Audio Video News

Samsung officially unveiled its new 2016 SUHD televisions yesterday at its annual spring launch event in New York, offering up claimed advances in both picture quality and their smart TV interface.

Notably, all the new SUHD sets offer 1,000 nit peak brightness for high dynamic range content mastered to the HDR10 open standard, and wide color gamut. (They are not compatible with Dobly Vision HDR programs.) All meet the Ultra HD Alliance's Premium UHD certification standards.

All panels are of the 10-bit variety that offers more gradation of colors and a reduction of banding vs. more traditional 8-bit panels when viewing compatible content (such as that found on the new Ultra HD Blu-ray discs). Though the company is not exclusive in using Quantum Dot backlight technology to achieve wide color gamut and brighter highlights, Samsung is claiming the only environmentally-friendly cadmium-free display. This year's SUHD models, which are restricted to the KS9000 and KS8000 series sets, are said to achieve 96% of the DCI-P3 color space targeted for new UHD content and, thanks to the 10-bit panel, the ability to reproduce 1 billion different colors.

Only the top-of-the-line curved KS9800 series features full-array local dimming, while step-down models, including the curved KS9500, use edge backlighting. An Ultra Black feature, which rejects ambient light, is said to improve blacks even further. The KS9800 65-inch model will be available in early June for $4,499, along with an 88-inch for $19,999. A 78-inch version ships in early May for $9,999. The KS9500 series is available now at 55- and 65-inch sizes at $2,499 and $3,699, respectively; a 78-inch model will be available in early June for $7,999.

Other SUHD lines being offered include the KS9000 (flat), shipping now at 55- and 65-inch ($2,299 and $3,499), 75-inch available early June ($6,499); the KS8500 (curved) available now at 55- and 65-inch ($1,999 and $2,999), with a 49-inch model available in May for $1,699; and the KS8000 series, also available now in a 55- and 65-inch ($1,799 and $2,799), with 49-inch and 60-inch models available in May ($1,499 and $2,299).

The company's new Smart Hub interface, said to have been developed through extensive focus group research at the Samsung Consumer Experience Lab in Mountainview, California, combines a simplified, compact Bluetooth remote control, automated set-up of attached source components, and a revamped graphic user interface that allows easy access to cable and streaming content. The sets now recognize some popular cable and satellite set-top boxes, as well as streaming players (Roku and Apple) and game consoles (Xbox) when they're attached and automatically loads the correct IR codes into the TV to allow their control (including DVR functions) through the TV's unified remote. The interface uses a horizontally scrolling bar at the bottom of the screen to access streaming services and sources.

Furthermore, all 9 Series, 8 Series, and 7 Series TVs from Samsung in 2016 will offer an integrated SmartThings smarthome hub starting this summer with the addition of a free "Extend" dongle plugged into the back of the TV. SmartThings, which was purchased by Samsung in 2014, offers their hub separately today, but its integration into Samsung's new television line will make these sets compatible with hundreds of Z-Wave and Zigbee devices including lighting dimmers, security cameras, door locks, and others. Samsung officials said the televisions will be shipped with a mail-in certificate for the dongle, but that they'll be conducting promotions later this year to get as many as possible into the hands of Samsung TV customers.

A New Atmos Soundbar
At the press event, held at the Samsung 837 experience center in Manhattan's chic Meatpacking District, the company also announced a second Atmos-compatible soundbar coming from their dedicated audio lab in Valencia, California. The HW-K850 joins the HW-K950 model announced at CES in January. Both models will feature the same soundbar up front, with three forward-firing channels for left, right, and center (with discrete woofer and tweeter drivers for each), plus a pair of up-firing Atmos channels that reflect height effects off the ceiling. A ported wireless subwoofer with an 8-inch driver is also included. To this 3.1.2-channel configuration, the HW-K950 adds a pair of wireless powered back speakers that each offer a forward-firing surround driver and an upfiring Atmos driver to complete the 5.1.4 system. Both models will be available in early summer at $899 and $1,499, respectively.

Separately, Samsung officials heralded the success of their recently launched Ultra HD Blu-ray player, the UBD-K8500 ($399), which remains the only such player on the market. "This is one of the strongest product introductions we've ever had, and demand is exceeding supply" said Dave Das, senior VP of Samsung Electronics America.