Dithering on my TV cause me Eye Strain !!!

Allekss

Bought an TOSHIBA 50c350 TV last year. Checked to be PWM free (which is) & not a grainy finish ( it is semigloss). From the very first day i was feeling a strange feeling/pain while watching it. Thought it's just accomodation and I just need some time to adapt ( had previously & periodically eye strain episodes too from different screens ). Now, after mostly one year of use, I'm still not comfortable to watch it longer than 1 hr a day. And guess what… it uses dithering to produce it's colors ( thanks to this forum as i learned from here about it ). It seems this TV uses 8+FRC ( frame rate control ) which is equal to Dithering!!!

Data from: https://www.displayspecifications.com/en/model/75fd29af

Had also to mention that while using PS4(first generation) on an old LG monitor = no eye strain. And the same monitor i connect to my PC with WIN 10 = and i get the pain in my eyes !!!

hayder1983

Allekss Is there an option in the settings to turn off dithering? LG TVs has this option called "Color Garmut". On the setting "wide" FRC is off. Perhaps you have the same on Toshiba?

Perhaps you can test it an buy small IPS Panel LG TV just to test it and return it afterwards? I have to turn off dithering on my LG TV, but setting "background lighting" too high makes me sweat. 35/100 is the highest, that is comfortable for me. Perhaps its to much brightness?

Allekss

I wonder I don't have such options on my Toshiba FireTv c350 55".

I connected it today to my laptop ( Acer NP515 nitro with 1050 Gtx ) via HDMI . Turned off intel display ( by selecting gtx 1050 in Nvidia control panel ). After a reboot, now gtx 1050 is always running ( including standard windows apps). In Windows 11 under display settings it says the content on my TV is displayed in SDR. Still don't know if FRC aka Dithering is ON or OFF by taking these steps. Have to test it for some days to see if it helps or not.

hayder1983

Allekss Well im not sure LG is the best TV for me, but at least i can turn off dithering. You could try using 6bit, 8bit or 10 bit signal to your TV. TVs will do FRC only when they have to make the "in between" colors. Not sure where you can do this in driver settings, but i think you should be able to do it, at least 8bit and 10 bit.

Allekss

Can't choose 6bits or 8bits on my laptop neither ( no such option).

In such case, the best option is to search for a FRC free Tv with flicker free technology. Going to use https://www.displayspecifications.com/en/display-finder

as they show almost all specifications for monitors & Tv's.

hayder1983

Dont do that. Flickerfree is a very strange subject, every TV is supposed to be Flickerfree. Rtings does measurements for flickerfree TVs. Most TVs are not, even when they say they are or only at maximum brightness. Just one example of a bad TV(dont buy it)

https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/tcl/4-series-s446-2021

I think this below is your TV. It is perfectly flickerfree. There seems to be a setting "Debanding Filter", according to rtings, try to switch it off, perhaps this helps a bit.

https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/toshiba/c350-fire-tv-2021