The Samsung HW-Q70R is a great 3.1.2 sounding soundbar with stereo content. It has great bass performance and has a neutral sound profile. It gets loud enough for most content and also performs without audible compression at max volume. Due to its configuration, it supports Atmos, but its surround performance isn't the best as it downmixes the signal to stereo. On the upside, it has plenty of connection options and is very well-built.
Our Verdict
Good for mixed usage. The HW-Q70R has a great stereo sound profile with extra bass, which will be suitable for different types of content. Whether you listen to stereo music, audiobooks, or podcasts, this soundbar gets loud enough and has an accurate audio reproduction. However, while it supports Atmos, its performance isn’t impressive and doesn't have the best surround performance either. On the upside, the Q70R has plenty of connectivity options, wired or wireless.
- Great audio reproduction.
- Very well-built design.
- Good for mixed usage.
- Many connection options.
- Poor surround performance.
- No auto-volume or night mode.
Good for dialog and TV shows. The Samsung HW-Q70R/ZA has a great sound profile that sounds neutral and well-balanced. There’s also a dialog enhancement feature that will make dialog clearer, even at a lower volume. The bar gets loud enough for voice-oriented content like podcasts and audiobooks, which you'll be able to easily stream via your smart device.
Very good for music. The stereo frequency response of the Q70R is great and will be suitable for a wide variety of music. Its sound profile is well-balanced and has quite a bit of bass, but without overdoing it. The overall stereo performance of this bar is great and you'll be able to get a good loudness level, too. However, the soundstage is only decent and doesn’t sound wider than the bar itself.
Good for movies. The sound quality of the soundbar is quite good, especially that it has great bass performance, which is nice for action-packed movies. It also supports Atmos, although the height performance isn't very impressive. On the upside, it has a dedicated center channel so voices and dialog will be clear and you get plenty of connectivity options.
Changelog
- Updated Jan 04, 2022: Added third-party voice assistant support.
- Updated Mar 16, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Jun 08, 2020: We've tested the new eARC support after updating to the latest firmware.
- Updated Oct 10, 2019: Review published.
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Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The Samsung HW-Q70R has a unique 3.1.2 configuration that can do Atmos, but doesn't have the best performance. It looks the same as the Q60R, but performs more like the Q80R and Q90R with stereo content. Their subwoofer performs quite well too as you get a deep and punchy bass. See our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, and the best soundbars with a subwoofer.
The Samsung HW-Q70R is a bit better for mixed usage than the Samsung HW-Q600A. The HW-Q70R reproduces a more extended low-bass, so you feel more thump and rumble in your audio. Also, it supports more wireless playback options. That said, the HW-Q600A has more sound enhancement features, including auto-volume mode.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q70R. The HW-Q800A offers better soundstage and surround performances, and it offers built-in voice assistant support. It also comes with an auto-volume mode and supports Apple AirPlay 2 connectivity.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Samsung HW-Q70R or the LG SN9YG. The LG is a 5.1.2 setup with a better surrounds performance and more sound enhancement features. That said, the 3.1.2 Samsung has a better center channel performance. It also comes with a graphic EQ to help you customize its sound.
The Samsung HW-Q70R and the Sony HT-ST5000 are similarly performing soundbars with different channel configurations. While the Sony offers more connectivity options and has better surround and Atmos performance, the Samsung does a slightly better job reproducing sound overall and is more versatile in use.
Test Results
