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For better picture or sound, check five HDMI settings: the input’s enhanced signal format, Game Mode or ALLM, VRR, eARC/audio output, and the port-and-cable combination. Change only the options supported by your TV, connected device, and HDMI port. Menu names and capabilities vary by model, so find your exact TV model and consult its manual before adjusting settings.
1. Enhanced HDMI format: check this for high-bandwidth picture features
TV makers use different names for a setting that enables higher-bandwidth signals on an HDMI input. Depending on the TV, it may appear as Enhanced format, HDMI Deep Color, Input Signal Plus, HDMI UHD Color, or another name. It may need to be enabled separately for each input.
Use the setting on the input connected to a source that supports the picture format you want, and confirm that the TV and that particular port support it. Sony’s HDMI picture-quality guide says available formats depend on the model and input; support for 4K at 100/120 Hz and 8K also varies by model, region, and country. Its 4K and HDR guidance likewise directs owners to model-dependent enhanced-format settings. Other manufacturers use different menus; cross-brand examples can help you recognize the terminology, but the manual for your exact TV should decide the route.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesEnhanced is not automatically the right choice for every source. Sony cautions that an enhanced format can prevent picture or sound from outputting correctly in some setups; for an incompatible device, set that input back to Standard. If a screen goes blank or audio stops after you switch formats, revert the setting rather than assuming the TV or source has failed.
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2. Game Mode or ALLM: use for consoles and gaming PCs
For a console or gaming PC, check whether the TV offers a Game picture mode or Game Optimizer and whether it supports Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). These gaming options can help the TV respond appropriately to gameplay, but the benefit depends on support from the TV, input, and connected device.
Enable the appropriate enhanced HDMI format as well if the desired gaming signal requires it. Sony’s BRAVIA gaming guide recommends checking the TV’s supported port and game settings and configuring the console for gaming. Exact menus differ, so follow the instructions for your TV and console rather than relying on a universal button sequence. For films and ordinary TV viewing, Game Mode and ALLM are not settings you need to enable just because a device is connected.
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3. VRR: enable only for supported gaming setups
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) is a gaming synchronization feature, not a general movie setting. When the TV, HDMI port, source device, and game support it, VRR can help reduce stuttering or image tearing as the game’s frame rate changes.
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LG’s VRR and G-Sync instructions describe a WebOS 22 example: HDMI must be connected and Screen Mode set to Game Optimizer before the relevant option is available. LG notes that menus can differ by product and that some TV models and graphics cards do not support the feature. Check your own device manuals; if VRR is absent, the TV, port, or source may not support it.
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4. eARC and audio output: check when using a soundbar or receiver
If you use a soundbar or AV receiver, connect it to the TV’s HDMI port marked ARC or eARC, then check that the TV sends audio to the external device rather than its built-in speakers. eARC and available audio-format choices depend on the TV and audio equipment; there is no single menu path or format that applies to every setup.
Use both manuals to confirm which port to use and which audio options the connected equipment supports. If there is no sound, verify the connection and selected output device first, then check compatible audio settings on both products. If you use only the TV’s speakers, these return-audio settings do not apply.
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5. Input, port, and cable: match them to the signal you want
A TV, source, HDMI port, and cable must all support the same target signal. A cable cannot add a feature that the TV or source lacks, and not every port on a TV necessarily supports the same formats. Check the specifications for the exact input and devices before replacing a cable.
For its examples, Sony states that displaying 4K at 100/120 Hz or 8K requires an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable supporting 48 Gbps. For the cited high-quality 4K use, it specifies a Premium High Speed HDMI cable supporting 18 Gbps. These requirements are not a blanket reason to buy a new cable: if your existing cable already supports the signal your devices support, replacement is unnecessary. See Sony’s cable and format guidance for the examples and check the manuals for your own equipment.
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Quick way to decide what to change
| Your setup | Settings to check |
|---|---|
| TV or movie source; TV speakers | Enhanced format only if the source and input need it for the desired picture signal; no eARC setting is needed. |
| Console or gaming PC | Enhanced format, Game Mode or ALLM, and VRR where the TV, port, source, and game support them. |
| Soundbar or receiver connected by HDMI | ARC/eARC port and external audio output; confirm compatible audio options in both manuals. |
| Trying to use 4K at 100/120 Hz or 8K | Verify TV, source, input, and cable support the target signal; Sony’s cited examples call for a 48 Gbps Ultra High Speed cable. |
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