I bought a QN98Q80C about a month ago. I have read the entire 243 page E-Manual and searched and tried most of the video modes. No mode delivers the picture that I am expecting. Is there a first time users' initial setup list that I should follow? I have had the NISI repair people here. They said the TV is fine and working, however agreed that the picture is not what they would expect either. I have a very fast Internet connection hard wired RJ-45 connection.
Any ideas of what to try next?
The worst performance is when characters enter a dark room, most all detail is lost.
I am interested in that TV myself so asked Grok.com AI about your black levels. Does anything here help?
To optimize the black levels on your 98" Samsung Q80C QLED TV, youāll want settings that enhance contrast and minimize issues like blooming or clouding, which can affect dark scenes. The Q80C uses a Direct Full Array backlight with local dimming (around 120 zones on the 98" model), so fine-tuning the picture settings can significantly improve black depth and overall performance. Based on available calibration insights for the Q80C series and general Samsung QLED recommendations, hereās a suggested setup tailored for better black levels: Recommended Settings for Black Levels
Picture Mode: Start with Movie or Filmmaker Mode for a more accurate baseline that prioritizes contrast over brightness. However, some users find the Standard mode offers a good balance with deeper blacks and less dimming of highlights on the 98" Q80C. Why: Movie mode reduces over-processing, while Standard can enhance contrast without looking unnatural on this model. Brightness: Set to 20-25 (out of 50). Why: This keeps dark areas from appearing too gray, leveraging the TVās VA panel for deeper blacks. Adjust slightly higher if the room is bright, but avoid maxing it out to preserve black depth. Contrast: Set to 45 (out of 50). Why: High contrast enhances the difference between light and dark, making blacks stand out without crushing shadow detail. Black Level/Shadow Detail: Set to 0 or -1. Why: This fine-tunes how dark the blacks appear. A slight negative tweak can deepen blacks without losing detail in shadows, though the exact option name may vary (check under Expert Settings). Local Dimming: Set to High. Why: The Q80Cās local dimming is key to improving black levels. High maximizes the backlightās ability to dim dark zones, reducing blooming around bright objects in dark scenes. Backlight: Set to 30-40 (out of 50). Why: Too high a backlight can wash out blacks, especially on a large screen like the 98". This range balances brightness with black depth in most lighting conditions. Gamma: Set to BT.1886 or 2.2. Why: BT.1886 adapts to content and room light, while 2.2 is a standard for darker environments, both enhancing black perception. Color Tone: Set to Warm2. Why: This reduces blue tint in dark scenes, making blacks feel richer and more natural. Eco Settings: Turn off (e.g., Energy Saving, Ambient Light Detection). Why: These can dynamically dim the screen, undermining consistent black levels. Dynamic Contrast/Black Tone: Set to Off or Low. Why: These features can artificially boost contrast but often introduce clipping or blooming, which the 98" Q80C is prone to given its moderate dimming zone count.
Additional Tips
Room Lighting: Black levels shine in a light-controlled environment. If your room has lots of ambient light, even the Q80Cās VA panel might struggle compared to OLED, so consider dimming lights or using curtains. Content: Test with HDR content (e.g., Dolby Vision or HDR10) since the Q80Cās Quantum HDR+ can affect black performance. For HDR, stick to Movie mode and tweak backlight up slightly (e.g., 40-45) if highlights feel dim. Calibration Source: These settings are adapted from RTINGS.comās Q80C calibration for smaller sizes (e.g., 65"), which should scale reasonably to the 98" model, combined with insights from reviews noting its black level performance.
Fine-Tuning
Since the 98" size amplifies backlight imperfections (like blooming), watch a dark scene (e.g., space in a sci-fi movie) and adjust Backlight and Local Dimming. If blooming persists around bright objects, lower the Backlight slightly. If blacks look gray, nudge Brightness down or Shadow Detail to -2.
These settings should give you solid black levels while keeping the picture balanced.
