The Samsung SP-A900B delivers the most accurate picture of any projector we've tested.
(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)Samsung, with the help of video guru Joe Kane, again delivers outstanding performance in the high-end front-projection DLP category with the flagship SP-A900B. This 1080p resolution, one-chip DLP projector sports the latest Dark Chip 4 chip from Texas Instruments, but otherwise appears virtually the same as the SP-A800B that CNET projector reviewer Kevin Miller loved last last year.
The new chip results in superior black levels, which also increase the contrast ratio of the projector substantially. The 900B retains the same superb color found on its less expensive brother, along with its other stellar image quality characteristics, and as a bonus remains one of the most stylish and attractive designs in front projection. At $12,999 list, the Samsung SP-A900B is definitely on the pricey side for the one-chip DLP category, but as with so many things in life, you get what you pay for.
The high-end Samsung SP-A900 will be available this month from select retailers.
(Credit: Samsung)Last year we awarded our Editors' Choice among front projectors to the Samsung SP-A800, saying the unit "outperforms every projector in its class hands-down." Its successor, the SP-A900, is coming soon, and we expect the new model to offer even better picture quality. For well-heeled home theater enthusiasts, the new SP-A900 will likely be the new Holy Grail of projection performance.
That expectation is based on the fact that both the SP-A800 and SP-A900 were designed with significant input from video guru Joe Kane who, among other accomplishments, created the reference calibration series Digital Video Essentials, including the "HD Basics" Blu-ray we use in every HDTV review at CNET. Mr. Kane is passionate about picture quality in general and projectors in particular, and that passion showed through on the SP-A800, which displayed the most accurate color we'd ever tested on a projector.
The principal improvement over the SP-A800, which will remain in the line, is the A900's use of Texas Instruments' latest DLP chip, dubbed DarkChip 4. As the name implies, the new chip will enable darker blacks, which improve the contrast ratio spec from 10,000:1 on the 800 to 12,000:1 on the 900, which the company claims produces a "35 percent improvement in practical contrast."
The SP-A800's estimated selling price is $9,999, while the SP-A900 will cost $12,999. The latter should be available later this month.
Samsung says both projectors will continue to be available only through select specialty retailers. According to the company's spokesman, "We limited the distribution to a small group of high-end home theater rep firms that can provide the necessary pre- and post-sales support." More information is available at the official distribution Web site.
The spokesman said he expects to be able to get CNET an SP-A900 review sample by IncoComm in mid-June.
If it's good enough for Criterion and CNET, it should be good enough for you.
It goes without saying that the folks who work at Criterion Collection are film buffs. And anyone who has watched one of the company's lovingly remastered DVDs can attest to the fact the company really cares about making films look as good as they can. That's why we took notice when a poster at AVS Forum pointed out an interesting tidbit in Sound & Vision's recent profile of Criterion Collection's new high-def home theater--Criterion's reference Blu-ray player is a PS3.
We're not exactly surprised. We've been using the PS3 as our reference Blu-ray player at CNET since it was released, and you'll notice that it tops our best Blu-ray players list by quite a margin. Furthermore, it's worth noting that video quality expert Joe Kane help set up Criterion's new home theater room. When we checked out Joe Kane's demo of the truly awesome SP-A800B at CES, we specifically asked what Blu-ray player he thought had the best image quality, he immediately said the PS3. So if you're worried about the image quality of a "game console" versus a high-end standalone Blu-ray player, it's worth rechecking your assumptions when CNET, Criterion and Joe Kane all vouch for the PS3's excellent performance.
Another interesting piece of gear we noted from the S&V article is... Read more
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