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.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Samsung HW-Q70R or the Samsung HW-Q700A. The HW-Q70R reproduces a more extended low-bass, meaning you can feel the deep thump and rumble in bass-heavy music and action-packed scenes. However, the HW-Q700A offers better soundstage and surround performances, and it supports Apple AirPlay 2. It also comes with an auto-volume mode, unlike the HW-Q70R.
The Samsung HW-Q70R is the previous version of the Samsung HW-Q70T, but it performs slightly better in some regards. They're both very similar 3.1.2 setups that support Atmos. However, the Q70R's bass extends deeper than the Q70T, so it doesn't sound as bright. As a result, the Q70R will do a better job reproducing the deep rumble and thump in action-packed movie scenes and bass-heavy music. However, the Q70T has a slightly better surround performance, which is good for movie lovers.
The Samsung HW-Q80R is a slightly better setup than the Samsung HW-Q70R. It can get louder and its stereo soundstage feels a bit wider too. However, we didn’t test either with satellites. The Q80R soundstage sounds a bit wider, and it has side-firing speakers on the bar to play surround content, which the Q70R can’t do. The Q80R also has a better Atmos performance and gives you a better height impression, which is great for movies.
The Samsung HW-Q70R is an overall better-sounding soundbar setup than the Samsung HW-Q60R. The Q70R has a better stereo performance and it also supports Atmos, which the Q60R can’t do. However, the Q60R can play surround content while the Q70R can't. On the other hand, the Q70R has more audio formats supported and can also be used via Wi-Fi.
Test Results
