Samsung HW-Q800B Soundbar

Overview

Identical to the bar included in the HW-Q930B pack, the HW-Q800B is a high-end sound bar from Samsung. It adopts a 5.1.2 channel configuration, comes with a wireless subwoofer and can decode numerous multi-channel sound formats, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

Samsung HW-Q800B: an excellent Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundbar
The 2022 range differs from the previous generation in that it has been redesigned, and a new technology called ‘Dolby Atmos Wireless’ has been introduced. This means compatible bars can receive a Dolby Atmos audio stream over wireless from a compatible Samsung TV.

Connectivity

The HW-Q800B has a relatively limited range of connections, but fortunately, it concentrates on the essentials. There is an eARC-compatible HDMI output, an HDMI input and an optical S/PDIF input. However, there is no trace of a mini-jack input or a USB port. The bar also has Bluetooth connectivity with a latency of 180ms.
The bar can handle just about anything you send, from simple Dolby Digital or DTS Digital Surround to Dolby Atmos and DTS:X via multi-channel LPCM. It can also receive Dolby Atmos streams from a compatible Samsung TV (only some models in the 2022 range) via a wifi link. The Q-Symphony feature, which allows you to use the TV’s speakers (only with compatible Samsung TVs) and the bar, is also included. The HW-Q800B cannot stream 4K/120 Hz and VRR.

Audio

With no less than 11 speakers, the HW-Q800B is a 5.1.2 channel sound bar. It has four listening modes: Adaptive, Surround, Gaming and Standard. The latter is the most convincing, as it does not apply post-processing.
In Standard mode, the HW-Q800B offers a well-balanced and particularly transparent sound that is equally suited to films/series and music content. The bar reproduces each timbre with breathtaking precision: the harmonic distortion measurement curve indicates this. As for the voices, they are always clear and intelligible, even during very dynamic and element-laden scenes.

It’s now standard practice at Samsung, but we’re still amazed by the considerable power the South Korean manufacturer’s soundbars can deploy. The HW-Q800B is no exception, with its incredible dynamics and delirious power, which can prove treacherous because, if the sound rendering is pleasant and soft at moderate volume, it becomes a little more aggressive as the volume increases, especially on musical content.

As for the subwoofer, it’s still a model of responsiveness and gives the bar excellent foundation and depth that’s perfect for explosions or other rumblings. Like the bar, it also has phenomenal power, enough to shake the walls.

The SpaceFit Sound auto-calibration feature has evolved with this new generation of bars. Previously, connecting the bar to a Samsung TV was necessary to get a customised calibration for your listening room. The HW-Q800B now has a built-in microphone that allows it to calibrate itself. However, we didn’t notice any improvement or even a change in the sound quality.

CONCLUSION

The HW-Q800B does justice to Samsung’s previous high-end soundbars with its boundless energy and sound quality, which is equally suited to movies, TV shows and music. However, the bar exhibits immersive virtual spatialisation that needs to be more precise in the placement of elevation effects. That said, the HW-Q800B is still an excellent sound bar, capable of bringing great movie, entertainment and music experiences into your home.