Here’s What Caught Ahn Hyo-Seop’s Eye at Samsung’s CES 2026 Showcase
-
Similar Topics
-
By Samsung Newsroom
Samsung Electronics, the world’s leading TV manufacturer for 18 consecutive years, has commenced its annual series of Tech Seminars in Frankfurt, Germany. From February 20 to 22, Samsung will showcase its newest display lineup for 2024 that features new, innovative AI technology and smart features on the Neo QLED, OLED and Lifestyle products to professionals in Europe.
Tech Seminar sessions are a longstanding program, having delivered detailed information and exclusive hands-on experiences with new products for the past 13 years. As part of Samsung’s visual display vision — “We look out of the box to inspire new ways of life” — this year the company is displaying select, cutting-edge technologies from its 2024 lineup that offer new lifestyles and new ways of consuming content.
The 2024 European Tech Seminar in Frankfurt sets the stage for similar sessions in major regions worldwide later this year, including Southeast Asia and Latin America. At these events, Samsung will feature new technologies that span across the latest TVs and lifestyle product lineup:
Samsung’s 75-inch Neo QLED 8K QN900D incorporates the new and powerful NQ8 AI Gen3 Processor, which supports features like 8K AI Upscaling Pro and AI Motion Enhancer Pro for the best Neo QLED 8K visuals to date. The 2024 Tizen OS brings content front and center, offering a personalized experience based on different accounts set up on smart TVs. Tizen features services such as Samsung Gaming Hub, an all-in-one game streaming discovery platform, with content recommendations for a convenient and tailored cloud gaming experience. Music Frame is a customizable wireless speaker designed to seamlessly blend into its surroundings. It can operate as a standalone speaker, or it can pair with a Samsung TV and soundbar via Q-Symphony to deliver a more immersive viewing experience with surround sound. New OLED Glare Free technology was specifically designed for Samsung’s 2024 OLED screens and preserves color accuracy and image sharpness while reducing reflections from nearby lighting. The new, specialized hard-coating layer and surface coating pattern overcomes the trade-off between gloss and reflection.
▲ Martin Kim, Picture Quality Solution Lab at Samsung Electronics, explains that the 2024 Neo QLED 8K incorporates the new and powerful NQ8 AI Gen3 Processor, supporting AI-backed features such as 8K AI Upscaling Pro and AI Motion Enhancer Pro.
▲ Andrew Sohn, Picture Quality Solution Lab at Samsung Electronics, shows off Samsung’s AI engine that can instantly optimize picture and sound quality based on the game or genre being played.
▲ Haylie Jung, Picture Quality Solution Lab at Samsung Electronics, demonstrates how users can set up their own profiles on the 2024 Tizen OS for Samsung Smart TVs to enjoy a customized experience including personal recommendations.
▲ Music Frame is a customizable wireless speaker designed to seamlessly blend into its surroundings.
“Kicking off our Tech Seminar series is always something we look forward to,” said Yong-Jae Kim, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “Each year we have the opportunity to meet with local media and professionals, not just to provide in-depth demonstrations and explanations on new technology, but also to discuss the products we are most excited about and hear their feedback.”
For more information on Samsung’s 2024 TV and lifestyle product lineup, visit samsung.com.
View the full article
-
By Samsung Newsroom
Samsung Electronics today unveiled its new Neo QLED, MICRO LED and Samsung OLED lineups alongside lifestyle products and accessories ahead of CES® 2023. This year’s lineup features advanced, innovative products with a focus on enhanced connectivity and personalized consumer experiences.
Samsung’s wide portfolio of offerings helps users build their own tailored experiences with the devices they use every day, with more intuitive technology than ever before. This year, Samsung takes one step further in its ever-evolving journey to simplify consumers’ everyday lives with seamless multi-device integration across its entire ecosystem through its smart home platform SmartThings.
“In 2023, we are pushing boundaries of innovation to offer consumers more than just premium picture quality, but a holistic, premium device experience tailored to what they need and want out of their connected home,” said Cheolgi Kim, EVP of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “With SmartThings, our advanced technology is seamless and intuitive, making life more sustainable, accessible and enjoyable everyday.”
Premium and Connected Experiences With Neo QLED
Samsung’s latest suite of Neo QLED 8K and 4K televisions provide consumers with premium options that suit every need. Neo QLED picture quality is powered by Samsung’s advanced Neural Quantum Processor, which supports the Quantum Mini LED-lit TV with 14-bit processing and AI upscaling, enabling features such as Shape Adaptive Light Control and Real Depth Enhancer Pro for a three-dimensional, lifelike picture.
Samsung’s 2023 Neo QLEDs also go beyond just a clear picture, with a high-resolution panel and Samsung’s proprietary algorithm that power Samsung’s new Auto HDR Remastering. It uses AI deep learning technology to analyze and apply real-time High Dynamic Range (HDR) effects on Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) content on a scene-by-scene basis, making SDR content brighter and livelier for absolute immersion.
In addition, SmartThings users no longer need to purchase a separate SmartThings dongle to connect and control Zigbee and Thread devices. In 2023, the SmartThings Zigbee & Matter Thread One-Chip Module will be directly built into Samsung products. And for the ultimate connected device experience, SmartThings automatically syncs devices for easier control of not just Samsung devices but also third-party appliances and IoT devices1 for seamless connections.
Chat Together: Users can easily enter a live chat group to share thoughts and react in real-time with others who are also watching the same content. ConnecTime: Make it easier to take video calls from connected devices, providing a larger platform for video calls on the TV and a seamless transition to a smaller device if a user wants to walk away and transfer the call to another screen. 3D Map View: Designed to let users conveniently control and monitor connected devices, Samsung’s 3D Map View provides users a bird’s eye view of their home and all of their SmartThings devices at-a-glance.
Broadening Viewing Options With MICRO LED and Samsung OLED
The 2023 MICRO LED lineup offers new models ranging from 50 to 140-inches2 to provide consumers with a breadth of options for unparalleled picture quality and screen experience. Thanks to its modular nature, MICRO LED is not bound by shape, ratio and size, making it completely customizable to fit a consumer’s desired set up. In addition, it comes without bezels, so regardless of configuration, the boundary between screen and real life is seamless.
And to provide consumers with even more viewing options, Samsung’s 2023 OLED lineup is now available in 55, 65 and the new ultra-large 77-inch models. Samsung’s latest OLED lineup comes with Quantum Dot technology that has been developed for Samsung’s Neo QLEDs as well as Neural Quantum Processors to retain OLED technology’s core strengths while simultaneously improving limitations in its brightness and color representation.
The expanded lineup comes with a 144Hz refresh rate and all of Samsung’s smart features, including Samsung Gaming Hub. And for the first time on an OLED TV, Samsung OLEDs come with AMD’s FreeSync Premium Pro certification for the ultimate OLED gaming experience.
Finally, to expand viewing options, Samsung offers Samsung TV Plus on all of its Smart TV lineup. The free ad-supported TV (FAST) and video-on-demand service deliver over 1,800 channels globally, including over 50 owned & operated channels, reaching 24 countries and 465 million devices globally across the company’s TV and mobile devices. It is 100% free and doesn’t require any downloads, subscriptions or additional devices.
Explore a New World of Gaming With Samsung Gaming Hub
The Samsung Gaming Hub, the new home for gaming on Samsung Smart TVs, offers users unlimited access to thousands of their favorite games from partners such as Xbox, NVIDIA GeForce NOW, Amazon Luna and Utomik with no downloads, storage limits or consoles required. Moreover, it is the most intuitive gaming experience where players can simply switch on their TVs and play.
Samsung Gaming Hub, which was launched last year, delivers incredible picture quality and an entirely new way to approach gaming — with multitasking, expanded partnerships and 4K streaming. Players can even watch multiple types of content at the same time.
In 2023, upgrades for GameBar 3.0 with MiniMap Sharing3 and Virtual Aim Point elevate the experience for every type of gamer. MiniMap Sharing enables players to see the minimap of their game at-a-glance on any display, while Virtual Aim Point, designed for first-person shooters (FPS), allows players to view more noticeable crosshairs in any game so they can make the perfect shot.
The Samsung Gaming Hub is also available on Samsung smart monitors and gaming screens — including the Odyssey series. With Odyssey Ark, gamers can rotate their screens vertically or horizontally based on their desired orientation and enjoy immersive games with a 55-inch 1000R curved screen and powerful sound.
Elevate Your Lifestyle With Expanded Lifestyle Lineup and New Features
Consumer’s lifestyle needs are constantly shifting. To navigate this landscape, Samsung has unveiled new lifestyle products and features to elevate the user experience to another level, allowing consumers to customize the way they view and experience screens.
The Premiere 8K: In 2023, Samsung is introducing a new iteration of its laser projector, The Premiere 8K. The ultra-short throw projector lineup now comes with an 8K model, giving users the same ultra-large screen in even higher resolution. It supports a maximum screen size of 150-inches for a massive screen with exquisite resolution to match. The Freestyle with Smart EDGE Blending: The Freestyle is the ultimate flexible device, allowing consumers to watch whatever they want wherever they want. In 2023, users can take advantage of the new Smart EDGE Blending feature, which allows users to use two of the devices and watch content in a 21:9 configuration with no manual lining up or adjusting. The 2023 Freestyle will also support Samsung Gaming Hub for more entertainment on the go. New UI and Accessories: In 2023, Samsung is introducing a new and improved Samsung Art Store with features such as previews at-a-glance and extended content offerings, which mimic the experience of visiting a gallery or museum. Also new is a metal bezel option for a modern and luxurious look on The Frame. Samsung’s latest TV lineup can be mounted with the optional Auto Rotating Wall Mount & Stand, which brings the automatic rotation and vertical media viewing experience of The Sero to other TVs, including The Frame and Neo QLEDs.
Everyday Sustainability With Samsung Screens
In line with the latest environmental strategy announced in 2022, Samsung is consistently working with partners and customers to be eco-conscious, providing a broader impact throughout the product’s lifecycle. As a result, each step is made more eco-conscious, from making the manufacturing process more efficient to reducing packaging and changing how consumers use their products.
Recycled Materials: For the 2023 lineup, Samsung will replace 20% of the bracket parts used for the SolarCell Remote with recycled ocean-bound plastic. In addition, the main parts of the power board use recycled aluminum cans and copper, replacing approximately 12% of the original materials used. Reducing Manufacturing Impact: Samsung designed a light-weight injection mold that requires fewer materials, with a structure that can be repurposed, bringing down the overall energy consumption and raw materials needed for production. AI Energy Saving Mode: Through SmartThings, Samsung’s 2023 TVs support AI Energy Saving Mode, helping users save more energy in new ways. SmartThings Energy Service on TVs helps reduce carbon footprint of connected devices with simple changes, such as automatic switches to energy saving mode on specific devices when not in use. And with 3D Map View, it will be easier to get a holistic overview of connected devices and put energy saving ideas into practice. Eco-Packaging: In 2023, Samsung Eco-Packaging will come with minimal print, so less ink is consumed in its production, and Samsung will use paper tape to reduce the use of plastic in its packaging. Additionally, package sizes will be reduced to lower overall carbon emissions.
Multidimensional Soundscape and Audio Quality With AI
A premium screen experience would only be complete with ultra-immersive audio. While Samsung TVs come with impressive built-in speakers, they also have powerful audio features and devices to enhance the viewing experience for something truly cinematic.
AI Sound Remastering: In 2023, Samsung’s flagship TV and soundbar offer Sound Remastering, which utilizes AI to remaster each sound object to ensure voices are clear, environmental sounds are totally enveloping and that each component is just the right volume. New Soundbars: In addition to the flagship soundbar, HW-Q990C, with 11.1.4 channel sound supporting Dolby Atmos, the ultra-slim HW-S800B offers powerful immersive sound in Dolby Atmos from a 3.1.2 channel device that is just 40mm tall and 38mm deep. It is easily placed with any TV and still offers clear sound with punchy bass. Q-Symphony: A new iteration of harmony between the TV and soundbar, 2023 new Q-Symphony will provide vastly evolved sound for which the soundbar taps into the TV’s Neural Processing Unit to analyze audio signals and process each sound for more detail than ever before.
In 2023 by pairing Samsung TVs with Samsung Soundbars, these devices will offer the most powerful, customizable and personalized ecosystem available to date.
To learn more about Samsung’s 2023 products which Samsung is announcing at CES 2023, please visit www.samsung.com/firstlook,4 where you can register to get the latest updates and special offers throughout 2023.
* All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation. Availability of the above-mentioned products, services and features may vary by region.
1 SmartThings will support Matter and HCA in 2023. This will enable SmartThings users to add a thousand of compatible devices seamlessly into their SmartThings Home Environment.
2 Samsung’s MICRO LED lineup will be offered in 50, 63, 76, 89, 101, 114 and 140-inches in 2023.
3 MiniMap Sharing will be available via software update in the first half of 2023.
4 Participating Countries only: U.S., U.K., Germany, Turkey, Australia, Korea and India.
View the full article
-
By Samsung Newsroom
The end of a year is the perfect time to gather friends and family and celebrate the year that has passed as well as the one that is to come. When it comes to planning the perfect year-end party, curating the perfect playlist is a must — but so is ensuring that your audio devices are able to set the tone all night long for that perfect celebratory mood.
In order to help you make your celebration unforgettable, Samsung Newsroom has put together some ideas of ways you can ensure your party is the best in town with Samsung’s sound technologies.
Ultra Slim Soundbar: Rock Out in Style
For those who prioritize style as well as great audio quality, Samsung’s Ultra Slim Soundbar (S801B) is the perfect choice for your year-end celebrations. As its name suggests, the Ultra Slim Soundbar features an incredibly slim design of just 38mm in height and 40mm in thickness — a size equivalent to that of a soda can — meaning that its wall-mounted design is sure to stand out. You can also install it freely around your space thanks to its wireless connectivity to ensure your sound system blends seamlessly into your surroundings.
If you’re looking to further personalize your space, you can give your Soundbar a boost with the Ultra Slim Soundbar Skin (SCFBS8[BW/TK]) released earlier this year, which comes in warm brown and teak colors. Paired with your The Frame and its elegant, modern design, you are set to enjoy not only top-level audio experiences but also a cozy, festive feel.
Despite its slim appearance, the Ultra Slim Soundbar is capable of powerful sound. Designed with 3.1.2-channel technology that features seven front speakers and one subwoofer centered on the top two speakers, the Ultra Slim Soundbar provides complete and truly surround-sound experiences. Dolby Atmos support also further contributes to providing you with captivating entertainment experiences.
S-Series Soundbar: Envelop Your Space With Truly Immersive Sound
For those who love to set the scene with truly immersive sound experiences during a celebration or party, the S-Series Soundbar is the soundbar for you.
The S-Series Soundbar delivers rich, room-filling surround sound able to reach every person in the room. This compact, 67cm, all-in-one 5.0-channel soundbar has an impressive four built-in woofers and three tweeter speakers, providing you with a fully immersive, 3D sound experience — all without the need for a subwoofer.
In addition, Adaptive Sound technology is able to analyze the source of any sound in order to automatically deliver optimized audio based on its specific genre. Experience the best, most immersive audio for each and every type of content you’re enjoying, whether it’s a sports game, a classical performance or an action movie.
Your S-Series Soundbar can be easily connected to your Samsung Smart TV and is the first soundbar in the industry to support Dolby Atmos connection for room-filling, optimized 3D sound.
Q-Series Soundbar: Bring the Cinema Experience Into Your Home
If you’re looking to celebrate the year-end season with your favorite movies or TV shows, you can transform your home into a cinema with the room-filling sound of Samsung’s premium soundbar, the Q-Series Soundbar (Q990B).
With an astounding 17 front surround sound speakers, one subwoofer and four up-firing speakers, the Q-Series Soundbar fills the room with truly cinematic surround sound. Synced with your Samsung Neo QLEDs, these 22-channel speakers can deliver truly immersive surround sound experiences like no other.
Samsung’s proprietary Q-Symphony technology allows for compatible TVs and soundbars to play audio at the same time, in sync, taking your listening experiences to the next level through powerful sound quality. Meanwhile, Spacefit Sound technology optimizes your audio based on the structure and layout of your room, providing you with sound that is perfectly crafted for your space and rivals a VIP seat in a movie theater.
In addition, the Q-Series Soundbar has been recognized by renowned global media outlets for its immersive sound experiences, as well as its sleek design.
Sound Tower: Take the Party Spirit to the Next Level
If you’re planning to celebrate the year-end with a bang and throw a party, the Sound Tower (MX-ST90B) is a must-have. This oval Sound Tower fills up virtually any space with 3D audio. The 24.5cm speaker with a built-in woofer provides the perfect punching bass experience, with up to 1700W bass boosting for a beat that sets the party mood perfectly.
In addition to its powerful audio capabilities, the Sound Tower’s various light modes provide an audio-visual harmony that truly matches the mood of the night. Its Bluetooth multi-connection, which allows for two smart devices to be connected simultaneously, and its Group Play functionality, which connects up to 10 Sound Towers, really help you get the party started both indoors as well as outdoors.
Be sure to finish your year strong with Samsung’s range of soundbar and Sound Tower devices. Once you’ve chosen your perfect soundbar based on your own preferences and purposes, enjoy enriching sound during your year-end festivities and beyond.
View the full article
-
By Samsung Newsroom
The quality of graphics and sound in games is improving all the time. Therefore, to ensure they can enjoy games to their fullest, gamers must ensure they are playing on high-specification equipment that is capable of delivering a premium gaming experience.
Amid this climate, Samsung has launched its Odyssey Neo G9 gaming monitor, which is specifically designed for gamers who want to enjoy a high-resolution, smooth gaming experience devoid of delays. Launched in 2020, the Odyssey Neo G9’s predecessor the Odyssey G9 was the first-ever 1000R curvature gaming monitor and set a new standard with its outstanding, quantum-technology-enabled image quality.
Samsung Newsroom unboxed and reviewed the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 to get a better sense of how the monitor is enriching gaming experiences.
Easy Installation With a Sturdy Stand and Expanded Connectivity
After you open the package and remove each of the components, it becomes clear just how easy it is to install the Odyssey Neo G9. In addition to the 123.8cm-wide, 32:9 ultra-widescreen monitor with its circular core that glows during gameplay, the package contains a sturdy stand that provides a solid base and cables that facilitate easy connection to a variety of external devices.
* When assembling the monitor, please refer to the user manual that comes with the product.
For quick and simple installation, first screw the stand into the center back of the monitor while it is still in its packaging. Then, attach the core lighting component that is divided into two halves by joining them at the joint and twisting them in. The stand is easy to assemble and disassemble due to its cradle form, while the height, tilt and rotation of the monitor can be adjusted to ensure an optimal gameplay position.
These days, users game on desktops, laptops, and consoles. To ensure that all these types of gamers are taken into consideration, the Odyssey Neo G9 features a range of different ports to facilitate connection to a host of devices. With two HDMI 2.1 ports, along with DisplayPort 1.4 and USB 3.0 ports on the back of the monitor, users can connect a range of different devices to their monitor and game on the big screen. Another strength of the Odyssey Neo G9 is its ‘Auto Source Switch+’ feature, which allows the monitor to switch input sources automatically when another device is connected.
Quantum Matrix and Quantum HDR 2000: The Secrets to Detailed, Lifelike Resolution
The 1000R curvature of the Odyssey Neo G9 is close to the visual field of humans, allowing the display to completely fill the user’s peripheral vision. What’s more, the monitor’s dual QHD display and 5,120×1,440 resolution enable detailed images to fill the user’s visual field, drawing them more deeply into the scenes being displayed.
The secret to the Odyssey Neo G9’s outstanding resolution is Quantum Matrix technology. With the introduction of finer light sources, the number of local dimming zones in the screen has been increased to 2,048. What’s more, the monitor’s contrast can now be adjusted to a much finer degree, with 4,096 different contrast levels available to help bring out the unique characteristics of both bright and dark tones.
HDR technology, which expands the brightest and darkest points of the brightness spectrum, has been recognized as the next-generation standard for displaying images. With its Quantum HDR 2000 technology, the Odyssey Neo G9 can vividly reproduce scenes with sharp differences in brightness, like those featuring explosions. This technology enables brightness of up to 2,000 nits, which is two times greater than that of existing monitors such as the previous Odyssey G9 model.
The static contrast ratio of the Odyssey Neo G9 is 1,000,000:1, which means its high performance stands out even more when it displays images with sharp differences in brightness. By expressing dark colors more deeply and bright ones more brightly, the monitor is able to establish dimensional contrast.
Taking Every Experience to New Heights of Immersion With Core Sync
Another advantage of the Odyssey Neo G9 series is the way the monitor’s aesthetics allow users to create their own special gaming atmosphere. Just like the previous model, the Odyssey G9, the Odyssey Neo G9 comes with core lighting on the back of the monitor, which further establishes a captivating gaming environment.
The monitor’s Infinity Lighting, which emits a blue light when the monitor is turned on, has evolved in the Odyssey Neo G9 thanks to the new ‘Core Sync’ feature. Core Sync automatically analyzes the color at the center of the screen and radiates lighting of the same color from the back of the screen. This feature can be turned on by navigating to the ‘Infinity Core Lighting’ menu in the monitor settings and enabling ‘Lighting’ and ‘Core Sync.’ Thus, whether the gamer is exploring deep waters or a dark forest, the Odyssey Neo G9 deepens their immersion by providing ambient light of a similar hue to blur the boundaries between the game and reality.
The monitor’s Infinity Core Lighting includes a number of other dynamic features too. From ‘Lighting Effect’, which sets the lighting to a single color, to ‘Rainbow’, which makes the core switch colors at intervals, this feature allows gamers to enhance their experience however they see fit.
High Refresh Rate for Smooth Gameplay and Minimal Input Lag
While having fast reactions is crucially important while gaming, reacting quickly proves useless when the commands entered aren’t reflected instantaneously in the game. The Odyssey Neo G9 is equipped with a number of useful features to help ensure that the ability to react quickly will put users on the road to victory.
The time it takes for a signal that is entered using a mouse or a keyboard to be reflected on the screen is called input lag. With its ‘Low Input Lag’ feature, the Odyssey Neo G9 shortens the time it takes for commands to be processed and delivers smooth gameplay. The addition of the ‘AMD FreeSync Premium Pro’ and ‘NVIDIA G-Sync Compatible’ features have also allowed the GPU and panel to be synced up in the Odyssey Neo G9. By minimizing interruptions and distortion, the monitor allows users to enjoy smooth visuals even when playing a game with swift camera movements.
The display capabilities of the monitor are also important when it comes to enjoying a game with high-level graphics to its fullest. One of the main criteria for evaluating display capabilities is refresh rate, which represents the number of images being displayed per second. With a high refresh rate of 240Hz, the Odyssey Neo G9 is capable of seamlessly displaying even action-packed games with highly detailed graphics.
The time it takes for a video signal sent from the graphics card to reach the display is called response time. The response time of the Odyssey Neo G9 is 1ms,1 which means it can display signals sent from the graphics card in just 0.001 seconds. This allows gamers to enjoy clear visuals free of stuttering and choppiness. The monitor’s 1ms response time comes in especially handy when playing FPS or racing games that require swift camera movements.
A high performance and deeply immersive monitor, the Odyssey Neo G9 helps you transform your space into the ultimate gaming environment. For users striving to reach the very top of their respective gaming universes, this visually stunning gaming monitor is a must-have.
* Some of images shown in this article are simulated.
1 Based on Gray to Gray industry standard measurement.
View the full article
-
-
By Samsung Newsroom
▲ (From left) Mingyo Oh, Haekwang Park and Shinhye Choi, at Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display Business behind Premium Soundbar, the HW-Q950A
With the increasing popularity of large screen televisions and the continued addition of further OTT (over-the-top) services, more users are looking to establish a theater-like experience in their homes. On top of that, social distancing measures have required people to go out less, stoking their desire to enjoy premium visual and audio experiences from home.
Full, clear and deep sound plays a crucial role in ensuring that content is delivered as it was originally intended. Paving the way for new audio experiences, Samsung Electronics introduced its high-end soundbar models, the HW-Q950A and HW-Q900A, in May of this year. The new premium models take sound quality to the next level with up to 16 channels and a host of enhanced functions that bring even greater satisfaction to users. Samsung Newsroom met with the product experts of the 2021 soundbar models to find out the secret behind their powerful and precise sound.
11.1.4-Channel Surround Sound That Fills the Entire Room
▲ Haekwang Park, Principal Engineer at the Sound Device Lab, Samsung’s Visual Display Business
Thanks to our ever-evolving content culture, sound is getting richer, fuller and more expressive. The days of one-directional (mono) sound are long gone as we have ushered in the era of multi-directional channels that allow sound to fill up the surrounding space. “Sound is becoming increasingly important as people nowadays watch a wide variety of programs that place more emphasis on audio quality, such as music shows and films,” says Haekwang Park, Principal Engineer from the Sound lab at Samsung’s Visual Display Business.
To live up to consumers’ heightened expectations, Samsung has spared no effort in developing high-quality soundbar products that deliver very realistic sound. In 2016, Samsung brought its first 5.1.4-channel soundbar model to market. This soundbar was equipped with left, right and middle channels, two rear channels, a subwoofer and four upward-firing speakers, and delivered immersive, three-dimensional surround sound. More channels were added to later models, including a surround channel on the side of the soundbar and a wide surround channel to deliver sound from the front and sides. In 2020, Samsung introduced a 9.1.4-channel model.
In 2021, Samsung went a step further with its latest 11.1.4-channel model, the HW-Q950A, which features two rear surround channels. Product planner Mingyo Oh explained that, “The newly added channels are located on the sides of the rear surround speakers. They add liveliness to dynamic scenes involving things like airplanes in flight and car chases by allowing the sound to hit the side walls before it bounces back to where the audience is positioned.” The premium soundbar delivers an outstanding audio experience by filling previously quiet moments with powerful, immersive sound.
▲ Mingyo Oh from the Product Planning Group at Samsung’s Visual Display Business
Delivering Sound Exactly as Intended With Advanced Rendering and Waveguide Techniques
A channel is a passage for sound that dictates which direction it travels. This is why having a higher number of channels provides better, smoother sound. It usually requires costly equipments to offer 11.1.4-channel sound, but Samsung’s HW-Q950A is able to provide a breathtaking 3D surround sound experience with only four speakers thanks to its unparalleled rendering and waveguide techniques.
Rendering is the process of creating a way for the audio output to deliver sound exactly as the artist intended. The Samsung developers made it possible to deliver an optimal acoustic experience with the soundbar system by tapping into its cutting-edge rendering technology. “To provide the most natural audio experience to users, we have carefully designed our products to deliver sound seamlessly. The HW-Q950A soundbar delivers sound that is reflected in various directions and arrives at users’ ears at the optimal angle,” related Shinhye Choi.
▲ Shinhye Choi from the Global Product Marketing Group at Samsung’s Visual Display Business
An advanced waveguide technique is also indispensable when it comes to delivering next-level sound. A multi-channel speaker emits sound in multiple directions, and the waveguide technique allows components in the speaker to deliver sound in the direction intended by the developer. Haekwang Park reported that, “Top-tier experts at the Visual Display Business’s Sound Lab and Samsung Audio Lab in California came together to design the parts that went into the speakers. Our soundbar models are meticulously constructed to deliver world-class sound performance.”
How SpaceFit Sound+ and Q-Symphony Further Elevate the Viewing Experience
Usually, most of the sound emitted by speakers hits walls or curtains before reaching the audience’s ears. This explains why the same sound is heard differently depending on the dimensions and layout of the viewing environment. Samsung’s HW-Q950A soundbar and 2021 TV models deliver stunning sound that tunes into users’ viewing environments by analyzing the dimensions of the space they’re in using SpaceFit Sound+.
SpaceFit Sound+ combines SpaceFit Sound technology, which delivers optimized audio, and Auto EQ (auto equalizer) technology. Together, the SpaceFit Sound and Auto EQ solutions use embedded microphones to thoroughly survey the viewing space, and then feed that data to the soundbar to enable it to deliver a tailored sound experience.
But the collaboration between the Samsung TV and the soundbar does not stop there. Samsung’s innovative, proprietary Q-Symphony technology additionally combines and enhances the sound generated by the TV and soundbar to guarantee optimal sound quality. Normally, when you connect a soundbar to your TV, the sound is emitted only from the soundbar. What’s more, some technical issues involving out-of-sync sound and tone disparities between the two devices had been observed. Q-Symphony overcomes these issues by incorporating a stereoscopic sound effect that allows sound to play through the speakers that wrap around the TV in addition to through the soundbar, providing richer and more realistic sound compared to when sound is produced through the soundbar alone.
Combining Truly Rich Sound With Highly Convenient Functionality
As with other models, Samsung has placed great emphasis on creating a new level of acoustic immersion with the HW-Q950A. But that doesn’t mean it can’t also include a host of convenient features. To begin with, the Active Voice Amplifier (AVA) feature clarifies dialogue in the viewer’s favorite shows to help them hear on-screen conversations clearly amid a variety of background noises. With an embedded microphone, the soundbar automatically measures noise levels and enhances voices if the noise continues for more than three seconds or surpasses a certain threshold.
And the HW-Q950A optimizes sound for different types of scenes, such as those with loud sound effects and dialogue-heavy scenes. For instance, the Adaptive Sound feature analyzes sound signals to deliver an optimal sound experience for each scene. Moreover, Game Mode Pro delivers a powerful, immersive gaming experience with subwoofers and upward-firing speakers. The Tap Sound feature also enables users to simply tap their smartphones on the soundbar when listening to a song to take their listening experience to the next level.
The motto of Samsung’s soundbar developers is to get the basics right when it comes to sound. “We are working our hardest to deliver sound of the highest quality,” the developers related. “We do this by collaborating closely with groups of experts and employing Samsung’s advanced measuring and simulation techniques to set clear standards for what we define as ‘optimal’ sound.”
The developers’ ultimate goal is to deliver a best-in-class acoustic experience to users regardless of the type of content they’re consuming, or the specific features of their viewing environment. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that they make this dream a reality.
View the full article
-
-
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.