Own a Sony TV? 3 quick settings I’d change to meaningfully improve the picture quality


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Sony Bravia TVs are known for having some of the most comprehensive picture kits in the game. You’ve got everything from AI-driven sensors that handle the heavy lifting to the high-level granular stuff like HDR tone mapping, white balance, and color temperature.

Honestly, I could geek out for pages on just how much control you have here, particularly with their OLED lineup. But if you’ve just unboxed a new Sony or you’re looking to breathe some fresh life into an older set, you don’t need a deep dive. To get the best possible image right now, there are really only three settings you need to touch.

1. Auto or Custom Picture mode

If you’re looking for a set-and-forget way to get the best picture for everything from live sports to console gaming and streaming, toggle on the Auto Picture Mode. This setting allows the TV to automatically detect what is on the screen and select the appropriate picture mode (Cinema, Game, etc.). 

Also: How to clear your TV cache

However, keep in mind that if you have disabled HDMI-CEC on your Sony Bravia or use an HDMI-CEC blocker device, the Auto Picture Mode might not work as the data signal won’t be sent to the TV. If you want more control over picture quality, you can set up a custom mode that lets you tinker with everything from color and white balance to sharpness, noise reduction, and more.

2. Light sensor/brightness

Many new Sony Bravia TVs feature built-in sensors that automatically monitor ambient light in the room and adjust screen brightness accordingly. This is another option for users looking for a one-time setup, but you can toggle the sensor off and manually adjust brightness and white balance. 

If you want to get particular, you can also make brightness adjustments with the settings for contrast, gamma balance, and auto local dimming. 

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Adam Breeden/ZDNET

Manual settings are best when you know you’ll use only one or two picture modes and your space has consistent lighting throughout the day. You’ll also want to manually adjust brightness on the latest Bravia OLED models, as the improved color accuracy comes at the cost of being much dimmer than competitors from brands like Samsung and LG.

3. Motion smoothing

This, in my opinion, is the worst offender in degrading picture quality. When toggled on, motion smoothing settings force a TV to add frames to a video to match either a 60Hz or 120Hz refresh rate. It’s much more noticeable in older media being upscaled, as the video may originally run at 30 fps (30Hz) and the TV is doubling or quadrupling that. 

This can give older movies and shows a very strange, dreamlike quality that feels more Uncanny Valley than New Frontier. By toggling off settings like CineMotion, Motionflow, and blur reduction, you force the Bravia to play video at the intended frame rate. 

Also: How to improve your TV audio

Even with these adjustments, you might still have to fiddle with the settings now and again as your Bravia TV downloads firmware and security updates or if you decide to disable ACR settings to reduce the number of ads on your home screen. 

And if you’ve moved away from streaming completely and use a TV antenna for access to free local broadcasts, you’ll have to make a lot more adjustments since the video will be very compressed for over-the-air transmission. 





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Michelin is a French multinational company that many consumers consider to be one of the most satisfying major tire brands. This firm makes several tire models that offer comfort, performance, all-terrain prowess, and everything in between — including cutting-edge products like the $42,000-per-set Michelin Pilot Sport PAX that it developed specifically for the Bugatti Veyron. Aside from its own tires, Michelin also owns other tire brands that you might be familiar with, including BFGoodrich, Achilles, and Corsa.

While tires are what Michelin is known for, the company has put its name to more than the rubber that wraps around your car’s rims. In fact, the company sells several other products that aren’t tires. So, we’re listing a few Michelin-branded items that you can buy online and in retail stores. While they might not all be made of rubber or even related to vehicles, these tools and accessories can come in handy when keeping your car — and even yourself — in good shape.

Michelin tire inflator

Since Michelin is primarily known for its tires, it makes sense for the company to sell a Michelin-branded tire inflator as well. That way, if you get a flat on one of the Michelin tires on your car or want to regularly top up your car’s tire pressure to maintain optimum performance, you can use a Michelin-branded pump to fill up your tires. The company actually sells several types of inflators on its Amazon page, but it only offers a single motorized unit — the Michelin Micro Tyre Inflator, which is available on Amazon for $98.99.

This little device is only slightly wider than an iPhone 17 and weighs about 400 grams, or 14 ounces. This means it’s easy to store in your car and to move to whichever tire needs topping up. More importantly, it takes power from a 12-volt socket, allowing you to run it using your car’s battery. It also has a USB port for charging your phone (or any other USB device) in case of an emergency.

Some users say that the device is slow, taking about 12 minutes to bring a tire from 10 to 32 PSI, but that’s not unexpected given its small size. Still, it should be good enough for regular weekly maintenance if you know your car’s proper tire pressure, or in case of an emergency. Its biggest downside is that you need a power source to run it, but having a dead battery and a flat tire simultaneously is likely a rare occurrence in many modern cars.

Michelin mini fridge

Taking a road trip during the summer can get you thirsty, and there’s no better way to quench that thirst than by drinking a cool can of soda (or your beverage of choice). If you want to ensure that you’ll always have a cold drink ready while you’re driving on the freeway, Michelin’s mini fridge will help you with that. This nifty little refrigerator is available on Amazon for just $99.99 and can be connected to either 110V AC or 12V DC power, ensuring that it will work on both your desk and in your car.

The mini fridge measures 6.9 x 9.45 x 10 inches (17.5 x 24 x 25.4 cm), meaning it can easily fit on a garage shelf or office desk. It should also be small enough to put on the floor of your car. Despite that relatively small size, it’s large enough to fit six 350-ml cans or four 500-ml bottles, and it will keep these items at a chilly 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 18 degrees Celsius. It also has an LED light on the door, so it can double as a night light if necessary.

Aside from keeping your drinks (and other food items) below room temperature, it also has a few other creature comforts. These include a removable shelf and door basket for flexibility and easy cleaning, as well as a retractable carry handle and a self-locking door to make transportation easier.

Michelin car floor mats

Heavy-duty car floor mats are often made from rubber for durability and water resistance, and since Michelin is in the business of rubber, it makes sense for the company to offer exactly that. So, if you want to protect your vehicle’s floor from dirt, dust, and mud, the company can help you with its Michelin all-weather car floor mats. This four-piece package is available on Amazon for $49.99 and comes in either black or tan.

The surface of these floor mats is specially designed to trap debris, snow, and water, preventing them from ruining the carpet on your vehicle. The mats have a cleat backing that grips your car’s floor and prevents them from slipping. The front row mats also come with what Michelin calls a Gripclip Retention System, allowing them to clip into your vehicle’s safety clips and adding even more reassurance that they won’t accidentally slip while you’re driving and pose a hazard to your safety.

These mats are universal and will work in most vehicles. However, they’re also easy to customize: If you find them a bit too large for the footwell of your tiny hatchback, you can use a pair of scissors to trim the edges for a perfect fit.

Michelin Stealth Ultra wiper blades

While Michelin’s Stealth Ultra wiper blades aren’t generally considered among the best windshield wipers, they appear to be a pretty good choice given their four-star rating on Amazon. These wipers cost $49.99 and are available in various size combinations for all sorts of cars. This ensures that no matter what vehicle you’re driving, you can probably find a set that will fit your needs.

These Michelin wipers are curved to conform to the shape of your windscreen for a clean, streak-free wipe. The company’s Amazon listing claims that these are designed to “withstand rain, wind, snow, mud, dust, or any other debris that might hamper your windshield’s visibility.” While you might think that windshield wipers are pretty simple items, and that you can just purchase any generic wipers off the internet, you must remember that they’re essential so that you have the best visibility possible during inclement weather. So, for your safety, consider investing in a set from a reputable brand like Michelin.

Michelin work boots

Michelin is known for making rubber tires to put on your car’s “feet,” but did you know it also makes shoes for the driver’s feet? The company makes sports & outdoor footwear, as well as shoes for work and safety. For this example, we have the Michelin HydroEdge Steel Toe waterproof work boot, listed for $210 on Amazon and at Georgia Boot. This shoe is available in U.S. sizes from 7.5 up to 14, ensuring that no matter what size you wear, you can get a Michelin work boot for yourself.

As the name suggests, this pair of shoes has steel toes to protect your feet from accidental impacts and is fully waterproof to help keep your feet dry, even in supposedly severe conditions. It also meets ASTM F2413 standards for electrical protection, meaning it has fully insulating soles to protect you from electrical hazards at work. Michelin also added what it calls an Advanced Rear Suspension system to its heel, ensuring proper shock absorption when you walk.





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