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1080p, 2015, 2016, 2017, 4K UHD, Great Deals, LCD, OLED, Projection
1080p, 2015, 2016, 2017, 4K UHD, Great Deals, LCD, OLED, Projection Entries in 2015 (14)
Deal Alert!
Friday, November 24, 2017 at 8:40AM There are great deals right now for anyone's budget! The major TV manufacturers have dropped prices for the holiday season, and it's a great time to treat your eyes with lifelike color and contrast that exceeds our good old HD formats. The 55-inch TCL P607 remains the top budget choice for a 4K high dynamic range television, but only consider it when the price is right ($650 or less.)
For 55-inch and larger screens, LG's 2017 4K OLED TV's are pure eye candy that will make you smile everytime you gaze upon its pixels. The company's revamped B7A series does away with internal Dolby ATMOS decoding for increased affordability but otherwise provides the same display technology found in its more premium designs such as the picture-on-glass E7 and G7 series as well as its most desirable W7 'wallpaper' versions.
Pro tip: If you already know what you want, always do a price check and take advantage of free shipping when available!
Picture-quality 4K UHD favorites right now
- 65-inch LG E6 OLED TV
OLED/3D/webOS 3/4 HDMI
Glass-backed HDR + Lowest price! - 75-inch Sony XBR 940E Ultra HD
120Hz/Android TV/4 HDMI
Awesome 4K + Lowest price! - 75-inch Sony Z9D Ultra HD
120Hz/Android TV/4 HDMI
Brightest 4K HDR + Lowest price! - Sony VPL-VW285ES 4K Projector
3D/1500 lumens/3-chip
True 4K projection + Lowest price!
Value big screen favorites right now
- 65-inch Sony X900E Series 4K TV
120Hz/4 HDMI
Android TV + 4K HDR Value! - 65-inch Sony XBR X850E
120Hz/Android TV/4 HDMI
Low price + BIG 2016 UHD TV! - Sony VPL-HW45ES 1080p Projector
3D/1800 lumens/3-chip
Amazing big screen color/detail!
More excellent deals for gear that I wholeheartedly recommend
You don't need to pay for an expensive subscription TV plan to enjoy live programming! A simple antenna enables any HDTV to receive local HD channels for free in crystal clear digital quality. Amazon's Ultra-Thin Indoor HDTV Antenna is a thin and flat design that's perfect for hanging in a nearby window or for easy concealment behind a wall mounted TV or nearby hanging picture. I use a similar antenna to receive local programming and I'm impressed with the sensitivity of this design and its ease of setup - connect the 15-foot coax cable to the RF input on a TV and run the DTV channel scan. This Amazon-branded antenna is made in the U.S.A., is reversible with black and white sides, and it's a terrific value!
Learn about the benefits of 'cutting the cord'!
Review: LG Portable LED Projector
Read my review of the LG PF1500 LED Projector!
The Epson Home Cinema 5040UBe is one of the best values for a quality video projector. The 5040UB's light engine uses three LCD panels for artifact-free imagery at up to 2500 lumens of brightness, and its optics feature horizontal and vertical lens shift for greater placement options without compromising image quality. The 5040's support for 4K input and "4K enhancement technology" also claim complete HD and DCI color space coverage for more natural-looking, saturated colors - especially with HDR sources. The otherwise identical Epson 5040UB (without the 'e') costs a little less, but it lacks the UBe's 60GHz wireless video link with a convenient 5-port HDMI transmitter/switch.Comcast/Xfinity Video Setup
Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 4:19PM Updated December 8, 2015: Charter subscribers report success with similar hardware and technique
If you subscribe to Comcast/Xfinity cable TV service, chances are you have a set top box from the company connected to your television using an HDMI cable. Too many times I've encountered these boxes in a misconfigured state that negatively affected picture quality. Given how expensive a year's worth of HD cable TV service costs, it's worth spending 5-minutes checking some basic settings in that box's 'hidden' menu.
Note: this information applies to regular Comcast/Xfinity set top boxes and not the newer X1 hardware.
Robert's Favorite Home Theater Gear
For this operation, you will need the Comcast/Xfinity remote control and the remote control for your TV. If you haven't already, easily configure your Comcast/Xfinity remote to control your TV and other home theater gear!
Step #1
Turn your TV ON and make sure the Comcast/Xfinity box is OFF.
Step #2
Press the MENU button on the Comcast/Xfinity remote.
At this point, the front of the set top box should display the current video aspect ratio (16:9 or 4:3).
The TV screen should now display the 'hidden' setup menu.
If for some reason the TV Type setting is anything other than 16:9, change it to 16:9 to match the shape of widescreen televisions. Next, I would verify the settings under the Additional HDMI Settings menu.
The configuration pictured above is my recommended setup for all modern HD and UHD televisions. Next, Return to Main Menu and configure HDMI/YPbPr Output to Native or 1080i.
The Native output setting passes the video signal to the TV unaltered. Use of the Native setting enables a sub-menu of Native Mode Settings that needs some attention.
In the menu pictured above, select all video formats that the TV supports. Most modern televisions will accept all of the above listed video formats, but some TVs balk at receiving a 480i video signal over HDMI (leave unchecked if this is the case). An alternative to using the set top box's Native video mode is to configure it for 1080i output. Use of the 1080i output option will have the set top box convert all standard and high definition channels into the 1080i video format. The 1080i format is the maximum resolution currently used by broadcasters, and today's TVs are quite good at processing this video format resulting in terrific picture quality. Not only does 1080i convert almost perfectly into the 1080p format, a 1080i signal containing content originally captured at 24 frames-per-second (most movies and primetime TV shows) is easily processed to recreate the source material's natural film-like look.
Step #3
You are done! Press the Comcast/Xfinity remote's Menu button again to exit. If you decided to use the box's Native video mode, confirm that your TV is configured to eliminate overscan with 720p and 1080i channels. Often, a TV's overscan setting (aka Picture Size) is custom for all video formats so eliminating overscan with 1080i channels like NBC and PBS doesn't automatically eliminate overscan with 720p channels like Fox and ESPN.
For more information about TV settings related to optimal picture quality, I've created a short video that will help clarify what needs to be done.
in 1080p, 2015, Calibration, DVR, How To
1080p, 2015, Calibration, DVR, How To Review: LG PF1500 LED Projector
Tuesday, October 27, 2015 at 5:06PM Note: this projector has since been surpassed by the remarkably similar (and even more affordable, and recommendable) LG PF1500W.
Projectors are the ultimate flat screen display that can transform a blank wall into supersized video viewing nirvana. Sure, the setup and maintenance of a video projector is more involved compared to a regular television, but the visual reward is almost always worth the effort. The LG Portable LED Projector with Smart TV (PF1500W) is a compact wonder of a display device that features useful multimedia capabilities and technologies that help ensure long-term, hassle-free enjoyment.
Size, style, and setup
The compact design of the LG PF1500 measures about 5.25" x 3.5" x 9.25" (WxHxD) and weighs in a 3.3 lbs. The projector’s stylishly well-ventilated exterior is textured to resist fingerprints and mask dust while improving grip when handling. The PF1500’s exterior controls are simple and effective with a chromed 4-way joystick, a matching lens focus ring, and a slide for adjusting the relatively limited zoom control (1.1x zoom ratio).
The PF1500 projects its image slightly above the plane of its lens so it can be placed on flat surface and pointed at a nearby wall or screen. The projector’s wide front foot is height-adjustable with the press of a button, and automatic vertical keystone correction ensures a square picture no matter the angle of the projector. A 4-corner keystone adjustment is also available for when the projector is placed in a less than optimal location.
The bottom of the PF1500 features three points for connecting a standard ceiling mount, and a fourth centralized point is compatible with tripod adapters. Use of a tripod made it easy to quickly square the PF1500's image without resorting to digital keystone correction that sacrifices picture resolution. Use of a tripod also made it easier to live with the PF1500's limited zoom (and related throw range) when filling a fixed-size screen. In the case of using an 80-inch portable screen that I'm particularly fond of, the PF1500's zoom control left less than a foot of throw distance to work within. For fixed installations with the PF1500, carefully consult a projection calculator before finalizing a potential mount location.
Power for the PF1500 is supplied by a brick-style switching adapter with a rated output of 19V at 5.79A. Input voltage compatibility is listed as 100V-240V at 50/60Hz (1.5A maximum). During operation, the power brick became very warm to the touch and measured up to 130F (54C) according to my infrared thermometer.
Projection tech
A lamp module is a key component of any projector, and its eventual failure is all but guaranteed to occur immediately prior to an important viewing event. The LG PF1500's lamp module ditches the old school bulb in favor of an array of RGB (red, green, and blue) LEDs that are rated for 30,000 hours of operation - about 5-7 times the longevity of a typical lamp module. The projector's LED array also enables very fast start up and shutdown times - less than 7 seconds before a usable picture appeared! The only downside to the projector's LED system is that it isn't user replaceable. LG rates the light output of the PF1500 at 1400 Lumens making it ideal for screen sizes up to 120-inches with adequate ambient light control.
The PF1500’s imaging system centers around a single Texas Instruments DLP chip. Traditional single-chip DLP projectors utilize a segmented spinning wheel to generate color from a white light source, and increasing the rotational speed of the wheel as well as the number of segments help reduce the perception of a distracting artifact known as color breakup (aka rainbows). The use of fast-switching RGB LEDs in the PF1500 eliminates the need for a color wheel, and another potential source of unwanted noise, while minimizing rainbow artifacts as well as I've seen with any single-chip DLP projector.
Audio
The speakers built into most portable projectors are there for convenience rather than epic audio quality, and the dual 3W speakers of the PF1500 are certainly convenient. I appreciated having sound without the added bulk of external speakers, and the projector's stereo output had enough volume to overcome modest amounts of background noise in indoor and outdoor environments.
For augmented listening, the PF1500 provides several audio output options including an HDMI-ARC port (Audio Return Channel), optical, Bluetooth, and a headphone jack. Bluetooth streaming to a quality portable speaker like the RIVA Turbo X (read my review) greatly improved the listening experience, however, Bluetooth output had the unfortunate side effect of disabling the projector's game mode feature that reduces video lag.
Inputs and networking
The selection of inputs on the PF1500 gave me everything I could ask for in a projector of any size. Ports included dual HDMI (MHL/ARC) and dongle adapters for component/composite video with analog stereo input. Dual USB ports support a lengthy list of popular multimedia file formats as well as office documents including PDF files, spreadsheets, and text files.
The projector's Ethernet and WiFi networking gave a solid performance for accessing local files and streaming content via its built-in apps, and an RF input feeds the projector's ATSC/QAM tuner.
Remote
The projector's Freespace-enabled Magic Remote provides Nintendo Wii-like cursor control for fast and precise menu navigation. The remote's contoured shape and simplified button layout with a clickable scroll-wheel made it easy to orientate and operate, and its RF link eliminated the need for line-of-sight to the projector. The on-screen cursor appreciably enhanced the use of virtual keyboards and interactive apps, and its built-in microphone proved adept at responding to a variety of spoken commands including search queries, channel selection, and changing inputs.
Free TV
Every television sold today includes a built-in digital tuner that enables the free reception of local stations using an antenna. The PF1500 marks the first projector I've used that also incorporates an over-the-air (OTA) digital tuner. Using a quality indoor antenna, the projector's impressively sensitive tuner captured my local stations with ease and stability. The PF1500 lacks a channel guide, but station and program information is displayed at the top of the screen along with the time and date. Also, the remote's scroll-wheel made it easy to quickly zip through and select available stations.
Gaming
With its selection of analog and digital video ports and input signal support up to 1080p at 60Hz, the PF1500 would seem to be a near-perfect companion for any game console made in the last 20 years. However, video lag measuring 170.2ms with my calibrated picture setup was certainly less than ideal for any game that requires precise timing, and the 70.2ms of lag using the projector's Game picture mode translated into more than 4-frames of delay with 60Hz video input - some of the best gaming TVs feature sub-20ms lag measurements.
Apps
Another feature of the PF1500 not typically associated with video projectors is its selection of popular apps. The PF1500's menu of apps was limited at best, but some of the must-haves like Netflix and YouTube were there. Other apps included MLB.TV, VUDU, Spotify, and Google Maps. Obviously absent from the lineup is Amazon Instant Video and Hulu. App performance was very good, and consistent integration with the Magic Remote's cursor control made the projector's app experience all the easier.
Fan noise
Projectors require active cooling to prevent a meltdown, and the PF1500 brightest picture configuration produced audible fan noise that thankfully wasn't overly annoying. Moderate amounts of volume from the projector's speakers easily masked fan noise, and reducing light output using the mid or low power settings all but eliminated cooling-related sounds.
Review: Epson Home Cinema 3500
Video processing
With all keystone correction features disabled and the projector focused on an 80-inch screen, the PF1500 breezed through my suite of 1080i video tests. The classic HQV benchmark revealed terrific deinterlacing and 24p source detection, and results from the Spears & Munsil Blu-ray test disc further confirmed solid video processing with only a slight roll-off noted in the benchmark's chroma tests.
Calibration
Grayscale optimization using the PF1500's 2-point white balance setup proved effective at taming the default response that was too blue and lacking green in the brighter shades. However, I found that the white balance controls for the darker shades of gray were ineffective, and a 20-point white balance setup was available but I didn't use it.
Color measurements showed that red at 100% saturation was very oversaturated compared to the HD video spec. Also, yellow and cyan exhibited the most obvious chromaticity errors. The PF1500's color management system (CMS) proved effective at optimizing primary and secondary colors, but it was unable to reign in the overly saturated 100% reds and blues. Also, unlike the white balance calibration that could be copied to other inputs using a menu option, CMS adjustments required tedious manual entry on a per-input basis.
Viewing exams
My time with the LG PF1500 included many hours of enjoyable video viewing. Having live TV and some of my favorite video streaming apps built-in was further enhanced by the speed at which the projector could achieve full brightness and produce a viewable picture. Using the PF1500 on a tripod mount, it was easy to relocate the projector to different rooms and have it quickly up and operational.
Local HD stations broadcasting in 720p and 1080i looked crisp and detailed. Sports on the big screen looked great with no signs of issues related to fast on-screen action. Likewise, prime time HD programming revealed excellent post-calibrated color and detail. Netflix and YouTube content at up to 1080p resolution loaded quickly and looked as good as expected. The red-heavy logos of these particular streaming services did appear a touch too colorful, but this characteristic of this LED projector didn't obviously taint the content I enjoyed.
For Blu-ray movie exams, I configured a player for 1080p/24Hz output and switched off the projector's video motion smoothing feature (aka TruMotion) for faithful cinema reproduction. Loading up The Dark Knight revealed excellent picture detail with this classic Blu-ray title. Skin tones among the movie's wide variety of characters appeared natural and properly represented in the many bright and dark-lit scenes. However, the Joker's painted smile did appear a bit too colorful with the projector's RGB LED light source.
The audio and visual treat that is the Blu-ray edition of Samsara takes the viewer on a worldwide journey exploring people and places in exquisite film-captured detail. The PF1500 adeptly recreated the cinematic viewing experience with careful preservation of fine detail and naturally colorful imagery that avoided the projector's tendency to over-saturate some red and blue hues.
Bottom line
The LG Portable LED Projector with Smart TV (PF1500) impressed me with its useful integrated features including compatibility with a wide variety of multimedia and office file formats. Its LED lamp technology gives this portable 1080p projector impressive light output for its size as well as hassle-free longevity and fast start up times. A good 720p projector can be had for half the price of the 1080p PF1500, but none incorporate a DTV tuner and smattering of popular streaming applications. The projector's Magic Remote brings everything together with precise navigation and functional microphone control. A dedicated home theater room may be better served by a projector with greater zoom range and installation-friendly lens shift capabilities. However, the PF1500's light weight, good video performance, and feature-rich functionality make it a great option for less than $1000.
Review: RIVA Turbo X
Thursday, September 24, 2015 at 9:53PM Earbuds add clarity and privacy to the listening experience of our modern mobile lifestyle. However, in a shared group setting, more substantial amplification is better appreciated by all. There are many good choices for a "take anywhere" battery-powered Bluetooth speaker, but few are capable of delivering an impressive listening experience without becoming ungainly or making significant compromises to battery life.
The RIVA Turbo X is a premium portable Bluetooth speaker that does everything well: superb audio reproduction, useful mobile features, and good battery life in a finely-crafted compact chassis.
Unboxing
The $350 Turbo X is at the high end of mobile speaker pricing, and its beautifully nested packaging was appropriate for a valuable audio product with each component isolated and protected. A clearly organized user guide printed on quality paper stock made it easy to learn about the X's features and use.
Review: Samsung's Best TV of 2015!
Accessories in the box include analog adapters for connecting RCA or 3.5mm minijack stereo output to the X's 3.5mm auxiliary input as well as a 19V DC power adapter for recharging its built-in battery.
I'll also add the Turbo X's rubber "I/O Cover" to the list of included accessories. Acting as a third foot on the X's base when placed in its dedicated holder, this protective cover can help seal out dust and debris from the ports on the rear of the unit. However, the fit of the cover on the unit I received left a gap that never completely sealed the rear ports, and I was counting down the minutes until someone declared the cover missing in action.
Review: Vizio 5.1 Sound Bar System
I also received the Turbo X's optional premium soft case that proved perfect for organizing accessories and keeping the unit wrapped in protective layer of padded microfiber when not in use. The case sells for $30 on the company's website, and I consider it a worthwhile investment for its usability and protection.
Design
The Riva Turbo X measures approximately 9.1-inches (W) by 3.5-inches (D) by 4.1-inches (H) and it weighs 3.2-pounds. The sides of the X are wrapped with a sturdy fine mesh metal grill with the top and bottom capped in gloss-finished plastic. Color options include black and white with silver mesh.
Generously sized capacitive touch sensing buttons on the top of the Turbo X are LED backlit for easy identification. A proximity sensing feature illuminates the buttons and provides power-on-wake functionality without requiring direct contact - helpful for minimizing fingerprints on the otherwise glossy top.
Connectivity
The X's rear-facing port panel is centered along its bottom edge and features a 3.5mm analog auxiliary input and a standard-A USB receptacle for charging mobile devices. Other ports include a micro-USB receptacle for firmware updates, a battery toggle switch, and an illuminated battery icon that provides state and charging information.
Integrated Bluetooth support enables the Turbo X to easily connect to most mobile devices. With its built-in microphone and noise/echo canceling technology, the X made for a very clear and capable speakerphone even with moderate amounts of background noise as was the case when I tested it in an outdoor patio area. The X's Bluetooth implementation also supports aptX audio streaming from compatible devices for improved bandwidth management that can approach the quality of CD audio with appropriate source material.
Specs and intial impressions
The Turbo X features three front-facing 60mm drivers with total amplification rated at 45W RMS. The X's four passive "dual piston bass radiators" seemed well-tuned to enhance its low end response with a performance I associated with a much larger speaker system. Placing the X in the corner of a room proved an ideal location that further enhanced its sound quality with added richness, but even tabletop placement in the middle of a relatively open space delivered a superior performance compared to the less costly options I pitted it against. RIVA Audio claims the Turbo X has a 300-degree sound field, and I found its audio reproduction remarkably consistent from the sides and front.
App goodness
A companion app for iOS and Android users dubbed RIVA Ground Control replicates all of the Turbo X's controls in a handsome and easy to use interface. Using the Bluetooth link to the X, the app enabled me to adjust the Turbo X's audio settings and perform basic track navigation. The app also provides a color-coded battery level indicator as well as a power off button.
Listening
I keep a few gigabytes of CD audio on my Samsung Galaxy S6 phone in the form of FLAC-encoded audio files. Galaxy smartphones have supported aptX Bluetooth streaming since the S3, and the RIVA Turbo X delivered an ear-pleasing presentation with a wide variety of music genres over its wireless connection. Podcast and live streaming audio content over the aptX link also sounded clear and crisp without the tinny sound often associated with smaller speaker systems. Compared to an older but similarly capable JBL On Tour iBT portable speaker that lacks aptX, the Turbo X's triple drivers and quad radiators delivered increased warmth and better low-end reproduction.
The Turbo X also features an audio mode dubbed Trillium Surround that enables a pseudo-surround sound effect that adds a bit of spaciousness to appropriate content like movies or video games. The effect was generally pleasing and not disruptive to the listening experience, but for most music and podcast playback, I left the feature disabled.
Go Turbo!
If you want a smile-inducing audio feature, look no further than the RIVA Turbo X's "Turbo" button. A tap of the T-button impressed everyone within earshot with a significant boost (about 9 dB) in volume without appreciable distortion. Naturally, use of the awe-inspiring Turbo mode reduces battery life, but the manufacturer's claim of more than 26 hours of playback at 75 dB sound levels seemed accurate during my time with the Turbo X.
A check of the frequency response of the Turbo X and the older JBL unit revealed the former having a superior low-end response that extended down to the 65-70Hz range before significant drop-off occurred. In the chart below, the orange and yellow graphs are of the Turbo X with and without its Turbo-mode enabled and the purple graph is of the JBL. The spec sheet for the On Tour iBT lists its frequency response at 100Hz to 20kHz and my measurements aligned nicely. With frequencies of 50Hz and lower, neither speaker is making much sound.
Subjectively, and perhaps unsurprisingly, switching to the Turbo X's wired connection further improved the quality of its output. Although Bluetooth audio streaming is convenient, I found myself preferring wired input with CD-quality (or better) audio material.
2015 Vizio M-Series 4K UHD TV Preview
Bottom line
Aside from my minor grumblings about its port dust cover, the RIVA Turbo X represents a best in class choice for a portable Bluetooth speaker with ample battery life and room-filling audio reproduction. The X's Turbo mode impressed the ears of everyone who gave it a listen, and I've not heard better sound from a less costly Bluetooth audio device. The Turbo X is equally useful as a desktop companion with its graceful speakerphone capabilities, and the only thing I wanted to change was to make its awesomely-practical yet optional travel case a part of the package.
Review: Samsung JS9500 SUHD TV
Thursday, July 2, 2015 at 9:11PM 
The promise of 4K ultra high definition (UHD) video is about more than an increased number of video pixels. The UHD format also offers a color palette that extends far beyond the ubiquitous HD standard with richer, deeper hues - fully saturated reds being a particularly obvious color difference between the HD and UHD standards. UHD video can also deliver a greater range of luminance information that compatible TVs can use to render eye-catching high dynamic range (HDR) imagery.
The flagship Samsung JS9500 Series 4K SUHD TV beautifully presents today's best HD video sources and its forward looking technical features make it one of a handful of premium 2015 models that approaches the full potential of the 4K UHD format.
Design
The style and design of Samsung's most advanced TV for 2015 is imbued with well-engineered character. Walking around the TV, its chamfered brushed metal bezel adds a silvery thin bit of contrast to the inky dark curved screen surface. The brushed theme extends to the TV's curved plastic-clad backside and its Y-shaped metal base stand. I was less enamored with the moderate flexing of my 65-inch review unit when perched upon its stand, but parents are always advised to secure any large TV to prevent potential tip over. Included spacers allow for the use of standard wall mount hardware.
Display tech
The JS9500's UHD screen has 3840x2160 pixel resolution and is a 10-bit VA type panel that provides good black level performance with the trade off being a narrower viewing sweet spot compared to IPS panel technology with its brighter black levels and correspondingly reduced picture contrast. Compared to the other SUHD Series TVs (JS7000, JS8500, JS8600, JS9000, and JS9100), the JS9500 is the only one to feature a full array LED backlight with "many" zones of local dimming that enables inky dark black levels and superb brightness throughout the picture. The other SUHD models feature edge-lit backlight systems with local dimming, and all produce expanded color palettes using "Nano crystal color" technology otherwise known as quantum dots - learn more about how LCDs and quantum dot materials work in this article.
The HDR advantage
An advantage of the JS9500's full array backlight is that it generates a lot of light. When displaying a relatively small white window test pattern, the JS9500 produced about 930 nits in its brightest picture mode - two or three times the light output of most LCD televisions. However, a possible heat-related issue causes the JS9500's peak light output to decreases slightly over time, and I'm consulting with Samsung for further clarification and will update this article with any new findings. All of that eye-melting brightness from a dark colored screen is optimal for producing a well-contrasted picture even in rooms with lots of ambient light. However, high dynamic range (HDR) video is what the JS9500's impressive light output was meant to showcase. All Samsung SUHD TVs decode the metadata embedded within HDR-authored video content enabling the accurate depiction of an increased range of luminance information. In addition, the quantum dot enhancement of the SUHD series allows it to produce an expanded color palette that measured impressively close to the DCI color specification used extensively in commercial cinema.
Samsung provided a few curated clips to show off the JS9500's HDR and expanded color capabilities, and Amazon recently updated its video streaming app for the SUHD platform to add HDR support. Amazon's HDR-enhanced content selection includes a remastered season of Mozart in the Jungle, the pilot episode of Red Oaks, and more "coming soon". Examining episodes of Mozart before and after the HDR update, light sources in many scenes became more impactful without sacrificing dark details and superb black levels. Sunlit outdoor scenes appeared more natural with touches of brilliant intensity. The polished metal parts of instruments gleamed in a more realistic fashion. A lighter igniting in a dimly lit smoke filled room popped with colorful contrast, and lamp lighting in otherwise dimly lit rooms was almost too bright to gaze upon directly. The dynamic range within these scenes exceeded anything I've seen in an LCD television to date, and I look forward to seeing the selection of HDR content grow.
HDR video support is the primary feature of the upcoming Ultra HD Blu-ray players due later this year. These players will require an HDMI port that's been upgraded to the new 2.0a standard, and Samsung indicated that this update for its SUHD TVs would be forthcoming but provided no further details. The recently finalized Ultra HD Blu-ray specification also incorporates expanded color palette support that greatly exceeds the HD palette in use today. With streaming and physical UHD video options quickly maturing, it won't be much longer before we'll be able to gaze upon popular content with expanded color and HDR on a capable TV like the JS9500.
Vizio 5.1 Sound Bar System Review
2015 Vizio M-Series 4K UHD TV Preview
Remote
The curved and contoured shape of the new baton-style Bluetooth/IR remote feels terrific in the hand, but I did miss the larger combination directional pad/cursor control button of the 2014 Smart Remote (view my video demo). Also, the directional pad on the 2014 remote provided more tactile feedback with raised sections that were easier to locate without glancing down, but the new remote adds backlighting to most of its buttons. The Wiimote-like cursor control offered by the new remote maintained the smooth precision I've come to appreciate in Samsung's premium designs although a few software-related hiccups were observed when transitioning between apps and menus.
Ports
The JS9500 has two ports on the rear of its curved chassis: one for connecting the power cord and the other for attaching a custom 2-meter cable that connects the One Connect input box. The 78-inch and 88-inch models include a 3-meter One Connect cable, but this may still restrict wall mounting options where routing the cable in-wall is desired. All four HDMI ports on the One Connect box were HDCP 2.2 enabled for use with protected source devices like the Sony 4K Media Player (read my review), and a check with the DVDO AVLab TPG (read my review) showed all HDMI ports accepted 4K60 input with 4:2:0 color sub-sampling as well as 4K24/30 with 4:4:4 sub-sampling. An included dongle provides legacy analog AV input options.
Apps
Samsung's 2015 flagship TV features the company's new Linux-based operating system dubbed Tizen. The new interface makes better use of a 4K UHD display with larger and more detailed app icons and increased resolution of the app interface compared to Samsung's 2014 Smart TVs. I was also please to see the TV's on-screen cursor now functions with Netflix but this control feature is unavailable with most other apps. A new OS takes time to mature, and the SUHDs are awaiting the arrival of popular app options like HBO Go and MLB.tv. A recent update added Sony's PlayStation Now game streaming service and it most welcome as the other game app options proved unremarkable and unwieldy. PlayStation Now on the JS9500 requries a DualShock 4 controller as I was unable to pair a DualShock 3 controller I used when originally testing the service on the Sony XBR-X900B UHD TV (read my review). UHD streaming options continue to grow, and the JS9500 goes beyond the ever-present Amazon and Netflix with YouTube, UltraFlix, M-Go, and more in the works.
The JS9500's built-in 1080p camera retracts flush into the frame when not needed and laser-cut ports for stereo microphones blend seamlessly into the upper bezel. The good AV quality of the camera setup had me appreciating the JS9500 as a couch-friendly Skype machine.
My Favorite Dual-Tuner OTA DVR
OTA
Free HD television is always a good thing (ask a cord cutter), and the over-the-air (OTA) tuner built into the JS9500 made short work out of scanning for local channels. The quick guide that appears on the right side of the screen made it easy to scroll to the desired channel, but the grid style channel guide remains as sluggish as last year's version and is best avoided.
Uniformity and viewing angles
The JS9500's curved screen exhibited very good uniformity when displaying a full screen dark gray test pattern that makes anomalies easy to spot. Interestingly, disabling the TV's local dimming feature (aka Smart LED) significantly degraded uniformity with glowing cloudy spots noted across the screen. However, it's unlikely that a JS9500 owner would disable a key visual feature of the TV so this observation is largely a non-issue.
Viewing angle performance with the JS9500 was typically narrow for VA panel technology. In a dimly lit viewing environment with a calibrated picture setup, color saturation and contrast decreased dramatically when viewed anywhere besides front and center. Slight off-axis viewing also revealed increased halos around bright objects on dark backgrounds.
Calibration
My experience calibrating the JS9500 for optimal HD performance was similar to what I've found with last year's premium Samsung models: the factory calibration (Movie picture preset) was very good and it was easy to improve upon the results with careful white balance setup using the 2-point and 10-point controls. Looking into the 4K future, the JS9500 delivered impressive accuracy when targeting the expanded DCI color space (Auto color space enabled), but it will be a few more years before we see a TV come close to covering UHD's gigantic Rec. 2020 color space.
Video processing
Samsung TVs offer some of the best video processing capabilities of any brand, and the JS9500 exhibited very good performance with the variety tests I fed it. High frequency signal results were some of the best I've seen with only a slight chroma roll off that appeared similar to the performance of the 2014 Sony X900B (read my review) and X950B. The JS9500 breezed through the classic 1080i HQV benchmark including a superb diagonal edge filtering result that Sony TVs never seem to get right. Video lag testing using the Leo Bodnar meter saw a reduction to 24.7ms with the TV's Game Mode enabled - less than 2 video frames with 60Hz input making the JS9500 a very good option for gamers.
Robert's Favorite Home Theater Gear
Eyes on
Loading up the 1080p masterpiece Samsara, I found the Sony X950B was slightly better at revealing the darkest details while the JS9500 excelled at maintaining darker letterboxed bars. The movie's many sky and desert panning shots revealed no signs of dirty screen effect (DSE), and the wide variety of skin tones were fantastically represented. I set the TV's custom dejudder setting to off for the most part, but a setting of 1 or 2 (out of 10) did a good job of minimizing this artifact without making it look like a soap opera. Samsara's military parade scene showed that increasing the dejudder setting to 6 or 7 dramatically improved motion resolution at the expense of an unnaturally smoothed presentation.
The Batman classic The Dark Knight is another reference title in my Blu-ray library, and the JS9500's precise white balance setup produced impressively consistent colors and detail throughout the luminance range. Fair skin tones like that of Bruce Wayne highlighted the JS9500's viewing angle limitations as there was noticeable washout with a single step left or right off-center. The Sony X950B exhibited similar artifacts but at slightly wider off-axis angles.
Bottom line
I'm convinced that the Samsung JS9500 Series will rank as one of the very best LCDs of 2015 with its main competition being Sony's new flagship X940C that also features a full array LED backlight system with local dimming. LG's quantum dot-enhanced UF9500 is an edge-lit LCD that likely won't come close to the light output of Samsung or Sony's best LCDs but it costs significantly less. When seated in its viewing sweet spot, the JS9500 delivered a superb HD viewing experience with epic contrast and sublimely accurate color across all luminance levels. During the few weeks I've spent examining the JS9500 it has received several software updates that have improved its performance and fixed minor glitches. I'm pleased to see the UHD format moving beyond simply more pixels, and I'm even more delighted to see capable TVs like the Samsung JS9500 standing ready to deliver a superb presentation of today's and tomorrow's best video content.
