While Samsung is recognized as an industry leader in the flat-panel TV market, they have recently announced the upcoming release of The Premiere – two compact 4K laser projector models that Samsung claims can upgrade your home theater setup so anyone can enjoy a big picture cinema experience from the comfort of their own home.
“Over the past few months, we have seen how consumers are spending more time at home and how the role of everyday life continues to change. TV has become the center of entertainment, a fitness partner, a co-worker, and a source for news,” said Jongsuk Chu, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “The Premiere re-imagines the home cinema experience with an all-new, compact design, 4K picture quality, and big sound for tight spaces that can be used for any at-home activity and living room arrangements.”
The Premiere belongs to Samsung’s “Lifestyle” category of home entertainment which includes other ultra-modern, design-centric products like The Serif, The Frame, The Sero, and The Terrace.
Samsung has specifically designed these products to blend beautifully into any décor and the compact, all-in-one, screenless Premiere is the epitome of this design aesthetic. The easy to install Premiere features fabric finishes around its edges intended to complement most environments.
These two models are ultra short throw projectors, a growing category that’s sometimes called “smart TV replacements.” Samsung says these projectors can be placed directly in front of a wall or screen and produce an ultra-crisp, canvas-sized image. Measuring at just 21.6" x 10.5" X 5" (550mm x 367mm x 128mm) the compact design is perfect for a smaller space like a typical living room because it’s not necessary to mount the projector on a ceiling or park it at the back of the room on a shelf.
It can even be placed unobtrusively inside a cabinet, completely hidden from sight while a clear top panel allows the image to project when viewing. The small form factor might be exceptionally attractive to apartment dwellers who don’t want to manhandle an 85” flat panel TV around stairwells and small elevators.
The Premiere will be available in two 4K models with laser light sources. Unlike a bulb in a conventional projector, a laser doesn’t take time to warm up, retains full brightness over its lifetime, and lasts for tens of thousands of hours with no lamp replacement and virtually zero maintenance.
The 120-inch display LSP7T ($3499.99 SRP) is based on a TI DLP chip and a single-laser projection system. Per Samsung, it displays 83% of the DCI‑P3 gamut. While the step-up 130-inch LSP9T ($6499.99) boasts a triple RGB laser light source for an advertised coverage of 147% of the DCI-P3 gamut and 106% of the Rec. 2020 and increased brightness at 2,800 lumens.
The LSP9T is billed as the “world’s first HDR10+ certified projector with triple laser technology”. HDR10+ was introduced by Samsung and Amazon in 2017 as an alternative to Dolby Vision. Samsung claims HDR10+ can adjust brightness on a “scene-by-scene or even frame-by-frame basis.”
As an additional perk for movie lovers, both projectors will support the UHD Alliance’s Filmmaker Mode, which Samsung says is a first for a projector. Per the UHD Alliance, Filmmaker Mode will allow viewers to enjoy “a more cinematic experience on their UHD TVs when watching movies by disabling all post-processing (e.g. motion smoothing, etc.) so the movie or television show is displayed as it was intended by the filmmaker, preserving the correct aspect ratios, colors and frame rates.”
While most projectors lack built-in audio components, The Premiere models offer sound quality that should surpass most super skinny modern flat-panel TVs. Both models offer a 4.2 channel speaker system (two woofers and two tweeters) and the same Acoustic Beam virtual surround sound technology offered on some Samsung soundbars. When space is a consideration, this all-in-one sound solution will make it easier to achieve a sleek, modern, clutter-free look.
Like a true smart TV replacement, both models include many of the same expected conveniences like an integrated DVB-T/DVB-S tuner. A modern consumer expects a “smart” TV and these models offer a full suite of Tizen OS applications for the same comprehensive app support and familiar interface found on the best Samsung TVs. The Premiere rounds out the usual smart TV necessities with AirPlay 2 and Chromecast functions, management of Bixby, Alexa, and Google Assistant voice assistants, access to streaming video apps from major content partners, and mobile connectivity features such as Tap View and mirroring. Gamers can also appreciate their favorite titles with an input lag at 53 milliseconds.
It’s still necessary to consider several factors to improve the quality of the viewing experience that doesn’t apply to a regular flat-panel TV. While it’s possible to project directly onto a wall, a screen will provide better color and texture for the best performance. When screen shopping, don’t forget that ultra short throw projectors throw light from the bottom up onto the screen, so look for a screen specially designed to filter out overhead (ceiling) light.
With the largest flat-panel TVs topping out at 100 inches and carrying a hefty price tag, customers may well be interested in an attractive, small laser projector with decent sound, reliable performance, and an eye-popping 120” or 130” picture that’s bright enough to enjoy even with some ambient light in the room. Even with a screen, The Premiere is potentially a cost-effective smart TV replacement option.
Both the LSP7T ($3499.99 SRP) and the LSP9T ($6499.99) are now available for sale at various US retailers as well as Samsung's online store. More information about the projectors can be found on the Samsung website. See the link below:
