The Samsung HW-Q800B is a 5.1.2 setup released in 2022. It's a mid-range offering that's a solid alternative for those who don't have space in their setup for discrete rear speakers, which are included in both of Samsung's top-of-the-line models, the Samsung HW-Q930B and the Samsung HW-Q990B. It supports Dolby Atmos content, and it comes with lots of Samsung's premium enhancement features, including the SpaceFit Sound room correction feature. There's also Q-Symphony support, which lets you pair the bar with a compatible Samsung TV to use your TV speakers with the bar.
The Samsung HW-Q800B is great for mixed usage. It's a really versatile bar, with a neutral default sound that makes it suitable for listening to everything from music to movies to TV shows. Dialogue is clearly and accurately reproduced, and the sub brings plenty of rumble in the bass for music and movies. You have lots of tools on hand to customize its sound, too, including a 7-band graphic EQ and presets. While it supports a lot of audio formats, the lack of rear speakers means it doesn't sound quite as immersive as Samsung's top models. That said, it's still a good alternative if you don't have space in your setup for discrete rears.
The Samsung HW-Q800B is impressive for dialogue-heavy TV shows and podcasts. As a 5.1.2 setup, it has a discrete center channel, which enhances the quality of dialogue in the mix. You have no trouble following dialogue, and it's reproduced with clarity and detail. There's even a dialogue enhancement tool called Active Voice Amplifier to make voices more clear and crisp.
The Samsung HW-Q800B is great for music. Like most premium bars, it comes with a room correction feature to optimize audio reproduction based on your room's acoustics — Samsung calls it SpaceFit Sound. With it on, the bar's frequency response is quite neutral and balanced, with a touch of extra punch in the bass. Vocals and lead instruments are clear and detailed in the mix, making it suitable for listening to lots of different genres. You have lots of tools on hand to customize its sound, too, which is handy.
The Samsung HW-Q800B is very good for movies. Dialogue is clear and present in the mix, and its subwoofer brings plenty of thump and rumble to shake your seat like you're at the movie theater. It supports lots of different audio formats, including 5.1 surround sound formats like Dolby Digital as well as Dolby Atmos, both of which are commonly found on most streaming services. It provides a pretty immersive listening experience, though the lack of rear speakers means it doesn't seem quite as immersive. You can always add on rear speakers from the manufacturer separately, though.
The Samsung HW-Q800B is available in 'Black.' You can see the label for the model we tested here.
If you encounter other versions of the Samsung HW-Q800B, let us know in the comments, and we'll update this review.
The Samsung HW-Q800B is a mid-range 5.1.2 setup with a versatile overall performance. It comes with lots of sound enhancement features, and it's a good alternative if you don't have space for rear speakers. However, other 5.1 setups like the Vizio Elevate include rear speakers in the setup at a comparable price.
See also our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best soundbars with subwoofer, and the best 5.1 soundbars.
The Samsung HW-Q800C is the next generation of the Samsung HW-Q800B, and it's a bit better overall. These two setups have no major differences, though the Q800C has a slightly more balanced overall sound. It gets louder too, though there's a bit more compression at max volume. The newer version also offers a lower latency performance across all connection types.
The Samsung HW-Q800B is better than the Samsung HW-S800B for most uses. The Q800B is a bigger soundbar with a bigger subwoofer, adding a little more low-bass to the mix. Also, since it's a 5.1.2 setup, it's better for surround sound. You even get more inputs, including Optical and HDMI In ports, so you can passthrough high-quality bandwidth signals. That said, the S800B stands out thanks to its design—its slim build may be a better fit for you, depending on the layout of your living area.
The Samsung HW-Q800B is better than the Samsung HW-Q800A. The Q800B is a 5.1.2 setup, so compared to the 3.1.2 Q800A, it has two side-firing drivers that provide a more clear and real representation of surround sound. There are more sound enhancement features on hand, too, including a room correction tool.
The Samsung HW-Q930B is better than the Samsung HW-Q800B. The Q930B is a 9.1.4 setup, and unlike the Q800B, it comes with two satellites that improve its performance with surround sound. Its Atmos performance is more impressive, too, as its satellites have up-firing drivers to bring a more immersive feel.
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) and the Samsung HW-Q800B are two very different setups. The Sonos is a compact, standalone bar that's ideal for listeners who don't have a lot of space in their living room. It's a versatile bar with a decent Atmos performance, but the Samsung is better for movies overall. The Samsung soundbar also reproduces more bass thanks to its dedicated sub and offers more sound enhancement features.
The Samsung HW-Q800B is more versatile than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. Unlike the JBL, the Samsung supports Dolby Atmos content, so you can enjoy more immersive object-based formats commonly found on streaming platforms. It has a wider, more immersive soundstage, too, and more sound enhancement features on hand.
The Samsung HW-Q800B is better than the LG S80QY. The Samsung bar is a 5.1.2 setup, while the LG is a 3.1.3 setup. The Samsung soundbar's two side-firing channels mean that it has a more clear and real representation of surround sound. Its Atmos performance is better, too, and it's a bit more customizable thanks to its graphic EQ.
The Samsung HW-Q800B is better than the Samsung HW-Q600B. The Q800B is a 5.1.2 setup that comes with two additional channels for surround sound. Its soundstage performance is better, too, and it brings a little more rumble in the low-bass. Plus, it supports more premium features like room correction, so its audio reproduction adjusts to the unique acoustics of your room.
The JBL Bar 9.1 and the Samsung HW-Q800B are both very versatile 5.1 setups. Unlike the Samsung, the JBL comes with rear speakers, so it's better for surround sound. It has a better stereo soundstage, too. That said, the Samsung is a good alternative if you don't have room for rear satellites. It comes with more sound enhancement features, too.
The LG S90QY and the Samsung HW-Q800B are both very premium 5.1 setups. The Samsung has a more balanced sound out-of-the-box, and thanks to its graphic EQ, it's more customizable overall. Its surround and Atmos performances are better, too, so sound effects are more clear and detailed in the mix.
The Vizio M Series M512a-H6 and the Samsung HW-Q800B are both very versatile 5.1.2 setups, so depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The Vizio is a more affordable bar with discrete satellites included, helping to widen its soundstage for a more dimensional sound. It isn't as well-built as the Samsung soundbar and doesn't offer as many features like room correction and voice assistant support.
The Samsung HW-Q800B is better than the Samsung HW-Q700A. The Q700A is a 3.1.2 setup, while the Q800B is a 5.1.2 setup. That means that the Q800B comes with two side-firing drivers that improve its surround sound performance for a more clear and real sound. It reproduces more low-bass, too, so you get more rumble in your audio. There are also more sound enhancement features such as room correction.
The LG SP9YA and the Samsung HW-Q800B are both 5.1.2 setups, but the Samsung is better overall. The Samsung has better surround sound and Atmos performances, so sound effects are reproduced with greater clarity and accuracy in multi-channel content. Unlike the LG, it comes with a graphic EQ, too, which gives you more control over the bar's sound.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module is better than the Samsung HW-Q800B. The Bose has a better stereo soundstage. Unlike the Samsung, it comes with rear speakers, so it's better for surround sound, too. The Samsung has more sound enhancement features, but given the Bose's balanced sound, you're unlikely to need them if you opt for the Bose.
The Samsung HW-Q900A is better than the Samsung HW-Q800B. The Q900A is a 7.1.2 setup compared to the 5.1.2 Q800B. It has two more channels, as well as more sound enhancement features to help you customize its sound.
The Samsung HW-Q990B is better than the Samsung HW-Q800B. The Q990B is a 11.1.4 setup compared to the 5.1.2 Q800B. That means that it has more channels, including two satellites included in the box. Its Atmos and surround sound performances are better overall, resulting in a more clear and real feel.
The Sony HT-A7000 with Speakers + Bass Module and the Samsung HW-Q800B are both premium Dolby Atmos soundbars. The Sony is better for surround sound, as its rear speakers bring a more clear and real feel to multi-channel content. That said, it's not quite as customizable as the Samsung, which has lots more sound enhancement features. The Samsung's Atmos performance is better, too.
The Samsung HW-Q800B is better than the Samsung HW-Q600A. The Q600A is a 3.1.2 setup, while the Q800B is a 5.1.2 setup. That means that the Q800B comes with two side-firing drivers that improve its surround sound performance for a more clear and real sound. It reproduces more low-bass, too, so you get more rumble in your audio. There are also more sound enhancement features such as room correction.
The Samsung HW-Q850A and the Samsung HW-Q800B are both 5.1.2 setups, but they offer different performances. The HW-Q850A was released in 2021, and it comes with rear speakers, unlike the HW-Q800B. As a result, it has a better surround sound performance. However, the HW-Q850A reproduces more bass out-of-the-box, and it comes with a room correction feature. You can also buy rear satellites separately from the manufacturer if you want.
The Samsung HW-Q800B is better than the standalone Sony HT-A5000. They're both premium Dolby Atmos setups, but the Samsung comes with a subwoofer included. As a result, it reproduces more thump and rumble in the bass, so you get a cinematic feel during action-packed scenes in your favorite movies.
The Samsung HW-Q800B is better than the Samsung HW-Q800T. The Q800B is a 5.1.2 setup, meaning that it has two side-firing drivers for surround sound content, resulting in a more clear and real representation than the 3.1.2 Q800T. Its Atmos performance is better, and it has more sound enhancement features, too.
The Samsung HW-Q800B is better than the LG SP8YA. The Samsung is a 5.1.2 setup, whereas the LG is a 3.1.2 setup. Since the Samsung has two side-firing drivers for surround sound, its performance is more clear and real overall. Its Atmos performance is better, too, so sound effects are more accurately represented.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers and the Samsung HW-Q800B are both very premium 5.1 setups. The Sonos is better overall, as it comes with rear speakers that result in a better performance with surround sound. Its soundstage is better, too. The Samsung reproduces more bass out-of-the-box, but you can always use the Sonos' bass adjustment feature to get a similar performance.
The Samsung HW-Q800B is better than the Samsung HW-Q60B. The Q800B is a 5.1.2 setup, meaning that it has two side-firing drivers for surround sound content. As a result, 5.1 surround formats like Dolby Digital sound more clear and real. It's better for Atmos content, too, and it comes with more sound enhancement features as well.
The Samsung HW-Q800B has a similar design to the Samsung HW-Q930B. It's made of plastic, and there are metal grills covering the front, sides, and top of the bar. The angled edges give it a unique look compared to last year's models.
You can add on a Wireless Rear Speaker kit from the manufacturer separately. If you prefer a setup with rear speakers included, check out the Samsung HW-Q910B.
The Samsung HW-Q800B is rather wide, so it doesn't fit between the legs of a 55-inch TV. That said, it's not very tall, so it doesn't block out your TV screen. If you're looking for a similar bar that's taller and thinner, you can check out the Samsung HW-S800B.
The Samsung HW-Q800B has an excellent build quality. The plastic on the bar feels very premium and solid, and the metal grilles help to protect the drivers inside. The sub's wood build is sturdy, too. However, the fabric over the speaker represents a potential weak point. Since the fabric is quite thin, it seems like it could rip or collect dust easily.
The Samsung Q800B performs similarly to the Samsung HW-Q930B with stereo content. The response is quite neutral, especially in the mids where most voices and lead instruments are reproduced. As a result, these instruments are clear and present in the mix, and it's suitable for lots of different types of audio content. There's a little extra punch added in the bass range, too. It's ideal if you like bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop, though fans of a more neutral sound can find it a little bassy.
This bar comes with lots of different sound enhancement features, but with stereo content, 'Standard' mode sounds best. The 'Adaptive Sound' feature is better suited for multi-channel content, as it makes stereo audio sound more boxy and filtered.
If you prefer a more neutral sound, you can set the bar's bass adjustment feature to '-2'. The resulting sound is very balanced, and you notice less emphasis in the bass range, so audio in the bass range is more accurately reproduced. Voices and lead instruments are still clear and detailed in the mix, too.
The Samsung Q800B has a good stereo soundstage. It has very good focus, and sound effects are localized to pinpoint locations in the soundstage. For example, if you listen to an orchestral recording, each instrument seems like it comes from a specific location that matches where the musician sits on stage. On 'Standard' mode, the soundstage is about as wide as the bar itself. 'Adaptive Sound' uses some tricks to make it seem a little wider, but it's not necessarily a better choice. With stereo content, this mode makes audio seem diffused and filtered. 'Standard' sounded best in our subjective tests, though your own subjective impressions can vary.
The Samsung Q800B has a great stereo dynamics performance. Even if you have a larger living room, it gets loud enough to fill your room with sound. However, if you push it to max volume, there's some compression that distorts the sound, especially in the bass range. The next-generation Samsung HW-Q800C does offer an improvement in this regard.
The Samsung Q800B has a very good center channel performance. It's a 5.1.2 setup, meaning that there's a discrete center channel in the bar. This channel improves the reproduction of dialogue in your audio, so voices are more accurately localized within the soundstage. Given the neutral frequency response of this channel, voices remain clear and present in the mix, too. You don't have issues following the action in your favorite movies and TV shows.
The Samsung Q800B has a sub-par surround sound performance. When you listen to 5.1 surround sound formats like Dolby Digital, side-firing drivers in the bar are used to represent sound effects in the soundstage. These channels have a balanced frequency response, so sound effects are reproduced with clarity and detail. That said, the representation doesn't seem as clear or as real as what you get with discrete surround speakers. Audio just seems like it's coming from a speaker placed in front of you rather than from speakers placed all around you. You can always add on rear speakers sold by the manufacturer separately if you want to improve its performance.
The Samsung Q800B has two up-firing drivers built into the bar, which ricochet sound off the ceiling to create the illusion of height. Again, these channels have a balanced frequency response, so sound effects are reproduced accurately, which is good. There's plenty of bass, so you feel the deep rumble in your seat during action-packed scenes and intense movie scores, just like at the movie theater.
Subjectively, the Samsung HW-Q800B offers a very good listening experience. It provides decent height, and sound effects seem to come from the space beside you, too. You have no issues following voices and details in the scene. That said, compared to bars with rear speakers, it doesn't perform quite as well. It doesn't get as much height as the Samsung HW-Q930B, for example, so it doesn't seem quite as immersive. If you don't have room for rear satellites, though, it's a good alternative.
The Samsung Q800B offers lots of different sound enhancement features to help you customize its sound. There's a 7-band graphic EQ as well as bass and treble adjustments on hand, and you can choose between lots of different EQ presets: 'Standard', 'Adaptive Sound', 'Game', 'Surround Sound'. As with most premium bars on the market, there's a room correction tool to optimize audio reproduction based on your room's unique acoustics. It's called SpaceFit Sound, and you can access it via the remote or the app.
A lot of manufacturers offer unique enhancement features designed to pair the bar with their brand of TVs, and Samsung is no different. If you have a compatible Samsung TV, you can use the Q-Symphony feature, which uses the TV's speakers in tandem with the Samsung Q800B. There's no real difference in the sound when you use this feature, though. It doesn't even impact the volume. It's not really worth it to get a Samsung TV specifically to use this feature.
You can connect the Samsung HW-Q800B to your TV using either an Optical or HDMI connection. There's an HDMI cable included in the box, which is handy. You also find a USB input under the bar, but it's only for service and software updates, so you can't use it to play audio.
The Samsung HW-Q800B supports lots of different audio formats via ARC. It can playback Dolby Digital, which is the most common surround sound format, as well as lossless and object-based formats like Dolby Atmos.
The Samsung Q800B supports lots of audio formats via HDMI In, too. If you watch a lot of content on streaming platforms, you're likely to come across Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos content, both of which are supported by the bar.
Over Optical, the Samsung Q800B supports both Dolby Digital and DTS content. Dolby Digital is more common, and it's found on lots of streaming platforms, whereas DTS is more commonly used with Blu-rays.
Audio latency over an ARC connection is decently low. While you're unlikely to encounter significant lag between your audio and video, you can always manually adjust for this using the app's AV Sync feature.
The Samsung Q800B has decent latency performance using its HDMI In. Different apps and TVs compensate for latency differently, but you can always manually adjust for this using the app's AV Sync feature.
Audio latency performance via the optical connection is decently low, so you're unlikely to experience lag between your audio and video. That said, different apps and TVs compensate for latency differently, so you can always manually adjust for this using the app's AV Sync feature.
The Samsung Q800B can passthrough some of the highest-quality bandwidth signals, allowing you to connect it between your TV and your PC to get clear and crisp text on the screen. Gamers can also use variable refresh rate technologies for a tear-free experience, like HDMI Forum VRR.
The Samsung Q800B lets you wirelessly stream audio from your mobile devices to the bar. It also supports Samsung's Tap Sound feature, which lets you "tap" a compatible smartphone against the bar to mirror sound over its speakers. It's a fun tool, but you can still stream over Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay 2 if you don't have a compatible phone. Chromecast support is even available in some regions, and you can check your country's product page to see if it's included.
There's a small four-character display on the right side of the bar, located just behind the metal grille. It shows the volume level and the current input as you adjust these settings, and you can also press the "i" button on the remote to show the format that's playing. It scrolls for longer messages, too.
You can also control the bar with your voice from the comfort of your couch using its built-in Alexa feature. Google Assistant is available in some regions as well. If you don't want it to listen to you, simply mute the microphone using the button on the bar.