Samsung HW-Q800C Review: An Upgrade of a Superb Soundbar

With its Q-Series range, Samsung fields a broad line-up of soundbars built to deliver a proper home-cinema experience. After the peerless HW-Q990C, this review turns to a more compact model: the HW-Q800C. It goes without rear speakers, but carries side-firing and up-firing transducers to round out sound quality and surround. This review is based on that published test, not on a hands-on trial of our own.

As in the television market, Samsung claims to be the world's number one in soundbars, and it puts real resources behind that, with an extremely wide and varied catalogue. Billed as ideal partners for the brand's QLED televisions, the Q-Series bars suit most set-ups and are aimed above all at film lovers. With its 5.1.2 layout and no rear speakers, the HW-Q800C looks a sensible choice for a medium-sized living room.

Build and design are thoroughly accomplished, with no room for eccentricity: a micro-perforated covering runs the full length, in a thoroughly classic finish. More compact than the HW-Q990C, the bar slots easily in front of a television provided there are at least 110 cm of space to house it. It plays the discretion card. The subwoofer takes up little room too and should be easy to place, measuring 40 cm in height and depth and 21 cm thick. The bar carries four small, discreet controls, though operation is simpler via the supplied remote or Samsung's SmartThings app, which handles finer adjustments such as calibration, Auto EQ and equalisation; a small LED display on the right keeps track of what you have selected.

Inside, there are seven channels in total, with two up-firing transducers to accompany the five horizontal ones. That is the difference from a more affordable model such as the HW-Q600C: the two vertical channels naturally allow better surround rendering with DTS:X and Dolby Atmos. Connectivity comprises two HDMI ports, one in and one out; the input accepts 4K signals up to 60 Hz along with HDR and HDR10+, but not Dolby Vision, and there is CEC support plus ARC and eARC. An optical input and a Bluetooth chip with the SBC codec round things off. The notable addition over the bars that precede it in Samsung's catalogue is Wi-Fi, which brings a host of connected features: compatibility with the Google and Amazon voice assistants, and above all support for AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and Chromecast. Two further advantages await owners of a compatible Samsung television: wireless audio transmission, even in Dolby Atmos, and the Q-Symphony function that synchronises the set's own speakers with the soundbar.

Paired with a Samsung Neo QLED television for the published test, the bar showed its full potential. Its eleven speakers produce a very balanced sound, precise in both the treble and the low frequencies handled by the subwoofer. The woofer delivers perfectly even bass, giving an excellent harmony between bar and sub; push the volume a little and the strengths become clearer still, the sound filling the room with ease while the bass lends film scenes real intensity — something no soundbar can manage without a woofer. It is an eclectic performer, well suited to music from electro to classical and metal, to the clarity of dialogue and to cinema alike. The soundstage is ample, details come through cleanly, and the side and vertical effects are clearly present. Inevitably, without additional rear speakers the immersive bubble feels less pronounced than on the excellent HW-Q990C, and while the up-firing speakers add scale and relief they still fall short of a truly overhead sound. Even so, the bar remains recommendable for a convincing and high-quality surround experience — all the more so with the optional SWA-9200S kit of two wireless rear speakers. Finally, owners of a recent Samsung television have reason to celebrate: Q-Symphony is far from a gimmick, and adding the set's four speakers proved very pleasant for cinema, with spatialisation that seemed immediately better, a wider frontal stage and a verticality that becomes far more noticeable once it is switched on.

The HW-Q800C is the ideal compromise for a capable, effective audio system in a generously sized room, up to 30 or even 40 square metres. With a perfectly balanced delivery, fine power and precision even at high volume, it wants only for a pair of rear speakers to truly shine. The vertical effects stay light, which limits the surround experience from the bar alone. Q-Symphony, on the other hand, brings excellent harmony between soundbar, subwoofer and the television's own speakers, noticeably improving immersion for owners of a Samsung set. In the end this is a complete and versatile soundbar that will suit every use — music, cinema, sport, gaming or ordinary television — and its upgrade path gives it serious potential, first through Q-Symphony and then through the option of adding a rear-speaker kit for a modest extra outlay.