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.
Our Verdict
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.
- Graphic EQ and presets.
- Extended low-bass.
- Dolby Atmos support.
- No rear speakers.
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.
- Dialogue enhancement tool.
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay 2 connectivity.
- No Chromecast built-in support.
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.
- Graphic EQ and presets.
- Extended low-bass.
- Some compression at max volume.
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.
- Extended low-bass.
- Dolby Atmos support.
- No rear speakers.
Changelog
- Updated Aug 29, 2024: Updated Stereo Dynamics results with new methodology from Test Bench 1.3. Added text to Audio Latency: ARC, Audio Latency: HDMI In, and Audio Latency: Optical boxes.
- Updated Aug 28, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench Update 1.3. If applicable, we've retested stereo sound based on the manufacturer's recommendations. Additionally, we've expanded our audio latency tests to the following boxes: Audio Latency: ARC, Audio Latency: HDMI In, and Audio Latency: Optical. You can see the full changelog here.
- Updated Jan 09, 2024: Added information to the Wireless Playback and Voice Assistant Support boxes as Chromecast and Google Assistant support is region-specific.
- Updated Jun 12, 2023: Updated the 4k Max Refresh Rate result to 60Hz.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
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.
Popular Soundbar Comparisons
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-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 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 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.
Test Results
