Samsung HW-Q800D assessment: among the finest mid-range Dolby Atmos soundbars round
Samsung HW-Q800D: Two-minute assessment
The Samsung HW-Q800D is a mid-priced soundbar, carrying an inventory worth of $999 / £749 / AU$1,099, however don’t be fooled: you received’t get middle-of-the-road high quality. The truth is, this can be a really wonderful 5.1.2 channel Dolby Atmos soundbar, which boasts crisp vocals, rumbling bass and engrossing expansiveness. In case you’re seeking to unleash really cinematic sound into your residing house, look no additional than the Samsung HW-Q800D.
The Samsung HW-Q800D is a soundbar and subwoofer combo – rear audio system can be found, however should be bought individually. However regardless of the absence of rear channels, this soundbar nonetheless asserts a placing spatial impression. That’s partially because of implausible Dolby Atmos and DTS:X results, each of that are bolstered by upfiring audio system. When watching motion pictures, the positioning of on-screen characters and objects is mapped fantastically by the Samsung HW-Q800D. Atmos helps to create loads of width and verticality, so that you might be enveloped within the motion always. General audio high quality is top-drawer too, with super-clear voices, punchy deep bass and detailed musical efficiency all rolled into one.
On prime of that, the Samsung HW-Q800D has a feature-set that’s effectively as much as par with most of the finest soundbars. As an example, there’s SpaceFit Sound Professional, which makes use of the soundbar’s built-in mic to tailor audio to suit your room’s acoustics. However there’s additionally Samsung Q-Symphony, which may combine your latest Samsung TV’s audio system with the soundbar output for an much more expansive sonic expertise.
That’s to not point out a bunch of different choices, comparable to wi-fi Dolby Atmos with appropriate Samsung TVs, Recreation Mode Professional and Voice Assistant compatibility. However these options could, to some, appear extraordinarily acquainted. And that’s as a result of all of them have been obtainable with this soundbar’s predecessor, the Samsung HW-Q800C. This 2023 launch gives virtually the very same consumer expertise, simply with out non-region-locked Chromecast compatibility, and with upgraded Bluetooth connectivity (Bluetooth 5.2). So actually, the Samsung HW-Q800D is a slight refinement of an already nice product – so homeowners of the HW-Q800C needn’t improve.
For lots of players, the HW-Q800D can be a beautiful companion. You get a specialised sport mode which optimizes encompass sound for in-game motion and 4K HDR passthrough. Nevertheless, there’s no 4K 120Hz HDMI passthrough – that means you don’t get the last word next-gen gaming expertise by way of the HW-Q800D. That’s a disgrace, when Sony’s mid-range Bravia Theater Bar 8 gives this.
However this isn’t a game-breaking omission. And there have been none of these, in my opinion. Aside from a slight concern with subwoofer pairing, which I swiftly overcame, I had a blast throughout my time testing the Samsung HW-Q800D. The one different facet some could really feel unhappy with is its design. That’s as a result of the soundbar has fairly an angular, chunky design, slightly than a smooth, curved look you’d see with the Sonos Arc Extremely, as an example. Nevertheless, I personally felt that the soundbar’s excessive construct high quality and sturdy construct made up for what’s a solid-looking, however maybe not beautiful look.
General, the Samsung HW-Q800D is a beautiful-sounding, immersion-inducing soundbar system with a particularly reasonable price ticket. When you’ve got the money – together with a need for rear speaker channels – you may very well discover that the marginally extra premium Samsung HW-Q990D is healthier for you. And if you have already got the Samsung HW-Q800C, the small incremental enhancements aren’t value an improve. However for anybody else, this can be a soundbar that I can wholeheartedly suggest. Superior Atmos, unbelievable film or music efficiency, and a fountain of options – you may’t ask for way more.
Samsung HW-Q800D assessment: Worth & launch date
- Checklist worth of $999 / £749 / AU$1,099
- However often obtainable for significantly much less
- Launched in July 2024
The Samsung HW-Q800D is the South Korean firm’s mid-range soundbar providing for 2024. It has an inventory worth of $999 / £749 / AU$1,099 – not at all low cost, however not all too costly given the inclusion of a extremely competent subwoofer.
However excellent news – even when it solely launched this 12 months, you’re in all probability not going to should pay fairly a lot for the HW-Q800D. I’ve already seen it listed for $699 / £699 on Samsung’s US and UK website, making for a really tidy saving on a shiny new soundbar – and there appear to be additional reductions round throughout gross sales occasions.
Samsung HW-Q800D assessment: Specs
| Dimensions | Important soundbar: 43.7 x 2.4 x 4.7 inches / 1110.7 x 60.4 x 120mm; subwoofer: 8.3 x 15.9 x 15.9 inches / 210 x 403 x 403mm |
| Speaker channels | 5.1.2 |
| Connections | 1x HDMI enter, 1x HDMI eARC assist, digital optical, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Dolby Atmos/DTS:X | Sure/Sure |
| Sub included | Sure |
| Rear audio system included | No |
Samsung HW-Q800D assessment: Options
- 5.1.2 channel system with 360W whole energy output
- Efficient Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
- 4K HDMI passthrough, however not at 120Hz
The Samsung HW-Q800D is a real 5.1.2 channel system. Firstly, it has 5 channels on the primary soundbar: one within the heart; two extra on the entrance, on both facet of the middle; and two on every finish of the bar. Alongside that, it has two upfiring audio system on the highest of the soundbar and a devoted subwoofer.
This configuration helps to ship fantastically immersive audio – one thing solely improved by Dolby Atmos and DTS:X performance. When watching motion pictures, I discovered Atmos to be very efficient – you get unbelievable width from audio output, which follows on-screen motion very competently. The upfiring speaker drivers additionally add spectacular verticality for motion pictures and TV exhibits – however I’ll go into extra depth on that within the subsequent part.
If you’d like much more expansive sound, you may add the Samsung SWA-9500S rear audio system, however additional spend will not be needed for a encompass sound increase. That’s as a result of you may harness the facility of your TV – effectively, if it’s a choose Samsung mannequin from 2022-2024 – with Q-Symphony. This characteristic permits your HW-Q800D to work in tandem along with your TV’s inbuilt audio system for much more of a 3 dimensional output.
Q-Symphony, in fact, is a Samsung TV-exclusive – as is one other characteristic, dubbed Wi-fi Dolby Atmos. Once more, you want a appropriate Samsung TV launched after 2022 to make use of this, but it surely allows “pinpoint” supply of sound results wirelessly with out HDMI. It’s value noting, nevertheless, this can be compressed, not like the Atmos TrueHD obtainable with among the finest 4K Blu-ray gamers and a wired connection. In case you solely ever stream motion pictures, although, it will not make a distinction.
Maybe my favourite characteristic that this soundbar gives although is SpaceFit Encompass Professional. This harnesses the soundbar’s inbuilt mic, which listens to your room’s acoustics and optimizes sound in your house. SpaceFit Encompass Professional is mechanically on, so that you get spatial audio that’s fine-tuned to you from the get-go. The results of this are wonderful and I discovered that regardless of the place I sat in my small-medium-sized lounge, I used to be in a position to expertise immersive sound with out fail.
To not exhaust you, reader, however there’s a lot extra. Some highlights embody sound modes, which embody: Normal; Adaptive; Encompass; and Recreation. Adaptive makes use of AI to be able to assess the on-screen motion and ship tailor-made audio relying on content material. I discovered this mode to be significantly pleasing when watching information channels – with spectacular vocal readability on provide. And vocal readability is improved additional because of Energetic Voice Amplifier, or AVA. AVA identifies background noise in your atmosphere and calibrates audio in a method that emphasizes vocal readability – superb if somebody’s vacuuming within the room throughout, as an example.
I need to concentrate on Gaming, although. One sound setting, Recreation Mode Professional, adjusts audio output to supply a extra three-dimensional soundstage, so you may get a greater sense for the place in-game sound results are coming from. When taking part in Closing Fantasy VII Rebirth on PlayStation 5, I acquired a fantastic spatial impression, particularly throughout fight, which helped me to determine the motion, actions, and whereabouts of my foes. Samsung TVs with Recreation Hub assist are additionally in a position to change the soundbar to Recreation Mode Professional mechanically, which is a neat addition.
Sadly for players, nevertheless, the HW-Q800D leaves out one very helpful characteristic. I’m speaking, in fact, about 4K 120Hz HDMI passthrough. Positive, you get 4K HDR 60Hz passthrough right here and that’s going to be sufficient for lots of people, however if you need full next-gen capabilities, this received’t lower it.
This speaks to one thing extra usually – as robust as this soundbar’s feature-set is, virtually every little thing that’s right here was already current within the HW-Q800C. The one ‘main’ additions are non-region-locked, built-in Chromecast and an upgraded Bluetooth model (5.2). That’s it. Does that take-away from the HW-Q800D’s characteristic high quality? No, it really is exhaustive and brimming with choices. However what it does imply is that there’s just about no motive to improve if you have already got final 12 months’s mannequin.
Samsung HW-Q800D: Audio efficiency
- Crisp vocal readability and booming bass
- Nice for motion pictures and music alike
- Unbelievable Dolby Atmos results
This soundbar serves up a mighty sonic efficiency because of its 11 audio system and whole energy output of 360W. And you actually really feel that energy always, whether or not watching motion pictures and even simply listening to music – with the included sub offering some severe low-end growth.
As an example, I attempted watching High Gun: Maverick and the sound of jet engines firing up was deep, imposing and room-filling. Low-frequency audio was by no means skinny or torpid both – I discovered it to be pleasingly deep and responsive when jets soared by means of the skies, which added severe influence to combat-filled motion scenes.
Equally, I discovered bass to be wonderful when listening to music. The drum machine in Black Eye by Allie X is meant to be strikingly deep and the HW-Q800D does an outstanding job of replicating that. The dynamism of the track’s bass connecting as much as the decrease mid vary was additionally captured fantastically – so when you’re into bass-heavy bangers, this soundbar will doubtless lower it for you.
Sticking with music, I discovered Normal mode was completely as much as the duty, though Dynamic labored properly too. Past bass, issues are equally superior. I tuned into Clair de Lune by Kamasi Washington and felt that organ within the background had a refined but tremendous clear sound profile, with the sporadic piano taking part in additionally occupying a well-defined sonic pocket and the trumpet sounding pleasantly ahead. On prime of that, percussion was clear, rhythmic and tinniness free, tying up a non-grating, extremely pleasant pay attention. As you’d hope, there’s well-defined separation on provide from the HW-Q800D with a large, nuanced soundstage that stored me listening for hours.
However let’s transfer onto arguably essentially the most essential facet – spatial audio efficiency. This soundbar helps each Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, however I used to be primarily viewing content material with the previous. And Atmos results are sensible right here. When watching The Boy and the Heron, the trajectory of the heron’s flight was very effectively mapped and throughout the tension-filled opening, the roar of flames and sound of the protagonist – Mahito – working have been traced and fed again to me precisely and impactfully. In a fire-consumed space, each the width from the soundbar’s facet audio system and verticality from its upfiring ones performed into the scary, heart-racing ambiance of the opening scene, so you may haven’t any doubts in regards to the immersive nature of Atmos right here.
The one actual unfavourable by way of audio presentation is that you simply’re not getting rear audio system from the off. That lack of rear staging could really feel slightly unbalanced for some – however you should purchase SWA-9500S rear audio system individually and pair them if you wish to increase expansiveness additional. For me, sitting in a small-medium-sized room, nevertheless, I felt extremely happy with the soundbar and sub combo alone.
Extra usually, the sound high quality on provide from the HW-Q800D is wonderful. I tuned into stay information and located that vocal readability was superb, particularly in Adaptive mode – there was no tinniness or distortion to be discovered, even at excessive volumes. I additionally discovered instrumental and vocal separation to be top-notch when taking part in Closing Fantasy VII Rebirth on PS5. Close to a ranch, I might hear the sound of Chocobos strolling, wind flowing, gentle strings taking part in and characters talking – however all of it was simply discernible and expertly weighted. I briefly flicked again to my TV audio system and the standard distinction was astonishing – the HW-Q800D actually can rework your listening, viewing and gaming experiences.
General, the HW-Q800D is simply extra of the identical from its predecessor – however that’s a extremely optimistic factor. You’re getting deep, immersive audio, ultra-crisp vocals and attractive Atmos results in addition. Given you’re not really paying top-of-the-range worth, efficiency isn’t going to come back a complete lot higher – particularly you probably have the money so as to add these rear audio system into the combo.
Samsung HW-Q800D assessment: Design
- Robust construct high quality
- Although barely chunky and angular
- Metallic grilled end is enticing
This isn’t the most important soundbar and sub combo ever, but it surely’s undoubtedly on the hefty facet of issues. The soundbar itself is pointed, angular and pretty chunky – in truth I needed to place it on a shelf beneath my TV because it was too massive for my common setup. Nevertheless, you probably have a decently broad and lengthy TV unit, you shouldn’t have an excessive amount of bother becoming it in.
For some, the aforementioned angular, barely chunky look is likely to be a little bit of a turn-off. And I’d definitely argue it’s not essentially the most elegant or pleasing to the attention. What its aesthetic does say to me, although, is that you simply’re getting a sturdy, sturdy, high-quality bar – and it’s definitely all three of this stuff.
Equally, the included woofer is kind of a tall, broad beast. It’s acquired a felt-covered driver on its facet, in addition to a vent on its reverse facet and appears fairly clear general. Each the sub and foremost soundbar have the identical shade code as their predecessor – a barely grayish matte black that in my opinion, is classy-looking and fits its extra chunky look to a tee.
Samsung HW-Q800D assessment: Setup & usability
- Simple to manage in-app
- Neat, simple-to-use distant
- Personally skilled a problem with sub pairing
OK, one slight gripe I had with the Samsung HW-Q800D was associated to the setup course of. After hooking up the soundbar and sub to energy shops, I strapped in and acquired able to pay attention… however I immediately observed one thing. A definite lack of low-end punch. I quickly found, nevertheless, that this was as a result of subwoofer failing to sync up with the soundbar out of the field. Fortunately, a easy unplug and replug was sufficient right here – that means this was a fairly small concern general. Nonetheless, this was a setback and though most are unlikely to come across this, it was barely irritating for me.
In any other case, although, the Samsung HW-Q800D was simple to setup. I linked it to my TV utilizing HDMI eARC, that means I might use my typical TV distant to change quantity – a super-handy characteristic. There’s additionally an included wall bracket when you want that for a mounted setup.
This soundbar may be very straightforward to make use of, too. I used the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE to obtain the Samsung SmartThings app, which is effectively laid-out and easy to make use of if you wish to modify soundbar settings. You can even change encompass sound, tone, quantity and channel stage settings with the included distant, which is diminutive, smooth and tremendous responsive.
The soundbar itself additionally has controls, when you want them. It has an inbuilt mic which can be utilized to activate Amazon Alexa or Google voice assistants – and there’s a button to activate or deactivate this on prime of the bar. Alongside that, there’s additionally a quantity up and down button – each of that are well-sized and once more, very responsive.
Samsung HW-Q800D assessment: Worth
- Excellent efficiency for the value
- Extra rear audio system don’t come low cost
- Upgrades on predecessor extraordinarily minimal
For the value you pay, the Samsung HW-Q800D gives unbelievable efficiency for motion pictures and music alike. If you’d like detailed, expansive and super-clear audio, you get all of that, so even when it is nonetheless fairly the funding to spend roughly $699/£699/AU$1,099, you’re definitely getting your cash’s value.
Having mentioned that, it’s not all excellent news within the worth class. Now, when you resolve that you simply do need to add rear audio system to the bottom providing, you’re going to should cough up extra. Particularly, the Samsung SWA-9500S rear audio system value round $199/£199/AU$349, making the general value right here fairly hefty. After all, that is merely an choice, but it surely’s value allowing for if you need the total package deal.
One thing I’m extra vital of, nevertheless, is the true lack of enhancements over 2023’s already unbelievable Samsung HW-Q800C. Aside from some small incremental additions, that is virtually the identical product, so it’s not value upgrading to and if the last-gen mannequin is on the market for much less, you’re getting virtually equal quantity of bang for much less buck. So, even when it is wonderful for its class, the shortage of enchancment is a slight dampener right here.
Ought to I purchase the Samsung HW-Q800D?
| Part | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Options | Unbelievable array of choices obtainable, although no 4K 120HZ HDMI passthrough. | 4.5/5 |
| Audio efficiency | Placing, immersive audio with crisp vocals and extremely partaking Atmos results. | 5/5 |
| Design | Barely chunky, however design nonetheless screams class and high quality. | 4/5 |
| Setup & usability | I had a slight sync concern, however in any other case this soundbar is easy-to-use. | 4/5 |
| Worth | Restricted enhancements over predecessor however nonetheless among the finest in its worth vary. | 4/5 |
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Samsung HW-Q800D: Additionally think about
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Samsung HW-Q800D | Sonos Arc | Hisense AX5125H |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worth | $999 / £749 / AU$1,099 | $899 / £899 / AU$1,499 | $449 / £499 (round AU$599) |
| Dimensions | Important soundbar: 43.7 x 2.4 x 4.7 inches / 1110.7 x 60.4 x 120mm; subwoofer: 8.3 x 15.9 x 15.9 inches / 210 x 403 x 403mm | 45 x 3.4 x 4.5 inches / 1141.7 x 87 x 115.7mm | Important soundbar: 36.2 x 18.8 x 3.5 inches / 920 x 478 x 90mm; subwoofer: 8.5 x 12.3 x 11.9-inches / 210.5 x 310 x 300mm; satellites: 3.6 x 5.7 x 4.3-inches / 90.1 x 140.5 x 110mm |
| Speaker channels | 5.1.2 | 9.1.4 | 5.1.2 |
| Connections | 1x HDMI enter, 1x HDMI eARC assist, digital optical, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2 | 1x HDMI with eARC, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | 1x HDMI Out (eARC), 1x HDMI in, optical, USB, 3.5mm AUX, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Dolby Atmos/DTS:X | Sure/Sure | Sure/No | Sure/Sure |
| Sub included | Sure | No | Sure |
| Rear audio system included | Sure | No | Sure |
How I examined the Samsung HW-Q800D
- Examined over every week
- Built-in the soundbar into my common setup
- Used whereas watching motion pictures, streaming music over Bluetooth, and gaming
When testing the Samsung HW-Q800D, I had it hooked as much as my Hisense U7K TV by way of HDMI eARC. I additionally linked to the soundbar utilizing the Samsung SmartThings app on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, which allowed me to change settings and play music over Bluetooth.
The soundbar was positioned on a shelf beneath my TV in a small-to-medium-sized room, with the subwoofer positioned beside my TV unit. I examined solely the included soundbar and subwoofer, with none add-ons.
I attempted viewing, taking part in and listening to all kinds of content material throughout my testing time – which spanned over a week-long interval. I watched a variety of motion pictures and TV exhibits, performed video games on my PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Change and listened to music on Tidal with the Bluetooth connectivity choice. I tuned into the TechRadar testing playlist when assessing the standard of music on the HW-Q800D – which incorporates songs from all kinds of genres.
- Learn extra about how we take a look at
- First reviewed: November 2024
