Samsung The Premiere 9 Ultra-Short Throw Projector Review
The Samsung The Premiere 9 first made an impact over three years ago, marking Samsung’s return to the home projector market. Earlier this year at CES, Samsung teased the release of new Premiere projectors, leaving many people wondering when they would arrive. Well, great news, they have finally been released. So, what’s different in these new models? Let’s take a look.
Specifications
The Samsung Premiere 9 is the company's flagship Ultra Short Throw DLP projector, utilizing a triple laser system where separate red, green, and blue lasers create an image without the need for a color wheel, unlike most DLP projectors. This new model features 3,450 ISO lumens, a decent improvement from its predecessor's 2,800 ANSI lumens, and covers 154% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. The device supports various high dynamic range (HDR) formats, including HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG.
The Premiere 9 achieves a UHD resolution (3840x2160) through a 0.66-inch DMD using the company’s all-new Quantum 4K Processor, which can also be found on this year's TV models. With a 0.19:1 fixed throw ratio, which is quite impressive for ultra-short-throw (UST) projectors in its category, it can project an image up to 130 inches. It can throw a 100-inch image from just 4.5 inches away from the wall, and for a larger 120-inch display, it only needs to be about 8 inches from the wall. The Premiere 9's RGB laser engine is rated for 20,000 hours of play, which is typical for most laser TV projectors.
As for the sound, the Premiere 9 features a 2.2.2 up-firing speaker system with built-in woofers, driven by a total of 40 watts, and supports Dolby Atmos. The projector also includes Q Symphony, which I’ll talk about in more detail based on my experience later.
Design
The Premiere 9 stands out with its sleek off-white (beige) finish and stylish build, complemented by a grayish beige fabric covering over the speakers. Its rounded corners add a nice touch, making it an attractive addition to any cabinet. The projector is also relatively compact, weighing just over 25 pounds and measuring 21.6-inches wide, 5.6-inches tall, and 15.1-inches deep.
At the rear of the unit, the RF input from the previous version has been removed. Instead, you'll find three HDMI 2.1 inputs (one supporting eARC), a USB-A port, an Ethernet port, an optical audio output, and Samsung's EX-LINK service port. The projector supports Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.2. You can also get pictures and sound to the system wirelessly through Apple AirPlay2 and Android screen mirroring.
Remote
Moving on to the remote, if you're familiar with Samsung TVs from the past couple of years, you'll recognize the design, minus the different color. The Samsung Eco Remote retains its sleek, rectangular shape with rounded corners and includes a solar charging panel on the back. Its slim profile makes it comfortable to hold, while the button layout remains user-friendly. At the top, there’s a circular navigation pad, accompanied by power, voice, and settings buttons around a pinhole microphone. The lower part of the remote features shortcut buttons for quick access to Netflix, Disney+, Samsung TV Plus, and Prime Video.
Smart Features
The Premiere 9 fully integrates Samsung's Tizen smart TV interface, the same one found on new Samsung TVs. The Tizen platform now includes an App Launcher shelf, catering to users who prefer a more traditional navigation style. This shelf displays icons for all your apps in a single, scrollable area for easy access, with the option to rearrange them according to your preference, adding a layer of customization.
You can also use verbal commands through Samsung's built-in Bixby or Alexa system, and it also supports Google Assistant via external devices. The Premiere 9 is compatible with Samsung's SmartThings app as well, allowing you to use a second remote if need be. The Tizen OS offers practical, everyday usability and a level of sophistication that many of the newer UST projectors on the market lack.
Setup
Like with all UST projectors, it can either be easy to set up or a total pain. Fortunately, the Premiere 9 was on the easier side to set up. It features a pair of adjustable feet at the front and a single fixed foot at the back. There is an option for 4-point or 15-point geometric correction to adjust the image to fit the screen, though we advise avoiding this if possible since it can degrade quality.
The Premiere 9 supports various projection methods, including front-projection table-top positioning, table-top rear projection, and both front and rear inverted ceiling projection. The motorized focus on the lens, along with a great internal test pattern, made it easy to fine-tune the picture. For my testing, I used a 120-inch ALR screen.
The projector offers four picture modes for both SDR and HDR content. The Dynamic mode is the brightest but tends to have a green bias, which is common for this setting. Standard mode, the default out-of-the-box setting, provides a bright and punchy picture suitable for daytime viewing. The other two modes are Movie and Filmmaker Mode, which have similar measurements. After calibration, I found Filmmaker Mode to be the best option for nighttime viewing.
Performance
Immediately after completing the setup, the first thing that stood out was the projector's brightness, which held up impressively even in a well-lit room during the day. When paired with an ambient light-rejecting screen, it delivers a strikingly clear and vibrant image. Watching SDR content from an Apple TV 4K was particularly impressive, especially while watching sports. For example, NASCAR races showcased bright and punchy colors, with the cars' vivid wraps popping against the track.
Speaking of brightness, when measured in SDR Standard mode, the projector clocked in at an impressive 3,078 lumens. The punchy and colorful image it produces made this my preferred setting for daytime viewing. This mode offered an exceptional display for watching sports events like the Olympics, where the vibrant colors of athletes' uniforms with the backdrop of the track were rendered nicely.
While the Standard setting served as my go-to for daytime TV watching, I preferred Filmmaker mode for films. When I settled in to watch "The Fall Guy" on the Kaleidescape Strato C player, the detail on Ryan Gosling's face was impressive. The projector captured the texture of his skin, showing pores and the fine details of his beard with excellent clarity.
During the nightclub shot in that movie, the range of blues in the scene were rendered with rich, dynamic colors. The vibrant highlighter yellow of his suit stood out against the darker background, creating a good amount of contrast. When measuring the brightness in Filmmaker HDR mode, I was able to get 2,956 lumens.
When diving into other demo materials, including the latest episodes from HBO's "House of the Dragon," I noticed slightly elevated black levels. Deep black levels are crucial for achieving outstanding picture quality, but it's noteworthy that the Premiere 9's image quality remained impressive despite this. The elevated black levels never distracted me from watching movies, even those with letterbox bars. The projector's strength lies in its ability to maintain a bright and vibrant image without appearing too dark or lackluster.
During my experience with various triple laser light sources, I've often encountered the issue of laser speckle, which I'm particularly sensitive to. However, after several weeks of using this projector, I've found that the speckle effect is minimal, almost negligible. It’s so faint that it’s only noticeable when specifically looking for it.
While technically not a native 4k projector, the The Premiere 9 excels in upscaling, delivering crisp and clear images regardless of the original content's resolution, thanks in large part to Samsung's new Quantum 4K processor. While Samsung has always been known for good upscaling, this new processor takes this up a notch and the projector significantly benefits from it. Positioned 8 feet away from a 120-inch screen, I encountered no issues with lower-resolution content.
Audio
The projector's built-in sound is quite good, easily competing with the output of a budget soundbar and surpassing that of most TVs. Dialogue is clear and centered within the soundstage, while effects are accurately positioned to match what’s happening on screen. Details in movie mixes are audible, with treble effects delivered smoothly without sounding harsh. While the bass isn’t overpowering, it provides enough depth to ensure that music and movies maintain a full and rich sound.
For a more cinematic audio experience, I still would recommend pairing the projector with a dedicated speaker system. I used the Samsung Q990D soundbar system, which allowed me to take advantage of Q-Symphony. Q-Symphony's ability to integrate the projector's speakers with the soundbar's higher output proved to be very effective and added to the overall experience.
Gaming
Connecting a PS5 to this projector took the gaming experience to a completely new level. I had no issues with full HDR support at 4K resolution. Game Mode can be activated manually or set to engage automatically when a game console is detected on one of the inputs. Playing EA Sports' "College Football 25" showcased the projector's capability to deliver vibrant visuals, making the gameplay highly engaging.
A new feature in this model is Samsung's Gaming Hub, which provides access to cloud gaming services like Nvidia GeForce Now and Xbox Game Pass without needing a console. The Premiere 9 supports 4K video at 60Hz, though it has a relatively high input lag. This is acceptable for casual gamers but might be challenging for games requiring precise timing.
Conclusion
When you think of Ultra Short Throw projectors, Samsung might not be the first brand that comes to mind, but it certainly should be. The Premiere 9 stands out with its impressive brightness and picture quality, making it an excellent choice for both TV replacement and dedicated home theater setups. Priced at $5,999, it represents a significant investment, but its performance justifies the cost.
