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  1. Home
  2. Soundbar
  3. Compare
  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
    10. Back - Bar
    11. Back - Subwoofer
    12. Back - Satellites
  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. Audio Latency: ARC
    6. Audio Latency: HDMI In
    7. Audio Latency: Optical
    8. Video Passthrough To TV
    9. Wireless Playback
    10. Connectivity - Subwoofer
    11. Connectivity - Satellites
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
    5. App
    6. Other Features
  8. Comments

Samsung HW-Q950T vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Samsung HW-Q950T
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Jan 12, 2024 07:47 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated May 12, 2025 07:14 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Samsung HW-Q950T Picture
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Picture
Channels
9.1.4
Channels
5.0
  1. Recommended in 7 articles:
  2. Soundbars
  3. All-In-One
  4. Music
  5. Small
  6. Under $500
  7. Dialogue
  8. Movies

Variants

  • HW-Q950T (Black)
  • Beam (Gen 2) (Black)
  • Sonos Beam (Gen 2) (White)

Review

See Samsung HW-Q950T Review
See Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Review
0 
0 

Our Verdict

Samsung HW-Q950T

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

The Samsung HW-Q950T and the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) are two very different soundbars. The Samsung is a 9.1.4 setup that has a subwoofer and satellite speakers. It's much more versatile, with better surrounds and a more extended low-bass out of the box. But if you're low on space, the Sonos' small, standalone design is ideal. It's still a good choice for vocal-centric content and music, and it even has a better soundstage than the Samsung soundbar.

0 

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Black
HW-Q950T
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Black
Beam (Gen 2)
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Black
HW-Q950T
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White
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
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HW-Q950T
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HW-Q950T
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HW-Q950T
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

8.2
7.4

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

8.4
7.4

Stereo Dynamics 
 

9.0
7.1

Audio Format Support - Full HDMI In 
 

10
0.0

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

No
Yes

Center 
 

8.6
7.4

Surround 5.1 
 

8.0
5.9

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Samsung HW-Q950T Style photo - bar
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Samsung HW-Q950T Style photo - sub
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

Yes
No

Enclosure 
 

Ported
No Subwoofer
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Samsung HW-Q950T Style photo - satellites
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Samsung HW-Q950T Dimensions photo - bar
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

48.4" (123.0 cm)
25.6" (65.0 cm)

Height  

2.8" (7.0 cm)
2.6" (6.7 cm)

Depth  

5.4" (13.8 cm)
4.0" (10.1 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Samsung HW-Q950T Dimensions photo - sub
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

8.2" (20.9 cm)
N/A

Height  

15.8" (40.2 cm)
N/A

Depth  

15.9" (40.3 cm)
N/A
Show Text 

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Samsung HW-Q950T Dimensions photo - satellites
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

4.8" (12.2 cm)
N/A

Height  

8.2" (20.9 cm)
N/A

Depth  

5.6" (14.3 cm)
N/A
Show Text 

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

No

Mountable Satellites 
 

No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

7.5
8.5

Build quality photo  

Samsung HW-Q950T Build quality photo
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Samsung HW-Q950T In The Box photo
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) In The Box photo

HDMI Cable Length 
 

1.5 m (4.9 ft)

Digital Optical Cable Length 
 

N/A
Show Text 

Back - Bar  

Back photo - bar  

Samsung HW-Q950T Back photo - bar

Bar Mounting 
 

Universal (holes on underside)
Show Text 

Back - Subwoofer  

Back photo - sub  

Samsung HW-Q950T Back photo - sub

Enclosure 
 

Ported
No Subwoofer
Show Text 

Back - Satellites  

Back photo - satellites  

Samsung HW-Q950T Back photo - satellites

Mounting 
 

Universal (holes on back)
Show Text 
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

8.4
7.4

Stereo Setup  

Samsung HW-Q950T Stereo Setup
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) 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

Channels 
 

9.1.4
5.0

Tested Preset 
 

Standard
No Preset

Slope 
 

-0.14
-0.56

Standard Error 
 

2.62 dB
2.82 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

28.3 Hz
50.4 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

18.5 kHz
16.7 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

8.4
7.4

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Standard
No Preset

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

0
-3

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

0
2

Slope 
 

-0.14
0.05

Standard Error 
 

2.62 dB
2.66 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

28.3 Hz
51.9 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

18.5 kHz
17.2 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

7.5
8.0

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.35 dB
2.32 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

9.0
7.1

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

101.1 dB SPL
88.8 dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB 
 

N/A

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

1.00 dB
1.70 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

8.3

THD  

See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.18

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.55
Show Text 

Center 
 

8.6
7.4

Center Setup  

Samsung HW-Q950T Center Setup
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

0.05
0.24

Std. Err. 
 

2.92 dB
3.73 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

96.9 dB SPL
72.3 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.21
0.63

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.05
1.54
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

8.0
5.9

Surround Setup  

Samsung HW-Q950T Surround Setup
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Phantom (Front Firing and Side Firing, Bar)

Slope 
 

-0.02
-0.56

Std. Err. 
 

5.01 dB
2.79 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

103.7 dB SPL
70.4 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.32
0.38

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

3.97
0.87

7.1 Rears 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

6.0
5.7

Height Setup  

Samsung HW-Q950T Height Setup
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom (Up Firing, Bar & Satellites)
Phantom (Front Firing, Bar)

Slope 
 

1.02
1.01

Std. Err. 
 

5.71 dB
3.35 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

88.5 dB SPL
59.2 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

1.09
1.45

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.74
0.30
Show Text 

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

6.3
5.4

Room Correction 
 

No
Yes

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

No
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
No

Bass Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

EQ 
 

Graphic + Presets
No

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
No

Virtual Surround 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Samsung HW-Q950T Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Samsung HW-Q950T Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
Adapter into HDMI ARC

HDMI Out 
 

1 (shared)
eARC

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No

Full HDMI In 
 

2
No

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

No
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

No
No

Ethernet 
 

No
1

Subwoofer Output 
 

No

HDMI ARC 
 

1 (shared)
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

10
9.6

Dolby Atmos 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS:X 
 

Yes
Not Supported

eARC 
 

Yes

DTS-HD MA 
 

Yes
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 7.1

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

10
0.0

Dolby Atmos 
 

Yes
Not Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Not Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Yes
Not Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Yes
Not Supported

DTS 
 

Yes
Not Supported

DTS:X 
 

Yes
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Yes
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Not Supported

5.1 PCM 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

10
10

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS 
 

Yes
Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
Show Text 

Audio Latency: ARC 
 

7.3

ARC Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

61 ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

61 ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

79 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

111 ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

121 ms

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

121 ms
Show Text 

Audio Latency: HDMI In 
 

8.1
0.0

HDMI Latency Video  

Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

N/A

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

N/A

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

N/A

ARC 
 

46 ms

Optical 
 

45 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

93 ms
Show Text 

Audio Latency: Optical 
 

7.8

Optical Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

119 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

180 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 
 

Yes
No

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 
 

8.0
3.0

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
No

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

Yes
Yes

Chromecast built-in 
 

No
No

Apple AirPlay 
 

No
Yes

Spotify Connect 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Connectivity - Subwoofer 
 

Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1  

Samsung HW-Q950T Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1

Physical controls subwoofer photo 1  

Samsung HW-Q950T Physical controls subwoofer photo 1

Sub Wireless 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 

Connectivity - Satellites 
 

Physical inputs satellites photo 1  

Samsung HW-Q950T Physical inputs satellites photo 1

Physical controls satellites photo 1  

Samsung HW-Q950T Physical controls satellites photo 1

Sat Wireless 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Samsung HW-Q950T Interface photo
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Interface photo

Display 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Samsung HW-Q950T Controls photo
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Samsung HW-Q950T Remote photo
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Remote photo

Universal Remote 
 

No
Show Text 

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

Yes (Built-in)
Yes (Built-in)

Google Assistant 
 

No
Yes (Built-in)

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

Yes
Show Text 

App 
 

App image  

Samsung HW-Q950T App image

App Name  

Samsung SmartThings

iOS  

Yes

Android  

Yes

Acts As A Remote 
 

Yes

Controls Soundbar's Settings 
 

Some

Casts Device Files 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Other Features 
 

Power Saving 
 

Auto-off

HDMI CEC (TV Remote Control) 
 

Yes
Show Text 

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Black
HW-Q950T
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Black
Beam (Gen 2)
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Black
HW-Q950T
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White
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
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Black
HW-Q950T
Searching
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Black
HW-Q950T
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Black
HW-Q950T
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HW-Q950T
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Samsung HW-Q950T

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Samsung HW-Q950T vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2): Main Discussion

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