TCL 6 Series/R648 2021 8k QLED Calibration Settings
We used the following calibration settings to review the 65 inch TCL 6 Series/R648 2021 8k QLED (65R648), and we expect the same settings to apply for the 75 inch model (75R648). These settings should apply to most types of content, except for gaming or use as a PC monitor, which require a few additional changes listed below.
General Settings
Eco Settings
One of the first things we did was disable all of the Auto Power Savings options, as we don't want the TV to adjust the image during testing.
SDR
For SDR content, there are six preset picture modes. We recommend choosing the 'Movie' Picture Mode, as it's the most accurate one out of the box and allows for the most customization. From the Picture Settings menu, we recommend setting Contrast to '100', Brightness to '50', and Sharpness to '0'. We also set Color to '45', and Tint (G/R) to '0'. Finally, we chose the 'Warm' Color Temperature.
To make the image brighter in SDR, you should first select the TV Brightness range to one of the five preset options (we recommended 'Brighter') and then adjust the Backlight in the Picture Settings depending on your specific viewing conditions. Changing this setting does not have any impact on the overall picture quality. The Brightness setting is a picture adjustment setting, and we don't recommend adjusting it.
Image Enhancements
The Local Contrast setting controls the R648's local dimming feature. We recommend the 'High' setting. As we aim for an image that's as close as possible to the content creator's intent, we disable most image processing options, including Dynamic Contrast. You should adjust these to your personal preference, though.
HDR
HDR is automatically enabled for the native apps. When you start playing HDR content, a small HDR icon appears next to the picture mode on the quick settings menu. Once you start playing HDR content, some of the settings change automatically, including the Backlight. We recommend leaving these settings to their default settings in HDR and using the 'Dark HDR' Picture Mode.
For HDR to work from external devices, you usually have to set HDMI Mode to 'HDMI 2.1' from the HDMI menu for the input you are using. Older devices may have compatibility issues if this option is left enabled, so it's recommended to only enable this setting for devices that require it.
Dolby Vision
The TCL R648 supports Dolby Vision from native apps and with most external devices. As with normal HDR content, when you start playing Dolby Vision content, some settings change automatically. We recommend leaving these settings as-is, don't copy our SDR settings over. You can also disable a setting that displays the Dolby Vision logo when it starts playing.
Motion Settings
Although we disable most motion enhancing functions for most of our tests, you should adjust these to whatever looks best for you. Some settings may need to be adjusted depending on the specific content you're watching.
Black Frame Insertion
The TCL R648 has a backlight strobing feature, commonly known as black frame insertion, called LED Motion Clarity. Enabling it results in less persistence blur, but it may cause duplications in motion. It flickers at 60Hz and 120Hz, but we experienced issues where the BFI wasn't working with the Backlight set above 70 and our PC connected.
Motion Interpolation
The TCL R648 has an optional motion interpolation feature, which causes the effect known as the Soap Opera Effect. Adjust Action Smoothing to 'High' for 30 fps content and Action Clarity to 'High' for 60 fps content.
Judder
The TCL R648 can remove judder from all sources, without you having to adjust any setting. It could only remove 24p judder from 1080i @ 60Hz sources through HDMI 3 and 4 during our testing.
Gaming Settings
From the base SDR and HDR settings, simply enable the Game Mode setting from the Inputs menu. This allows the TV to automatically switch into Game Mode when you launch a game from a compatible device, and you can use whichever Picture Mode you want, but you can also set it to 'Gaming' for low latency. For signals that require full bandwidth, you have to set the HDMI Mode to ' HDMI 2.1'.
Variable Refresh Rate
The TCL R648 supports variable refresh rate to reduce screen tearing when gaming. To use VRR, enable FreeSync Variable Refresh Rate.
PC Gaming
The TCL R648 automatically switches the TV into PC Mode when it detects that a PC is connected. This allows it to display chroma 4:4:4.
Audio Settings
eaRC/ARC
The TCL R648 can pass uncompressed audio to a compatible receiver through a single HDMI connection, but only supports Dolby Atmos and not DTS:X formats. Enable eARC (HDMI 4) in the CEC settings for it to work, and it should automatically detect eARC every time your receiver is on. You can also set the Digital Audio Format to 'Auto'
White Balance Settings
Some settings are only available via the Roku app, which you can download through the app stores on Android and iOS. On the Picture Settings page, there are a few settings that you can adjust from both the TV and the app, like the Picture Mode and Color Temperature, but Gamma and Noise Reduction are only available through the app. Gamma affects the brightness of images, and we normally set it at '2.2', but if you find it too dark, set it to a lower number, and if it's too bright, set it higher. Noise Reduction aims to improve the gradients at the cost of losing fine details, but we've noticed it doesn't do much on TCL TVs. You also have to calibrate the TV through the app by setting Color Space to 'Custom' and adjusting the 11 Pt WB values.
The following are the results of the white balance and colorspace calibration on our unit. They're provided for reference, and should not be copied as the calibration values vary per individual unit even for the same model and same size as the TV we tested due to manufacturing tolerances. If you want to try them, you'll need to enter all values shown, as all of them are active at the same time. If you end up with worse picture quality, simply reset them to the default values.
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