Samsung HW-Q800A Soundbar Review | The comparison

Samsung HW-Q800A Soundbar Review | The comparison

2 minute exam

If you are a movie lover, The Q800A is arguably the most powerful, punchy, detailed and effective soundbar you can get at this cost.. Its subwoofer also backs things up with massive amounts of bass, and the system is so well made that its massive output doesn't cause any issues with rattle, hum, or distortion, even when playing action movies at crazy speeds and volume levels. . More musical souls may prefer a slightly less violent soundbar with a bit more high-fidelity sophistication behind it, like the Sonos Arc. Otherwise, the Q800A perfectly ticks the "huge sound from a solid speaker" box. Especially if you pair it with one of Samsung's new premium TVs.     The design of the Q800A trim looks really good in its grilled finish and should suit most televisions without obscuring the image or infrared receivers. Samsung has not incorporated as many loudspeaker channels as one or 2 opponents, for example, while the Q800A gives a system of 31 channels, the only The slightly more expensive LG SP9YA has a 51 system. However, Samsung's Acoustic Beam technology is free to make the Q800A appear to be delivering more audio channels than it really is by pushing tone channel information through 56 separate holes, creating a larger, more spread out soundstage. . If you have a Samsung TV that can take advantage of the new Space Fit / Adaptive Sound + automatic sound optimization features, the Q800A can also produce more engaging, immersive and fuller sound than its Q800T forerunner. As you would expect from a soundbar with height channels, the Q800A supports DTS:X and Dolby Atmos decoding. There is also full compatibility with eARC, integrated Amazon Alexa voice control and a new and improved upgrade path that lets you add 2.0-channel rear speakers, with power drivers, instead of the previous upgrades to free 2.0.0 channels. the preceding years. The sound of the Q800A is precise, powerful and active enough to feel the full weight of each one of their thirty-one free channels. The sound gives a real sense of height and spaciousness, while the 8-inch subwoofer delivers some of the deepest rumble the world of soundbars has to offer. It doesn't sound particularly different from the 800 Q2020T, unless you're using it with a Samsung Q70A or better TV. Since the Q800T was already an unusual sound bar, the saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" applies. While not a departure from or radical advancement from its predecessor, the Q800A is nonetheless a soundbar of uncanny power and precision that manages to hold its own at its $899 starting price, €990 / €799 / AU$1990 is a very good value for money. samsung hw-q800a (Image credit: LaComparacion)

Samsung HW-Q800A price and availability

The HW-Q800A is now free in each and every one of the prime territories and it's going to be the flagship soundbar offering from Samsung until the time when the brand's Q900A and Q950A models arrive at the end of the year. It retails for $899,99 in the US, €799 in the UK and AU$1190 in Australia. This brings you the ultimate 5 channel sound barapart from a substantial wireless subwoofer. You can also add two optional SWA-9500S wireless rear speakers equipped with front and ascending lights for $299,99 / €249 / AU$499. The Q800A replaces the 800 Q2020T model, which also offered a 31-channel soundbar solution with DTS:X and Alexa built-in. It improves on its predecessor at the same cost by introducing an active voice amplifier function, an adaptive sound optimization system + / SpaceFit and an improved rear speaker upgrade path. It offers no obvious physical changes in design concept or speaker configuration. sound bar samsung (Image credit: LaComparacion)

Integrated

The HW-Q800A appears to be identical to the 800 Q2020T.Its dimensions are exactly the same (980W) 980 x 70 x 55 mm (W x H x D), which allows it to fit under the screen of most televisions. Its images or infrared receivers. His own statue, where the top front edge slopes downward to optimize the dispersion of height channels, is exactly the same. Their grilled finish is also exactly the same. Even the big subwoofer, with its 8-inch speaker, is exactly the same as it is with the Q800T. This is perhaps a little disappointing in that it suggests that Samsung hasn't made any significant internal hardware changes since 2020. In terms of pure form factor, though, we were really keen on the Q800T's design. So, naturally, we are fans of the same Q800A. The main sound bar and the subwoofer are very resistantAlthough the subwoofer is not particularly attractive (few are), you can hide it on the side of the sofa or under a table to help without necessarily deteriorating the sound. It's great to see that the Q800A holds a small LED readout on its front edge.. Thank goodness Samsung didn't do what it did with its Q950T soundbar last year and put the LED on the top edge where you can't see it when you're sitting down. sound bar samsung (Image credit: LaComparacion) Most Q800A buyers will simply place the soundbar on the surface their TV sits on. However, if you want to mount it on the wall, Samsung provides the necessary bracket and screws. The loudspeaker installed in the Q800A continues to resemble that of the Q800T. The 2-drive array offers front left, front right, center and 1 height channels on the main soundbar, while the external subwoofer provides bass channel 330, all powered by a total of 299,99W. At $249 / €499 / AU$9500, assistants can add Samsung's new optional XNUMXT rear speakers, each adding a driver facing up and facing forward to better deliver this hemisphere of sound effect so essential for a full Dolby Atmos experience. The optional rear of the Q800T does not have speakers. Samsung soundbar review (Image credit: LaComparacion)  

Features

The Q800A also distinguishes itself from its predecessor with its new Adaptive Sound + / Space Fit system to optimize sound according to local environmental conditions. However, keep in mind that this feature is only available if the soundbar works with one of Samsung's new QLED TVs (from the Q70A series). Partly because it relies on the TV's built-in processing and microphone, and partly because it's more about optimizing how the TV and soundbar work together in perfect Q-Symphony mode. . From Samsung is a formal "Auto EQ" room calibration system Also new to the Q800A, an automatic voice amplifier that can detect when there's a lot of ambient noise in the room and boost vocals accordingly, so you don't miss any key dialogue. Like its predecessor, the Q800A supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X decoding, compatible with eARC technology to transmit object-based lossless sound via HDMI from eARC TVs. The HDMI system also supports transmission of all major HDR formats, including HDR10+ and Dolby Vision.. However, it's a bit disappointing to find only one HDMI input for eARC-compatible HDMI output. We think it's not too much to ask for two HDMI inputs at this price, even when eARC is available.

Specification

Although it is good to find the Q800A's HDMI loop-through supporting HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision three types of high dynamic range technologyGamers should note that it can't pass 4K at 120Hz or variable refresh rates. But there's no HDMI on any other sound bar either,You can still use eARC to get 4K/120Hz/VRR game audio through your TV on the sound bar. The only other physical connection is an optical audio input, although unsurprisingly there is Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and AirPlay 2 wireless connectivity. In this Wireless connectivity is most efficiently accessed using the Samsung Smart Things app for iOS/Android, which also makes it much moreEasier to install the Q800A on your home network compared to the Samsung sound bars of yesteryear. SmartThings also enables direct streaming through the soundbar from various music services including Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music and Samsung Music, the soundbar is capable of playing any and all audio file types from high resolution popular. If you are not listening to a Dolby Atmos or DTS source: X, you can choose between four different sound processing modes. Standard, as you would expect, simply plays the incoming sound "as is", without any additional processing. Surround remixes sub-Dolby Atmos/DTS:X sources to take advantage of all available speakers. Adaptive Sound analyzes incoming audio sources and continually tries to optimize them for the soundbar's specific sound characteristics. finally there is a way Game Pro that makes game soundtracks more immersive. samsung hw-q800a (Image credit: LaComparacion)

Audio performance

Starting with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks, the Q800A proves to be exceptionally powerful for such a compact soundbar. It can comfortably reach levels of volume and dynamic range during action scenes that are difficult to reconcile with its slim build, reaching far beyond the point where even the most enthusiastic home theater fanatic's ears would probably want to reach comfortably. All without a hint of distortion or harshness even in the thickest of areas wherever you place it.

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