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The wide main soundbar delivers audio with a fantastic amount of detail, power and dynamic range, the latter of which helps it blend in superbly with the monumental bass output by the subwoofer. A subwoofer which, by the way, features a so-called acoustic lens over its driver to help its bass sound smoother and less directional. Otherwise, though, setup is pretty straightforward. Especially if you install Samsung’s SmartThings app on your phone, which provides a nice menu system to support the pleasingly simple layout of the soundbar’s small, slim remote control. The soundbar also carries built-in support for the Alexa voice control system, and can additionally work with Google Assistant voice control via external listening devices. The Q930B delivers a huge 9.1.4-channel count, courtesy of a 7.2-channel main soundbar, a large wireless subwoofer, and wireless rear speakers equipped with two channels each. It also spreads a healthy 540W across all those channels, while its connections include an HDMI passthrough capable of supporting 4K HDR signals up to 60Hz. The Samsung HW-Q800C is simple to setup, with the subwoofer connecting automatically, and the SmartThings app discovering the Wi-Fi network without any issues. SpaceFit Sound Pro is also effective, using test tones to calibrate the system and eliminate the more egregious aspects of the room, thus ensuring the soundstage is balanced and the bass properly integrated.
The subwoofer lays down a solid foundation of bass that feels tight and controlled, with no signs of delay caused by the wireless connection. Thanks to the automated room correction, the low frequencies are also integrated well and cross over smoothly with the other speakers. Although depending on where the sub is positioned, you may need to tweak the bass level a little. That's even though the bass features some truly epic rumbles from the Q800C’s subwoofer. The 8-inch driver reaches prodigious low frequency depths that provide action scenes with a huge sense of scale and heft. It does so, moreover, without either hanging too loosely off the bottom of the main soundbar’s lowest frequencies, or sounding flattened or compressed when the going gets really tough. This is because as TVs have become slimmer, their in-built speakers have shrunk and are often positioned at the rear or underneath the screen - hardly the ideal position as large speakers that face forward will always be clearer and louder than tiny speakers pointing in another direction. The Samsung HW-Q800C is equipped for all advanced movie audio formats. (Image credit: Future) Samsung HW-Q800C review: Features
Our pick of the best Samsung soundbars to buy regardless of whether or not you own one of the company's TVs
Generally, soundbars are a single long speaker with several drivers inside but some come with external subwoofers for extra low-end extension and rear speakers for surround sound effects whereas others are compatible with other speakers from within the manufacturer's brand. If floor-shaking bass is high on your priority list then these are models you'll want to consider. The Samsung HW-Q800C hides a lot of speakers under that grille. (Image credit: Future) Samsung HW-Q800C: Audio performance The optional rears are perhaps a touch expensive relative to the rest of the system - though they do add up-firing drivers as well as regular forward firers. So on a per-channel basis, maybe the wireless rear additions aren’t actually that expensive after all – but ultimately, they're optional. The SF150 also features Sony's S-Force Front Surround technology, which applies processing to give the acoustic impression of a more encompassing sound stage. While there is no replacement for surround sound,it adds a dramatic sense of weight and separation. We’re also impressed by the width afforded by the virtual surround technology. It’s no match for real surround speakers, but as Dennis Nedry makes his escape through the driving rain you’re almost convinced that sound is coming from either side of you. Later, the herd of Gallimimus sweeps past the camera and the sound moves from one side to the other.
Different models in Samsung’s range support different levels of connectivity – so make sure the model you go for can cater for all the connections your particular home entertainment setup needs. These can include HDMI ports, optical digital audio inputs, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Manufacturers have tried, with varying success, to enhance the audio coming from their televisions. But, if you want to improve TV audio, you need a separate speaker designed for that purpose. That’s where Samsung’s HW-C450 comes in. It’s a 2.1-channel system that aims to deliver a convincing home cinema experience from a discreet wall-mountable soundbar and a wireless powered subwoofer. It is not, however, an ‘all-in-one’ system per se, as there’s no built-in Blu-ray or DVD player – it’s a speakers-only solution for those who already own a player but are fed up listening to it through their TV’s weedy speakers.
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Read the full Roku Streambar review How to choose a soundbar How to choose the best TV soundbar for you Next, features and connectivity. Many modern TV soundbars boast ARC and eARC-enabled HDMI ports, which can handle high bandwidth multichannel audio formats as well as optical inputs for older TVs. If your TV has ARC/eARC, you'll be able to control the volume of your soundbar with your existing remote control. It's worth considering if having a separate physical remote for the soundbar is important to you or if you're comfortable with controlling settings from a smartphone app. Assuming you’re in the market for a soundbar first and foremost to bring movies and TV shows to life, the Q800C represents excellent value. It undercuts its rivals, despite serving up the most powerful, impactful and accurately presented Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound stage I’ve heard from a two-piece soundbar system. The Samsung HW-Q800C’s main soundbar has been sat beneath 75-inch Samsung QN900B TV, which for most of the testing period has sat in a middle of the wall position rather than in a corner, to give the side-firing drivers more space to deliver their sound. The subwoofer has been tried in a variety of positions, both to the side and behind the main test seating position – though in the end it delivered the best results when placed to the side of TV, in front of my seating position.
Households across the globe are turning to soundbars in their droves and this surge in popularity has been enthusiastically embraced by manufacturers across the AV and Hi-Fi world, with models of all shapes and sizes now available catering to a broad range of budgets. Key specs – Elements: Soundbar, subwoofer; Channel configuration: 3.1.2; Stated power: 330W; Connections: 1 x HDMI output, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi; HDMI passthrough support: N/A; HDMI ARC support: eARC; Dimensions (WDH): Soundbar – 1160 x 40 x 38mm, subwoofer – 238 x 238 x 241mm; Weight: Soundbar – 1.4kg, subwoofer – 6.4kg The Samsung HW-Q800B's angled sides are quite severe, but they help with the sound, so who's complaining. (Image credit: Future) Samsung HW-Q800C review: Design While genuine overhead sounds are perhaps a stretch too far for this petite performer, its virtual delivery of the Atmos format outstrips any similarly priced soundbar and even a few that are more expensive. The Beam Gen 2 offers an enveloping, spatial soundscape with rich, detailed audio as well as tangible motion and depth. As we found when reviewing the latest Beam, "the soundstage is expansive and we try pairing the new Beam both with larger 55-inch and 65-inch screens, as well as a more modest 43-incher, and it enhances the cinematic scale and viewing experience for all three". The two HDMI ports are recessed well underneath, for easy cable management. (Image credit: Future) Samsung HW-Q800C review: Setup & usabilitySamsung’s soundbars with HDMI passthrough typically support HDR10+ though, and most also support Dolby Vision. At the time of writing, no Samsung soundbars support 4K/120Hz passthrough. With its wide range of supported audio formats, the A7000 excels itself and includesDolby Atmos(in both the Digital+ and TrueHD formats),DTS:X, LPCM, hi-res wireless audio and Sony 360 Reality Audio. Add in HDMI passthrough and Bluetooth/Wi-Fi support, and the Q990B gives you the features and performance of a very decent speaker/AV receiver system for a fraction of the price and inconvenience. The main bar component features a very angular look emphasised by the sharpness of its edges, and the pointed look of each of its ends. Some might have preferred a softer look, but I kind of like the aggressiveness of it. And the angling of the end portions has a practical aspect to it, of course, as it enables the soundbar to optimize the positioning of its side-channel effects.
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