money on a slightly better implemented foible didn't fill me with enthusiasm (from reading reviews). Plus, Wife and Kids love it and it's only my trained eye (thanks to my experience with monitors :/) that notices. I've always found VA hard to tolerate and use calibrated IPS Ultra-Sharps exclusively - but accept VA's role in TV panels.

That said, after a week of intermittent tweaking in the evening, I've made significant improvements. The small white square is a dimmer white now, rather than grey and the firework display is more consistent in brightness (i will add that this particular test seems odd/harsh - as other 4k firework displays are not so damning)

The main magic-cure-all was a mixture of: Movie Mode, Local Dimming set to High, Contrast Enhancer set to High (you seem to have noticed the benefits too from your post) and tweaking gamma settings - all other features/dynamic settings/gimmicks turned off.

The colours are still a bit washed out and perhaps a tint of green; so I need to play with the white balance - joy! But, at least i can see the opening couple of minutes of Stranger Things now ( Season 3, Episode 2), without having to guess what's happening from purely the sounds (it was that bad). Plus, the opening of Netflix's, Our Planet - i can actually see stars and the light around the darkened edge of the spinning world when it turns to night.

Started watching Altered Carbon in HDR and was surprisingly impressed with the picture delivered after tweaking. And also started to watch the Jack Ryan Series on Prime in 4K - and that too performed well. But after watching, Netflix's 'I Am Not OKAY With This' and John Wick 2 - it became very evident that the colour balance needs addressing - so still a bit of grind to go through until i'm completely satisfied'ish.

Overall - a bit underwhelmed but i've picked my poison and OLED was never an option for me with my kids/wife - even with the protection of screen savers etc... The QLED, when calibrated properly, looks like it will suffice for family use and at £750 (which was the main reason i bought it as almost bought at nearly double that last year) seems like a lot of TV for the money - even with it's known aggressive algorithmic quirks.

Grim5 said:
Pretty much. Despite how much Samsung marketing will try to convince you - FALD is nowhere near the quality of OLED contrast and accurate blacks
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From my now, forced, very extensive reading - that would certainly appear to be the case if you get a good panel.

*Will add that the Q70/Q80 is a great gaming panel - very impressed. No doubt OLEDs do a similar job but for the money was impressed with the results - and would probably make a fun hybrid TV/monitor for some users, with 120Hz Freesync, if you weren't fussy about VA.
 
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jpaul said:
Did you do your tests using the utube videos, themselves, or, did you grab potentially higher bitrate (&4k) source ? (Vincent/hdtvtest usually has a bouncing ball demo)

I thought poneros' linked stars video was a bit hard on qled performance ... no stars at all on, on the qled !, was that just a poor camera,
Vincents comparison from (higher bandwidth) Gravity/Martian/Alien - can't remember which, weren't so disparaging
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Interesting.

I used YouTube as the source of test content and did wonder about the quality of the bitrate etc as a potential added flaw. I'll search for the Vincent/HDTV test you mentioned - do you happen to have a link to that and others that may be useful?

Additional: The 1352 firmware has been released, if you're interested. No idea what it does as zero information as usual on the Samsung support page.

*Wish there was a dedicated key for 'Contrast Enhancer' as it's too aggressive for HD content. May give this 1352 update a try at the weekend.
 
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