Sony [Auto Local Dimming] Setting: Medium vs High - Which is Correct?

We compare Sony's [Auto Local Dimming] "Medium" vs "High" on two XH90 (also marketed as the BRAVIA X900H in the USA) full-array local dimming (FALD) LED LCD TVs to find out which setting is correct, given that a few other Youtube videos have recommended [Auto local dimming] "High".

We also compared [Adv. contrast enhancer] "Off" vs "High" to determine which Advanced Contrast Enhancer setting is more accurate.

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[nsw]

"...there is a difference between reference and preference..."
Gold! 👍👍👏

[paulgal]

It would be good if you could do a full video of all the settings this would be very helpful. Love your videos.

[naderzein]

RTings video just recommended setting local dimming to high on the X900H yesterday. Coincidence???? Lol nice one Vincent.

[smooth]

Fully agree on turning "Advanced contrast enhancer off". Not so sure on "Auto local dimming" though. Yes, the FALD TVs from Sony don't reach their maximum brightness capabilities with setting it to "High" (which is why they clip the highlight details a little bit earlier), but to my eyes the picture quality is much more pleasing with the "High" setting, because there is less blooming and darker blacks compared to the "Medium" setting. Sony's local dimming algorithm is one of the least aggressive ones, even on the "High" setting. Appreciate your excellent work, Vincent 👍

[Mowglibaloo]

After watching this I started watching 4k hdr tests that put the local dimming through its paces. Medium definitely preserves a lot more detail and allows for more hdr pop. I had local dimming high the whole time since I got the tv, but have confirmed now that to allow more detail it should be set to medium. It has good black levels on both settings.

[robertnitsche]

Ok, i've been running auto local dimming on high per almost everyone's X900H recommended settings. I also had contrast enhancer set to low for some reason. I switched to your settings, and coming from an LG C7 OLED that had burn in issues, the X900H picture looks more OLED like with these settings. Thanks!

[carlobustillo]

Adjusting my settings as of this moment

[zenzualpt]

And about Reality Creation? Do you have any specific value to use it on manual? For example, for 1080p what is the maximum value you recommend? With OFF cable tv is too ugly. And with auto it doesn't seem to have enough effect

[Daepilin]

Great video and nice to see someone objectively confirm my suspicion on why local dimming high just looks off.

[mjanusic]

I own X950H and I keep local dimming on high since this TV blooms a lot, and this setting keeps blooming at minimum. Keep in mind I use subtitles on all content, so blooming is only really annoying when they appear on screen while I watch TV during the night. I should switch local dimming setting to medium during the day, but I am too lazy to this every day, so I just keep it on high. And yes, I can see whites are overblown sometimes, but I got used to it :\

[AndyGilleand]

What Auto Local Dimming does is determines how much of a difference in backlight level there can be between one dimming zone and the next. By setting it to medium, it doesn't allow the full dimming capabilities to be used and therefore will cause more noticeable raised black levels overall. The reason you are seeing more detail preserved in the medium setting is likely because the TV is using lower contrast tonemapping calculations in that mode to fit better to the lower contrast local dimming. It doesn't mean it's more accurate, especially since black levels will be raised, and bad black levels hurt the picture far more than clipped highlights do. Instead, use auto local dimming high with a lower contrast setting for the picture mode for best results.

[samwalsh]

Hey Vincent, when you calibrate your TV do you just do it once. Or do you have to calibrate multiple settings differently, like HDR, and SDR. Game mode HDR and cinema mode SDR?

[attinderpalsingh]

And what about other settings, tell us about
1. Black adjust
2. X-tended dynamic range
Etc. Please 🙏🏽

[mhamedouidir]

did some tests yesterday with multiple contents (sdr, hdr, DV)on my x900h, you are right. specially when it comes to sources of light (flame, car lights, the sun), when it's on medium it's more realistic and more detailed. Also with people skin under light. Thank you

[zenzualpt]

How about Black adjust and Gamma? What is your recomendation for SDR and HDR?

[DuckAlertBeats]

There's also the most annoying confirmation thing popping up every time you go to change a picture setting now, since the new update!!

[fearfrontier]

Can you do a video on your full recommended settings for the Sony XH90 please?

[Kung_Fu_Kenny]

Thanks for clarification! I used your X900H+PS5 settings and was confused when Rtings said set ALD to high. So for extended dynamic range it’s off in SDR and high in HDR/Dolby Vision?

[symphony]

Thanks a lot for this! I own a XE93 and while it's not professionally calibrated I'm using calibrated settings I found online for this model, but was never sure about local dimming since I've seen both medium and high being recommended. I often switch it around and could never decide. Now I can finally have a peace of mind and leave it on medium.

[carlopez]

Can we get a Samsung Local dimming video?