The Samsung HW-Q800T soundbar is a 3.1.2 setup from Samsung's 2020 lineup. This well-built, sleek setup has two up-firing speakers integrated into the bar and a separate wireless subwoofer. It comes with Samsung's Acoustic Beam technology which uses up-firing speakers on the bar to help provide a more immersive listening experience. Its Q-Symphony feature also allows you to synchronize Samsung QLED TV speakers with the bar for a more cinematic sound, though we don't test for this currently. Amazon Alexa voice assistant support is integrated into its design, and you can even turn off the microphone when you aren't using it. Overall, its sound reproduction is very neutral and well-balanced out-of-the-box, so it's suitable for a variety of audio content. While it can play surround and Dolby Atmos content, unfortunately, it doesn't provide the most immersive listening experience. On the upside, this bar has a lot of connectivity options and sound customization features.
Our Verdict
The Samsung HW-Q800T soundbar is a versatile 3.1.2 setup that is very good for mixed usage. Its overall audio reproduction is neutral and well-balanced, making it suitable for a variety of content. It supports both Dolby Atmos and surround content, though it doesn't provide the most immersive listening experience. On the upside, there are a lot of sound customization features on the Samsung app, including a graphic EQ, presets, and a dialogue enhancement feature, so you can easily adjust the bar to meet your needs. The Adaptive Sound feature can even scan your audio content in real-time and adjust the sound the optimize your content, but we don't test for this.
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Neutral, well-balanced sound profile.
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Gets loud without a lot of distortion.
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Integrated Amazon Alexa support.
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No room correction feature.
The Samsung HW-Q800T soundbar is great for TV shows. This 3.1.2 setup has a dedicated center channel, which helps make voices sound clearer and more accurate. Its sound profile is very well-balanced, especially in the mid-range, which is ideal for dialogue-heavy content. It also has a dialogue enhancement feature to help make dialogue sound more crisp. This soundbar can get loud without a lot of distortion. If you like to stream content from your mobile device to the bar wirelessly, you can use Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections.
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Dialogue enhancement feature.
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Neutral, well-balanced sound profile.
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Gets loud without a lot of distortion.
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No auto-volume feature.
The Samsung HW-Q800T soundbar is very good for music. It's neutral, balanced sound profile suits most music genres, and it can reproduce the thumps and rumbles found in bass-heavy music thanks to its wireless sub. Fortunately, there's also a graphic EQ and presets available on the Samsung app, so you can easily customize the sound to your liking.
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Graphic EQ + presets.
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Neutral, well-balanced sound profile.
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Gets loud without a lot of distortion.
The Samsung HW-Q800T soundbar is good for movies. It has a neutral and well-balanced sound reproduction, and it has a decent bass performance that can reproduce the thumps and rumbles from action-packed scenes and movie scores. It supports Dolby Atmos content, though it doesn't provide the most immersive listening experience. It also has to downmix surround content to stereo to play it, which doesn't sound as natural or life-like. On the upside, this bar can get loud, and there isn't a lot of distortion when you play it at max volume.
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Graphic EQ + presets.
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Neutral, well-balanced sound profile.
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Gets loud without a lot of distortion.
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Poor surround and Atmos performance.
- 7.8 Mixed Usage
- 7.9 Dialogue/TV Shows
- 7.9 Music
- 7.6 Movies
- Updated Feb 18, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Sep 21, 2020: The Dynamics tests have been reconducted due to a value input bug.
- Updated Aug 20, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Aug 12, 2020: Early access published.
- Updated Jul 31, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Jul 31, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Jul 16, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Compared To Other Soundbars
The Samsung HW-Q800T is an impressive 3.1.2 setup with a wireless subwoofer. It uses Samsung's Acoustic Beam technology to provide a more immersive listening experience, and it also has Q-Symphony technology to help synchronize the bar's audio with the speakers on your Samsung TV, but we don't currently test these features. Like most of the other 3.1.2 setups that we've tested, its Atmos and surround performance isn't the best. If you're looking for more soundbars, check out our recommendations for the best soundbars for dialogue, the best soundbars for music, and the best Dolby Atmos soundbars.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Samsung HW-Q800T or the Sonos Arc. The Samsung has a better-balanced sound profile out of the box and fewer compression artifacts when played at max volume. Unlike the Sonos, the Samsung has an HDMI In port and a graphic EQ. However, unlike the Samsung soundbar, the 5.0.2 Sonos doesn't downmix surround content into stereo, providing a more immersive movie-watching experience. The Sonos also performs better with Atmos content.
The Samsung HW-Q800B is better than the Samsung HW-Q800T. The Q800B is a 5.1.2 setup, meaning that it has two side-firing drivers for surround sound content, resulting in a more clear and real representation than the 3.1.2 Q800T. Its Atmos performance is better, and it has more sound enhancement features, too.
The Samsung HW-Q800T and the Samsung HW-Q70T are both 3.1.2 setups from the 2020 lineup with a very similar design and performance. The HW-Q800T's bass extends a bit lower than the HW-Q70T, so it may appeal more to fans of bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop. The HW-Q800T has a slightly larger wireless subwoofer. Both bars support Atmos and surround content, but neither does an impressive job creating an immersive experience.
The Samsung HW-Q800T is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q700A. The HW-Q800T reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it has less compression when you play it at max volume. However, the HW-Q700A has a better soundstage performance. It comes with some additional sound enhancement features that we don't test, like SpaceFit Sound, which creates a more immersive sound, and Tap Sound, which lets you mirror audio from your smartphone to the bar with a tap.
The Samsung HW-Q800T is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q600A. The HW-Q800T gets louder, and it reproduces a more extended low-bass. It also supports Wi-Fi connectivity, offers built-in Alexa voice assistant support, and is compatible with a companion app. However, the HW-Q600A comes with some additional sound enhancement features, including auto-volume and Tap Sound.
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-Q950A is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q800T. The HW-Q950A is an 11.1.4 setup that comes with discrete satellite speakers and offers better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. It gets louder than the HW-Q800T, and it comes with more sound enhancement features like room correction and auto-volume mode. Also, it supports Apple AirPlay 2 connectivity. That said, the 3.1.2 HW-Q800T is better-built.
The Samsung HW-Q900A is better than the Samsung HW-Q800T. The HW-Q900A is a 7.1.2 setup with better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. It also gets louder, and unlike the HW-Q800T, it supports Apple AirPlay 2 and comes with a room correction feature. That said, the 3.1.2 HW-Q800T is better built.
The JBL Bar 9.1 is a slightly better soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q800T. The JBL is a 5.1.4 setup that comes with dedicated satellite speakers, so it offers a better surround performance. It also has better Atmos and soundstage performances, and it comes with a room correction feature. It even supports more wireless playback options. However, the 3.1.2 Samsung comes with bass and treble adjustments as well as a graphic EQ for sound customization, and it has built-in support for Alexa voice assistant.
The Samsung HW-Q800T is better than the Yamaha YAS-209. The Samsung is better-built, and it supports Dolby Atmos content. It has a better center channel performance. Also, it comes with a graphic EQ to help you customize its sound.
The Samsung HW-Q800T is a better soundbar than the standalone Bose Smart Soundbar 700. The Samsung supports Atmos content and reproduces a more extended low bass. Its stereo soundstage performance is better, and it comes with a graphic EQ and presets to customize its sound. Unlike the Bose, it has a Full HDMI In port. However, the Bose is better-built and has a room correction feature.
The Samsung HW-Q800T and the Samsung HW-Q70R are very similar setups with a similar design and performance. Depending on your preferences, you may prefer one over the other. The HW-Q800T has a slightly better-balanced sound profile than the HW-Q70R, though both have a graphic EQ to help you adjust the sound. Both bars support Atmos and surround content, but neither does an impressive job creating an immersive experience. The HW-Q800T has a better surround performance, while the HW-Q70R has a better Atmos performance.
The Samsung HW-Q80R is a better soundbar for watching movies than the Samsung HW-Q800T. The 5.1.2 HW-Q80R doesn't downmix surround content into stereo like the 3.1.2 HW-Q800T, so it provides a more immersive listening experience. The HW-Q80R also performs better with Atmos content, and it has a better soundstage. That being said, the HW-Q800T has a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box, but both soundbars have a graphic EQ to help you adjust the sound profile to your liking.
The Samsung HW-Q90R is better than the Samsung HW-Q800T. The HW-Q90R is a 7.1.4 setup that offers better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. Unlike the HW-Q800T, it comes with discrete satellites, and it gets louder. That said, the HW-Q800T has built-in voice assistant support, whereas the HW-Q90R only supports voice assistants through paired smartphones.
The Samsung HW-Q800T is a better soundbar than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup that supports Atmos content and comes with a graphic EQ. It has a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box and a better soundstage performance. It also gets louder with less compression at max volume. That said, the 5.1 JBL has a better surrounds performance and comes with a room correction feature and more wireless playback support.
The Samsung HW-Q800T is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-G700. The Samsung is better-built, and it comes with a graphic EQ and supports Wi-Fi connectivity, unlike the Sony. It also has a better soundstage performance, and there's less compression when you play it at max volume.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the LG SN9YG or the Samsung HW-Q800T. The LG is a 5.1.2 setup that offers better surrounds performance and comes with a room correction feature. It also has a more bass-heavy sound profile out-of-the-box compared to the Samsung's more neutral sound. The 3.1.2 Samsung gets louder, albeit with more compression at max volume, and comes with a graphic EQ for sound customization.
The Samsung HW-Q800T and the Samsung HW-Q850T are similarly performing soundbars, so depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The HW-Q850T is a 5.1.2 setup that comes with dedicated satellite speakers, so it offers a better, more immersive surrounds experience. However, the 3.1.2 HW-Q800T gets louder, which some listeners may prefer.
The LG SN10YG is slightly better for mixed usage than the Samsung HW-Q800T. The LG is a 5.1.2 setup that has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. It also comes with a room correction feature and more wireless playback support. That said, the Samsung has a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, which some listeners may prefer. It also comes with a graphic EQ, unlike the LG.
The Samsung HW-Q950T is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q800T. The HW-Q950T is a 9.1.4 setup that comes with discrete satellites, offering a better surrounds performance. It also gets louder, and it has better soundstage and Atmos performances. However, the 3.1.2 HW-Q800T is better built.
The Samsung HW-Q800T and the Samsung HW-Q900T are both very versatile soundbars with different configurations. The 7.1.2 HW-Q900T provides a more immersive listening experience for surrounds content, as it doesn't downmix it into stereo like the 3.1.2 HW-Q800T. The HW-Q900T also has a larger soundstage and less distortion when it's played at max volume. That said, the HW-Q800T is better-built.
The Samsung HW-Q800T is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-Z9F. The Samsung has a better Atmos performance, and it reproduces a more extended low-bass. Also, it comes with a graphic EQ as well as bass and treble adjustments so you can customize its sound. However, the Sony supports Chromecast built-in, unlike the Samsung.
The Samsung HW-Q800T is better than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). The Samsung has a dedicated subwoofer and can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It also gets louder. However, the Sonos is still a solid pick for users who want a small, standalone soundbar. It's better built and even has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances than the Samsung soundbar. You can also upgrade it with a sub and satellites if you want.
The Vizio M Series M512a-H6 is better than the Samsung HW-Q800T. The Vizio is a 5.1.2 setup with satellites. It has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. That said, the 3.1.2 Samsung is better built.
The Samsung HW-Q800T is better than the Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR. The Samsung is better built and comes with more sound enhancement features like a graphic EQ. Unlike the Polk Audio, it supports Atmos content and comes with built-in voice assistant capabilities. That said, the Polk Audio has a better surrounds performance.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Samsung HW-Q800T or the Samsung HW-Q850A. The HW-Q800T is a 3.1.2 setup from 2020 with a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box that gets louder. However, the HW-Q850A is a 5.1.2 setup from 2021 that offers a better soundstage performance and Apple AirPlay support. Also, it has better surrounds and Atmos performances.
The Samsung HW-Q800T is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The Samsung reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it supports Dolby Atmos content. It gets louder, has a better soundstage, and comes with a Full HDMI In port. Also, its graphic EQ is handy for sound customization. However, the Bose supports Apple AirPlay connectivity, unlike the Samsung.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Samsung HW-Q800T or the LG SP8YA. The Samsung is better built with a graphic EQ for sound customization. However, the LG has more sound enhancement features like room correction and auto-volume, as well as more wireless playback options.
The LG SP9YA is a bit better for mixed usage than the Samsung HW-Q800T. The LG is a 5.1.2 setup with better soundstage and surround performances. It supports more wireless playback options, and it comes with a few more sound enhancement features, such as room correction and auto-volume mode. That said, the 3.1.2 Samsung has a graphic EQ for sound customization, which some listeners may prefer.
The Samsung HW-Q800T is better than the Samsung HW-A650. The HW-Q800T has two up-firing drivers that support Dolby Atmos content. It reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it comes with voice assistant support. That said, only the HW-A650 comes with an auto-volume mode.
The Samsung HW-Q800T is a better overall soundbar than the Vizio SB36312-G6. The Vizio has a very boomy sound profile, while the Samsung's more neutral, well-balanced sound profile is much better suited for a variety of audio content. The Vizio only has three EQ presets, while the Samsung offers a graphic EQ and four presets to help you customize the sound to your liking. Also, unlike the Vizio, the Samsung has a dialogue enhancement feature to help make voices sound more clear and crisp, which is good for watching TV and listening to podcasts.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module is slightly better for mixed usage than the Samsung HW-Q800T. The Bose is a 5.1 setup that's better-built and has discrete satellites to help improve its surround performance. It also has a better soundstage and a room correction feature. However, only the 3.1.2 Samsung supports Dolby Atmos content. It also comes with a graphic EQ and presets as well as a Full HDMI In port.
The Samsung HW-Q800T is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-T650. The HW-Q800T supports Dolby Atmos content and comes with built-in voice assistant support, unlike the HW-T650. Also, it's better-built, with a better surround performance and a more extended low-bass. It even comes with a graphic EQ for sound customization. That said, the HW-T650 has a better soundstage performance, and it comes with an auto-volume mode.
The Samsung HW-Q800T is better than the Samsung HW-Q60R. The HW-Q800T is a 3.1.2 setup that reproduces a more extended low-bass. Unlike the HW-Q60R, it supports Dolby Atmos content and built-in voice assistant. It also has more wireless playback options. That said, the 5.1 HW-Q60R has a better surrounds performance.
The Samsung HW-Q800T is a better soundbar than the Sonos Beam. The Samsung comes with a dedicated subwoofer so that it can reproduce a more extended low-bass, and it also supports Dolby Atmos content. It also gets louder than the Sonos with less compression at max volume. It has a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization, a Full HDMI In port that supports high-quality passthrough, and more wireless playback options. That said, the Sonos has a better soundstage performance and comes with a room correction feature, unlike the Samsung.
The Samsung HW-Q800T is a better overall soundbar than the LG SN8YG. Overall, the Samsung has a better-balanced, more neutral sound profile compared to the slightly boomy-sounding LG, which makes it better suited for music and movies. The Samsung also comes with a graphic equalizer, making it easy to customize the sound to your liking. However, unlike the Samsung, the LG comes with auto-volume and room correction features. It also has a slightly more neutral-sounding height channel performance, which may be preferred by fans of Atmos content.
The 3.1.2 Samsung HW-Q800T is a better soundbar than the 5.1 Samsung HW-Q60T. The HW-Q800T has a more extended low-bass, and it also gets louder. Unlike the HW-Q60T, it supports Dolby Atmos content and has built-in Alexa voice assistant.
Test Results
The Samsung HW-Q800T soundbar has a similar look to the Samsung HW-Q70T. There's a metal grille covering the top and the front of the bar, and the rest of the bar is covered with hard plastic.
The Samsung HW-Q800T's sub is made of wood, although there's a thin fabric covering one side. This fabric feels like it could easily rip or get dirty.
The Samsung HW-Q800T soundbar is the same size as the Samsung HW-Q70T and likely won't fit between the legs of a 55" TV. However, it isn't very tall, so it shouldn't block any part of your TV screen unless your screen sits flush on the table.
The Samsung HW-Q800T soundbar's sub is slightly taller and deeper than the Samsung HW-Q70T's sub. It connects to the bar wirelessly, so you can move it anywhere in the room.
This setup doesn't have any satellites.
There are two openings on the back of the Samsung HW-Q800T soundbar for the inputs and the power cable. On top of the bar, near the back-middle, there are touch-style control buttons. You can also mount this bar using the universal holes on the underside.
On the back of the sub, there's a plastic port. The power cable connects to the sub in the bottom-left corner, and there's a pairing button on the bottom-right.
The Samsung HW-Q800T soundbar has a great build quality. It's mostly made of plastic, which feels solid and sturdy, and there's a metal grille to help protect the speakers. The sub is mostly made of wood, though the thin fabric on the one side feels like it could easily rip or get dirty.
- Manual
- HDMI cable
- Remote with batteries (2x AA)
- Power cables (x2)
- Adapter for power cable
- Wall-mounting brackets
- Screws for wall-mounting brackets
- Template for wall-mounting brackets
The Samsung HW-Q800T soundbar has an excellent stereo frequency response. Its sound profile is very neutral and should suit most audio genres. Also, its bass extends low, so can do a good job reproducing the deep thumps and rumbles in music and movies. There's also a graphic EQ and presets available to help you customize the sound to your liking.
The Samsung HW-Q800T soundbar has a decent stereo soundstage performance. It sounds about as wide as the bar itself, but it doesn't do anything to make it sound larger. It also has a good focus, so objects will sound like they're coming from an accurate, pinpoint location rather than a general area.
Update 09/21/2020: We've discovered a value input bug that would cause the Dynamics box results to be slightly off. All soundbars reviewed since January 30th, 2020 have been updated.
The Samsung HW-Q800T soundbar has great stereo dynamics. It can get loud, so it can be used in crowded settings and large rooms. There's a bit of compression when you play the bar at max volume, but it likely won't be noticeable with real-life content.
The HW-Q800T soundbar has a decent THD performance. When you play the bar at normal listening volume, there's a little bit of distortion, but it may not be so noticeable. However, at max volume, there's more distortion, especially in the bass range. This can be difficult to hear with real-life content.
The Samsung HW-Q800T is a 3.1.2 setup with an excellent center channel performance. Thanks to its dedicated center channel, it can clearly and accurately reproduce the dialogue found in TV shows and movies.
The Samsung HW-Q800T's surround performance is poor. It downmixes surround content to stereo in order to play it, so it may sound like your audio is taking place in front of you instead of all around you. It also sounds quite bass-heavy.
The Samsung HW-Q800T soundbar has a poor height performance. It uses two up-firing speakers in the bar to bounce sound off the ceiling to give the impression of height. It also has Samsung Acoustic Beam technology, which uses small holes in the bar to direct sound to create a more immersive experience. However, the bar sounds quite bright, and it doesn't sound as real as discrete localization created by down-firing speakers.
This soundbar has sub-par sound enhancement features. It doesn't have a room correction feature, so the bar may sound different depending on the room you're in. On the upside, you can adjust the sound profile of the bar using the four EQ presets (Standard, Surround, Game Pro, Adaptive Sound) or the 7-band graphic EQ. The Adaptive Sound mode can analyze content in real-time to adjust the sound to optimize the content, but we currently don't test for this.
The Samsung HW-Q800T soundbar has several inputs available. With the HDMI ports, you can use the bar as a hub between different devices, such as your Blu-ray player or game console. The micro USB port is only for service and software updates, so it can't be used to play files directly from a USB device. Also, it lacks a 3.5mm Aux port, so you won't be able to plug in older smartphones.
The Samsung HW-Q800T soundbar has fantastic support for audio content over its HDMI ARC port. It supports Dolby Digital and DTS, which should please many movie fans. Its eARC support also means that it can play lossless surround formats.
This soundbar has outstanding audio format support. It can play audio from most sources, including Blu-ray discs and streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+.
This soundbar supports both Dolby Digital and DTS content from its optical port. These formats are commonly found on Blu-ray discs and streaming platforms.
The Samsung HW-Q800T soundbar has a very good selection of wireless playback connections. You can play music, audiobooks, podcasts, and other content from your mobile devices wirelessly using a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection.
The Samsung HW-Q800T soundbar can passthrough the highest bandwidth signals. When you connect this soundbar to your TV and another source like a PC or a gaming console, the text on screen appears clear and crisp.
The Samsung HW-Q800T's subwoofer connects wirelessly to the bar. There's only an input for its power cord.
This soundbar has a simple interface. Behind the metal grille, there's a small screen that indicates the volume level and the input you're currently using. It's only a four-character display, so you may need to wait for some messages to scroll across the screen. Also, there's a red light that turns on when the bar is muted.
On the top of the soundbar, there are touch-sensitive buttons. You can turn the bar on/off, adjust the volume, turn the mic on/off, and use the multifunction button to change inputs and enable Alexa voice assistant.
The Samsung HW-Q800T's remote looks similar to the Samsung HW-Q70T's remote. You can control all the functions of the bar, but it can't be used as a universal remote.
The SmartThings app allows you to control many of the Samsung HW-Q800T soundbar's functions. You can change inputs, play music from your device, change the EQ settings, and adjust the subwoofer. However, the app doesn't have center level and front-top level adjustments like the remote.
The Samsung HW-Q800T soundbar has an auto-off function, so it turns off automatically if it doesn't receive an audio signal for 18 minutes. Also, thanks to the HDMI CEC support, you can control some basic functions of the bar using your TV remote.