The U8N additionally allows you to management the amount output of its optical port with the TV distant, making it a lot easier to regulate older audio techniques that don’t assist HDMI ARC/eARC, like my authentic KEF LSX speakers. Should you determine to accept the onboard sound, the U8N’s 2.1.2 speaker system gives some respectable element, and a bit of additional bass punch for its woofers.
The TV is nicely stocked on the gaming entrance, together with VRR (Variable Refresh Charge) and AMD FreeSync Premium Proto for fluid excessive frame-rate gaming, in addition to ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) for low enter lag. Gaming feels real looking and responsive, with spectacular HDR efficiency. I just like the number of accessible image settings, together with each Theater and Recreation modes, which give wealthy distinction and vibrant colours for particulars like Kratos’ ruby crimson armor in God of War Ragnarok.
Peaky Blinder
The U8N offers an nearly intimidating degree of image settings for deep-dive changes. The Peak Brightness setting is essentially the most complicated. When making use of my normal image modes throughout setup, like Theater Night time for normal dynamic vary (SDR) and HDR Theater mode for HDR10, Peak Brightness was set on Excessive by default, which actually pumps up the general image. This can lead to raised black ranges and white-hot highlights in content material and menu bars, particularly with HDR video, main my spouse to name the U8N “the hurty TV” at first.
There are some things occurring right here. First, Peak Brightness is primed for daytime watching in vibrant rooms with daylight pouring in, permitting even the darkest scenes to pop. Hisense additionally contains an adjustable Computerized Gentle Sensor underneath the Normal image settings, one thing most reviewers have a tendency to show off for constant efficiency however is all however vital for Peak Brightness. It does a comparatively good job taming the splashy brightness in low lighting, even when I don’t all the time love the way it reacts to every setting.
Nonetheless, Hisense’s choice to quietly set Peak Brightness on Excessive (usually with out the sunshine sensor engaged) in image modes which are often extra restrained is confounding, even for somebody used to digging by means of image settings. A colleague instructed that the TV’s default Power Saving mode—a dimmer setting that features the sunshine sensor on for Peak Brightness—is the one Hisense expects most viewers to expertise since most people apparently don’t change their image settings. The sunshine sensor can also be helpfully engaged by default in another modes, like Dolby Imaginative and prescient Darkish.
Should you determine to make use of Peak Brightness, which is critical to succeed in the TV’s highest brightness ranges, I counsel beginning on Low and turning the sunshine sensor for evening viewing. This labored nicely for illuminating difficult SDR content material like Harry Potter and the Lethal Hallows throughout daytime, the place the darkest scenes appeared to have even much less pop than the U8K with out the height brightness setting on.
My brightest HDR testing content material usually regarded overcooked and oversaturated on this mode. That is not shocking, contemplating the TV can attain over 3,000 nits, or triple the brightness at which most movies are at present mastered (although this baseline will change with the latest mastering tools). I often left the setting off for HDR, however it may be helpful in brighter rooms, particularly for the all the time murky Dolby Imaginative and prescient Darkish mode. I could not assist however marvel at how vibrant and flashy some scenes regarded with the setting on, such because the monster scene in Moana, the place the enormous crab Tamatoa’s golden shell burst to life in disco psychedelia.
Slackjaw Spectacle
Nonetheless you make the most of the U8N’s image settings, it’s able to the signature stunning image we’ve come to anticipate from the collection, with deep black ranges, fabulous backlight management, little or no “haloing” round vibrant objects, and intense colours that sparkle like jewels in daylight.
That is showy efficiency, particularly for high-quality 4K HDR productions like Netflix’s Our Planet. Episode 4’s coral scene seems unimaginable, with dashing neon yellows, sapphire blues, and lifelike daylight glowing throughout all of it. Often the TV tends to oversaturate reds, particularly when utilizing the Warm1 coloration temperature, besides it’s stunningly stunning. It’s the sort of image that makes you simply wish to sit there, slackjawed and dumbfounded, as the beautiful colours and vibrant sparklies dance earlier than your eyes.
