[Interview] The Premiere: Transforming Home Cinema from 9.4″ to 130″

Samsung’s The Premiere: Elevating the Home Cinema Experience with Advanced Features

Samsung Electronics has reintroduced its flagship projector, The Premiere, which first made waves in the premium projector market back in 2020. With its latest iteration, Samsung aims to redefine home entertainment by blending advanced technology with lifestyle enhancements. This comprehensive post will delve into the new features of The Premiere, its technological advancements, and what makes it a standout in the home cinema segment.

A Leap in Home Cinema Technology

The Premiere quickly rose to prominence in North America’s premium projector market within a year of its initial release, largely due to its superior home cinema capabilities. The COVID-19 pandemic played a significant role in popularizing home entertainment systems, and The Premiere was no exception. It falls under the ultra-short throw projector category, which saw a notable increase in market share from 7.2% in 2019 to 22.5% by 2023.

What is Ultra-Short Throw Technology?

Ultra-short throw projectors can project large images from a very short distance, making them ideal for home use. Traditional projectors often require ceiling mounts or a dedicated shelf to achieve the right projection distance. In contrast, ultra-short throw projectors like The Premiere can be placed directly in front of the wall, akin to a television. This technology utilizes an aspherical mirror, which has been optimized through extensive simulations by Samsung engineers.

Convenience and Flexibility

The Premiere offers significant convenience. Users can place the projector just inches away from the wall to achieve large screen sizes—up to 130 inches with The Premiere 9 and 120 inches with The Premiere 7. This setup is incredibly simple, requiring minimal adjustments that can be made via a remote control or a mobile device.

Technical Insights

The Premiere leverages several advanced technologies to deliver its impressive performance:

1. Color Wheel: Rotates rapidly in sync with the video signal to ensure accurate color reproduction.
2. Digital Micromirror Device (DMD): Adjusts millions of tiny mirrors on a microchip according to the video signal, crucial for high image quality.
3. Triple Laser Technology: Utilizes lasers of red, green, and blue to produce bright, sharp images with minimal light loss.
4. Aspherical Mirror: Enables ultra-short throw projection by optimizing the curvature for better performance.
   

   Enhanced Lifestyle Features
   

   Samsung has expanded The Premiere’s capabilities beyond just video viewing. Developers Jaeyoung Park, Seonbin Jang, and Jonguk Shin from Samsung’s Visual Display Business highlighted new features aimed at broadening the projector’s functionality.

   Custom Ambient Mode
   

   One of the standout additions is the Custom Ambient Mode. This feature allows users to edit photos and videos via the SmartThings app and project them onto a wall. You can also add widgets like a real-time clock or animated effects, turning the projector into a versatile tool for everyday life or special occasions.

   Gaming on The Big Screen
   

   The inclusion of Samsung Gaming Hub enhances The Premiere’s entertainment capabilities. Users can play cloud-based games without needing a PC or gaming console. For those who prefer traditional gaming setups, the projector offers three HDMI slots for connecting external devices. This versatility makes it an excellent option for family gaming sessions, as highlighted by Jaeyoung Park, who enjoys playing racing games with his kids on the projector’s 100-inch screen.

   Aesthetic and Functional Improvements
   

   The 2024 version of The Premiere features aesthetic upgrades such as a more compact front and warmer Kvadrat fabric, blending seamlessly with home decor. When not in use, the projector can function as a smart speaker, offering a built-in 40W 2.2.2 channel up-firing speaker for powerful audio. Voice commands via Bixby enable users to stream music or launch podcasts without turning on the screen.

   Advanced Laser Technology for Brighter Images
   

   Unlike traditional TVs, projectors reflect light off a surface, necessitating advanced components and software for high image quality. The Premiere 9 employs triple laser technology, using red, green, and blue lasers for sharper images. In contrast, The Premiere 7 uses single laser technology with a blue light source.

   Both models support HDR10+ and offer impressive color accuracy. The Premiere 9 covers up to 154% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, while The Premiere 7 covers 100%.

   Peak Brightness and Efficiency
   

   The Premiere 9 offers a peak brightness of up to 3,450 ISO lumens, while The Premiere 7 provides up to 2,500 ISO lumens. This high brightness ensures clear picture quality even in well-lit environments. The laser light source also boasts a longer lifespan and lower power consumption compared to traditional lamp-based projectors, potentially reducing maintenance costs.

   AI-Powered Home Cinema
   

   The Premiere incorporates several AI-driven features to enhance the viewing experience. 4K AI Upscaling ensures vibrant 4K resolution, while the Vision Booster adjusts brightness and color in real-time using a light sensor. These technologies collectively enhance picture quality, making The Premiere smarter than ever.

   Superior Audio Features
   

   The 2024 lineup retains acclaimed built-in speakers and introduces new AI-driven audio features. These include:

   • Active Voice Amplifier (AVA) Pro: Distinguishes voices from ambient noise and adjusts the volume accordingly.
   • Object Tracking Sound (OTS): Synchronizes sound with on-screen movements.
   • Adaptive Sound: Optimizes audio based on the surrounding environment.

     Additionally, Q-Symphony allows for connecting wireless speakers, offering a holistic audio experience.

     Transcending Spatial Limits
     

     Modern projectors like The Premiere overcome the physical constraints of screen size and location. The advent of ultra-short throw technology has mitigated issues such as space requirements and passer-by shadows, making it easier to integrate projectors into various settings.

     Future Prospects
     

     As The Premiere continues to lead the premium home projector market, Samsung aims to further integrate projector screens into home spaces, including walls and ceilings. The vision is to create a spatial display that transcends the limitations of projection space, offering a truly immersive screen experience anywhere.

     Conclusion
     

     Samsung’s The Premiere is more than just a projector; it’s a comprehensive lifestyle product that combines advanced technology with user-friendly features. Whether you’re a movie enthusiast, a gamer, or someone looking to enhance your living space, The Premiere offers a versatile and immersive experience. As Samsung continues to innovate, we can expect even more exciting developments in the realm of home entertainment.

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     Note: Market share data based on PMA Research, March 2023. Brightness levels according to ISO standards.

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