LCD Reloaded

IN 2020, Sound & Vision tested Samsung’s 65-inch Q90T series TV, an LCD model that lacked some of the features and refinements found in the company’s flagship sets from the previous year.

- Thomas J. Norton

But at $1,900, it also struck us as a solid deal given the overall price-performance ratio and received a Top Pick. Samsung’s new Neo QLED QN90A series LCDs, available in 55-, 65-, 75-, and 85-inch screen sizes, are pricier than the Q90T models they replace, though the higher prices in this case come with marked performance upgrades.

FEATURES

The QN65QN90A model that Samsung sent us to test features a center-positioned stand that offers an easy fit on a wide range of furniture in a table-top setup. It’s sturdy, heavy, and provides enough space under the screen for a slim soundbar. (Wall-mounting, of course, is also an option.)

The QN90A’s built-in speakers fire audio outward from all sides of the screen, a design Samsung calls Object Tracking Sound+ (OTS+) because it follows the trajectory of the onscreen action. OTS+ is also designed to work in conjunction with an optional Samsung soundbar (not tested here). By itself, without the soundbar, OTS+ audio performance is fine, as long as you don’t expect miracles.

Lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 sound is accessible via the set’s optical digital output, but DTS sources were limited to 2.0 via this link. Samsung’s HDMI eARC feature functioned with a Dolby Atmos source in my 5.2.4 speaker setup, but only after exhaustive period of trial-and-error of both the Samsung’s settings and the Denon AVR I used it with it. Hint: I had to enable Samsung’s Anynet (HDMI-CEC) prior to selecting the Auto HDMI-eARC Mode and turning on the Dolby Atmos Compatibility setting.