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Freedom251 › Blog › Dolby Atmos

How to set up the Samsung S90H OLED TV for the best picture and sound

By Freedom251 Team · · 9 min read

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For the most accurate picture on the Samsung S90H, start with Filmmaker Mode, use the room-appropriate SDR brightness, leave HDR Tone Mapping on Static, and enable Input Signal Plus plus Game Mode for a console or PC. For Dolby Atmos and other high-bandwidth formats, connect your soundbar or AV receiver to the TV’s HDMI eARC port, enable Anynet+ and set HDMI eARC Mode to Auto.

Before changing settings: identify the TV and update it

First confirm that the label on the television and the on-screen product information both identify the set as an S90H. Samsung’s menu labels and available options can vary by country and by software version, so instructions that look slightly different from yours may still describe the same function. Samsung’s current S90H manual is version 2603130, dated April 9, 2026. Use the Samsung support page for your region to check the exact manual and firmware offered for your television.

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Install any available software update before calibrating. An update can change menu wording, automatic input detection and picture options. After updating, let the TV display the type of content you normally watch—SDR, HDR or a game—before adjusting it, because the S90H stores separate settings for those signal types.

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  • Use Filmmaker Mode as the accuracy-first starting point.
  • Adjust SDR brightness for the room rather than copying a number from another owner.
  • Allow HDR to switch to its own picture settings when HDR playback begins.
  • For gaming, configure the HDMI input that the console or computer actually uses.

Best SDR picture settings for movies and television

For ordinary standard-dynamic-range broadcasts, streaming video and discs, select Settings > Picture > Picture Mode > Filmmaker. RTINGS found Filmmaker to be the most accurate out-of-box mode on its tested S90H. It avoids the exaggerated color, contrast and sharpening that can make a showroom image look vivid but less faithful to the source.

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Accuracy-first SDR baseline

Control Starting value How to use it
Picture Mode Filmmaker Use for SDR movies and television when preserving the creator’s intended image is the priority.
Contrast 45 RTINGS’ tested baseline; use it as a starting point, not a universal calibration.
Color 25 RTINGS’ tested baseline.
Color Space Auto Lets the TV select the color space signaled by the source.
Gamma 2.2 RTINGS’ SDR baseline.
Color Tone Warm 2 Closest to the tested accurate white-balance starting point; it can look warm if you are used to a cooler showroom mode.
Peak Brightness Off for the accuracy reference Turn it up only when your room requires more light.

These values come from RTINGS’ 2026 testing and are reference points, not a replacement for professional calibration. Panel variation, room lighting, viewing distance and your own visual preference all affect the best final result.

Choose SDR brightness for the room

Brightness is the setting most likely to need adjustment after you select Filmmaker. In RTINGS’ accuracy-oriented measurements, Brightness 38 produced about 100 nits and Brightness 90 produced about 200 nits. Those figures describe that test setup; they are not promises that the same menu number will produce the same luminance on every S90H or in every room.

  • Dark room: Begin around Brightness 38, the tested 100-nit reference, then raise it slightly if shadow detail feels difficult to see.
  • Moderately lit room: A setting near Brightness 90 was the tested 200-nit reference. Use it as a guide and judge whether faces and dark scenes remain comfortable to watch.
  • Very bright room or daytime viewing: Set Peak Brightness to High, then adjust Brightness until the image is clear without looking washed out. This sacrifices some reference accuracy for visibility.

Do not change brightness based only on a paused black screen. Check a mixture of dark scenes, daylight scenes and ordinary broadcast content. If black areas look gray, reduce brightness; if dark clothing or background detail disappears, raise it.

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HDR10 setup: preserve intent or choose brighter highlights

When HDR content starts, the S90H switches to its HDR picture settings. Start playback of an HDR10 title, then open the picture menu and select Filmmaker for that signal. RTINGS’ HDR baseline is:

HDR control Starting value Meaning
Picture Mode Filmmaker Accuracy-first HDR mode.
Contrast 50 RTINGS’ tested baseline for HDR.
Color 25 RTINGS’ tested baseline.
Color Space Auto Uses the color space signaled by the HDR source.
Color Tone Warm 2 RTINGS’ tested accurate starting point.
Brightness 100 HDR baseline; HDR uses a different brightness scale from SDR.
Peak Brightness High Allows the panel’s HDR brightness behavior used in the test baseline.
HDR Tone Mapping Static Preserves the reference tone-mapping intent.

Static versus Active HDR Tone Mapping

Static is the accuracy choice. It follows the HDR signal’s reference mapping instead of deliberately lifting highlights. Select Active only when you prefer a brighter-looking HDR image. RTINGS notes that Active boosts highlights beyond reference intent, so specular details may look more immediately impressive while no longer matching the mastering target as closely.

Compare the two modes with the same HDR scene containing bright lamps, sunlight and dark areas. If Static looks too restrained in your room, Active is a legitimate preference, not a fault; it is simply a brightness-versus-accuracy trade-off. Do not judge HDR settings while the source has dropped back to SDR, because the TV uses separate values.

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Motion settings: keep films cinematic or add smoothness

RTINGS reports that the S90H automatically removes judder from 24-frame-per-second and 25-frame-per-second content. For a film-like presentation, leave additional interpolation disabled rather than adding artificial smoothness.

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When to change motion processing

  • Film and scripted television: Keep the extra motion controls off or at their minimum. This avoids the “soap opera” appearance and preserves the cadence of the source.
  • Live sports or studio video: If you prefer smoother camera pans, increase Judder Reduction gradually and stop when motion looks natural to you.
  • Gaming: Prioritize Game Mode and responsiveness; do not add interpolation unless you have confirmed that your selected game configuration supports the behavior you want.

Motion preference is subjective. There is no single Judder Reduction value that is correct for every viewer, and increasing it can introduce artifacts around moving objects.

Set up PS5, Xbox or PC gaming

Configure the HDMI input before launching a game. On the S90H, open Settings > General > External Device Manager > Input Signal Plus and enable it for the port connected to the console or PC. Input Signal Plus expands the input’s signal compatibility for modern high-bandwidth sources.

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Next open Game Mode Settings and enable Game Mode. Samsung says Game Mode bypasses picture processing to reduce input lag. That improves responsiveness, but it also means some processing available in ordinary television modes is no longer applied.

Automatic and manual Game Mode switching

  • With a supported console, ALLM can switch the S90H into Game Mode automatically when gameplay begins.
  • If the automatic switch does not occur, select Game Mode manually in Game Mode Settings.
  • PC gaming may require manual enabling even when a console would trigger automatic detection.

After changing the setting, verify that the correct HDMI input is active and that the game is actually outputting HDR when HDR is enabled on the source device. If the television remains in a movie picture mode, recheck Input Signal Plus and Game Mode for that specific input; settings are often stored per input and per signal type.

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Gaming trade-offs to understand

Priority Recommended choice Trade-off
Lowest processing and quicker response Game Mode enabled Some picture processing is removed, so the image may look different from Filmmaker.
Automatic switching ALLM, when the source supports it Behavior depends on the console or PC signal; manual Game Mode remains available.
Maximum compatibility for the connected HDMI source Input Signal Plus enabled on that input Enable it on the port you use rather than changing unrelated inputs.
Reference movie appearance Filmmaker outside Game Mode Not the responsiveness-first choice for interactive play.
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Connect a soundbar or AV receiver with eARC

For Dolby Atmos and original-resolution sound from compatible sources, connect the soundbar or AV receiver to the HDMI port on the TV labeled eARC. Use an eARC-compatible HDMI cable. Samsung describes eARC—“Enhanced Audio Return Channel”—as the next generation of sound. Its support documentation states that eARC can carry original-resolution audio, including Dolby TrueHD, DTS Master, DTS:X and Dolby Atmos.

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Exact connection and menu sequence

  1. Turn off the TV and audio equipment while making the connection.
  2. Plug one end of the HDMI cable into the S90H’s labeled HDMI eARC port.
  3. Plug the other end into the soundbar’s or receiver’s HDMI OUT (TV-ARC/eARC) port. The speaker’s connector must be its TV-ARC/eARC output, not a regular HDMI input.
  4. Turn on the TV and audio device, then enable Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) in the TV’s connection or external-device settings. Anynet+ is required for ARC/eARC control and device communication.
  5. Open Settings > Audio > Expert Settings > HDMI eARC Mode and set it to Auto.
  6. In Sound Output, select the connected HDMI receiver or soundbar rather than TV Speaker.
  7. Set the soundbar or receiver to its HDMI ARC/eARC input if it does not switch automatically.

With this arrangement, audio from the TV’s internal apps and from sources routed through the television can return to the external system over eARC. The exact format still depends on what the source sends and what the receiver supports.

Use the TV speakers or an external system?

Option Best for What you gain or give up
TV Speaker Simple setup, no external equipment No cable or eARC configuration, but less expansive sound than a dedicated soundbar or AV receiver.
HDMI ARC/eARC soundbar One-box upgrade with TV-app audio More capable surround and Atmos playback when the bar supports it; requires the correct eARC port, cable and settings.
HDMI eARC AV receiver Separate speakers and a flexible home-theater system Supports the broadest system expansion, but adds more components and input-selection points to troubleshoot.

eARC and ARC troubleshooting

If there is no sound, work through the connection in this order rather than changing several settings at once.

  1. Confirm that the cable is plugged into the S90H port labeled HDMI eARC and the soundbar or receiver port labeled HDMI OUT (TV-ARC/eARC).
  2. Verify that Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) is enabled on the TV.
  3. Check Settings > Audio > Expert Settings > HDMI eARC Mode and select Auto.
  4. Open Sound Output and select the HDMI receiver or soundbar. Do not leave TV Speaker selected.
  5. Change the soundbar or receiver’s input to HDMI ARC/eARC.
  6. Power-cycle the TV and audio device after confirming the settings.
  7. Temporarily disconnect other external devices and test only the TV and audio system. Samsung recommends removing other devices during ARC/eARC diagnosis because another HDMI connection can interfere with device detection or control.

If basic ARC audio works but a high-bandwidth format does not, recheck that the cable and receiver both support eARC and that the source is actually sending the format. A television cannot deliver Dolby Atmos or another format that the connected source or audio equipment does not provide or decode.

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A practical setup order

Use this sequence to avoid calibrating one signal type while another is active:

  1. Confirm the model and install the current regional software update.
  2. Play an SDR movie or show, select Filmmaker and apply the SDR baseline.
  3. Set SDR Brightness for the room: use the 100-nit or 200-nit references only as starting points, and enable Peak Brightness High if daytime visibility requires it.
  4. Play HDR10 content, confirm the TV has switched to HDR settings, and apply the HDR baseline with Tone Mapping Static.
  5. Adjust HDR Tone Mapping to Active only if brighter highlights are more important to you than reference accuracy.
  6. Leave extra motion smoothing off unless you deliberately prefer smoother motion.
  7. For each console or PC input, enable Input Signal Plus and Game Mode; confirm ALLM behavior or enable Game Mode manually.
  8. Connect external audio to the labeled eARC port, enable Anynet+, set HDMI eARC Mode to Auto and choose the receiver or soundbar in Sound Output.
  9. Test an SDR program, an HDR title, a game and an audio source separately. This reveals which signal type or HDMI path still needs adjustment.

What to change when your priorities differ

Your priority Choose Avoid or accept
Most accurate SDR and HDR image Filmmaker; SDR Peak Brightness Off; HDR Tone Mapping Static The image may look less bright than showroom-oriented modes.
Brighter HDR highlights HDR Tone Mapping Active Highlights are lifted beyond reference intent.
Better daytime visibility Peak Brightness High and a room-appropriate Brightness value Accuracy is traded for a brighter image.
Film-like motion Extra interpolation off Some viewers may prefer more smoothing for sports.
Responsive console or PC play Input Signal Plus plus Game Mode Picture processing is reduced.
Dolby Atmos and lossless-capable TV audio HDMI eARC, Anynet+ on, eARC Mode Auto, external receiver selected Requires compatible cable and equipment.

Important regional and version caveat

The S90H’s firmware and regional configuration determine the exact labels and available controls. The manual version identified by Samsung is 2603130, dated April 9, 2026, but your television may display a different software build or translated menu wording. If a setting is missing, use the regional Samsung support documentation for your model rather than assuming the television is defective. The principles remain the same: Filmmaker is the accuracy-first picture mode, brightness follows the room, Game Mode reduces processing for play, and eARC requires the correct HDMI path plus Anynet+ and Auto eARC configuration.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Dolby AtmoseARCFilmmaker ModeHDR setupOLED TV settingsSamsung S90HTV gaming

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