Very different image quality when streaming Netflix from Apple TV app and TV app

Question

Very different image quality when streaming Netflix from Apple TV app and TV app

I was watching something I had ripped via Plex recently, and on the Apple TV it looked dimmed, veiled, whereas using the Plex app on my TV, it's much sharper, with more contrast. I then did a test with Netflix and Amazon Prime, and there are very big differences between the images from the two sources.

I wrote this up on my blog with two photos: the first is from the Apple TV app, the second from the TV app.

Why Are Images from My TV Different if I Use Apps on the TV or my Apple TV?

I'm perplexed by this. The difference in Plex was much less pronounced, but here the color cast is very different. I checked all the Apple TV settings, checked my HDMI cable via the settings, and there's nothing that should make a difference. (I change all the video settings one by one, then checked the output, and differences were minimal.)

My TV applies all the same settings to all inputs, so I don't understand why I'm seeing such differences. Any ideas?

Posted on Feb 12, 2019 9:13 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Urquhart1244

Level 10

146,776 points

Feb 12, 2019 2:03 PM in response to Kirk McElhearn

I am amazed that you were able to screenshot the exact same frame in two instances.

I do not see a difference in sharpness in your photos. I do see differences in contrast, along with the obvious color cast.

(Neither image is visually pleasing, but such is subway lighting, and likely as intended ;)

Is your Apple TV’s HDMI Output set to YCbCr, RGB High, or RGB Low? RGB might cause problems, as High/Low should match the TV setting, or the range might be stretched or compressed, crushing shadows and highlights in the process.

RGB over HDMI is a cool concept, but really not for media player boxes; more for computer connections.

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Answer 2

Urquhart1244

Level 10

146,776 points

Feb 12, 2019 7:28 PM in response to Kirk McElhearn

I can’t find the HDMI setting you mention.

Possibly that option is only available for SDR, as my TV isn’t HDR.

Which prompts another possibility: Apple TV can output HDR for SDR sources, if you don’t set Match Dynamic Range. While some like it, others think the image looks artificially off. Could that be it?

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Answer 3

Feb 13, 2019 1:10 AM in response to Urquhart1244

Yes, I have that setting activated.

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Answer 4

Feb 12, 2019 2:12 PM in response to Urquhart1244

There not much difference in contrast here, but it was flagrant with Plex. I can’t find the HDMI setting you mention. There are HDR and Hz settings, and chroma settings, but none of them changed the color cast.

And it’s not exactly the same frame; if you look around the eyes you can see it’s just a bit off.

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Very different image quality when streaming Netflix from Apple TV app and TV app

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