I recently purchased an UN55NU8000FXZC and came across similar concerns and confusion about HDR settings and dark picture image, especially on the Netflix app feed. After much digging around, a few notes back and forth with Samsung and reading in this forum, I have come to a few conclusions:
The HDR option in the “expert” settings is some sort of an upscaling feature for non HDR sources. Using the selectable HDR function resulted in a slightly darker screen image and colour saturization is a little overdone. Darkening of the screen image in the Netflix and Amazon app is compounded when viewing HDR sources with the HDR upscaling setting activated.
The TV automatically adjusts its settings when viewing HDR content and doesn’t need the help of the manual settings applied.
The eco settings also contribute to a darker screen image.
Samsung points to Netflix and Netflix points to Samsung with no real solution.
I have found keeping the settings at “Standard” and eco settings “off” and these settings applied to “all sources” seems to do the job. Some have suggested leaving the settings at Dynamic for HDR. Problem is then non HDR sources are over done and too bright.
HDR doesn’t really “pop” rather it brings out fine details in the various lighting fields of the screen. The image really is quite nice when the TV is left to its own devices.
I had had a look at some of the YouTube 4K titles. Those scenes are quite stunning but are differently lit than say a 4K HDR Netflix studio release.
Finally, I found the Samsung support folks were helpful but seem to have varied opinions on how the different settings work, especially the manual HDR option v default Auto HDR. The Samsung literature on their web site does a better job explaining how the manual HDR setting works and it’s relation to upscaling non HDR sources.
When the TV is correctly processing HDR sources you can see confirmation in the quick settings menu on the home bar. I confirmed this with both the Netflix and Amazon apps. A little HDR icon appears. I notice also looking at the expert settings, the different fields are dialled up closer to Dynamic. So I don’t think manipulating the expert settings does anything where HDR sources is concerned. The TV makes the determination.
I am pretty happy with the TV and actually found the native and downloadable streaming apps to be doing a good job now they are set up.
Thanks for this detailed write-up! The HDR setting can be finicky, especially with all the different TV models available (not to mention the various content sources)—this helps clarify things a lot 😊
I have just brought 8000 series 65 inch tv but old movies still look poor and i dont see any UPSCALING happening.
Also my Denon receiver old as it maybe worked fine with old samsung tv 9 years old for the ARC. But know the eARC does not switch off receiver but switchs ON.
