Dynamic range settings

High (60+ dB) e.g. Liver (Parenchymal Organs)

Softer, many shades of gray, lower contrast.  High (wide) dynamic range is preferred for representing organ parenchyma to provide more information about tissue structure.

Low to Medium (40–66 dB) e.g. Vascular Scanning

Higher contrast, more black and white.  Lower (narrower) dynamic range favors anechoic imaging of vessels, resulting in a more "black-and-white" image where the anechoic (black) vessel lumen is clearly delineated from the more echogenic (white) vessel walls.

Low (<40 dB) e.g. Echocardiography

High contrast, clear definition of structures.  A low (narrow) dynamic range is often used to get a clear, high-contrast image of the heart's chambers and valves, as the primary interest is function and clear structural boundaries rather than subtle tissue texture.

Contrast vs. Detail: A high dynamic range shows a wider spectrum of echo strengths with many shades of gray, which is good for subtle tissue differentiation in organs like the liver. A low dynamic range provides high contrast, which is better for clearly defining anechoic structures like blood vessels and heart chambers.