Samsung UE55KS9000 review: 4K at its finest

Speakers, design and remotes

The KS9000 is endowed with a relatively beefy set of 60W speakers, but those after a truly thundering audio experience should probably consider adding the cost of a soundbar, as a lot of the bass tends to get lost when the sound’s mostly being fired down into the table.

It’s a shame since the KS9000’s floating stand design really does draw the eye. It means the KS9000 ends up taking up quite a fair bit of space, as most of the stand stretches back behind the main display, but its metal finish lends the TV that sense of luxury cheaper TVs can’t match.

Having said that, it took a fair bit of elbow grease to assemble the stand correctly. I had to press down hard on the rear plastic chassis to make sure the screws were engaged fully and securely. It’s not a huge issue in the grand scheme of things – you often only need to assemble a TV once, after all – but considering we also had a problem with the feet on the KS7500, it’s clear Samsung could do a bit more to make assembling these TVs a bit easier.

And I’m not a huge fan of Samsung’s new Smart Remote, either, as this has ditched Samsung’s old intuitive motion controls for voice recognition. I found these didn’t work well at all, but luckily the KS9000 also comes with a traditional standard remote as well, which is much more responsive and easier to use.

Connections

As with many of Samsung’s other curved TVs, the KS9000 has hardly any ports on the back. Instead, they’re largely consigned to one of Samsung’s dedicated OneConnect boxes, which connects to the TV with a proprietary cable. The KS9000’s OneConnect box provides four HDMI 2.0 ports with HDCP 2.2 support (one of which also supports ARC), aerial and satellite tuners, an optical S/PDIF output for connecting another piece of audio equipment and two USB ports. You’ll also find another USB port on the back of the TV, along with an Ethernet port and CI slot.

Smart Hub

Samsung has completely redesigned its Smart Hub this year, making it easier to use than ever before. It’s one of my favourite Smart TV systems and the Tizen operating system that underpins it is both quick and responsive. Tap the Smart Hub button on the remote and you’ll see a list of sources and a row of your most recently used apps appear at the bottom of the screen, allowing you to keep on watching without missing out on the action.

As well as Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4 and Demand 5, you’ll also find apps such as Plex, YouTube, PlayStation Now, GameFly, TuneIn Radio and Deezer to name just a few, so you should be well catered for when it comes to entertainment and catch-up services.

Verdict

Stand and remote issues aside, the KS9000 is an outstanding TV. Picture quality is excellent straight out of the box, and it didn’t take any time at all to bring out its full potential. However, when the 55in model of the KS9000 costs £1,999, it faces stiff competition from Panasonic’s equally brilliant DX902B, which is available in 58in for around the same price.

Looking for something cheaper? Check out our Best TVs 2017 article

The DX902B isn’t as streamlined as the Samsung KS9000, but its picture quality is just as, if not more impressive and you’re also less likely to run into viewing angle problems because it’s flat. As a result, the DX90B just inches ahead in my estimation, but the KS9000 if your preference is for curved screens.