Audio Video News

Get a Sweet Deal on a 2021 8K TV

Fifteen months ago at CES 2021, Samsung previewed its then-new Neo QLED series of 8K TVs featuring contrast-enhancing MiniLED backlighting and 4K-to-8K upscaling. Today, Samsung is discounting those models to make way for its 2022 8K TVs. Discounts on QN800A and step-up QN900A models as of this writing start at 40% and ramp up to 50% if you believe the inflated “was” prices quoted on samsung.com or 20% to 30% if you believe the original prices quoted on bestbuy.com. Either way, there are deals to be had. Pricing games aside, we have no idea how long these deals (or TVs) will last, but if you like the idea of getting a decent deal on a near state-of-the-art 8K TV, check out these deals.

Samsung QN800A Neo QLED Series 8K TVs (2021)
• 65 inches: $2,000, 43% off original price of $3,500 (Best Buy lists the regular price as $2,800 or 29% off)
• 75 inches: $2,800, 42% off original price of $4,800 (Best Buy lists the regular price as $3,500 or 20% off)
• 85 inches: $3,500, 46% off original price of $6,500 (Best Buy lists the regular price as $5,000 or 30% off)

Samsung QN900A Neo QLED Series 8K TVs (2021)
• 65 inches: $3,000, 40% off original price of $5,000 (Best Buy lists the regular price as $3,800 or 21% off)
• 75 inches: $3,500, 50% off original price of $5,000 (Best Buy lists the regular price as $2,800 or 30% off)
• 85 inches: $4,500, 50% off original price of $9,000 (Best Buy lists the regular price as $6,500 or 31% off)

For comparison, here’s how Samsung’s 2022 8K pricing stacks up.

Samsung QN800B Neo QLED Series 8K TVs (2022)
• 65 inches: $3,500
• 75 inches: $4,700
• 85 inches: $6,500

Samsung QN900B Neo QLED Series 8K TVs (2022)
• 65 inches: $5,000
• 75 inches: $6,500
• 85 inches: $8,500

For more information on Samsung’s Neo QLED 8K TVs visit Samsung.com or bestbuy.com.

Not to be outdone, LG has dropped the price of 2021’s QNED 99 Series TVs, also featuring MiniLED backlighting. Prices are as follows:

LG QNED MiniLED 99 Series 8K TVs (2021)
• 65 inches: $2,000, 43% off original price of $3,500 (Best Buy lists the regular price as $2,700 or 26% off)
• 75 inches: $2,800, 42% off original price of $4,800 (Best Buy lists the regular price as $3,500 or 20% off)
• 86 inches: $3,500, 46% off original price of $6,500 (Best Buy lists the regular price as $4,500 or • 22% off)

For more information, visit lg.com or bestbuy.com.

Best Buy is also selling Hisense’s already low-priced 75-inch U800GR ULED 8K TV for $1,800 — 33% off the original price of $2,700. The 2021 model incorporates the Roku streaming platform and has standard LED backlighting with 180 zones of local dimming. Visit bestbuy.com for more information on this deal.

Roon Expands its Base

Roon Labs started 2022 with a bang. In the first three months of the year, its namesake digital music library and streaming management software was embraced by more than 40 new audio devices from over 20 brands.

Ranging from wireless speakers to integrated DAC/amplifiers and A/V receivers, the products achieved either Roon Ready or Roon Tested status and bring the number of brands that support Roon to around 200 and the number of products that work within the Roon ecosystem to more than a thousand.

Products designated as Roon Ready integrate customized versions of Roon’s streaming technology and have been certified by Roon Labs to be fully functional within the Roon ecosystem, whereas devices designated as Roon Tested have been profiled and tested for compatibility with Roon software but without any direct collaboration with Roon Labs.

The latest products to achieve Roon Ready status include Sonus Faber’s new Omnia all-in-one music system, NAD’s new C399 integrated amplifier/DAC, and McIntosh’s RS150 and RS250 wireless speaker systems. New Roon Tested devices include 11 A/V receivers from Onkyo, Pioneer, and Integra, Audiolab’s Omnia streaming amplifier/CD player, and three XR series amplifiers from Cyrus. A complete list of Roon partner brands and devices is available here.

The company also announced the launch of the Roon Store, which offers a curated selection of Roon-ready gear. The selection is currently limited but will be expanded in the near future. “Shopping for audio gear online isn’t especially easy or fun, so we decided to do for the audio shopping experience what Roon itself did for music browsing and discovery,” explained Roon founder and CEO, Enno Vandermeer.

To learn more about the difference between the Roon Ready and Roon Tested designations, visit roonlabs.com.

Dirac Simplifies Audio Calibration

Sweden’s Dirac Research is determined to make it easy for anyone to get better sound. With the latest update to its popular Dirac Live speaker setup/room-correction system, the software now automatically generates a target response curve based on a sound system's unique measurements so listeners can sit back and enjoy more natural sound without having to delve into the intricacies of equalization and room correction.

Dirac says its new auto target curve “more faithfully reflects the inherent character of the measured system, minus the adverse acoustic effects of the room,” while preserving the character of your speakers.

The new functionality eliminates the need for manual adjustment but still provides the option of tweaking and personalization through a new simplified interface in an updated version of the Dirac Live mobile app, available for download here. The updated app also retains the option of selecting Dirac’s classic filter design.

The app is compatible with Dirac Live-enabled A/V receivers and other gear from Onkyo, Integra, Pioneer/Pioneer Elite, and NAD. Dirac says the desktop version of Dirac Live will be updated later this year. For more information on Dirac Live, visit dirac.com.

CTA Bars Russian Companies from CES 2023

In a resolution adopted by its executive board, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has issued a pointed condemnation of Russia’s devastating war on Ukraine: Russian companies are not welcome at CES 2023, slated to be held in Las Vegas early next year.

“If Russia does not quickly end all hostilities, we will bar Russian companies from participating in CES 2023,” the CTA said in a press release several weeks after the war began. Given that the war has been raging for almost two months, the prospect of a quick end ended weeks ago. We can only hope that the hostilities will end well before CES 2023 opens nine months from now.

The CTA statement went on to say: “We support the G7’s decision to collectively deny Russia Most-Favored-Nation status, thereby revoking benefits of Russia’s WTO membership. We urge other WTO Members to take their own steps to deny Most-Favored-Nation status to Russia. And we encourage our industry to fully comply with the sanctions that our government has put in place.

“Our thoughts are especially with the 88 people from Ukraine who attended CES 2022 including employees of the 15 Ukrainian technology companies who exhibited."

The association also applauded Russian people who are peacefully protesting the actions of their government and “decisive actions taken by consumer technology companies who have voluntarily refused to sell products or make their services available in Russia.”