Is Your Onn TV’s Color Washed Out? 6 Fixes

If you’ve stumbled upon this blog post, it’s probably because you’re experiencing the annoying issue of your Onn TV’s color appearing washed out.

Why are the colors on my Onn TV washed out?

Colors appearing washed out on your Onn TV can be due to several reasons, including faulty HDMI cables, incorrect TV settings, or issues with your content source.

let’s sum up the key takeaways from our in-depth exploration of Onn TV color issues:

1. HDMI Cables Matter: Start with the basics. Check your HDMI cables for damage, ensure secure connections, and clean the ports to maintain good signal quality.
2. TV Settings Are Crucial: Properly configure your TV’s settings, selecting a suitable picture mode and adjusting color temperature and advanced settings for more accurate colors.
3. Consider Calibration: Professional calibration or DIY calibration can fine-tune your TV’s settings to industry standards for optimal color representation.
4. Mind the Lighting: Your room’s lighting can significantly affect your TV’s display. Avoid glare and consider using bias lighting for an improved viewing experience.
5. Color Space and Gamut Settings: Dive into the technical settings of your TV, adjusting color space and gamut settings to match your content and devices.
6. Be Aware of Panel Aging: Over time, your TV panel may degrade, causing color shifts and brightness issues. Check your warranty and consult customer support if needed.

1. Check Your HDMI Cable Connections

The first thing we need to investigate is the most basic yet often overlooked culprit – your HDMI cables. These unassuming wires can be the root cause of your color problems. Here’s what you need to do:

A. Inspect Your HDMI Cables: Start by examining the HDMI cables that connect your Onn TV to your devices like cable boxes, game consoles, or streaming devices. Look for any visible damage, fraying, or kinks in the cable. A damaged cable can severely impact the signal quality, leading to washed-out colors.

B. Swap Out the HDMI Cable: If you find any issues with your HDMI cable, it’s time for a replacement. Opt for high-quality, certified HDMI cables that support the necessary bandwidth for HD or 4K content, depending on your TV model.

C. Secure Connections: Make sure the HDMI connectors are snugly inserted into both the TV and your external devices. Loose connections can lead to color issues and even signal dropouts.

D. Check HDMI Ports: Inspect the HDMI ports on both your TV and external devices. Dust and debris can accumulate, leading to poor connectivity. Gently clean the ports using compressed air or a soft brush.

2. Adjust TV Settings

If your HDMI cables are all in good shape and properly connected, the next step is to fine-tune your TV settings to ensure accurate color representation.

A. Picture Mode: Access your TV’s settings menu and navigate to the “Picture” or “Display” section. Look for the “Picture Mode” setting and select “Standard” or “Cinema” for more natural colors. Avoid overly saturated modes like “Vivid” or “Dynamic,” as they can make colors look unrealistic.

B. Color Temperature: Adjust the color temperature settings to achieve the desired warmth or coolness of colors. For a more natural look, try settings like “Warm” or “Normal.”

C. Advanced Settings: Dig deeper into your TV’s settings and explore options like “Color” or “Saturation.” Make subtle adjustments here to fine-tune the color balance to your liking.

D. Firmware Updates: Check for firmware updates for your Onn TV. Manufacturers often release updates that can address color and display issues. Ensure your TV is running the latest firmware version.

3. Calibrate Your TV

Calibrating your TV is like getting a tailored suit – it ensures everything fits perfectly. But in this case, we’re talking about the visual experience. Follow these steps to fine-tune your TV:

A. Professional Calibration: For the best results, consider investing in professional calibration. They use specialized equipment to optimize your TV’s settings to industry standards, giving you the most accurate colors.

B. DIY Calibration: If you’re a tech-savvy DIY enthusiast, you can use calibration discs or apps available for your TV. These guides help you adjust brightness, contrast, and color settings to achieve optimal results.

4. Ambient Lighting Matters

Believe it or not, the lighting in your room can affect how your TV looks. Here’s what you need to know:

A. Avoid Harsh Glare: Position your TV so that it’s not exposed to direct sunlight or glaring artificial lights. Glare can make your TV’s colors appear washed out, so find a spot with even lighting.

B. Bias Lighting: Consider using bias lighting, which is a soft, indirect light source placed behind your TV. This helps reduce eye strain and can enhance the perceived contrast and color of your TV.

5. Color Space and Gamut Settings

Now, things are getting a bit technical, but don’t worry, I’ve got your back. Your Onn TV might allow you to adjust the color space and gamut settings. Here’s what you need to know:

A. Color Space Settings:

• Your TV may offer options like RGB, YCbCr, or Auto for the color space. These settings control how your TV interprets and displays color information.
• For most consumer devices, including gaming consoles and Blu-ray players, RGB is the preferred setting. However, some devices work better with YCbCr. Experiment with these settings to find the best one for your setup.

B. Gamut Settings:

• The gamut setting controls the range of colors your TV can display. Common options include Rec. 709 (standard for HDTV), Rec. 2020 (wider color spectrum), and Auto.
• If your TV supports it, consider selecting Rec. 2020 for a broader range of colors. Just be aware that content must also be produced in this format to fully take advantage of it.

6. Color Uniformity and Panel Aging

For those who’ve had their Onn TV for a while, color uniformity and panel aging can be factors in washed-out colors:

A. Color Uniformity:

• Over time, certain areas of your TV screen may display colors differently due to variances in the LED or OLED backlighting. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do about this except for professional panel replacement.
• Consider using content that doesn’t have uniform, static colors to minimize the impact of uniformity issues.

B. Panel Aging:

• LCD and OLED panels can degrade over time, resulting in color shifts and decreased brightness. OLEDs are more susceptible to this.
• If you suspect panel aging, you might want to reach out to Onn’s customer support to see if your TV is still under warranty or if there are any recommended solutions.