Samsung HW-Q800A review: Samsung TV customers will glean the most out of this 3.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbar

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With its tight, right, and immersive sound, the $700 Samsung HW-Q800A makes for a compelling, compact, and efficiency-packed soundbar, though about a of its handiest techniques are reserved for these with Samsung TVs and smartphones. Packing Dolby Atmos and DTS:X make stronger, alongside with constructed-in Alexa and AirPlay 2, this 3.1.2-channel soundbar (upgradable to 5.1.4 with an not well-known wi-fi surround speaker kit) delivers prosperous, managed sound, whereas its low-profile housing will discontinuance it from blocking off the bottom of your TV display cloak cloak.

Sadly, about a of the Q800A’s most fascinating capabilities, together with its “Q Symphony” audio technology and room-correction efficiency, handiest work with Samsung TVs, that strategy owners of totally different TV manufacturers received’t glean the most bang for their bucks. That acknowledged, the Q800A’s $700 list mark is somewhat life like given its map dwelling, even whereas you don’t count the Samsung TV-enabled capabilities.

This review is share of TechHive’s coverage of the handiest soundbars. Click on that link to read evaluations of competing merchandise, alongside with a buyer’s info to the capabilities it is well-known to quiet resolve into narrative when browsing.

Specifications

The Samsung HW-Q800A is a 3.1.2-channel soundbar, that strategy it has discrete drivers for the left, upright, and middle channels (the “3” in the soundbar’s 3.1.2 designation), alongside with a subwoofer for low-frequency effects (the “.1”), and upfiring drivers for top effects (the closing “2”).

The principle soundbar unit has a complete of seven drivers, together with a pair of woofers and two tweeters which would be split between the left and upright channels, plus a giant-differ tweeter for the heart channel. Two more upfiring drivers (which snarl Samsung’s horn-type Acoustic Beam technology) jump hold forth the ceiling for the tip cues of object-basically based fully Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks, an more straightforward and much less expensive quite a lot of to installing valid top speakers to your ceiling. All seven of these drivers are powered by a quartet of Class D amplifiers, whereas a fifth Class D amp is dedicated to the 8-stagger driver in the wi-fi subwoofer.

On narrative of it lacks surround speakers, the HW-Q800A remixes Atmos, DTS:X, and 5.1-channel narrate material for its 3.1.2-channel configuration. Whenever you happen to respect to procure ravishing 5.1.4 surround sound (together with two rear top channels, for a complete of four), you will be in a dwelling as a plot to add Samsung’s $250 rear wi-fi speaker kit (SWA-9500S), though doing so will raise the soundbar’s overall mark as much as $950. That will per chance furthermore sound respect a range of cash (and it is), but the truth is that a premium 5.1.4-channel soundbar with Wi-Fi connectivity (which is what you’d discontinuance up with whereas you add the wi-fi speaker kit) will cost you a couple of thousand bucks for the time being.

Apart from the not well-known rear speaker kit, the HW-Q800A can sync up with the constructed-in speakers of “engage out” 2020 and 2021 Samsung TVs the utilization of a technology Samsung calls “Q-Symphony.” When paired together, the Q800A and a supported Samsung TV can raise “perfectly synchronized” sound for a “harmonious, cinematic abilities,” the manufacturer promises.

Sounds cold, but respect many who discontinuance up picking the Q800A, I don’t comprise a Samsung TV; as an quite a lot of, I even procure an LG C9 OLED TV. The upshot is that I wasn’t in a dwelling to study the Q800A’s Q-Symphony capabilities, and indeed, this isn’t the handiest efficiency on the soundbar that depends on either a Samsung TV or a cell phone. Those who don’t procure a fleshy-display cloak cloak Sammy in their lounge will have to resolve into narrative whether or not they’re OK with spending top dollar on a soundbar respect the Q800A with capabilities they received’t be in a dwelling to totally exhaust.

One in all the handiest qualities of the Q800A is its size: puny, barely speaking. Measuring 38.6 x 2.4 x 4.5 inches (WxHxD), the Q800A is mighty narrower and shorter than previous Samsung fashions I’ve tested. Bask in 2019’s HW-Q90R, a 7.1.4 soundbar that used to be so fleshy that it blocked a piece of my LG C9’s display cloak cloak. The Q800A, on the totally different hand (and respect Samsung’s newer soundbars, together with the pricier ones), has a mighty shorter profile that not incessantly grazes the bottom fringe of my LG OLED TV. But one more choice, for sure, would be to put in the soundbar beneath your wall-hung TV, which you will be in a dwelling to enact the utilization of the included wall mount info and bracket/screw kit.

Inputs and outputs

The HW-Q800A’s moderately hundreds of A/V and vitality interfaces take a seat within two rear cavities on the principle soundbar unit. Within the left cavity, you’ll get an optical digital (Toslink) input, a microUSB provider port for updating the soundbar’s firmware (you will be in a dwelling to also install firmware updates by potential of the internet), and a barrel-fashioned port for the unit’s DC 19V vitality adapter (which has an in-line vitality brick, that strategy there’s no wall wart on the categorical two-prong hurry). There’s no legacy RCA-type hurry, on the assorted hand, nor is there a 3.5mm audio jack, that strategy you received’t be in a dwelling to join the soundbar to older TVs that lack HDMI or optical connectors.

Ben Patterson/IDG

Talking of HDMI connectors, you’ll get two of them Within the Q800A’s left cavity, together with an HDMI input and an HDMI output that doubles as an HDMI-ARC interface, complete with make stronger for eARC, an “enhanced” version of ARC that helps lossless audio (you will be in a dwelling to read all about ARC and eARC on this totally different article).

The 2 HDMI connectors give you about a alternate choices for connecting video sources. One choice would be to join an HDMI component (akin to a streaming video participant, a Blu-ray participant, or a recreation console) straight to the soundbar, and then join the soundbar to the TV by potential of the HDMI output. The Q800A helps 4K HDR passthrough, together with HDR10+, but not Dolby Vision (no shock, provided that Samsung backs handiest the HDR10+ common). Whereas connecting a video offer straight to the soundbar is easy, the single HDMI input strategy you’ll be puny to a single offer—and indeed, we’d demand a soundbar on this mark differ to consist of not decrease than two HDMI inputs.

Ben Patterson/IDG

But one more choice would be to join the Q800A’s HDMI-ARC interface to the matching port on your TV and then join your complete video sources to the TV’s HDMI inputs. The great thing about this setup is that you’ll handiest be puny by the assorted of HDMI inputs on your TV (on the full three or more), and you’ll also be in a dwelling ship audio out of your TV’s constructed-in tuner and streaming apps (akin to, as an instance, Netflix, Amazon High Video, and Disney+) to the soundbar. And since the Q800A helps eARC, you would possibly per chance per chance per chance furthermore listen to lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks on Blu-ray discs by potential of the HDMI-ARC port, equipped your TV also helps eARC.

Setup

Inserting in a soundbar to your lounge is in total a straightforward direction of (that’s one of many most fascinating attractions of getting a soundbar in the first bid), and the HW-Q800A doesn’t come with any unwelcome surprises in the setup department.

As I discussed earlier, you will be in a dwelling to either bid the soundbar in front of your TV or install it beneath your TV with the included mounting materials. Next, you bid the wi-fi subwoofer (which, as continuously, has a vitality cord, that strategy it’s not fully wi-fi) in a handy situation in the room (with any luck not too shut to your couch, nor snuggled too shut to a wall or caught deep in a corner). As soon as you vitality both the soundbar and the subwoofer on, the two fashions have to quiet robotically pair with every totally different; if they don’t (they did for me), a straightforward guide pairing direction of have to quiet enact the trick.

After you join the Q800A to your TV (an HDMI and optical cable are included in the box) and the subwoofer is paired up, it’s time as a plot to add the soundbar to your Wi-Fi network, which you will be in a dwelling to enact the utilization of the Samsung SmartThings app. Fortunately, the direction of isn’t too sophisticated; the app speedy found the soundbar, and rapidly after entering my Wi-Fi credentials, the Q800A used to be linked and on-line.

A final setup choice is to join the Q800A to your TV by potential of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth in preference to a wired connection, though you’ll need (you guessed it) a Samsung TV to enact that.

Controls, faraway, and app management

On top of the Q800A are ravishing four buttons: a “multifunction” button that wakes the soundbar from standby mode as well to switches inputs; two quantity management buttons; and a mic-quiet button for Alexa that you will be in a dwelling to press for privateness.

Ben Patterson/IDG

The Q800A’s wand stays unchanged from previous years—indeed, it’s precisely the same faraway that came with 2019’s Q90R, among totally different fashions. Whereas totally different soundbar wands come cluttered with buttons, the Samsung faraway keeps it straightforward, opting for a central four-plot navigation pad, input and Bluetooth pairing buttons above, quiet and settings buttons below, a sound mode button (we’ll dip into the moderately hundreds of sound modes momentarily), and rockers for the principle soundbar and subwoofer quantity ranges. It’s a straightforward structure that’s easy to resolve out in the darkish.

Ben Patterson/IDG

Also unchanged is the Q800A’s three- to four-personality display cloak, which sits on the upright discontinuance of the soundbar, peeking out from the dark aluminum speaker grille. The indicator lights as much as demonstrate you the quantity level, detected sound layout, the most novel input, and the moderately hundreds of setting submenus. The display cloak is somewhat incandescent, however it goes to sleep after about a seconds, so it’s not distracting whereas you’re staring at a video. Under the display cloak is a blue light that flashes when Alexa is wide awake and listening to you. Whenever you press the mic-quiet button, this light turns red.

The Samsung SmartThings app is supposed more for natty residence management in preference to audio, but you can management some soundbar settings within the app. For example, you will be in a dwelling to change between the four sound modes (Fashioned, Surround, Game, and Adaptive Sound, which we’ll quilt in a tiny bit), as well to tweak bass and treble ranges and EQ sliders, alter the subwoofer level, and allow the advise enhancer, bass booster, and evening modes. The app also enables you as a plot to add the soundbar to a room to your SmartThings residence, grouped with natty lights and totally different natty devices.

Aspects and efficiency

The HW-Q800A comes with a complete lot of the perks we respect to peek in a premium soundbar, beginning with audio casting in the make of Apple’s AirPlay 2. That strategy you will be in a dwelling to forged audio to the Q800A from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, together with tunes from any installed music app, akin to those from Amazon Song, Spotify, Tidal, YouTube Song, or Apple Song. You are going to be in a dwelling to also neighborhood the soundbar with totally different AirPlay 2-enabled speakers in a multi-room audio setup. Chromecast isn’t supported, but that’s not gruesome; on the full speaking, soundbars will make stronger either AirPlay 2 or Chromecast, but not both. Whenever you happen to are an Android in preference to an Apple particular person, you will be in a dwelling to continuously movement tunes to the soundbar by potential of Bluetooth.

The Q800A also works as a Spotify Join system, that strategy you will be in a dwelling to tee up tunes from Spotify on practically any system and then handle the soundbar as the speaker output.

Apart from AirPlay 2 and Spotify Join, the Q800A comes with Alexa on board. To delivery, ravishing be half of with your Amazon credentials the utilization of the SmartThings app. As soon as you’re signed in, you will be in a dwelling to chat with Alexa on the soundbar ravishing as you doubtlessly can on any totally different Echo speaker, that strategy you will be in a dwelling to request regarding the climate, glean info headlines, add items to your browsing list, play music (supported providers and products consist of Amazon Song, Spotify, Deezer, and Tidal), or even management natty residence devices. You are going to be in a dwelling to also request Alexa to swap the soundbar’s quantity, quiet the audio, or flip the unit off, but the advise snarl is so clunky (“Alexa, dwelling quantity to 5 on Samsung soundbar”) that you’re at an advantage simply reaching for the faraway.

But one more hastily discover about Alexa on the Q800A: For now, her quantity is tied to the principle soundbar quantity, that strategy whereas you previously had the sound dialed up for a demonstrate or a movie, Alexa would possibly per chance per chance furthermore unbiased START SHOUTING AT YOU the subsequent time you wake her, except you remembered to flip the quantity attend down. Ideally, the Q800A would procure a discrete quantity setting for Alexa, and the upright info is that Samsung is “engaged on an answer for later this one year,” I’m instructed.

A couple totally different Q800A capabilities will (as with the “Q-Symphony” map) handiest work alongside side Samsung TVs and smartphones. SpaceFit Sound, as an instance, robotically calibrates the Q800A’s audio in accordance with the acoustics of the room; on the assorted hand, it requires a 2021 Samsung QLED TV (mannequin Q70+ or better), and as I even procure an LG TV, I wasn’t in a dwelling to study the map.

It’s worth noting that room-calibration capabilities for totally different high-discontinuance soundbars, akin to those from LG, Bluesound, and Sonos, don’t care what more or much less TV you would possibly per chance per chance per chance furthermore procure. You’ll encounter the same restriction with Samsung’s Faucet Sound map that permits you to faucet your Samsung cell phone (I even procure an iPhone) on the soundbar to instruct despite music is taking half in on the handset.

Click on right here for more regarding the Samsung HW-Q900A’s sound modes and audio efficiency

• With its tight, right, and immersive sound, the Samsung HW-Q800A makes for a compelling, compact, and efficiency-packed soundbar, though about a of its handiest techniques are reserved for these with Samsung TVs and phones.

  Pros

  • Tight, right sound
  • Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, AirPlay 2, and Spotify Join make stronger
  • Built-in Alexa
  • Low-profile accomplish

  Cons

  • Q-Symphony and room-correction capabilities handiest work with Samsung TVs
  • Merely one HDMI input (besides HDMI-eARC)
  • Alexa will get yowl-y if the principle quantity is too loud