FIRST TESTS
Samsung HW-Q800A
The Korean company has been working hard to improve its soundbars with sonic enhancements and extra features. Here’s the result
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Soundbar | £799 whf.cm/HW-Q800A |
It’s no secret that we’re big fans of Samsung’s punchy and vivid QLED TVs, but so far we haven’t been quite so enamoured of the company’s range of soundbars. Its latest soundbar offering, the Samsung HW-Q800A, looks similar to previous models, but the company has made some improvements to performance as well as adding some new intelligent features.
Like previous generations of the Q series soundbar, the HW-Q800A has a separate wireless subwoofer. That ability deftly to replicate the low frequencies that a single-unit bar couldn’t reach is what distinguishes the HW-Q800A from its closest competition, most notably the £799 Sonos Arc, which, like the Samsung, is also Dolby Atmos-enabled.
Discreet design
At only 57mm in height and 116cm wide the Q800A has been made to be heard, not seen. Its unassuming build is ideal for sitting in front of a range of TV sizes from 48in to 65in screens, or wall-mounted (fixings are included in the box).
The matt-black wraparound metal grille is smart and discreet, as is the LED display on the front face. Having a text display is more user friendly than having to decode flashing lights, though we find ourselves impatiently waiting for the words to scroll past, especially when trying to decipher if we’re in ‘Bluetooth pairing’ and ‘Bluetooth mode’.