The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024 held in Las Vegas witnessed a spectacular array of innovations in the world of home entertainment. Among the myriad of cutting-edge products showcased, Home Theater Review is pleased to present its CES 2024 Awards, highlighting the most remarkable and innovative entries in various categories.
LG Electronics captivated the audience with the LG Signature OLED T, a 77-inch transparent OLED TV that defies traditional design. This TV stands out with its ability to become virtually invisible when not in use, blending seamlessly into any environment. While at first glance you may try to dismiss it as an expensive party trick, the real innovation is blending real world use with the unique transparent effect. The housing contains a rolled-up background screen, and at the push of a button, unfurls to create the normal inky-blacks that you'd expect from an OLED. LG assured me that this will be sold to consumers, so we aren't looking at a concept piece here, and with the black background, you attain the same normal viewing performance of other OLEDs.
Its Zero Connect Box, enabling wireless transmission of 4K images and sound, is a nod to convenience and aesthetic elegance. The OLED T offers three modes: a transparent digital canvas, a T-Bar for displaying information, and an opaque mode for enhanced picture quality. Equipped with the α (Alpha) 11 AI processor, the TV marks a significant leap in graphic performance and processing speed.
TCL's unveiling of the QM891G, a colossal 115-inch mini-LED TV, was a testament to the brand's commitment to larger-than-life experiences. The TV's QD Mini LED Ultimate backlight system, with 20,000 local dimming zones and a peak brightness of 5,000 nits, sets a new standard in image quality.
Powered by TCL's AIPQ Ultra Processor and featuring an anti-glare screen coating, this TV promises an unparalleled viewing experience, further enhanced by its 6.2.2-channel Dolby Atmos speaker system.
Samsung's Wall product series represents the pinnacle of microLED design, offering visuals that maintain their crispness and clarity, even at close range. This breakthrough addresses a common limitation in direct view LED video walls, where the visibility of individual LEDs and the gaps between them can diminish the viewing experience.
The Wall's microLED technology is a game-changer. Unlike conventional displays, Samsung’s microLED manufacturing process allows for a high density of micrometer-scale LEDs to be mass-transferred onto flat modules.
These modules fit together seamlessly, creating a uniform visual canvas that can be scaled to fit any space. The result is a display devoid of the usual seams, frames, or bezels, offering an uninterrupted and immersive viewing experience.
Samsung introduced a revolutionary 2D/3D gaming monitor, offering gamers the ability to enjoy 3D/VR content without additional accessories. This monitor, with its eye and head tracking technology, adjusts to provide optimal 3D effects based on the user's position and gaze. This innovation represents a significant stride in immersive gaming, compatible with existing VR games and Steam VR. Sitting in front of this monitor created an unexpected experience, with the glasses-less 3d giving me this urge to reach out and touch it, as the display seemed like a portal to another dimension sitting on the desk. Pictures cannot capture what we saw.
Hisense unveiled a groundbreaking technology at CES 2024, known as Dynamic Light Steering Technology, powered by Barco Bright. This innovation sets a new industry standard by offering peak brightness of 2,000 nits and dramatically improved contrast, resulting in dazzling highlights, richer midtones, and deeper blacks.
Unlike traditional laser TVs, Dynamic Light Steering doesn't rely on a larger light source but instead modulates illumination distribution in real time, focusing light away from shadows and into highlights. The result is a remarkable 10x contrast improvement over conventional laser TVs, providing an exceptional HDR viewing experience at home.
The Hisense 8K Sonic Laser TV sets a new standard in laser TV technology. This remarkable projector combines 8K technology with a massive 3.4㎡ sound-emitting area (the entire projector screen is a sort of planar speaker), creating an immersive cinematic experience like no other. Our listening experience was impressive, with the background noise of the CES show floor disappearing while simultaneously being enveloped in a sort of acoustic bubble.
With precise control over 33 million pixels, the Sonic Laser TV delivers lifelike picture quality, making it an optimal platform for 8K ultra-high-definition content. What truly sets it apart is the world's largest sound-emitting screen, providing a massive sound-emitting area and featuring a hundred thousand-level sound-emitting units.
This innovative projector not only displays exceptional visuals but also offers an enormous soundstage. It precisely locates sound sources, ensuring that whether it's a racing car or an airplane passing overhead, the audio is perfectly synchronized with the visuals, enhancing the overall immersive experience.
XGIMI wowed CES 2024 attendees with the HORIZON Max 4K projector. This product aims to deliver a premium home cinema experience at a reduced price while partnering with IMAX to provide the first IMAX Enhanced long throw projector in the world.
With a motorized gimbal base, this projector can rotate and tilt on its own. The ability to drop it in a spot, and let the projector itself not only auto-focus, but auto-locate, is an impressive convenience upgrade.
The HORIZON Max boasts twin light sources, Dual Light 2.0, combining a triple laser and a phosphor light, for an ultra-wide color gamut and reduced imperfections. With up to 3,100 ISO lumens brightness and a 2,000:1 contrast ratio, it ensures stunning visuals. With both incredible image quality and top-class convenience and usability, this is going to hot product in 2024.
The SVS Ultra Evolution series, featuring a range of high-performance loudspeakers, made a significant impact at CES 2024. The lineup includes the flagship Ultra Evolution Pinnacle, the Titan, and compact options like the Ultra Evolution Tower and Bookshelf models.
These speakers are engineered for exceptional audio clarity and deep bass, available in elegant finishes. The series also introduces the Ultra Elevation speaker, a versatile addition for height effects and surround sound in home theater setups.
With their back-firing woofers and chamfered front baffle, the Ultra's create an acoustic center and up the overall performance that firmly plants a flag in a different audiophile tier.
Eufy's X10 Pro Omni robot vacuum and mop stood out as a budget-friendly alternative in the smart home space. With features like automatic dustbin emptying, mop cleaning, and an impressive 8,000 Pa suction, it's a compelling choice for shoppers looking for high-end features without the premium price tag. The X10 Pro Omni's efficient mopping capabilities and "edge-hugging" feature further add to its appeal.
Anker's Soundcore Boom 2 speaker balances sound quality with practical features. It features a robust audio output, BassUp technology for enhanced bass, and dual LED lights. The Boom 2's 17-hour playtime, IPX7 waterproof rating, and its ability to float in water make it a versatile choice for outdoor and on-the-go use. It also doubles as a power bank, emphasizing its utility.
JBL made a significant splash at CES 2024 with the JBL Xtreme 4, earning the Best Outdoor Portable Speaker Award. This speaker introduces AI Sound Boost for real-time audio optimization, delivering powerful and clear sound.
With a replaceable battery providing 24 hours of playtime, Bluetooth 5.3, an IP67 rating, and multi-speaker connection capabilities, the Xtreme 4 is designed to thrive in any environment. What's more, JBL emphasizes its commitment to the environment by using recycled materials in its construction.
Victrola's Stream Sapphire, a high-end turntable, brings advanced features like Roon and UPnP integration, and streaming records to a wide range of devices.
Its support for 24-bit / 48kHz lossless FLAC audio and high-quality build materials, including an Ortofon Blue 2M cartridge, set it apart in the realm of premium audio equipment.
Sennheiser's MOMENTUM Sport earbuds are a boon for fitness enthusiasts. These true wireless earbuds feature real-time biometric feedback, including a heart rate sensor and body temperature sensor, integrating with popular fitness apps and devices. T
heir durable design, IP55 sweat and water resistance, and extensive battery life make them ideal for rigorous workouts.
CES 2024 has not only showcased the latest in home entertainment technology but also highlighted how these advancements are reshaping our interaction with media. From the transparency of LG's OLED T to the colossal size of TCL's QM891G, and to Samsung's innovative 3D gaming, CES 2024 has been a testament to the endless possibilities of technological innovation.
Each of these standout products from Home Theater Review's CES 2024 Awards promises to transform our homes into hubs of high-tech entertainment, bringing the future of multimedia into our living rooms. As we step into this new era of home entertainment, one thing is clear: the future is not just bright; it's vivid, seamless, and more immersive than ever before.
