After switching from HDMI 2.0 TV to HDMI 2.1 no HDR anymore ;(

    Hello,

    i'm having a little trouble with my Libreelec setup.

    Libreelec HTPC = Asus Prime H310i-Plus 2.0 MoBo (HDMI 1.4), Intel Core i5-9400 with UHD 630 Graphics, Libreelec 12.2.1

    TV = Samsung GQ65S95F (2025 Top Model with HDMI 2.1) with missing HDR now

    old TV = Sony 55XH9505 (2019 Top Model with HDMI 2.0) with 4K, HDR working well !

    My challenge: After switching the TV, there is no HDR support anymore. ;(

    The TV is, imho, configured right. HDMI (1) is set to extended signal. Kodi sees resolutions up to 4k (only 30Hz) with FHD up to 120Hz is possible. At the moment I'm using the suggested 1920x1080 @ 60Hz. Adapt Refresh Rate to media is, as always, activated (tried always and start/stop).

    What I have tried so far:

    - other HDMI cable, mostly sure that it supports 2.0

    - Samsung with and without extended Signal with reboots of TV and HTPC

    - different HDMI ports tested (1 and 2)

    - different movies and test movies from Sony and LG

    - different GUI resolutions, refresh rates, adapt refresh rate to media modes

    What i have gathered so far:

    With the help of ChatGPT i can confirm via cat /sys/class/drm/card0-HDMI-A-1/edid > /storage/edid.bin and ls -l /storage/edid.bin that the TV correctly reports HDR:

    HDR Static Metadata Data Block:
    SMPTE ST2084
    Hybrid Log-Gamma

    BT2020YCC
    BT2020RGB

    HDR10+

    Long output:

    Code
    Video Capability Data Block: YCbCr quantization: No Data RGB quantization: Selectable (via AVI Q) PT scan behavior: No Data IT scan behavior: Supports both over- and underscan CE scan behavior: Supports both over- and underscan Colorimetry Data Block: xvYCC601 xvYCC709 BT2020YCC BT2020RGB Gamut Boundary Description Metadata Profile P0 Vendor-Specific Data Block (HDMI), OUI 00-0C-03: Source physical address: 1.0.0.0 Supports_AI DC_36bit DC_30bit DC_Y444 Maximum TMDS clock: 340 MHz Supported Content Types: Game Extended HDMI video details: HDMI VICs: HDMI VIC 1: 3840x2160 30.000000 Hz 16:9 67.500 kHz 297.0 00000 MHz HDMI VIC 2: 3840x2160 25.000000 Hz 16:9 56.250 kHz 297.0 00000 MHz HDMI VIC 3: 3840x2160 24.000000 Hz 16:9 54.000 kHz 297.0 00000 MHz HDMI VIC 4: 4096x2160 24.000000 Hz 256:135 54.000 kHz 297.0 00000 MHz Vendor-Specific Data Block (HDMI Forum), OUI C4-5D-D8: Version: 1 Maximum TMDS Character Rate: 600 MHz SCDC Present Max Fixed Rate Link: 3 and 6 Gbps per lane on 3 lanes, 6, 8 and 10 Gbps on 4 lanes Supports UHD VIC Supports 12-bits/component Deep Color 4:2:0 Pixel Encoding Supports 10-bits/component Deep Color 4:2:0 Pixel Encoding Supports VESA DSC 1.2a compression Supports Compressed Video Transport for 4:2:0 Pixel Encoding Supports 12 bpc Compressed Video Transport Supports 10 bpc Compressed Video Transport DSC Max Slices: up to 8 slices and up to (340 MHz/Ksliceadjust) pixel c lock per slice DSC Max Fixed Rate Link: 3 and 6 Gbps per lane on 3 lanes, 6 Gbps on 4 lanes Maximum number of bytes in a line of chunks: 6144 HDR Static Metadata Data Block: Electro optical transfer functions: Traditional gamma - SDR luminance range SMPTE ST2084 Hybrid Log-Gamma Supported static metadata descriptors: Static metadata type 1 YCbCr 4:2:0 Capability Map Data Block: VIC 97: 3840x2160 60.000000 Hz 16:9 135.000 kHz 594.000000 M Hz VIC 96: 3840x2160 50.000000 Hz 16:9 112.500 kHz 594.000000 M Hz VIC 102: 4096x2160 60.000000 Hz 256:135 135.000 kHz 594.000000 M Hz VIC 101: 4096x2160 50.000000 Hz 256:135 112.500 kHz 594.000000 M Hz VIC 117: 3840x2160 100.000000 Hz 16:9 225.000 kHz 1188.000000 M Hz VIC 118: 3840x2160 120.000000 Hz 16:9 270.000 kHz 1188.000000 M Hz VIC 218: 4096x2160 100.000000 Hz 256:135 225.000 kHz 1188.000000 M Hz VIC 219: 4096x2160 120.000000 Hz 256:135 270.000 kHz 1188.000000 M Hz Vendor-Specific Video Data Block (HDR10+), OUI 90-84-8B: Application Version: 1 Full Frame Peak Luminance Index: 0 Peak Luminance Index: 0 Detailed Timing Descriptors: DTD 3: 2560x1440 119.997589 Hz 16:9 182.996 kHz 497.750000 MHz (1872 mm x 1053 mm) Hfront 48 Hsync 32 Hback 80 Hpol P Vfront 3 Vsync 5 Vback 77 Vpol N Checksum: 0xc4 Unused space in Extension Block: 3 bytes ---------------- Block 2, CTA-861 Extension Block: Revision: 3 Underscans IT Video Formats by default Basic audio support Supports YCbCr 4:4:4 Supports YCbCr 4:2:2 Native detailed modes: 0 Vendor-Specific Video Data Block, OUI 04-75-03: 01 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 40 00 '........@.' Checksum: 0x3c Unused space in Extension Block: 108 bytes ---------------- Block 3, CTA-861 Extension Block: Revision: 3 Underscans IT Video Formats by default Basic audio support Supports YCbCr 4:4:4 Supports YCbCr 4:2:2 Native detailed modes: 0 DisplayID Type X Video Timing Data Block: VTDB 1: 3840x2160 164.991488 Hz 16:9 392.515 kHz 2129.000000 MH z (aspect 16:9, no 3D stereo) Detailed Timing Descriptors: DTD 4: 1920x1080 164.917418 Hz 16:9 192.788 kHz 401.000000 MHz Hfront 48 Hsync 32 Hback 80 Hpol P Vfront 3 Vsync 5 Vback 81 Vpol N Checksum: 0x84 Unused space in Extension Block: 96 bytes

    Hope someone undestands this :dodgy: I rely on ChatGPTs opinion here.

    But if i look under libreelec -> system information -> graphics I see "Display supported HDR modes: none" (I'm using german interface and translate the points freely).

    ChatGPT mentions, that the Samsung S95F has so many more options in the EDID, that my UHD 630 gets overwhelmed and cuts HDR support. Maybe a driver or kernel issue?

    I would be very glad if someone has an idea other than swap the hardware (GPU is expensive, must be Low Profile - or switch the whole MoBo).

    Thank you in advance for every input/help/idea/hack and so on ;)

    Hello chewitt!

    Here the output of pastekodi

    Code
    LibreELEC (community): nightly-20260615-4eabb77 (Generic.x86_64)
HTPC:~ # pastekodi
https://paste.libreelec.tv/drowsier-azucena.log
HTPC:~ #

    Hope everything is alright!

    Was a mess to switch to the latest nightly. My fat16 system was too small. Had to resize the ext partition with gparted. But gparted stoped increasing fat16 over 512mb, but only if I convert it to fat32... EeaseUS boot disc did the job of resizing the fat16 to 2gb. Then the upgrade went well.

    Started 3x 4k HDR demo videos for about 20 seconds and switched to the next one.

    Thanks for watching this mess :angel:

    Quote from smp

    HDMI 1.4 cannot possibly pass through HDR metadata.

    HDR would never work with that mobo on any TV.

    Sorry, but that is simply wrong.

    Worked for many months, since I got this device and over more than one libreelec update.

    The colors and brightness were fantastic and the picture information of the Sony clearly stated BT.2020 mode. The GUI was - by the way way - in FHD, because of the slow maximal 30Hz at 4K. Even hybrids with FHD resolution and HDR embedded worked well. Pretty crazy stuff. 8o

    Ah sorry, my last sentence rememberd me about something and I can't edit my Post.
    Here someone stated it at reddit:

    Quote

    HDMI 1.4 has a maximum data rate of 8.16Gbit/s

    3840x2160 content at 10 bits and 30hz of refresh rate is about ~11.14Gbit/s at 4:4:4 chroma subsampling. However, it is around ~5.57Gbit/s at 4:2:0 chroma (which is more than enough for watching movies)

    The official HDMI 1.4 spec does not technically support HDR, but the physical layer does not seem to have any reason not to

    And that's what I believe Libreelec and the old Sony did!

    And yes, this would be enough for the present setup :angel:

    Never looked at the system information - > graphics before, so I can not confirm that the Sony displayed himself as HDR capable. But, if it's really useful, I can transfer the HTPC + external HDD to the Sony and take some Logs. Only some work, all is strapped behind the furnitures :dodgy:

    BTW the EDID in Post #1 showed, that the HDR capability is seen by libreelec or I'm mistaken?

    I remember too, that my gaming machine had some trouble with the "old" 10m cable towards the Sony. Was it high refresh rates or HDR, but I figured with the colors too! 4:2:2 or 4:2:0 was the solution for the time being. Yesterday I switched it for a new 7.5m HDMI 2.1 one, because of trouble when activating HDR. :/

    I managed to connect the HTPC again to the Sony with the old first tested cable. Only difference since yesterday is V13 nightly instead of 12.2.1 stable.

    Here is the log:

    Code
    LibreELEC (community): nightly-20260615-4eabb77 (Generic.x86_64)
HTPC:~ # pastekodi
https://paste.libreelec.tv/emulsive-alda.log
HTPC:~ #

    I didn't wanted to transfer the HDD an downloaded LG Ney York HDR demo and Sony Swordsmith HDR demo again to my thumb drive.

    And voila, BT.2020 in both videos. What makes me curios is Swordsmith runs @ 1920x1080 with BT.2020. Error, wrong download, or whitelisted resolution mismatch? But, it runs with HDR. The LG video runs in 4K HDR (too) as it should.

    But, now I can confirm: Sony TV shows under system information -> graphics -> supported hdr modes: none. So, this information is not reliable and the same with the Samsung TV.

    ChatGPT analysed the EDID and points out, that Samsung shows this mode: YCbCr 4:2:0 Capability Map

    Hope this helps resolving this challenge. Can't believe I'm the only one who is interested in HDR for all the "old" HDMI 1.4 devices/cables or UHD 630 owner? =O

    Code
    info <general>: [display-info] make: 'Sony' model: 'SONY TV  *00'
info <general>: [display-info] supports hdr static metadata type1: true
info <general>: [display-info] supported eotf:
info <general>: [display-info]   traditional sdr: true
info <general>: [display-info]   traditional hdr: false
info <general>: [display-info]   pq:              true
info <general>: [display-info]   hlg:             true

    This ^ shows the Sony TV advertises HDR

    Code
    info <general>: [display-info] make: 'Samsung Electric Company' model: 'S95F'
info <general>: [display-info] supports hdr static metadata type1: true
info <general>: [display-info] supported eotf:
info <general>: [display-info]   traditional sdr: true
info <general>: [display-info]   traditional hdr: false  <= this is an old standard nobody uses
info <general>: [display-info]   pq:              true   <= this is HDR/HDR10 as we know it
info <general>: [display-info]   hlg:             true

    This ^ shows the Samsung TV also advertises HDR

    Code
    2026-06-16 08:45:50.124 T:765     debug <general>: [WHITELIST] whitelisted modes:
                                                   4096x2160 @ 24.000000 Hz
                                                   4096x2160 @ 23.976000 Hz
                                                   ...

    This output in both logs ^ shows you aren't following whitelist recommendations in https://wiki.libreelec.tv/configuration/4k-hdr although that's just an optimum config observation and not the cure for anything.

    Code
    debug <general>: LinuxRendererGLES::Configure: HDR passthrough: off

    This ^ appears in both logs.

    Kodi should be configured for "Adjust display refresh rate" (start/stop) with "Adjust display HDR mode" (enabled) and "Allow using DRMPRIME decoder" (disabled) and "PRIME Render Method" (EGL).

    Swordsmith is [email protected] but this res/rate combination doesn't exist on the DRM connector so the whitelist logic chooses [email protected] instead ^ and Kodi downscales the content (downscaling frames is easier than reducing the refresh rate). The NY demo file is [email protected] which matches an available 4K mode.

    I'm not aware of anything in the kernel/DRM layer that would block HDR metadata from being used. IMHO it's more likely that Kodi settings need changing (did "Adjust dusplay HDR mode" exist in LE12?) or it's something more basic like not having deep colour modes (or whatever Samsung calls them) enabled on the HDMI port that you're connected to on the TV.

    chewitt Many thanks for investigating this!

    HTPC is @ Sony TV - - - - >

    1. Set everything as you mentioned about the whitelist.

    2. Adjust HDR Mode never existed on this machine. Both DRM options are already set as you recommended. Switched to english GUI for this project :)

    Quote

    "Adjust display HDR mode" (enabled) and "Allow using DRMPRIME decoder" (disabled) and "PRIME Render Method" (EGL).

    3. New Log after setting up and playing both videos:

    Code
    LibreELEC (community): nightly-20260615-4eabb77 (Generic.x86_64)
HTPC:~ # pastekodi
https://paste.libreelec.tv/motional-humberto.log
HTPC:~

    4. Swordsmith stays at FHD. No problem for me so far. BT.2020 works in both movies.

    Any idea to get libreelec telling the Samsung HDR ist there in the running movie? Maybe I need to force the output to YUV 4:2:0? Since I never noticed any loss in quality on the old Sony, I could live with an always 4:2:0 mode :angel:

    Does the logs show anything like color "downgrade" to 4:2:0 or I'm on a false track?

    BTW: The mentioned HDR switch is available at my gaming machine. W11 + Radeon RX 9070 XT + Kodi installed via MS Store (and here VRR, 165Hz and so on are working). But using this machine for movies and gaming is much fiddling between Game Mode, Picture Mode everytime I switch from gaming to watching movies. ;( Would prefer the HTPC much more about this solution :)

    Quote from sebden

    and the picture information of the Sony clearly stated BT.2020 mode

    BT.2020 does not mean HDR.

    Quote from chewitt

    I'm not aware of anything in the kernel/DRM layer that would block HDR metadata from being used.

    DRM layer checks for the presence of HDMI 2.0. HDR passthrough is disabled on anything below Gen 9.5 (Gemini Lake) unless a HDMI 2.0 compatible LSPCON is used. His motherboard does not have an LSPCON.

    Aye aye sir!

    Sony TV output:

    Code
    LibreELEC (community): nightly-20260615-4eabb77 (Generic.x86_64)
HTPC:~ # modetest | paste
https://paste.libreelec.tv/wigglier-oralee.log
HTPC:~ #

    ChatGPT mentioned, that the Sony overlay possibly displays BT.2020, but only because of the received wide color gammut.

    Is this possible? And when, why are the lights and highlights exactly like the ones from the combination of Gaming-PC and Samsung (same Swordsmith video with the Samsung's active HDR)?

    In this case I would expect better colors, but not the noticeable much better lighting. :/ But maybe this is more close to what smp implicated.

    smp Ah sorry, I was posting my answer and read your 2 posts afterwards.

    OK then I will give up. I already read some texts about the LSP-Converter-Chip and that it is missing. Since used R550/RX6400 are way too expensive nowadays I sort the HTPC out.

    Lastly I don't understand, why the demo videos on the Sony look so close to the ones played via my gaming PC at the new Samsung TV. Only because of WCG (Opinion of ChatGPT)?

    Maybe some Samsung TV user has an idea about fast switching between GameMode (with up to 165Hz VRR) and non GameMode (to get Movie Profile, Judderfix and so on) :?:

    The DP-1 connector shown in modetest output does list HDR_OUTPUT_METADATA support, but even if the silicon out lists DP-1 as an option there's no guarantee that it physically exists on the board and/or is wired up properly.