stevealexR1

What I see there is colour banding which the Quad Step Noise Reduction (decontouring) function should sort out unless the picture is really poor quality (compressed). On my C8 the QSNR is activated via the MPEG Noise Reduction in various stages from Low to High plus Auto. I set mine to Auto as no point in having extra processing unless you need it. I think Quad Step Noise Reduction is called “Smooth Gradation” on the C9 menus as LG separated the QSNR from MPEG Noise Reduction for the 2019 model year.  The best way to check if QSNR is working is to go onto the Sky blue Home screen and see if there are faint colour banding / contour shadow-like lines in the blue background. When switching on QSNR these contour shadowy lines disappear. 

Do you have a picture of the issue? The number one problem I hated on my original 2015 LG OLED was colour banding which was largely solved on my subsequent 2018 C8 by the decontouring Quad Step Noise Reduction (activated via the MPEG Noise Reduction on my TV but with a separate menu on the C9). I find the “Auto” setting to be best but with the function switched off, I find LG OLED TVs practically unwatchable!  The pictures below show the colour banding when, unbelievably, LG deactivated the QSNR within a software update in Spring 2019. It took me writing to them incessantly to get them to admit to what they had done. It was corrected with the next update. I now NEVER allow the TV to be updated to the next software version without checking online with other users that the QSNR is still functioning...

Since update 04.10.31 was applied to my OLED55C8PLA TV, the Quad Step Noise Reduction “circuit” has completely stopped working. The “circuit” was previously activated by using the MPEG Noise Reduction menu. I always had it set to “Auto” and, by doing so, the awful colour banding effect was almost completely eliminated. From the attached pictures you will see that the picture now has awful colour banding regardless of which MPEG Noise Reduction setting is used.

 

This topic is currently being hotly debated on various online forums and people all over Europe are moaning that LG has deleted a major feature they (LG) actually used to sell their 2018 OLED TVs. 

 

I have actually been legally advised that as LG actually showed the benefits of Quad Step Noise Reduction when they advertised and promoted the 2018 OLED TV range, I should have right of financial redress against LG.

 

Whilst I am waiting for LG to release a firmware update to correct the bug in 04.10.31, I suggested that an LG mobile engineer visits my house to reinstall the previous version of the firmware so I can get the feature (that I paid for) back working as soon as possible.

 

I have sent various pictures (as attached to this question) of the colour banding now being produced now that Quad Step Noise Reduction (“decontouring”) is not working. I would stress that previously with MPEG Noise Reduction setting on High or Auto, the banding effect was eradicated.

 

So far, I am having trouble getting U.K. customer services to understand that in trying to solve other issues, Update 04.10.31 has caused this major problem. 

 

I would strongly suggest that everyone holds back from applying 04.10.31 if you don’t want to lose such an important feature. My picture quality has gone from being fantastic to, at times, unwatchable!