The Power of Top Sound Technology Drawn into Dynamic Screens...

On the 9th (local time), Allen DeVantier, Head of the Audio Lab (Executive Director), is explaining Samsung Electronics' audio technology at the Samsung Audio Lab located in Valencia, on the outskirts of Los Angeles, USA.

Visiting Samsung Electronics' Valencia Audio Lab in LA, USA

Over 20 Sound Quality Experts Including 22-Year Veteran Harman Musicians Currently Working

Developing Optimized Sound for 8K TVs and Galaxy Audio Acoustics

[Los Angeles, USA = Asia Economy Reporter Park So-yeon] "Twi~ ttu ttu ttu...".

Entering a room surrounded on all sides by fiberglass shaped like sharp triangular sponges, a Samsung Electronics QLED 8K TV placed on a rotating table was spinning 360 degrees while emitting a peculiar mechanical sound. The fiberglass perfectly absorbed the TV sound's reverberation, making it feel as if the noise was being sucked into a machine with no noise at all. At times, it even evoked a sense of vast emptiness like space with no air resistance. This place, reminiscent of a scene from the movie 'Star Wars,' is Samsung Electronics' Audio Lab located in Valencia, on the outskirts of Los Angeles, USA.

It is an acoustic technology research institute studying the 'sound' of various Samsung devices such as TVs, audio equipment, and smartphones, serving as the 'cradle of Samsung sound technology.' The approximately 1,600㎡ (about 484 pyeong) space is equipped with anechoic chambers and listening rooms for applied research, employing over 20 audio-related experts. More than half of them hold master's or doctoral degrees in acoustics, and eight are engineers who are also currently active musicians in bands.

Allen DeVantier, Senior Vice President and head of Samsung Audio Lab, introduced, "The people here truly love music." DeVantier said, "I worked at Harman Kardon for 22 years, and even after Samsung acquired Harman, the work remains the same. We are working to create the best sound."

The first product developed at Samsung Audio Lab was the 'Omnidirectional Wireless 360 Audio' unveiled at CES 2015. It realized 360-degree omnidirectional surround sound regardless of location and led audio market trends by enabling 'anyone, anywhere, anytime' to enjoy music through a smartphone-exclusive application.

The next product was a soundbar. At the time, implementing an upgraded surround sound experience suitable for 4K quality at home seemed like a distant future. However, Samsung Electronics developed the industry's first Dolby Atmos soundbar with upward-firing speakers embedded in both the main unit and separate rear speakers, achieving multichannel sound.

The premium soundbar HW-90R, born here in 2019, received perfect scores from IT specialized media such as Pocket-lint, TechRadar, Trusted Reviews, and AV Forums. Senior Vice President DeVantier noted, "Samsung Audio Lab has greatly contributed to the sound quality innovation of Samsung TVs and holds numerous patents related to acoustic technology. Notably, in 2019, three papers from the Audio Lab were selected among the top 10 papers by the Audio Engineering Society, a remarkable achievement."

The new sound technologies applied to the 2020 QLED 8K TV also directly reflect the Audio Lab's research results. These include 'OTS+ (Object Tracking Sound Plus),' which recognizes moving objects in the video and moves the sound along the TV's built-in speakers. Through OTS+ technology, 5.1 channel surround sound can be realized with the TV alone, allowing immersive experiences as if being on-site during dynamic scenes like a fast-moving car. In addition to the speakers located at the lower left and right of the screen, additional speakers were placed at the top. Especially for 8K products, left and right speakers were installed on the sides of the screen, applying sound technology that perfectly controls a total of six built-in speakers.

The Q-Symphony feature, which simultaneously utilizes the speakers of the TV and soundbar to deliver optimal sound, was also developed here. Unlike typical soundbars that mute the TV sound when connected and play sound only through the soundbar, when a soundbar is connected to the 2020 Samsung QLED TV, the TV speakers and soundbar play sound simultaneously like an orchestra. This technology won the Innovation Award at CES 2020.

Senior Vice President DeVantier emphasized, "We are currently developing audio acoustics for Galaxy smartphones and will continue research to produce the best sound."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.