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(^1616) [[ April May 2019 April May 2019 [[soundandvision.comsoundandvision.com
CES 2019:
TVS TAKE
CENTER STAGE
The Consumer Electronics Show that takes place
each January in Las Vegas has evolved into a broad
showcase for the latest technology develop-
ments—everything from robots and VR hardware
to smart bathtubs and toilets can be seen and
experienced. But for Sound & Vision, the main
items of interest are the TVs. CES remains a show-
case for set-makers to unveil the high-profile prod-
ucts they’ll release in the year to come. It also gives
them a chance to dazzle aendees with future-tech
concepts that may or may not ultimately make it to
market. Here are the TVs and trends that caught
our eye at CES 2019.
LG’s CES booth featured an array of roll-up OLED TVs that raised and
lowered in synchronized formation. Along with being able to roll up and
down on command using Alexa voice control, the new Signature Series
65R9 OLED features the company’s A9 Intelligent picture processor and
supports Apple’s AirPlay 2 and HomeKit. Its cabinet also features a built-
in 4.2-channel Dolby Atmos audio system. LG’s Signature Series 65R
OLED TV should be available in mid-2019.
Roll-up OLED:
LG Signature Series 65R
amsung got a jump
on its competition
when it released
8K-resolution
LCD TVs in late
- At CES 2019,
numerous other
TV makers either
announced new 8K
sets, or had actual
models on display—this despite a current
absence of 8K source material, and none
of it on the near horizon. Sony’s Master
Series LCD Ultra HDTV lineup for 2019
includes an 85-inch 8K TV and the 98-inch
Z9G model shown below, right. Both
sets will feature HDMI 2.1 inputs and the
company’s 8K X-Reality PRO processing
to upscale 4K and regular HD images.
Also included: Sony’s Backlight Master
Drive LED local dimming, X-Wide Angle
for improved off-axis picture uniformity,
and Acoustic Multi-Audio, a technology
that turns the TV’s screen into a speaker.
The 8K TV lineup that LG announced at
CES included an 88-inch OLED, the
Signature series OLED88Z9PUA, along
with an LCD model, the 75-inch SM9970.
Both sets will feature HDMI 2.1 connections
and support Dolby Vision, HLG, Advanced
HDR by Technicolor, and Active HDR, an LG
tech that adds active metadata to HDR 10content for more precise control over the
image’s dynamic range.
Other 8K TV announcements at CES
included a new Q900A 98-inch QLED (LCD
with Quantum dot technology) model from
Samsung, which is also adding 65-, 72-,
and 82-inch sets to supplement the 85-inch
8K model ($15,000) in its current Q900 line.
Prices for the new Samsung Q900 TVs will
range from $5,000 to $10,000. Like the LG
and Sony 8K models, they will also support
HDMI 2.1. Meanwhile, Chinese maker TCL
said that it will sell an 8K Roku TV. Details
like screen size and price were not
specified, but the company plans to ship
the 8K Roku set in late 2019.8K: The Proof is in the Products