Samsung The Premiere 9 ultra short throw projector review: bright, beautiful images and big sound

DA Gadgets September 13, 2024 Home Theater, Projectors, Televisions

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SAMSUNG
THE
PREMIERE
9:
two-minute
review

The
Samsung
Premiere
9
is
a
highly
capable
example
of
the

best
ultra
short
throw
projectors
and
builds
on
the
brand’s
earlier
successes
in
this
growing
market
segment.
The
key
to
this
popularity
is
the
triple-laser
light
source
that
uses
red,
green
and
blue
lasers
to
generate
cinematic
images
that
are
bigger
than
the
largest
TV
screens.
But
these
pictures
aren’t
just
big,
they’re
bright
enough
to
handle
white
walls
and
ambient
light,
while
creating
a
huge
gamut
for
more
vibrant
colours.

Samsung’s
The
Premiere
9
uses
single-chip
DLP
display
technology,
which
results
in
sharply
defined
images
due
to
there
being
no
alignment
issues,
and
while
not
strictly
native
4K
the
level
of
detail
on
show
is
often
impressive.
The
Premiere
9
delivers
superb
motion
handling
regardless
of
the
content
–
a
recognised
strength
of
DLP
–
but
also
suffers
from
poor
black
levels,
which
is
weakness
of
the
technology.
On
the
plus
side,
a
triple-laser
should
help
reduce
incidences
of
rainbow
artifacts
that
can
accompany
DLP
tech.

The
Premiere
9
delivers
accurate
pictures
thanks
to
the
inclusion
of
Filmmaker
Mode,
while
highly
effective
HDR
tone
mapping
also
ensures
shadows
are
detailed
and
highlights
free
of
clipping.
The
colour
gamut
covers
the
entire
HDR
standard,
and
beyond,
so,
as
a
result,
the
performance
with
high
dynamic
range
is
exceptional.
Whether
it’s
HDR10,
HLG
or
HDR10+
(but
not
Dolby
Vision,
an
HDR
format
not
supported
by
Samsung
TVs
and
projectors)
the
pictures
burst
off
the
big
screen
with
dazzling
highlights
and
vibrant
color
primaries
that
are
a
treat
for
the
eyes.

This
beamer
sports
an
attractive
lifestyle-friendly
design
and
is
easy
to
install
and
set
up,
while
the
Dolby
Atmos
audio
system
is
genuinely
immersive
–
acting
more
like
a
built-in
soundbar
thanks
to
its
2.2.2-channel
speaker
layout.
There’s
also
Samsung’s
AI-enhanced
Object
Tracking
Sound
processing
for
non-Atmos
audio.
There
are
extensive
gaming
features,
a
full
smart
platform
with
a
comprehensive
choice
of
streamers,
good
connectivity,
and
a
myriad
of
control
options.

In
fact,
the
only
real
complaint
is
the
lack
of
any
built-in
tuners,
but
otherwise,
this
capable
beamer
artfully
blurs
the
line
between
projector
and
supersized
TV.
It
does
an
excellent
job
of
producing
big
and
bright
images
that
rival
the
largest
examples
of
the
best
TVs,
and
as
a
result,
it
provides
a
viable,
more
affordable,
and
definitely
more
practical
alternative,
and
comes
highly
recommended.

SAMSUNG
THE
PREMIERE
9
review:
price
and
release
date

First
available:
September
2024

The
Premiere
9
(LPU9D):
$5,000
/
£5,999

Samsung’s
The
Premiere
9
(LPU9D)
is
the
new
range-topper
in
the
brand’s
line-up
of
laser-powered
ultra
short
throw
(UST)
4K
HDR
projectors
and
is
available
now
for
$5,999
/
£5,999.
It
replaces
the
older

The
Premiere
LSP9T,
although
this
is
also
still
available
for
the
same
price
of
$5,999
/
£5,999.
In
addition,
Samsung
will
release
the
mid-tier
Premiere
7
in
October,
although
pricing
has
yet
to
be
announced.
The
Premiere
9
is
not
currently
available
in
Australia.

The
Premiere
9
uses
single-chip
DLP
display
technology
and
supports
HDR10+
high
dynamic
range

(Image
credit:
Future)

SAMSUNG
THE
PREMIERE
9
review:
Specs

Swipe
to
scroll
horizontally

Screen
sizes
supported:

100-130
inches

Brightness
(specified):

3,450
ISO
lumens

HDR
support:

HDR10+,
HDR10,
HLG

Optical
technology:

3-laser
DLP

Smart
TV:

Tizen

Connections:

3
x
HDMI
2.0
(1
with
eARC)
,
USB-A
(powered),
optical
audio
out,
RS-232C,
Ethernet

Dimensions:

5.6
x
21.7
x
15.1
inches
(H
x
W
x
D)

Weight:

25.6
pounds

The
Premiere
9’s
lens

(Image
credit:
Future)

SAMSUNG
THE
PREMIERE
9
review:
design

Stylish
and
discreet
design

Excellent
connectivity

SolarCell
remote
control

The
Premiere
9
is
surprisingly
stylish
for
a
UST
projector,
with
a
curved
chassis
that’s
well-built
and
finished
in
a
neutral
white.
The
front
is
covered
in
grey
fabric,
with
the
speakers
behind,
and
there
are
air
vents
on
either
side
for
cooling.
Despite
being
relatively
large,
this
projector’s
lifestyle-friendly
design
allows
you
to
place
it
discreetly
up
against
the
wall.

Better
connectivity
is
offered
on
The
Premiere
9
than
most
other
UST
projectors,
with
three
HDMI
2.0
inputs,
one
of
which
supports
eARC.
There’s
also
a
USB
port
for
multimedia
playback
and
powering
dongle-style
streaming
devices,
an
optical
digital
output,
and
an
Ethernet
port.
The
wireless
connectivity
includes
built-in
Wi-Fi
5,
Bluetooth
5.2,
and
support
for
Apple
AirPlay.

Samsung
provides
a
variation
of
the
SolarCell
remote
included
with
its
current
range
of
TVs,
although
the
controller
is
styled
in
white
to
match
the
projector.
The
zapper
is
well-designed,
intuitive
to
use,
and
comfortable
to
hold.
There’s
also
a
far-field
microphone
for
the
built-in
voice
assistants,
although
those
wishing
privacy
can
switch
this
off
at
the
back
of
the
projector.

Design
score:
4.5/5

Ports
include
3
HDMI
2.0
connections
(1
with
eARC)

(Image
credit:
Future)

SAMSUNG
THE
PREMIERE
9
review:
features

Triple-laser
light
source

HDR10,
HLG
and
HDR10+
support

2.2.2-channel
Dolby
Atmos
audio
system

Samsung’s
The
Premiere
9’s
headline
feature
is
its
triple-laser
light
source
that
uses
red,
green
and
blue
lasers
for
3,450
lumens
brightness
plus
a
wide
colour
gamut
and
20,000-hour
lifespan.
This
gives
it
an
advantage
over
most
other
UST
projectors
and
delivers
sufficient
luminance
to
handle
rooms
with
white
walls,
large
windows
or
ambient
light.

As
a
UST
beamer
it’s
able
to
project
100
inches
from
only
11cm
(around
4
inches)
,
and
can
fill
a
130-inch
screen
at
just
24cm
(9.5
inches),
so
even
those
with
limited
space
can
enjoy
big
screen
fun.
You
change
the
image
size
by
physically
moving
the
projector
towards
or
away
from
the
wall,
centre
it
by
moving
to
the
left
or
right,
and
level
it
using
the
adjustable
feet.
There
are
also
manual
controls
for
focusing
the
image.

The
Premiere
9
is
a
single-chip
DLP
projector
with
a
claimed
resolution
of
4K
–
although
this
is
achieved
by
shifting
pixels.
It
also
supports
most
high
dynamic
range
formats
with
HDR10,
HLG
(hybrid
log-gamma),
and
HDR10+.
Samsung
doesn’t
support
for
Dolby
Vision
on
any
of
its
current
displays,
but
the
RGB
laser
light
source
ensures
HDR
is
punchy
with
bright
and
vibrant
colours.

This
projector
sports
a
built-in
sound
system
with
a
2.2.2-channel
speaker
layout
and
40W
of
amplification.
There’s
support
for
Samsung
Object
Tracking
Sound
(OTS)
AI-enhanced
audio
processing,
along
with
Dolby
Atmos
decoding.
As
a
result,
there’s
an
immersive
soundstage,
with
clear
dialogue,
width
at
the
front,
some
bass
presence,
and
effectively
rendered
overhead
sound.

There’s
also
support
for
music
casting,
as
well
as
various
proprietary
audio
features
such
as
AI-powered
Adaptive
Sound
Pro
enhancements,
Adaptive
Voice
Amplifier
Pro
for
making
dialogue
clearer,
and
Q
Symphony
for
synching
the
Premiere
9
with
a
compatible
Samsung
soundbar.
The
latter
would
definitely
provide
benefits
for
those
who
enjoy
seriously
deep
bass
with
their
movies.

Once
installed
the
setup
is
exactly
the
same
as
a
Samsung
TV,
with
the
SmartThings
app
taking
you
through
the
entire
process.
Just
follow
the
instructions,
and
within
minutes
you’ll
have
the
Wi-Fi
connected
and
all
the
streaming
apps
installed.
There’s
even
a
Vision
Boost
feature
that
uses
a
built-in
light
sensor
to
adjust
the
image
brightness
based
on
levels
of
ambient
light
in
the
room.

The
Premiere
9
runs
the
full
Tizen-powered
smart
TV
system
found
in
Samsung’s
TVs,
and
crucially
has
sufficient
processing
power
to
ensure
the
platform
is
responsive.
There’s
smart
assistance
in
the
form
of
built-in
Bixby
and
Amazon
Alexa,
along
with
a
comprehensive
choice
of
video
streaming
services.
Where
available
these
all
offer
4K,
HDR,
HDR10+
and
Dolby
Atmos.

For
gaming,
there’s
support
for
ALLM
(auto
low
latency
mode),
although
when
in
the
game
mode
the
input
lag
is
still
53ms,
which
is
too
high
for
competitive
gamers.
In
addition,
the
HDMI
2.0
inputs
cap
the
frame
rate
at
4K/60Hz
and
there’s
no
VRR.
However,
the
motion
handling
is
excellent,
resulting
in
smooth
gameplay
that
also
benefits
from
the
immersive
big-screen
images.

There’s
a
host
of
other
features
including
Samsung’s
Game
Hub
for
gaming
without
a
console,
plus
a
Game
Bar
that
curates
all
the
main
settings
and
technical
data
in
one
place
and
provides
access
to
gaming-related
settings
for
a
more
personalised
gaming
experience.
Finally,
the
AI
Auto
Game
Mode
allows
the
projector
to
automatically
optimise
settings
for
specific
gaming
genres.

This
is
a
well-specified
projector
and
about
the
only
TV
features
missing
are
built-in
terrestrial
and
satellite
tuners.
This
is
fairly
common
on
UST
projectors,
probably
because
it
makes
them
easier
to
manufacture
and
market
globally.
While
you
can
use
the
TV
catch-up
apps
instead
for
most
shows,
if
you
really
want
to
watch
live
linear
broadcasts
you’ll
need
a
set-top
box
of
some
kind.

The
Premiere
9
beams
bright,
colorful
4K
images
using
a
triple-laser
light
engine

(Image
credit:
Future)

SAMSUNG
THE
PREMIERE
9
review:
picture
and
sound
quality

Sharp
and
detailed
4K
images

Bright
and
punchy
HDR

Extremely
wide
colour
gamut

The
Samsung
Premiere
9
immediately
impresses
with
its
bright
and
punchy
big
screen
pictures.
There’s
no
doubt
the
triple-laser
adds
value,
not
just
in
terms
of
lumens
but
also
with
its
wider
colour
gamut.
The
projected
image
is
sharply
defined
thanks
to
the
use
of
single-chip
DLP,
while
focus
and
uniformity
across
the
screen
are
also
good,
resulting
in
a
clean
and
even
presentation.

The
out-of-the-box
picture
accuracy
is
excellent,
with
the
white
point
close
to
the
industry
standard
of
D65,
an
even
greyscale,
and
colours
hitting
close
to
their
saturation
targets
for
BT.709,
but
this
can
be
improved
through
calibration.
I
was
able
to
get
a
near
reference-level
accuracy
through
adjustment,
and
when
you
factor
in
the
cost
of
a
Premiere
9
the
additional
expense
of
a
calibration
is
worth
considering.

This
accuracy
also
extends
to
HDR,
with
the
Premiere
9
covering
100%
of
DCI-P3,
and
92%
of
the
even
wider
BT.2020
colur
gamut.
The
previous
generation
of
Samsung’s
UST
had
trouble
reigning
in
this
massive
native
colour
gamut,
resulting
in
noticeable
errors,
so
I
was
pleased
to
discover
the
accuracy
of
the
Premiere
9
has
definitely
been
improved
with
better
tracking
of
saturation
targets.

The
blacks
look
more
of
a
dark
grey,
which
is
fairly
standard
for
a
DLP
projector,
and
while
the
claimed
native
contrast
ratio
is
1,500:1,
I
actually
measured
it
at
1,700:1.
The
dynamic
contrast
ratio
is
a
claimed
2,000,000:1,
but
this
is
basically
achieved
by
turning
the
laser
off
on
a
black
screen,
so
it
doesn’t
really
reflect
real-world
content.
There’s
also
a
Real
Depth
Contrast
Enhancer
feature
to
help
with
contrast.

The
Premiere
9
certainly
has
sufficient
lumens
to
light
up
a
130-inch
screen,
even
in
the
dimmer
Filmmaker
Mode,
which
doesn’t
hit
the
brightness
peaks
of
the
Dynamic
mode.
It
also
means
the
HDR
has
plenty
of
punch
and
although
the
black
levels
might
not
be
great,
the
tone
mapping
is
very
effective,
sticking
close
to
the
PQ
curve
and
thus
avoiding
unwanted
crush
or
clipping.

The
imaging
is
based
around
the
Quantum
Processor
4K
picture
engine,
applying
AI
upscaling
to
lower-resolution
content
to
take
full
advantage
of
the
available
pixels.
The
result
is
a
finely
detailed
image,
regardless
of
the
original
resolution,
and
the
processing
is
also
able
to
clean
up
the
image,
reducing
noise
or
compression
artefacts
to
deliver
expertly
rendered
big-screen
pictures.

As
you’d
expect
from
a
DLP
beamer,
motion
handling
is
superb,
with
the
lightning-fast
response
times
of
the
technology
delivering
smooth
movement.
Samsung
includes
its
Motion
Xcelerator
technology,
along
with
a
Film
mode
to
ensure
that
film-based
content
looks
natural
but
is
also
free
of
judder,
while
fast-paced
sports
can
enjoy
smoother
motion
without
introducing
artefacts.

In
standard
HDR10,
the
brightly
lit
snowy
landscapes
of

The
Revenant
look
absolutely
stunning.
The
same
is
true
when
watching

Dune
Part
2
with
its
desert
vistas,
and
in
both
cases,
these
native
4K
films
reveal
exceptional
levels
of
detail
in
the
sharply
rendered
images.

Inside
Out
is
a
movie
that
fully
utilises
the
wider
gamut,
and
its
deeply
saturated
colours
really
pop
off
the
screen
viewed
on
The
Premiere
9.

Alita:
Battle
Angel
includes
HDR10+
and
the
Premiere
9
correctly
detected
the
signal,
applying
the
dynamic
metadata
to
the
tone
mapping.
The
resulting
images
are
well-defined,
with
colours
that
are
rendered
with
skill,
highlights
that
are
bright,
and
impressive
levels
of
detail
in
the
shadows.
There’s
a
lot
of
motion
in
this
film
as
well,
which
was
handled
without
judder
or
other
artefacts.

Picture
quality
aside,
the
Premiere
9
is
quiet
in
operation,
with
the
noise
level
going
from
30dB
next
to
the
chassis,
down
to
26dB
at
the
main
seating
position.
There
is
also
an
eye
protection
feature
designed
to
automatically
reduce
the
light
intensity
if
something
blocks
the
beam.
It’s
an
important
safety
feature
for
anyone
with
small
children
or
pets,
preventing
any
vision
damage.

Picture
quality
score:
4.5/5

Samsung’s
Gaming
Hub
provides
easy
access
to
cloud
gaming
apps
from
Xbox
and
other
services

(Image
credit:
Future)

SAMSUNG
THE
PREMIERE
9
review:
value

More
expensive
than
much
of
the
competition

Cheaper
and
more
convenient
compared
to
a
supersized
TV

The
Samsung
Premiere
9
may
seem
expensive
at
$5,999
/
£5,999,
and
it’s
certainly
not
cheap
compared
to
other
ultra
short
throw
projectors,
but
most
of
them
don’t
use
a
triple-laser
with
all
the
benefits
that
provides.
The
Premiere
9
also
offers
great
value
compared
to
jumbo-sized
TVs,
with
the
Samsung
considerably
more
affordable
than
screens
with
panel
sizes
over
100
inches.
It’s
also
a
lot
easier
to
install
–
just
try
getting
a
TV
with
a
110-inch
screen
into
your
living
room.

If
you’re
looking
for
alternatives
you
could
consider
the

Epson
LS800,
which
doesn’t
support
HDR10+
or
Dolby
Vision
but
is
even
brighter
at
4,000
lumens.
There’s
also
the

Hisense
PX2-Pro,
which
only
delivers
2,400
lumens
but
offers
support
for
HDR10+
and
Dolby
Vision.
However,
neither
has
a
sound
system
as
good
as
the
Premiere
9
nor
do
they
offer
as
many
gaming
features
or
as
comprehensive
a
smart
platform.

Value
score:
3.5/5

The
Premiere
9’s
basic
remote
control
for
navigating
its
smart
menus

(Image
credit:
Future)

Swipe
to
scroll
horizontally

SAMSUNG
THE
PREMIERE
9

Row
0
–
Cell
0

Notes

Rating

Features

Triple-laser
light
source
with
red,
green
and
blue
lasers
for
increased
brightness,
and
a
much
wider
colour
gamut

5/5

Design

Stylish
but
minimalist
design,
excellent
build
quality,
good
control
options,
three
HDMI
2.0
inputs
and
easy
installation

5/5

Picture
&
sound
quality

Bright,
accurate
and
crisply
detailed
images
with
SDR
and
HDR,
along
with
highly
effective
tone
mapping
for
the
latter.
2.2.2-channel
system
with
40W
of
amplification,
Object
Tracking
Sound
and
Dolby
Atmos
ensures
immersive
spatial
audio

5/5

Value

Pricey,
but
worth
it
for
the
performance
and
features.

4.5/5

Should
I
buy
the
SAMSUNG
THE
PREMIERE
9?

(Image
credit:
Future)

Buy
it
if…

Don’t
buy
it
if…

Also
consider…

Swipe
to
scroll
horizontally

Comparison:
4K
UST
projectors

Samsung
The
Premiere
9

Hisense
PX2-Pro

Epson
LS800

Hisense
L9G

Price:

$5,999

$2,999

$3,499

$5,499

Screen
sizes
supported:

100-130
inches

90
to
130
inches

Up
to
150
inches

100
inches

Brightness
(specified):

3,450
ISO
lumens

2,400
lumens

4,000
lumens

3,000
lumens

HDR
support

HDR10+,
HDR10,
HLG

Dolby
Vision,
HDR10,
HLG

HDR10,
HLG

HDR10,
HLG,
Dolby
Vision

Optical
technology:

3
laser
DLP

Laser
3LCD

3
laser
DLP

Smart
TV:

Tizen

Google
TV
/
VIDAA

Android
TV

Connections:

3
x
HDMI
2.0
(1
with
eARC)
,
USB-A
(powered),
optical
audio
out,
RS-232C,
Ethernet

2x
HDMI
2.0
(1
with
ARC),
HDMI
2.0

3x
HDMI
2.0
(1
with
ARC)

2x
HDMI
2.1,
1x
HDMI
2.0
(with
eARC),
1x
RF,
optical

(Image
credit:
Future)

How
I
tested
the
SAMSUNG
THE
PREMIERE
9

Reviewed
in
a
dedicated
home
cinema

Measurements
taken
using
Calman
calibration
software

Evaluated
using
SDR
and
HDR
content

As
with
all
my
TV
and
projector
reviews
I
use
a
combination
of
subjective
viewing
and
objective
measurements
against
the
industry
standards.
For
projectors,
I
also
do
all
my
testing
in
a
dedicated
home
cinema
with
a
completely
blacked-out
environment
and
high-quality
screen.
In
the
case
of
the
Premiere
9,
I
also
tested
it
in
my
lounge
in
order
to
simulate
the
kind
of
conditions
for
which
it
was
primarily
designed.

The
subjective
testing
is
based
around
watching
a
variety
of
familiar
scenes,
primarily
sourced
from
4K
and
1080p
Blu-rays,
plus
the

Spears
&
Munsil
UHD
Benchmark
4K
disc.
These
scenes
have
been
specifically
chosen
to
evaluate
a
display’s
black
levels,
contrast
performance,
colour
accuracy,
upscaling,
image
processing,
motion
handling,
and
HDR
tone
mapping.

For
the
objective
testing,
I
measured
the
Premiere
9’s
brightness,
greyscale
and
colour
gamut
in
SDR,
before
doing
the
same
in
HDR.
I
also
evaluated
the
accuracy
of
the
HDR
tone
mapping,
along
with
the
colour
gamut
coverage
for
DCI-P3
and
BT.2020.
To
do
this
I
used
a
pattern
generator
and
colour
meter
combined
with
Portrait
Displays’
Calman
calibration
software.