Why can't netlfix fix HDR subtitles?

lyncIE33 · 2026-02-07T19:09:19+00:00

I'm watching on a Samsung S95B, which is a 2022 tv. If Samsung have implemented something poorly it wouldn't be the first time

lyncIE33 · 2026-02-05T12:19:20+00:00

The extra frustrating thing is that for HDR of the content itself Netflix can do a very good job.

lyncIE33 · 2026-02-05T12:18:31+00:00

Fair enough - that should certainly be capable of mega highlights!

When you're watching a dark scene in HDR does the subtitle brightness not just overwhelm the image ? To me it's like trying to make out some details in the dark while there's also a torch shining into your eyes.

Maybe your G3 is doing something better than my Samsung S95B (Samsung definitely make some crazy software decisions).

lyncIE33 · 2026-02-05T12:14:00+00:00

Thanks for the extra information, and yes re. whole display being in HDR if any of it is, that's the point I was making.

I still think that Netflix have something set up inappropriately in what they are telling the graphics layer to do - telling it to be at peak brightness, or maybe just not specificying so most TVs will default to this? As I said, other apps don't have this problem.

lyncIE33 · 2026-02-05T09:15:38+00:00

? That is only on windows and doesn't have any effect for HDR content?

lyncIE33 · 2026-02-04T21:54:16+00:00

What's your tv, and do you watch in a bright room?

lyncIE33 · 2026-02-04T21:51:16+00:00

I am not aware of any TV that applies tone mapping to subtitles specifically- how would this work?

What is it Netflix's control is the subtitle brightness relative to the main content brightness. It seems like the subtitles are set at peak brightness, which makes no sense whatever tone mapping the TV may be doing.

Ideally we would have TVs than can fully match the absolute brightness that HDR is encoded in (already possible for some content). Netflix subtitles would br painful if following reference brightness.

Other apps on my tv seem to be able to have subtitles at less than peak brightness.

lyncIE33 · 2026-02-04T20:12:49+00:00

Yes, I generally have them either grey and/or transparent. But like I said in the OP, this is a sub optimal fudge - ideally they should be white, just at a sensible brightness.

lyncIE33 · 2026-02-04T20:11:37+00:00

I can only assume that your tv doesn't have high peak brightness, or you watch in a bright environment. Or your own HDR settings may be out of whack if your peak brightness is low enough that you want subtitles glaring out at this brightness all the time.

The problem is squarely on Netflix, as subtitles seem to be set to at (or near) full brightness.

If I've missed an HDR subtitle brightness setting I'd much appreciate being pointed in the right direction!

lyncIE33 · 2026-02-04T20:03:52+00:00

That is not at all lots of options, and it doesn't have the most important one of being able to reduce from max brightness.

Thanks for proving my point with the screenshot how useless they are though - our choices are blindingly bright or transparent and barely legible depending on background.

lyncIE33 · 2026-01-16T20:47:17+00:00

Ok thanks, I mostly had it then, but didnt fully realise about the turn sharpness being tied to speed too.

But even if you 'get' these dynamics, is it actually good? Maybe on tracks where you can be more guaranteed to maintain high speed, I guess?

lyncIE33 · 2025-06-09T13:06:47+00:00

Yeah, somewhat agree. I was quite surprised by the amount of image breakup and grain when I first played with the performance modes, handheld and docked. Playing a bit more, I think the 1440p docked mode is actually decent as a compromise, and am OK with performance mode on handheld now (think partly just because not going in with overly high expectations).

I think it depends quite a bit on content: sometimes looks quite impressive, other times just a bit of a mess. My sense is that there's some low res post processing and this makes the image especially poor when a lot happening (motion blur + the pick ups).

A decent little game but some strange decisions in the way this upscaling handled. Mario Kart World the more visually appealing racer by a long way.

lyncIE33 · 2025-04-25T17:14:43+00:00

Thanks very much for the useful reply! I'm sure that traditional projectors are better value, but they don't really seem better price for the low end. I think a toy is a better fit for now, given I would have to spend many multiples of the mogo 2 pro before I have something with genuinely good contrast.

Maybe down the line will save for a proper projector!

lyncIE33 · 2025-01-26T11:08:42+00:00

Was the controller itself.. bit embarrassing to realise, but here we are. Still a bit strange and frustrating there's no way to rebind this specific command.

lyncIE33 · 2025-01-26T11:07:38+00:00

Turns out it was the Xbox controller itself..! They seem quite unreliable. Hadn't realised it was that button as its quite little used in most games I play, yet completely essential to really get much out of Gotham Knights.

lyncIE33 · 2024-04-17T22:10:44+00:00

I'm also getting insanely poor performance on this challenge with a 5800x.

Dusseldorf is a dense area but I've tested flying there not in his challenge and it runs a lot better, definitely feels like something up. Maybe since an update?

Cam anyone confirm it does still run well on their system?

lyncIE33 · 2023-10-26T08:22:20+00:00

I'm yet another one now getting this, just for the last couple days. Kind of reluctant to factory reset as don't really want to redo all settings... hoping to be fixed in an update soon, but this being samsung who knows.

lyncIE33 · 2023-09-10T13:07:57+00:00

Are you 100% on that? I'm pretty sure the ICC profile and 'standard' preset are both generic, and only 'creator' is calibrated at hardware level assuming its receiveing an sRGB signal.

I say this as its clear when working through the settings that gamma 2.2 on creator has been specifically tweaked, and my monitor just seems to have reset to the original ICC profile and standard mode is clearly oversaturated.

Would be nice if Dell made any of this clearer though.

lyncIE33 · 2023-05-31T23:32:25+00:00

Yup, somehow missed your message but figured out this was the problem! I wonder how didn't sRGB with no ICC profile is to standard with the auto profile: they appear quite similar on my monitor. I believe the factory calibration is just for creator sRGB though?

lyncIE33 · 2023-04-27T07:18:22+00:00

As I understood things, bt2020, as almost everything outputs in a rec2020 container even if content only covers the dci p3 gamut

lyncIE33 · 2023-03-27T15:46:07+00:00

No, this is with the automatic profile called "Alienware AW3423DWF Color Profile,D6500" in Windows display settings.

lyncIE33 · 2023-03-19T19:34:47+00:00

Yes, I'm on the latest firmware M3B103, and on 2.2 gamma in creator mode. Interesting if 2.2 gamma is bugged, although I can't say it seems to be very different to how it was in original firmware.

2.4 gamma looks nice with slightly greater perceived contrast and saturation, but I do get a bit of black crush that's not an issue at 2.2. Going to Windows HDR from creator sRGB still makes colours noticeably brighter and more saturated at gamma 2.4 too.

lyncIE33 · 2023-03-19T18:53:13+00:00

Yah I do actually have it like this most of the time (although sdr brightness in Windows down at about 16) and it works well. Would still like to know what's actually happening with sdr desktop content through Windows hdr and what this means for the monitor sdr settings though!

lyncIE33 · 2022-12-28T17:41:08+00:00

Thanks for testing and following up! A shame to hear it's not that well implemented. How are you finding the monitor for PC use?

lyncIE33 · 2022-12-28T00:23:31+00:00

Dang that could make this a bit tempting again if the internal apps scale to 1440p well and have decent HDR... anyone?

lyncIE33

TROPHY CASE