The Samsung HW-Q800A is a versatile soundbar from Samsung's 2021 lineup. This 3.1.2 setup is well built and comes with a dedicated subwoofer, which helps produce a thumpy low-bass. It has a neutral sound profile, making it suitable for a variety of audio content. It also comes with Q-Symphony technology, which synchronizes the audio production to the speakers on your Samsung TV, as well as Samsung's Acoustic Beam technology, which helps create a more immersive listening experience, though we don't currently test these features. It has Amazon Alexa built-in, so you can control the bar with your voice. Although it supports Dolby Atmos content, it doesn't deliver a very immersive listening experience. Thankfully, it comes with quite a few sound enhancement features and supports a wide array of audio formats.
Our Verdict
The Samsung HW-Q800A is very good for mixed usage. It has a neutral, balanced sound profile, making it suitable for a variety of audio content. It can produce a thumpy, punchy low-bass, which is nice for action-packed movie scenes and bass-heavy music genres. Its soundstage is a bit wider than the bar itself, and it's quite focused, so sound objects like voices and footsteps feel like they're coming from an accurate location rather than a general area. It also comes with many sound enhancement features, like dialogue enhancement and a graphic EQ and presets for customizing its sound profile. Unfortunately, it doesn't provide an immersive surround sound experience since it lacks dedicated satellite speakers.
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Great build quality.
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Outstanding audio format support.
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Graphic EQ and presets.
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Auto-volume feature.
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Lacks a room correction feature.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is amazing for dialogue-heavy content like TV shows. It has a balanced mid-range and a dedicated center channel, so dialogue is reproduced clearly and accurately. It also has a dialogue enhancement feature, which helps make voices clear and crisp. Also, there's an auto-volume feature that you can turn on through the companion app, which makes the volume more consistent between different programs while keeping the dialogue present in the mix.
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Dialogue enhancement feature.
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Auto-volume feature.
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Some compression present at max volume.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is very good for music. It has a neutral sound profile, making it suitable for a variety of music genres. It can also produce a thumpy low-bass, which can please fans of bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop. There's also a graphic EQ and presets available, letting you customize its sound profile to your liking. It can get very loud, so you can use it at parties, but there's some compression present in the bass and treble ranges. Also, it lacks a room correction feature, so music may sound a bit different depending on the room it's in.
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Extended low-bass.
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Graphic EQ and presets.
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Gets very loud.
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Some compression present at max volume.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is very good for movies. It has a balanced sound profile, and you can feel the deep thump and rumble in action-packed scenes thanks to its extended low bass. It also has a balanced mid-range, so dialogue is clear and present in the mix. While its soundstage is a bit wider than the bar itself, it doesn't have any tricks to make it even wider. Unfortunately, it has to downmix surround sound content into stereo, resulting in a less immersive listening experience. Also, while it supports Dolby Atmos content, it doesn't provide a very immersive listening experience.
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Extended low-bass.
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Gets very loud.
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Poor surround sound performance.
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Sub-par height performance.
- Mixed Usage
- Dialogue/TV Shows
- Music
- Movies
- Updated May 29, 2023: Added market comparison with the Samsung HW-Q800C to the Surround 5.1 box.
- Updated Apr 06, 2023: Added cable lengths to In The Box.
- Updated Apr 05, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.1. With this update, we've added a Mounting test and added information aboutSubwoofer Output, Spotify Connect, and Microphone Mute.
- Updated Sep 23, 2022: Added market comparison for the Samsung HW-S800B to the 'Bar - Dimensions' box.
- Updated Jan 25, 2022: More information about SpaceFit Sound added.
- Updated May 19, 2021: Added more information about the bass and treble adjustment issues.
- Updated Apr 19, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Apr 14, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated Apr 08, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Apr 08, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Mar 31, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Samsung HW-Q800A comes in one color variant: 'Black'. You can see the label for the model we tested here. If you come across a variant not listed here, let us know in the comments below and we'll update the review.
Compared To Other Soundbars
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a 3.1.2 setup with a wireless subwoofer. It's a fairly high-end model from Samsung's 2021 lineup, and it comes with Q-Symphony technology that helps synchronize the bar's audio production with the existing speakers on your compatible Samsung TV, though we don't currently test for this. It also has Samsung's Acoustic Beam technology, which helps create a more immersive listening experience, though we don't currently test this feature either. Since it doesn't have dedicated satellite speakers, its surround sound performance isn't great, but overall it's a versatile setup with a balanced sound profile, making it suitable for a variety of audio content.
If you want to see more soundbars, check out the best Samsung soundbars, the best soundbars with subwoofer, and the best soundbars.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better 3.1.2 setup than the 5.0.2 Sonos Arc. The Samsung has a dedicated subwoofer, which helps produce a thumpy, rumbling low-bass. It also has a graphic EQ and four presets, letting you customize its sound profile. Only the Samsung is Bluetooth compatible, and it has a Full HDMI In port, so you can use the bar as a hub between devices. However, the Sonos has a better soundstage and a more immersive surround sound performance. You can also upgrade it with a sub and satellites as the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers.
The Samsung HW-Q800C is a newer iteration of the Samsung HW-Q800A, offering slightly better overall performance. The Q800A is an older model with a 3.1.2 setup, meaning it has to downmix surround sound into stereo to play it. The 5.1.2 Q800C, however, has side-firing drivers to bring a more realistic feel to the sound. It's better built, too, with more enhancement features like room correction.
The Samsung HW-Q800B is better than the Samsung HW-Q800A. The Q800B is a 5.1.2 setup, so compared to the 3.1.2 Q800A, it has two side-firing drivers that provide a more clear and real representation of surround sound. There are more sound enhancement features on hand, too, including a room correction tool.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better 3.1.2 soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q700A. While they have very similar designs, the HW-Q800A has a better-balanced sound profile with a more extended bass, so you can feel the deep thump and rumble in action-packed movie scenes. Both setups have poor surround sound performance since they lack dedicated satellite speakers.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better for most uses than the Samsung HW-S800B. They're both 3.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbars; however, they have different designs that factor into their overall performance. The Q800A is bigger, with a more extended low-bass. It also has more inputs, including Optical and HDMI In, so you can passthrough high-quality bandwidth signals. That said, the S800B's slim design is an asset, depending on your living space, and it comes with a room correction feature, unlike its predecessor.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better soundbar than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup with a better soundstage performance that gets louder with less compression at max volume. Unlike the JBL, it supports Dolby Atmos content, and it comes with a graphic EQ and built-in Amazon Alexa voice assistant support. However, the 5.1 JBL has a better surrounds performance, and it comes with a room correction feature and more wireless playback options.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q600A. The HW-Q800A is able to reproduce a more extended low-bass, and it has a better soundstage performance. It offers more wireless playback options, it has built-in Amazon Alexa voice assistant, and it's compatible with the SmartThings app that lets you control some of its functions from your smartphone. That said, unlike the HW-Q800A, the HW-Q600A's USB port supports audio playback, which can be handy for some listeners.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better 3.1.2 soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q800T. The HW-Q800A supports Apple AirPlay, and it has lower latency over its Full HDMI In port, making it more suitable for watching videos over this connection. It also has an auto-volume feature, which makes the volume more consistent between programs. It also has a better height performance and a somewhat more immersive surround sound. However, the HW-Q800T has less compression present at max volume, and its sound profile is slightly more neutral.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q60T. The HW-Q800A offers better soundstage, center, and surround performances, and it also supports Dolby Atmos content. It can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It also supports more wireless playback options and has built-in Alexa voice assistant, unlike the HW-Q60T.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the 3.1.2 Samsung HW-Q800A or the 5.1.2 LG SP9YA. The LG comes with a room correction feature and more wireless playback options. It also uses side-firing speakers to create phantom localization for its surround channels, while the Samsung has to downmix surround content into stereo. The Samsung also comes with a graphic EQ, and it gets louder, albeit with more compression at max volume.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better soundbar than the Sonos Beam. The Samsung comes with a dedicated subwoofer that helps reproduce a more extended low-bass. It supports Dolby Atmos content and has a better surround performance. It also supports more wireless playback options and has a graphic EQ and presets to customize its sound. However, the Sonos is more compact with a better soundstage and has a room correction feature.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the standalone Sonos Beam (Gen 2). The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup with a dedicated sub that reproduces a more extended low-bass. It gets louder than the Sonos and also supports more wireless playback options like Bluetooth. However, the Sonos is better built, and its more compact design may be better suited for some users. Despite its small size, it still has better soundstage and surround performances.
The Samsung HW-Q800A and the LG S80QY are similar soundbars with pretty versatile performances, but the Samsung is better overall. The Samsung can reproduce a more extended low bass, so you feel more rumble in action-packed movies. Also, it has a wider and more immersive soundstage.
The Samsung HW-Q900A is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q800A. The HW-Q900A is a 7.1.2 setup that gets louder and comes with a room correction feature. Also, it offers a better surrounds performance since it doesn't have to downmix this content into stereo to play it like the 3.1.2 HW-Q800A.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the JBL Bar 9.1 or the Samsung HW-Q800A. The JBL is a 5.1.4 setup that's better for movies thanks to its dedicated satellites that offer a better surrounds performance. It also has a better soundstage, as well as a room correction feature. However, the 3.1.2 Samsung comes with a graphic EQ, bass and treble adjustments, and a dialogue enhancement feature. It also has built-in Amazon Alexa support.
The Samsung HW-Q950A is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q800A. The HW-Q950A comes with dedicated satellite speakers that help create a better surrounds performance. It also gets louder, and it has a better Atmos performance. It even comes with a room correction feature, too. That said, the HW-Q800A is better built.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the standalone Bose Smart Soundbar 900. The Samsung soundbar has a dedicated sub that helps reproduce a more extended low-bass. It comes with more sound enhancement features like a graphic EQ. Unlike the Bose, it has DTS support and a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough. The Bose is better built with better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. You can also upgrade it with a sub and satellites for better performance.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q70T. The HW-Q800A reproduces a more extended low-bass, so you can feel the deep thump and rumble in your audio content. It also offers better soundstage and Atmos performances and comes with an auto-volume mode and Apple AirPlay support.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q70R. The HW-Q800A offers better soundstage and surround performances, and it offers built-in voice assistant support. It also comes with an auto-volume mode and supports Apple AirPlay 2 connectivity.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-G700. The Samsung is better built and comes with more sound customization features including bass and treble adjustments as well as a graphic EQ. It can reproduce a more extended low-bass, and it also has a better soundstage performance. It even supports more wireless playback options and offers built-in Alexa voice assistant support, unlike the Sony.
The Samsung HW-Q950T is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q800A. The HW-Q950T is a 9.1.4 setup with discrete satellite speakers that offer a better surrounds performance. It also gets louder. However, the 3.1.2 HW-Q800A is better built and supports Apple AirPlay.
The Samsung HW-Q800A and the Samsung HW-Q80R are two similarly-performing soundbars, so you may prefer one or the other based on your listening preferences. The HW-Q80R is a 5.1.2 setup, and it offers a slightly more immersive surround sound experience than the 3.1.2 HW-Q800A since it uses phantom side-firing speakers. The HW-Q80R also gets louder. However, the HW-Q800A has an auto-volume feature, which makes the volume more consistent between different programs while maintaining clear and accurate dialogue reproduction.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Samsung HW-S60A. The HW-Q800A is a 3.1.2 setup with a dedicated subwoofer that helps reproduce a more extended low-bass. Unlike the HW-S60A, it supports Atmos content, and it has a Full HDMI In port. However, the 5.0 HW-S60A has a better surrounds performance. Also, some users may prefer its more compact design.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better soundbar than the LG SP8YA. The Samsung is better-built with a better soundstage performance. It gets louder, though it has more compression at max volume, and it comes with a graphic EQ. However, the LG comes with a room correction feature and Chromecast built-in.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better soundbar than the LG SP7Y. The Samsung is better built and offers better soundstage and center channel performances. Unlike the LG, it supports Atmos content and HDR10 Passthrough, has built-in voice assistant support, and has a graphic EQ for sound customization. It even has more wireless playback options and has a more extended low-bass. While it gets louder than the LG, it has more compression at max volume. The LG also offers a better surround performance since it doesn't have to downmix it into stereo to play it.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Klipsch Cinema 800. The Samsung is a better built 3.1.2 setup with a better Atmos performance. Unlike the Klipsch, it also has built-in voice assistant capabilities and DTS support.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module is better than the Samsung HW-Q800A. The Bose is a better-built setup with discrete satellite speakers. It has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. That said, the 3.1.2 Samsung supports DTS content, and it has a Full HDMI In port, unlike the Bose.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the LG S75Q. They're both 3.1.2 bars with Dolby Atmos support, but the Samsung is able to reproduce a more extended low-bass, so you feel more thump and rumble in bass-heavy music and movies. It has a better soundstage, too.
The Samsung HW-Q990B is better than the Samsung HW-Q800A. The Q990B comes with rear speakers, so it offers better surround sound. Its Atmos performance is better, too, making it a better choice for watching movies. There are also more customization tools on hand, including room correction. The Q800A is a good alternative if you don't have space for rear speakers or if you don't watch a lot of movies.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Samsung HW-A450. The HW-Q800A is a better-built 3.1.2 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content. It has better soundstage, center, and surround performances. It can even reproduce a more extended low-bass. Unlike the HW-A450, it has HDMI inputs, too.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a bit better for mixed usage than the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module. The Samsung supports Dolby Atmos content and it comes with a Full HDMI In port, unlike the Bose. It also has a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization. That said, the Bose is better built with better soundstage and surround performances. It also comes with a room correction feature, unlike the Samsung.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Samsung HW-Q800A or the Sony HT-A7000. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup with a dedicated subwoofer that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It has a better Atmos performance, and it can get louder, albeit with a bit more compression at max volume. Unlike the Sony, it has a graphic EQ as well as bass and treble adjustments for sound customization. However, the standalone 7.1.2 Sony is better built, and it has a better surrounds performance. There's even a room correction feature, and you can upgrade it with a sub and satellites down the line.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better soundbar than the Klipsch Cinema 600. The Samsung is better built, and it supports Dolby Atmos content. It has a better center performance as well as a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization. It also has a Full HDMI In port, built-in voice assistant support, and more wireless playback options.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Yamaha YAS-408. The Samsung is better built, and it supports Dolby Atmos content. It has better soundstage and center performances as well as built-in voice assistant support. It even comes with a graphic EQ and presets to help you customize its sound.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Samsung HW-Q800A or the Samsung HW-Q850A. The HW-Q800A is a 3.1.2 setup that offers a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, which some users may like. However, the HW-Q850A is a 5.1.2 setup with a better surrounds performance thanks to its discrete satellites.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Denon Home Sound Bar 550. The Samsung comes with a dedicated sub that helps reproduce a more extended low-bass, and it gets louder. It has better soundstage and center performances, too. You can also customize its sound profile using its graphic EQ. That said, the Denon has a better surround performance.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The Samsung has a dedicated sub that helps reproduce a more extended low-bass. It also has better soundstage and Atmos performances, and it has built-in voice assistant support. It even comes with some extra sound enhancement features like a graphic EQ and dialogue enhancement. However, only the JBL comes with room correction. The JBL also offers a better surround performance.
The Vizio M Series M512a-H6 is slightly better for mixed usage than the Samsung HW-Q800A. The Vizio is a 5.1.2 setup that has discrete satellite speakers. It has better surround and soundstage performances. The 3.1.2 Samsung is better built with more wireless playback options. Unlike the Vizio soundbar, it has voice assistant support built into the bar and a graphic EQ to customize its sound.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Bose Soundbar 500. The Samsung comes with a dedicated sub that helps reproduce a more extended low-bass. It gets louder, and it has better soundstage and surround performances. Unlike the Bose, it supports Dolby Atmos content and comes with a graphic EQ as well as a Full HDMI In port. That said, only the Bose comes with room correction.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR. The Samsung is better built and supports Dolby Atmos content. It has a better soundstage and more sound enhancement features, such as a graphic EQ. Also, it has built-in voice assistant support. That said, the Polk Audio has a better surrounds performance.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better 3.1.2 setup than the 3.0 Bose Smart Soundbar 700. The Samsung has a dedicated subwoofer, which helps it produce a more extended low bass. Unlike the Bose, it also supports Dolby Atmos content, even though its height performance is sub-par. It has a wider selection of sound enhancement features, including a graphic EQ and presets that let you customize its sound profile. However, the Bose has a wider soundstage, and there's less compression present when it's pushed to max volume. You can also upgrade it with a sub and satellites as the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module.
The 7.1.2 Samsung HW-Q90R is a better soundbar for most uses than the 3.1.2 Samsung HW-Q800A. The HW-Q90R comes with discrete satellite speakers, and it has better surround and Atmos performances. Also, it gets louder. However, the HW-Q800A comes with an auto-volume feature and Apple AirPlay 2 support. It also has built-in voice assistant support.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Sony HT-A5000. While some listeners may prefer the Sony's standalone design, it can't reproduce as much low-bass as the Samsung's dedicated subwoofer. The Samsung also has a better soundstage performance and a graphic EQ to help you customize its sound. The Sony still offers a better surround performance, though, and it also comes with room correction.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Polk Audio Signa S4. They're both 3.1.2 setups, but the Samsung can reproduce a much more extended low-bass. It also has a better soundstage and more sound enhancement features, like a graphic EQ. There's even a Full HDMI In port for video passthrough, unlike the Polk.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the LG S90QY. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup, but it offers a more neutral and balanced sound out-of-the-box that makes voices and lead instruments clearer and more detailed in the mix. That said, it doesn't come with as many sound enhancement features as the LG, and its surround performance isn't quite as impressive.
The Samsung HW-Q800A and the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX are both versatile setups. The Samsung model has a better soundstage, and it can reproduce more bass out-of-the-box. It even has built-in voice assistant support. While the Sennheiser's large, bulky design may not be ideal for all users, it does offer better surround and Atmos performances. It also gets louder than the Samsung soundbar, and some users may prefer that it's a standalone bar.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Bose Solo 5. The Samsung is a better built 3.1.2 setup with a dedicated sub that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It has better soundstage, center, and surround performances. Unlike the Bose, it even supports Dolby Atmos content. Also, there are more sound enhancement features, like a graphic EQ. That said, some users may prefer the Bose's smaller, more compact standalone design.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Stage. The Samsung comes with a dedicated subwoofer and can reproduce a more extended low-bass. Unlike the Bang & Olufsen, it has built-in voice assistant capabilities and DTS support. Also, its Atmos performance is better.
The 3.1.2 Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the 2.1 Sony HT-S350. The Samsung is a better-built setup that supports Dolby Atmos content. It has better soundstage, center, and surround performances. Also, its default sound profile is more neutral and balanced.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better soundbar than the LG SN9YG. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup that offers a better soundstage performance to help you feel immersed in your audio. Also, it comes with a graphic EQ for sound customization. That said, the 5.1.2 LG comes with a room correction feature.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Samsung HW-Q850T. The HW-Q800A is a 3.1.2 setup that offers better soundstage, center, and Atmos performances. It even comes with some additional sound enhancement features, like auto-volume mode. That said, only the 5.1.2 HW-Q850T comes with discrete satellites, and it offers a better surrounds performance.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Yamaha YAS-209. The Samsung is better built, and it supports Dolby Atmos content. It also has better soundstage and center channel performances. There's even a graphic EQ so you can customize its sound, and it supports more wireless playback options.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Samsung HW-T650. The HW-Q800A is better-built, and it supports Dolby Atmos content. It has a better surround performance, and it also reproduces a more extended low-bass. Unlike the HW-T650, it has built-in voice assistant support and a graphic EQ for sound customization.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better 3.1.2 soundbar than the 7.1.2 Samsung HW-Q900T. The HW-Q800A has a better height performance, and it comes with an auto-volume feature, which makes the volume more consistent between different programs. Also, it's better built and supports Apple AirPlay. However, the HW-Q900T can get louder with less compression present at max volume.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers or the Samsung HW-Q800A. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup with a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box that supports more wireless playback options. It also comes with a graphic EQ and presets to help you customize its sound, as well as a Full HDMI In port. That said, the Sonos is better-built, with better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. It also comes with a room correction feature, unlike the Samsung.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a much better soundbar than the AmazonBasics 2.1 Channel Bluetooth. The Samsung comes with a dedicated subwoofer that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. Unlike the AmazonBasics, it comes with center, surround, and Atmos channels. It's better built, with more physical inputs and more sound enhancement features. Also, its default sound profile is much more neutral and balanced.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better 3.1.2 soundbar than the LG SN8YG. The Samsung is better built and gets louder with less compression at max volume. Its sound profile is more neutral out-of-the-box, which some users may prefer. It also has better soundstage and surround performances, and it comes with a graphic EQ. That said, the LG comes with a room correction feature.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Sony HT-ST5000. The Samsung gets louder, and it has built-in voice assistant support. Its low-bass is more extended, and it also comes with more sound enhancement features such as bass and treble adjustments as well as a graphic EQ. That said, the Sony is better-built, and it has a better surround performance.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better 3.1.2 soundbar than the LG SPD7Y. The Samsung is better-built, with better soundstage, center, and surround performances. Out-of-the-box, it has a more neutral sound profile, and it reproduces a more extended low-bass. Also, it has a graphic EQ for sound customization and built-in voice assistant support. It supports more wireless playback options than the LG, too.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The Samsung comes with a dedicated sub that helps reproduce a more extended low-bass. It supports Dolby Atmos content, and it has a better surrounds performance. It also comes with more sound enhancement features such as a graphic EQ and presets.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the TCL Alto 9+. The Samsung is a better built 3.1.2 setup that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. There are more sound enhancement features, too, like a graphic EQ. Some listeners may also prefer its more neutral sound out-of-the-box.
The Samsung HW-Q800A and the Sony HT-A7000 with Speakers + Bass Module are both premium setups. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup that has a better center performance and can get louder. However, the 7.1.2 Sony is better built. It comes with discrete satellites, and it offers a better surrounds performance.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Klipsch Cinema 700 for most uses. The Samsung is a better-built 3.1.2 setup with a better Dolby Atmos performance. It also supports DTS content, unlike the Klipsch. Ultimately, it's a better choice for movies. If you mostly listen to music and dialogue-centric content, the Klipsch is still a good choice.
The LG Eclair QP5 and the Samsung HW-Q800A are both 3.1.2 setups with Dolby Atmos support. However, the Samsung is better overall. It reproduces a more present, thumpy low-bass for action-packed movies and bass-heavy music. It has better soundstage, center, and surround performances, too. That said, the LG is much smaller, so it's ideal if you don't have a lot of space in your setup.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Samsung HW-Q60R. The HW-Q800A is a 3.1.2 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content and has built-in voice assistant support. It reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it supports more wireless playback options. That said, the 5.1 HW-Q60R has a better surrounds performance.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Yamaha YAS-207. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup that's better built. Unlike the Yamaha, it supports Dolby Atmos content. Also, it has better soundstage and center channel performances. There are also more sound enhancement features, like a graphic EQ.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the LG S65Q. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content, unlike the LG. It has a better stereo soundstage and a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box that reproduces clearer and more accurate dialogue.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Samsung HW-Q60B. They're both 3.1 setups, but the HW-Q800A comes with two up-firing drivers built into the bar for a better Atmos performance. It has a better soundstage, too, and it can reproduce a more extended low-bass. You also have more wireless playback options on hand.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Samsung HW-R650. The HW-Q800A is a 3.1.2 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content, unlike the HW-R650. It has a better soundstage, and it can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It even has a better build quality.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a bit better for mixed usage than the LG SN10YG. The Samsung has a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, which some users may prefer over the LG's bass-heavy default sound. Unlike the LG, it comes with a graphic EQ for sound customization, and it has a better center channel performance. That said, only the LG comes with a room correction feature.
The Samsung HW-Q930B is better than the Samsung HW-Q800A. The Q930B is a 9.1.4 setup that comes with discrete satellites, unlike the 3.1.2 Q800A. As a result, it has a better performance with surround sound. Its Atmos performance is better, too, and there are also more sound enhancement features on hand, including room correction.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Klipsch Cinema 1200 or the Samsung HW-Q800A. The Klipsch is a 5.1.4 setup with discrete satellites that offers a better performance with surround sound. Its bass-heavy default sound profile is ideal for listening to action-packed movies and bass-heavy music. However, the 3.1.2 Samsung has a more neutral sound out-of-the-box. It's better-built, and unlike the Klipsch, it supports DTS content.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Samsung HW-Q65T. The HW-Q800A is a better built 3.1.2 setup that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It has a better soundstage, and it supports more wireless playback options. Unlike the HW-Q65T, it also supports Dolby Atmos content and has built-in voice assistant capabilities. That said, the 5.1 HW-Q65T comes with discrete satellites and has a better surrounds performance.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the LG SN11RG or the Samsung HW-Q800A. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup with a better center channel performance and a graphic EQ for sound customization. However, the 7.1.4 LG has a better surrounds performance and a room correction feature.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Klipsch Cinema 400. The Samsung is a better built 3.1.2 setup with Dolby Atmos support. It has better soundstage, center, and surround performances. Also, it gets louder with less compression at max volume. There are also more sound enhancement features available, like a graphic EQ.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Vizio SB46514-F6 or the Samsung HW-Q800A. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup with a better soundstage. It can also reproduce a more extended low-bass, and it has some more sound enhancement features, like dialogue enhancement. That said, the 5.1.4 Vizio comes with discrete satellite speakers. It has better surround and Atmos performances.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Samsung HW-A550. The HW-Q800A is a better built 3.1.2 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content. It has better soundstage, center, and surround performances. Also, it can reproduce a more extended low-bass.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-Z9F. The Samsung offers better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances, and it reproduces a more extended low-bass. It also comes with bass and treble adjustments as well as a graphic EQ to help you customize its sound. Unlike the Sony, it also has built-in voice assistant support.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Samsung HW-A650. The HW-Q800A supports Dolby Atmos content and has built-in voice assistant capabilities. It also has better soundstage and surround performances, and it supports more wireless playback options.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Harman/Kardon Enchant 1300. The Samsung comes with a dedicated sub that helps reproduce a more extended-low bass. Unlike the Harman/Kardon, it has built-in voice assistant capabilities and it supports Dolby Atmos content. Also, it comes with a graphic EQ to help you customize its sound. That said, the 5.0 Harman/Kardon has better soundstage and surround performances, as well as a room correction feature.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the LG SL10YG. The Samsung has better soundstage and center channel performances, and it reproduces a more extended low-bass. It also has a graphic EQ for sound customization. However, the LG has a better surrounds performance.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the LG SK9Y. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup with better soundstage and center channel performances. It reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it even comes with a graphic EQ. However, the 5.1.2 LG is better-built, and it has a better surround performance.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the LG SK10Y. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup with a better soundstage. Its default sound profile is more neutral, so voices are more clearly and accurately reproduced. That said, its surround performance isn't as impressive as the LG.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the LG GX Soundbar. The Samsung is better built with more wireless playback options. It has better center and Atmos performances, and it reproduces a more extended low-bass. Unlike the LG, it has a graphic EQ for sound customization and built-in voice assistant support. That said, some users may prefer the LG's uniquely sleek design that's ideal for wall-mounting.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Vizio M Series M51a-H6 or the Samsung HW-Q800A. The Samsung is a better-built 3.1.2 setup with more wireless playback options and a more neutral stereo sound. It also comes with a graphic EQ to help you customize its sound. However, the 5.1 Vizio has discrete satellites and offers better surround and Dolby Atmos performance.
The Samsung HW-Q800A and the Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2Ch are both premium soundbars. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup with more wireless playback options. It can reproduce more bass out-of-the-box, which is handy for listeners who want to plug-and-play. However, the Nakamichi has a unique setup with two subs and four satellites. It offers better surround and Atmos performances, too.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Samsung HW-T550. The HW-Q800A is a better built 3.1.2 setup with better soundstage, center, and surround performances. Unlike the HW-T550, it supports Dolby Atmos content and has built-in voice assistant capabilities. Also, it supports more wireless playback options.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Samsung HW-Q800A or the LG SP11RA. The Samsung comes with a graphic EQ for sound customization, and it also has built-in voice assistant support. That said, the LG has a better surround performance, as well as more wireless playback options. It also comes with a room correction feature, unlike the Samsung.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Vizio M Series M51ax-J6 or the Samsung HW-Q800A. The Vizio is a 5.1 setup with discrete satellites. It has a much better surround performance. However, the 3.1.2 Samsung is better built with a better soundstage and a frequency response that suits dialogue well. It even comes with built-in voice assistant capabilities.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Sony HT-X9000F. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup that's better-built and offers better soundstage, center, surround, and Atmos performances. It can reproduce a more extended low-bass, and it supports more wireless playback options. Unlike the 2.1 Sony, it also has built-in voice assistant support. There are even more sound enhancement features available, including a graphic EQ as well as bass and treble adjustments.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the LG SN6Y. The Samsung is better built and it can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It also has better soundstage and surround performances. Unlike the LG, it even supports Atmos content and has built-in voice assistant capabilities. There's also a graphic EQ so you can customize its sound.
Test Results
The Samsung HW-Q800A has a similar design to the Samsung HW-Q700A. There's a metal grille covering the top and front of the bar, while the rest of the bar is made of hard plastic.
The sub is mostly made of wood. It has a thin fabric covering on the front, which feels like it could easily rip or get dirty.
There aren't any satellites in this setup, but you can purchase Dolby Atmos Surround Sound Speakers separately.
The bar is fairly wide, so it likely won't fit between the legs of a 55 inch TV. Thankfully, it's not very tall, so it shouldn't block the TV screen unless your TV sits flush on the table. You can even check out the Samsung HW-S800B if you want a thinner, shorter 3.1.2 bar.
The sub is slightly larger than a typical desktop PC. It connects to the bar wirelessly, though, so you can place it anywhere in the room as long as it's near an outlet.
The Samsung HW-Q800A has a very good build quality. The bar has a metal grille covering the top and front, which helps protect the drivers. The rest of the bar is made of hard plastic, which feels sturdy. The sub is mostly made of wood, though the thin fabric covering at the front feels like it could easily get dirty or tear.
- Manual
- HDMI cable (4.9 ft / 1.5m)
- Remote with 2x AA batteries
- 2x Power cables (4.9 ft / 1.5m)
- Adapter for power cable (4.9 ft / 1.5m)
- Wall-mounting brackets
- Screws for wall-mounting brackets
- Template for wall-mounting brackets
- 4x Rubber foot stickers
The Samsung HW-Q800A has a great stereo frequency response. Its sound profile is very neutral, making it suitable for a variety of audio content. Its bass is quite extended, so you can feel the deep thump and rumble in action-packed movie scenes. You can also customize its sound profile to your liking using its graphic EQ and four EQ presets, which are 'Standard', 'Surround', 'Game Pro', and 'Adaptive Sound'.
We tested the Samsung HW-Q800A with several bass and treble calibration settings, but none of them brought the slope of its stereo frequency response closer to zero. As a result, we recommend its default settings if you prefer a more neutral sound.
Note: Normally, we calibrate the bar using bass and treble adjustments. We ran some passes after adjusting the bass and treble levels; however, we noticed that this didn't change the stereo frequency response at all. We're looking into this issue and we'll update the review when we have more information.
The Samsung HW-Q800A has a good stereo soundstage performance. The soundstage is perceived to be a bit wider than the bar itself, but it doesn't have any tricks to make it seem any wider. It has good focus, so sound objects seem like they're coming from an accurate, pinpoint location rather than a general area.
The Samsung HW-Q800A has good stereo dynamics. It gets very loud, making it suitable for use in large, crowded rooms. However, there's a bit of compression present in the bass and treble ranges when you push it to max volume.
The Samsung HW-Q800A has a good THD performance. When you play audio at a normal listening volume, there isn't much distortion. There's a jump in distortion when using it at max volume, but this shouldn't be too noticeable with real-life content.
The Samsung HW-Q800A has an amazing center channel performance. It's a 3.1.2 setup with a dedicated center channel, so it can reproduce dialogue clearly and accurately. Also, its center channel gets fairly loud and has a balanced mid-range that can reproduce clear and detailed vocals.
The Samsung HW-Q800A has a poor surrounds performance. It has to downmix surround content into stereo to play it, so sound objects like voices and footsteps aren't as accurately localized as they would be in a discrete setup. Also, audio sounds like it's coming from in front of you rather than from behind or around you. For a soundbar with a better surrounds performance, check out the LG SP7Y or the newer Samsung HW-Q800C model.
The Samsung HW-Q800A has a sub-par height performance. It uses two up-firing speakers on the bar to bounce sound off the ceiling and back down to you, creating the impression of height. Unfortunately, this doesn't sound as real as discrete localization, which is created by discrete down-firing speakers found in home theater setups.
Update 01/25/2022: More information about SpaceFit Sound added.
The Samsung HW-Q800A has decent sound enhancement features. You can customize its sound profile using its graphic EQ and four EQ presets, 'Standard', 'Surround', 'Game Pro', and 'Adaptive Sound'. There's also a night mode and bass enhancement feature, which you can turn on through the companion app. While it has a dialogue enhancement feature that makes dialogue sound more clear and accurate, it lacks a room correction feature, meaning the sound profile may vary depending on the room it's in. If you prefer a bar with a room correction feature, check out the LG SP8YA, the Samsung HW-Q900A, or the LG SP9YA.
The Samsung HW-Q800A also has a few features. It comes with Acoustic Beam technology, which lets you use the virtual surround feature to create a more immersive listening experience. Also, it comes with Tap Sound, which mirrors music from your phone when you tap it against the bar. SpaceFit Sound is advertised to automatically calibrate sound when the bar pairs with a compatible Samsung TV. Since this feature only works with compatible Samsung TVs, we list the results for room correction as 'No'.
The Samsung HW-Q800A comes with several inputs. There's a Full HDMI In port, letting you use the bar as a hub between different devices. Although it has a micro-USB port, this is just for software updates and servicing the bar, so you can't use it to play audio files like you can with the Samsung HW-Q600A. Unfortunately, it lacks a 3.5mm AUX port, so you can't plug in older smartphones.
The Samsung HW-Q800A has outstanding support for audio content via its HDMI ARC port. It supports Dolby Digital and DTS, which are commonly found on Blu-ray discs and streaming services. It also supports higher-end surround formats like Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby Atmos, though it has to downmix surround content into stereo to play it.
The Samsung HW-Q800A has remarkable audio format support via its Full HDMI In port. It can play Dolby Digital and DTS content, which are common formats on Blu-rays and streaming platforms.
Over its Optical port, this soundbar supports both Dolby Digital and DTS content, which is useful if you like watching Blu-rays and content from streaming platforms.
The Samsung HW-Q800A has an excellent latency performance. It has low latency over its ARC, Optical, and Full HDMI In ports, making it suitable for watching videos, since audio and video are mostly in sync. That said, some apps and some TVs compensate for latency differently, so your experience may vary.
The Samsung HW-Q800A has incredible wireless playback connectivity. It supports more wireless playback options than the LG SPD7Y, and you can connect devices wirelessly over Bluetooth or stream audio over Wi-Fi or Apple AirPlay. However, you can't stream audio over Chromecast built-in.
The Samsung HW-Q800A can passthrough the highest bandwidth signals, so if you connect the bar to your TV and another device like a PC, the text on the screen appears clear and crisp.
The Samsung HW-Q800A has a small display at the front of the bar, on the right side. It indicates the volume level as well as the input you're using. Since it's only a four-character display, you may need to wait to read longer messages as they scroll across the screen. There's also a small red light that turns on when the bar is muted.
There are several touch-sensitive controls on top of the bar. You can adjust the volume, turn the mic on/off, and use the multifunction button to change inputs, enable Alexa, and turn the bar on.
The Samsung HW-Q800A's remote has a similar design to the Samsung HW-Q800T's remote. It lets you control all the functions of the bar, but it isn't a universal remote, so you can't use it to control your TV. The Samsung SmartThings app also lets you control most of the bar's features.