"If You Let Me Get Close to Your TV, I'll Instantly Adjust These 5 Settings."

While I write this, I find myself far away from my beloved LG G3 OLED TV, as I am staying at my cousin's house while work is being done in my apartment. The first thing I did when I was alone with his Sony Bravia KD-65XH505 was to extensively fiddle with the picture settings. It may seem a bit embarrassing, but it’s clear that he has never adjusted any controls since he took it out of the box in 2020.

I guess many people act like my cousin when they acquire a new TV. They simply plug it in, sign into some of the best streaming services, and leave it as it is. It’s true that they may adjust the volume and press the power button several times a day, but that’s the extent of their modifications.

In my case, as an audio and video enthusiast, I always meticulously adjust various picture settings after acquiring one of the best TVs. Here are five settings that I would immediately modify or disable once I get my hands on your TV remote.

First, I would disable motion smoothing. This is a mode that ends up ruining the viewing experience. While motion smoothing can make certain fast scenes in Netflix movies look smoother, the trade-off is simply not worth it. Turning on this option can result in a visual effect akin to daytime soap operas, degrading even the best cinematic masterpieces.

Second, I would eliminate noise reduction. This option, which is set to automatic by default, often removes important details from the image. While it can help reduce noise in older movies, modern productions tend to look quite clean. Keeping this feature on can cause key information in your favorite films to be lost, and it may also make on-screen motion appear blurrier.

Additionally, I avoid adjusting the image sharpness. While I might occasionally consider increasing sharpness when playing on my Nintendo Switch, I believe it’s a mistake to enhance the sharpness of an already clear image on a 4K TV, as it would only add unnecessary visual information.

On the other hand, I can't help but enjoy the Vivid mode. Although Filmmaker Mode is typically the most accurate option for the picture, I am drawn to the color saturation and high contrast that Vivid mode offers. While it is advisable to choose Filmmaker Mode to preserve the director's vision, my inclination for exaggerated color is stronger.

Finally, I would disable the energy-saving setting. Although these options are designed to reduce electricity consumption, they often darken the image, which is counterproductive on a high-quality OLED TV. I prefer to enjoy the maximum brightness and clarity of the screen, even if it means a slight increase in my electricity bill.