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  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Style - Bar
    2. Style - Subwoofer
    3. Style - Satellites
    4. Dimensions - Bar
    5. Dimensions - Subwoofer
    6. Dimensions - Satellites
    7. Mounting
    8. Build Quality
    9. In The Box
  5. Sound
    1. Stereo Frequency Response
    2. Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
    3. Stereo Soundstage
    4. Stereo Dynamics
    5. Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
    6. Center
    7. Surround 5.1
    8. Height (Atmos)
    9. Sound Enhancement Features
  6. Connectivity
    1. Inputs/Outputs - Bar
    2. Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
    3. Audio Format Support: HDMI In
    4. Audio Format Support: Optical
    5. Latency
    6. Video Passthrough To TV
    7. Wireless Playback
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
  8. Comments

Bose Solo 5 vs Samsung HW-Q800A

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Bose Solo 5
Samsung HW-Q800A

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Apr 09, 2024 02:19 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.1

Updated Jan 12, 2024 07:41 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Bose Solo 5 Picture
Samsung HW-Q800A Picture

Variants

  • Solo 5 (Black)
  • HW-Q800A (Black)

Our Verdict

Bose Solo 5

Samsung HW-Q800A

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.

0

Check Price

Black
HW-Q800A
B&H
Black
Solo 5
B&H
Black
HW-Q800A
BestBuy.com
 
Black
HW-Q800A
Samsung.com

Notice: Two or more of the products selected have been tested with different test methodologies, so some of the results below aren't directly comparable. Learn how our test benches and scoring system work, and read more about the latest changes to our soundbars test methodology.

Main Differences for

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

6.2
8.1

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.2
8.4

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

0.0
10

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
5.9

Center 
 

6.7
8.5

Stereo Soundstage 
 

6.0
7.5

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

0.0
10

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

No
Yes

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Bose Solo 5 Style photo - bar
Samsung HW-Q800A Style photo - bar

Show text

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Bose Solo 5 Style photo - sub
Samsung HW-Q800A Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

No
Yes

Enclosure 
 

No Subwoofer
Ported

Show text

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Bose Solo 5 Style photo - satellites
Samsung HW-Q800A Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No

Show text

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Bose Solo 5 Dimensions photo - bar
Samsung HW-Q800A Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

21.7" (55.0 cm)
38.6" (98.0 cm)

Height  

2.6" (6.7 cm)
2.4" (6.0 cm)

Depth  

3.2" (8.1 cm)
4.5" (11.5 cm)

Show text

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Bose Solo 5 Dimensions photo - sub
Samsung HW-Q800A Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

N/A
8.0" (20.4 cm)

Height  

N/A
15.8" (40.1 cm)

Depth  

N/A
15.8" (40.1 cm)

Show text

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Bose Solo 5 Dimensions photo - satellites
Samsung HW-Q800A Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Show text

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Bose Solo 5 Bar Mounting Holes
Samsung HW-Q800A Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Bose Solo 5 Satellite Mounting Holes
Samsung HW-Q800A Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

No
Yes

Mountable Satellites 
 

No
No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
No

Build Quality 
 

7.5
8.0

Build quality photo  

Bose Solo 5 Build quality photo
Samsung HW-Q800A Build quality photo

Show text

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Bose Solo 5 In The Box photo
Samsung HW-Q800A In The Box photo

Show text

Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.2
8.4

Stereo Setup  

Bose Solo 5 Stereo Setup
Samsung HW-Q800A Stereo Setup

Raw Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Frequency Response Small  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Tested Preset 
 

No Preset
Standard

Slope 
 

-0.31
-0.62

Std. Err. 
 

2.57 dB
2.49 dB

Channels 
 

2.0
3.1.2

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

56.6 Hz
28.7 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
19.9 kHz

Show text

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.3
8.4

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

No Preset
Standard

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

-2
0

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

N/A
0

Slope 
 

-0.25
-0.56

Std. Err. 
 

2.31 dB
2.46 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

57.4 Hz
29.1 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
19.9 kHz

Show text

Stereo Soundstage 
 

6.0
7.5

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

3.23 dB
2.57 dB

Show text

Stereo Dynamics 
 

7.0
7.5

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

87.4 dB SPL
95.1 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

1.86 dB
2.57 dB

Show text

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

7.4
7.7

THD  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.64
0.40

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.06
2.40

Show text

Center 
 

6.7
8.5

Center Setup  

Bose Solo 5 Center Setup
Samsung HW-Q800A Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom
Discrete

Slope 
 

-0.43
0.52

Std. Err. 
 

2.59 dB
2.49 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

87.2 dB SPL
91.2 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.56
0.37

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.06
4.34

Show text

Surround 5.1 
 

3.0
4.7

Surround Setup  

Bose Solo 5 Surround Setup
Samsung HW-Q800A Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Stereo (Downmix)

Slope 
 

-0.59
-0.43

Std. Err. 
 

5.86 dB
2.13 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

86.0 dB SPL
95.0 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.63
0.39

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.00
2.59

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No

Show text

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
5.9

Height Setup  

Bose Solo 5 Height Setup
Samsung HW-Q800A Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

Bose Solo 5 H Frequency Response
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Not Supported
Phantom (Up Firing, Bar)

Slope 
 

N/A
0.35

Std. Err. 
 

N/A
4.25 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
83.3 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

N/A
1.05

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
0.76

Show text

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

2.1
7.4

Room Correction 
 

No
No

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

No
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Bass Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

EQ 
 

No
Graphic + Presets

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Virtual Surround 
 

No
Yes

Show text

Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Bose Solo 5 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Samsung HW-Q800A Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Bose Solo 5 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Samsung HW-Q800A Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI ARC 
 

1 (shared)

HDMI Out 
 

No
1 (shared)

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No

Full HDMI In 
 

No
1

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

1
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

No
No

Ethernet 
 

No
No

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
No

Show text

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

0.0
10

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Yes

DTS 
 

Not Supported
Yes

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
Yes

eARC 
 

Yes

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
Yes

PCM Channels 
 

Not Supported

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

Yes

Show text

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

0.0
10

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Yes

DTS 
 

Not Supported
Yes

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
Yes

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
Yes

PCM Channels 
 

Not Supported

5.1 PCM 
 

Yes

Show text

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

6.5
10

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Yes

DTS 
 

Not Supported
Yes

PCM Channels 
 

2.0

Show text

Latency 
 

8.8
8.9

Latency Video  

ARC 
 

N/A
31 ms

Optical 
 

-35 ms
38 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

N/A
-32 ms

Show text

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

0.0
0.0

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

No
Yes

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

No

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

Yes

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

Yes

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

Yes

Show text

Wireless Playback 
 

6.0
9.0

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

No
Yes

Chromecast built-in 
 

No
No

Apple AirPlay 
 

No
Yes

Spotify Connect 
 

No
Yes

Show text

Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Bose Solo 5 Interface photo
Samsung HW-Q800A Interface photo

Display 
 

No
Yes

Show text

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Bose Solo 5 Controls photo
Samsung HW-Q800A Controls photo

Show text

Remote  

Remote photo  

Bose Solo 5 Remote photo
Samsung HW-Q800A Remote photo

Show text

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

No
Yes (Built-in)

Google Assistant 
 

No
No

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

No
Yes

Show text

Check Price

Black
HW-Q800A
B&H
Black
Solo 5
B&H
Black
HW-Q800A
BestBuy.com
 
Black
HW-Q800A
Samsung.com

Bose Solo 5

Samsung HW-Q800A

Comments

  1. Comparison

Bose Solo 5 vs Samsung HW-Q800A: Main Discussion

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