In theaters, everything is elevated; it provides a more lifelike experience, especially during action sequences and horror films. Imagine bringing a theater-like experience to your home. This is where soundbars come into play, which delivers a cinematic experience with every movie and series you watch. While numerous companies in the market offer impressive and alluring soundbar options, Samsung has managed to capture the attention of its customers with its expansive range of soundbars. Here, we will review the Samsung hw-q800c soundbar and delve into Samsung’s adaptive sound system.
What will you see here?
Overall Summary Review of Samsung HW-Q800C Soundbar
The Samsung HW-Q800C is an advanced 5.1.2-channel soundbar designed to deliver a truly immersive audio experience. With support for both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X surround sound technologies, this main bar takes your home entertainment to the next level. One of its standout features is the incorporation of a wireless subwoofer, which adds powerful bass to your audio, making action scenes in movies and music come to life with a thumping impact.
What sets the Samsung Q800C apart is its integration of Q-Symphony technology into this soundbar. When the soundbar is paired with a compatible Samsung TV, it works in perfect harmony and delivers a synchronized audio experience that makes you feel like you're in an action sequence. Now, let's delve into a detailed breakdown of its features.
- Immersive Sound
- Q-Symphony Technology
- Versatile sound modes
- Active voice amplifier
- Compatibility
- Lack of 4K/120Hz HDMI passthrough
- Not as musical as some competitors
Specs at a Glance
| Price | $747.99 |
| Weight | Soundbar: 11.2 lbs. Subwoofer: 21.6 lbs. |
| Dimensions | Soundbar: 43.7 x 2.4 x 4.7 inches, Subwoofer: 8.3 x 15.9 x 15.9 |
| Channels | 5.1.2 |
| Connectivity | 1 HDMI input, 1 HDMI ARC, Digital Audio Input, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Airplay |
| Features | Q-Symphony, SpaceFit Sound, Hi-Res Audio Decoding, Active Voice Amplifier (AVA), 4K HDR10+, and Dolby Vision passthrough |
| Video Feature | 4K Video Pass through, HDR 10+ |
| Sound Mode | Surround Sound Expansion, Game Pro, Standard, and Adaptive |
| No. of Speaker | 11 |
| Voice Assistants | Alexa and Google Assistant |
Price and Availability
The Samsung HW-Q800C was released globally in the summer of 2023. The HW-Q800C is a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbar with a wireless subwoofer. It is the successor to the Samsung HW-Q800B, released in 2022.
The HW-Q800C was originally priced at $999.99 (USA) and £849 (UK). However, it has recently undergone a significant and seemingly permanent price reduction, with the current price set at $747.99* in the USA and £559.00* in the UK. These lowered prices significantly enhance the Q800C’s competitiveness and appeal, especially considering the fierce competition within the mid-range soundbar category.
Unlike the Samsung HW-Q990C, the HW-Q800C doesn’t include rear speakers. If you want rear speakers, you can buy an SWA-9500S rear speaker. Each of these speakers is equipped with an up-firing driver and the standard forward-facing driver. This results in a 7.1.4 system configuration.
Design Review of Samsung HW-Q800C Soundbar
The design of the Samsung HW-Q800C soundbar appears to be familiar, resembling previous generations of Samsung soundbars. However, the soundbar boasts an impressive combination of design and build quality. While primarily composed of plastic, the soundbar’s body doesn’t compromise durability. A notable feature enhancing its durability is the presence of metal grilles covering the speakers. These grilles add a touch of sophistication to the design and protect the delicate speaker components from potential damage.
In terms of dimensions, the Samsung HW-Q800C measures 43.7 x 2.4 x 4.7 inches and weighs 11.2 pounds. It’s not the most compact soundbar on the market, but it is still relatively slim and compact enough to fit comfortably beneath most TVs. This design aspect allows for a clutter-free appearance while maintaining a presence that complements the aesthetics of your TV.
The accompanying wireless subwoofer, playing a crucial role in enhancing sound quality, consists mostly of wood, adding to its durability and contributing to a more premium feel. It measures 8.3 x 15.9 x 15.9 inches and weighs 21.6 pounds. This might be slightly bulkier than some other subwoofers. But its sturdiness and construction quality make it a worthwhile addition to the overall package.
The touch-sensitive control panel on the top of the soundbar is a user-friendly addition, offering easy access to essential functions and controls. Furthermore, placing ports on the bottom of the soundbar is a thoughtful design choice. This ensures easy access for connectivity while maintaining a clean and uncluttered look. The wireless subwoofer features a single control knob on the back for volume adjustments, adding a touch of simplicity and convenience to its operation. Hence, the Samsung HW-Q800C soundbar excels in both design and build quality.
Sound Quality
The primary consideration for customers when making a purchase is often sound quality. And why not? If you’re investing this much, then why settle for less? Fortunately, Samsung is acutely aware of this and adapts to delivering customer satisfaction in this regard!
The Samsung HW-Q800C is a versatile 5.1.2-channel soundbar that boasts impressive audio technologies. The soundbar comes equipped with 11 speakers, which include seven upward-firing speakers for Atmos effects. It also has a wireless subwoofer designed to create a captivating audio experience for your home theater.
In terms of sound quality, the Samsung HW-Q800C delivers impressive performance. It delivers a clear and balanced soundstage, ensuring that audio is distributed evenly throughout your room. Plus, the sound separation between the channels is also well executed. The subwoofer of the Q800C produces bass that delivers truly impressive and epic rumbles. However, there might be moments when it feels overwhelming, particularly during intense action scenes.
One of the standout features of the soundbar is that it offers a range of sound modes to cater to various entertainment needs. The standard mode is a versatile choice suitable for most scenarios. In contrast, the surround sound mode implies the movie mode, immersing you further in the films, and the game mode minimizes audio lag, optimizing your gaming sessions. The Q800C’s musicality is enhanced over previous Samsung soundbars thanks to its Adaptive Sound mode.
However, its main bar components aren’t as powerful as the Q990C system, but they still add a noticeable sense of height, elevating movie and gaming experiences.
Overall, the Samsung HW-Q800C is an enticing choice for individuals seeking a versatile soundbar loaded with features, especially considering its appealing price point.
Features
In this in-depth Samsung HW-Q800C Soundbar review, let’s dig into its core audio capabilities. Now, let’s examine the detailed breakdown of its features.
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
The Samsung HW-Q800C has advanced audio processing technology capable of decoding both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio formats, creating a three-dimensional sound experience. Dolby Atmos utilizes overhead speakers to surround you with sound from all directions, while DTS:X utilizes sound objects to create a rich and immersive audio environment. So, you can enjoy movies, TV shows, and music with a truly captivating and immersive soundstage.
Q-Symphony
This feature allows the Samsung HW-Q800C to work harmoniously with your Samsung TV’s speakers to create a more immersive sound experience. This is especially beneficial for Samsung TVs that support Dolby Atmos and DTS: X. When Q-Symphony is enabled, the HW-Q800C and your TV’s speakers work together. This collaboration enhances the audio experience by expanding the soundstage, making it more encompassing and lifelike.
SpaceFit Sound Pro
The Samsung HW-Q800C offers an innovative room optimization feature called SpaceFit Sound Pro. This feature utilizes your smartphone’s microphone to analyze the acoustic properties of your room. By understanding the room’s size, shape, and sound reflections, the HW-Q800C can intelligently optimize its audio output. This results in a well-balanced and immersive audio experience, providing that the sound quality is exceptional regardless of your room’s size.
Active Voice Amplifier (AVA)
AVA is designed to ensure clear dialogue delivery even in noisy surroundings. It uses an integrated microphone to analyze the ambient sound in your room and adjust the soundbar’s output. This feature comes to the rescue in noisy environments by boosting the dialogue volume, ensuring that spoken words remain clear and audible. It is especially useful for watching content with subtitles or enjoying music in a crowded room.
Hi-Res Audio Decoding
Audio enthusiasts will also appreciate the Hi-Res Audio Decoding feature, which allows you to enjoy high-quality audio files. These high-quality audio files offer a broader frequency range and higher bit depth than standard audio files. This capability results in a more detailed and immersive listening experience that brings out the subtleties of your favorite music.
4K Pass-Through
For those who also demand high-quality video, the HW-Q800C also offers 4K video pass-through. It can seamlessly transmit 4K video signals to your TV. It’s worth noting that the soundbar can pass 4K video at a 60Hz HDMI passthrough but not at 4K@120Hz, which is a limitation to consider. However, this feature is rare to find in soundbars, though it’s worth mentioning that some of Sony‘s soundbars do offer this capability.
Game Mode Pro
Finally, gamers will find the game mode feature particularly adorable. This mode optimizes the sound output of the HW-Q800C for gaming, enhancing in-game sound effects such as footsteps and gunshots to make your gaming experience more immersive and lifelike. Additionally, Game Mode reduces latency, ensuring you can react to in-game events in real-time, providing a competitive edge for gamers.
In summary, the Samsung HW-Q800C soundbar offers a comprehensive suite of features to deliver an immersive and high-quality audio experience, whether watching movies, listening to music, or enjoying other content in various room environments.
Setup and connectivity
The Samsung HW-Q800C soundbar provides users with a wide range of connectivity options, making it a versatile and adaptable audio solution for various home entertainment setups. The most straightforward and common method is through HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel), which simplifies the connection process by using a single HDMI cable to transmit audio and video signals between the soundbar and the TV.
Additionally, the soundbar offers alternative connectivity methods, such as the optical digital audio input, which involves using an optical cable to link the TV’s audio output to the soundbar. This option is reliable, particularly for older TVs without HDMI ARC support.
For those who don’t like cable clutter, the Q800C also features wireless connections. The soundbar can connect to your home network via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, allowing for seamless pairing with mobile devices and other Bluetooth-enabled sources and providing the convenience of cable-free music streaming for music and other content. To set up Bluetooth, users must enable the feature on both the soundbar and their mobile device and select the soundbar from the device list.
In addition, the setup process for the Q800C is relatively straightforward. It’s especially streamlined if you install Samsung’s SmartThings app on your phone, as it offers a user-friendly menu system that complements the pleasantly simple layout of the soundbar’s compact remote control.
The Samsung HW-Q800C soundbar offers a comprehensive array of connectivity options with a user-friendly setup, ensuring users can easily tailor their setup to suit their specific preferences and devices.
Support for voice assistants
Another outstanding feature of the Samsung HW-Q800C soundbar is its support for voice assistants. The Samsung HW-Q800C soundbar integrates support for both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice assistants, providing a convenient way to manage and control your audio experience through voice commands. This advanced feature allows you to perform various tasks like adjusting the volume, playing music, or fine-tuning settings without navigating through menus or manually reaching for a remote control.
To initiate the voice assistant, you can easily activate it by pressing and holding the Voice button on the soundbar’s remote control. Once activated, you can speak your desired command, and the soundbar will promptly respond. For example, you can say, “Play my favorite playlist,” to start your preferred music selection. This hands-free control adds convenience and ease to your audio entertainment.
The Samsung HW-Q800C soundbar’s functionality doesn’t stop there; it supports AirPlay 2 and Spotify. This feature enables seamless music streaming from your Apple or Android devices. This integration simplifies sharing your favorite tunes from your device ecosystem to the soundbar. This eliminates the need for additional cables or complex setups.
How do I use Dolby Atmos with my Samsung HW-Q800C?
To use Dolby Atmos with your Samsung HW-Q800C, you need to ensure that your TV and soundbar are compatible with Dolby Atmos. You must also connect the soundbar to your TV using the HDMI ARC port. Once you connect the soundbar, you can enable Dolby Atmos on your TV.
Is the Samsung HW-Q800C Soundbar worth the price?
The Samsung HW-Q800C is a premium soundbar with a premium price tag. However, it is also one of the best soundbars on the market. It offers excellent sound quality, support for all the latest audio technologies, and a wide range of features. If you are looking for the best possible soundbar experience, the Samsung HW-Q800C is worth considering.
Conclusion-The Final Samsung HW-Q800C soundbar review
To conclude, the Samsung HW-Q800C soundbar review emerges as an impressive soundbar with many features. Whether it supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X surround sound to create a more immersive audio experience for movies or a game mode feature that makes your gaming experience more realistic, with its sleek design and diverse sound mode features, it enables users to customize modes per their preferences. Furthermore, its compatibility with voice assistants improves its versatility and utility. Hence, the Samsung HW-Q800C is an excellent option for a mid-range soundbar.
However, if you’re seeking a more immersive audio experience and budget is not your concern, you might want to explore alternative soundbar options.
Read More:
Samsung HW-Q800C Soundbar: Immersive Audio Excellence!
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Sound Quality
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Design
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Subwoofer
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connectivity
Summary
The Samsung HW-Q800C Soundbar is a high-performance audio bar that delivers impressive sound quality. Beyond its core audio capabilities, it comes equipped with several valuable features. Also, its sleek design and easy setup make it a stylish and more convenient addition to your home theater, providing a powerful audio upgrade for your TV or gaming experience.
