Samsung announces pricing for S9 UHD TV: $39,999, shipping in late March

At its home entertainment event in New York City today, Samsung filled in the details about the HDTV lineup we first glimpsed at CES 2013 in January. If you recall, several high-profile sets were first unveiled at the show, and pricing is unsurprisingly steep to match. The 85-inch S9 UHD TV, with a slick, easel-style frame and "Precision Black Pro" display tech, will go for $39,999 when it launches at the end of March.

Samsung also announced pricing for its Smart Evolution Kit, a hardware set of products -- including a quad-core processor, GPU and memory -- that plugs into the back of a Sammy-designed TV to keep hardware and software up to date as new models are released. The kit will go for $300 when it debuts in May, and it wil come bundled with the latest Smart Touch Remote. And finally -- because what ultra-luxe home entertainment system is complete without high-end audio? -- there's the HW-F750 soundbar, which incorporates the company's vacuum tube technology and boasts a wireless subwoofer. The HW-F750 will connect with select Samsung Smart TVs via Bluetooth, and it will set you back $799 when it goes on sale in March. Hit up the press release past the break for more info.

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First ever Evolution Kit, S-Recommendation and Smart Hub offer consumers a television viewing experience unlike any other

New audio products deliver superior sound quality and easy connectivity options

Ridgefield Park, N.J., March 20, 2013 – Samsung Electronics America today announced a new Smart TV experience that simplifies how consumers search for and discover their preferred content, while raising the bar in picture quality. Its highly anticipated line of 2013 TVs will begin shipping this month in the U.S., beginning with the LED 8000-series and the Plasma 8500-series.

"The TV industry is undergoing a sea change in both content and technology. Although consumers can now access a plethora of content from myriad sources, finding and choosing their favorite content has become even harder. Our 2013 Smart TVs make it easy for you to spend less time searching for shows and movies, and more time discovering and watching the content you love," said Joe Stinziano, Executive Vice President, Samsung Electronics America. "Samsung has also created an evolutionary TV, so the TV that consumers buy today will transform into the TV of tomorrow. Thanks to the world's first Smart Evolution Kit, consumers will have the latest features and they won't be left behind."

The 2013 line up of TVs represent Samsung's sixth generation of Smart TV. While features vary by model, highlights of select products include:

A redesigned Samsung Smart Hub that offers five dynamic menu panels to help consumers manage and navigate different types of content.
With S-Recommendation, consumers can easily find the content they want – whether on TV or via premium VOD services – thanks to personalized recommendations based on their viewing habits over time.
Outstanding picture quality across the 2013 lines. Samsung's UHD TV and LED TVs offer brighter, more vibrant color, and its flagship Plasma TV delivers deeper blacks and brighter whites than previously seen on plasma models.
Smart Evolution Kit gives owners of flagship 2012 Samsung TVs the opportunity to update their models with some of the latest features from 2013 without having to buy a new set.
A quad-core CPU enables quick app launching, web browsing and multi-tasking.
Smart View lets consumers move content seamlessly from the TV to connected devices and back in real-time, so consumers never miss a moment of their favorite shows using AllShare.
Advanced Smart Interaction allows consumers to use everyday language and casual gestures to control the TV.

Samsung Transforms TV Watching

From Smart Evolution, to a re-designed Smart Hub, to the unmatched picture quality of Samsung's UHD TV, Samsung has created a full suite of smart products and solutions that allow consumers to engage with and experience their TV in new ways.

This year, Samsung's redesigned Smart Hub makes it easier for consumers to discover the content they love. It eliminates the need to navigate through myriad sources and options, and provides a simple way to manage content from one central location. Available on select 2013 TVs, Blu-ray players and home theater systems, the new Smart Hub draws inspiration from how consumers interact with mobile devices by offering intuitive controls and a one-of-a-kind user experience. The easy-to-navigate interface organizes content on five dynamic panels, including Smart TV program guides, video-on-demand, apps, social and personal content. These panels include:

On TV – shows the channel that is currently playing as well as the most relevant, personalized suggestions that may be airing shortly based on consumer viewing habits
Movies & TV Shows – an easy view of movies and TV services and over-the-top content that are available from various content providers.
Music, Photos & Clips – allows consumers to organize personal content and files on Samsung Smart TVs and other linked devices
Social – highlights user created content from friends and family, popular videos from Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and video call services
Smart TV Apps – organizes downloaded Samsung Apps and recommendations for easy access

Samsung has also created the first-ever recommendation engine for TVs to help consumers navigate the overwhelming amount of content available. Samsung's S-Recommendation gives consumers a unique way of discovering content based on their personal preferences. It analyzes consumers' past viewing habits over a period of six months to "learn" their preferences so that it can recommend similar content. The recommendations are provided from a variety of sources, including broadcast television as well as streaming services.

Smart Interaction has also been upgraded with the ability to recognize natural language use (such as full phrases) as well as more casual hand movement (like swiping to change screens).

To ensure consumers continue to enjoy the best experience from their Samsung TVs, Samsung's Smart Evolution Kit, an industry first, offers a cost-effective way for consumers to update their TVs with the latest technologies and features. The kit fits into the evolution slot on the back of 2012 Samsung 7500 and 8000 Series LED TVs, as well as Samsung Series 7000 and 8000 Plasma TVs, and updates them with some of the latest features and functions included in the newest Samsung models. 2013 F7500 LED and above and F8500 Plasma TVs also include a Smart Evolution slot.

The 2013 Smart Evolution kit includes a quad-core processor, GPU and memory for faster processing and multi-tasking, the updated Smart Hub and the latest picture display software. The Smart Evolution Kit is packaged with the 2013 Smart Touch Remote, and will be available in May for $299.99.

Bigger Is Better

For consumers that desire the very best in home entertainment, Samsung's S9 UHD TV represents an industry breakthrough both in picture quality and design. Samsung's Precision Black Pro technology delivers deep, real blacks and pure vivacious whites, while the combination of an extremely high contrast ratio and Ultimate Dimming control functionality means consumers will experience the sharpest resolutions ever seen on large format displays. In addition, Samsung's proprietary up-scaling engine up-converts HD or Full-HD to UHD-level picture quality by restoring detail information to create greater precision and real-life picture quality.

The S9's 3-way 2.2 channels of 120 watt sound also delivers an audio experience that is six times better than a standard TV, so consumers can truly immerse themselves in the experience, almost like they were in the thick of the action. This 85-inch UHD TV also offers a timeless design – the TV appears to float within its thin frame – which challenges traditional concepts of TV design. The UN85S9 will be available will be available for pre-order on Samsung.com at the end of March for $39,999.

The Brightest LED Line with the Highest Contrasts Available

The F8000 series, Samsung's 2013 flagship LED Smart TV, boasts a stunning design that complements any room in the home. It offers the most vibrant and richest colors with the highest contrasts and the brightest picture quality of any Samsung LED TV to date. Samsung's proprietary Micro Dimming Ultimate technology provides greater contracts, deeper black levels and maximum brightness – along with the full suite of Samsung Smart features. Consumers will enjoy the speed at which they can browse the web or download and access apps, thanks to the TV's quad-core processor, a first in the industry. The F8000 will be available this year in size classes ranging from 46" to 75" at varying price points.

Setting a New Standard

Samsung's F8500 Plasma TV, 2013 flagship plasma model, is the new industry standard for TV excellence offering deeper blacks and brighter picture quality than previously seen on plasma TVs. The F8500 delivers the same brightness and eight times the black levels as standard LED TVs, thanks to Samsung's proprietary Deep Black Algorithm and Real Black Pro II. The F8500 is also one of the first televisions with native support for HEVC-encoded content, which delivers the richest, most immersive content. With Samsung's One Body Form design, the F8500 is created from a single piece of metal while highlighted with a dark titan metal color for a futuristic design. The F8000 will be available this year in several size classes ranging from 51" to 64" at varying price points.

The Ultimate Sound Experience with Samsung's Vacuum Tube Technology

Samsung unveiled its unique vacuum tube amplifiers in 2012 with its wireless audio docks. The vacuum tube offers audiophiles the best of both worlds – the warm richness of a tube amplifier with the power and precision of digital technology. The company today demonstrated a continued commitment to raising the bar in quality audio by expanding the line of digital audio products that offer this successful hybrid tube technology.

New in 2013, Samsung's vacuum tube technology will be integrated into the HW-F750 soundbar so consumers can enjoy the rich, powerful sound quality they desire. A wireless sub-woofer means consumers have even greater flexibility in setting up the system, so as to maintain their clean and minimalist décor. The HW-F750 also connects wirelessly to select 2012 and 2013 Samsung Smart TVs via Bluetooth, which means the soundbar may be connected without any audio cables, making set up a breeze. The Soundbar will be available in March for $799.

The vacuum tube amplifier can also be found in Samsung's home theater systems, beginning with the HT-F6500W, for improved audio clarity and warmth. The Blu-ray component of the HT-F6500W also offers Samsung's latest Smart Hub and AllShare features, along with full web browsing capabilities. The HT-F6500W delivers outstanding value at $599, and will be available in March.

The Freedom to Enjoy Quality Sound Anywhere

Consumers can now enjoy crystal clear sound wherever they are with the DA-F60 portable wireless Bluetooth speaker. Despite its compact size, the DA-F60 delivers a full-range sound reproduction that is on par with larger and more expensive systems. The speaker's integrated Near-Field Communications (NFC) connectivity makes it easy for consumers to pair the speaker with other NFC devices, such as a smartphone or tablet, by simply tapping the two devices together. It also connects wirelessly to select Samsung 2012 and 2013 Smart TVs and other Bluetooth-enabled devices for an effortless and streamlined music playing experience. With 12-hour playback on a full battery charge, consumers never need to worry about being without their music. They can get their hands on this stylish speaker from April for $299.

Amp up your Party with Samsung's Giga Sound Systems

Samsung today also entered a new category in home audio with its first-ever 2.2 channel Giga Sound Systems. The MX-FS8000 and the MX-FS9000 both feature powerful 15" dual sub-woofers that deliver 2300W and 2560W in sound respectively for stand-out audio. The sound systems offer wireless streaming via Bluetooth technology, so it is easy to sync the systems to compatible devices and play music from CDs, USBs or streaming audio services. With its special DJ Effects and DJ Lighting features, as well as its ability to support mic input, an evening of entertainment will never be the same again. Samsung's flagship MX-FS9000 will be available in May for $1,499 and the MX-FS8000 will be available in June for $999.