The Samsung HW-Q850T is a 5.1.2 setup that comes with built-in support for Amazon Alexa voice assistant. Out-of-the-box, this soundbar has a very neutral sound profile that's suitable for listening to lots of different types of audio content, and it even comes with a graphic EQ and presets so you can customize its sound. It also comes with Q-Symphony technology, which is advertised to work with Samsung QLED TV speakers to create a more immersive sound, though we don't test for this. While it supports DTS:X and Dolby Atmos content, unfortunately, its height channels don't provide a very immersive listening experience.
Our Verdict
The Samsung HW-Q850T soundbar is good for mixed usage. Out-of-the-box, it has a very neutral sound profile that's suitable for listening to lots of different types of audio content. There's even a graphic EQ and presets available if you want to customize its sound. It supports surround content, too, and its dedicated surround speakers provide an immersive sound. However, it has a poor Dolby Atmos performance.
- Gets loud.
- Supports Dolby Digital Plus and DTS:X content.
- Graphic EQ + presets.
- Poor Atmos performance.
- No room correction feature.
The Samsung HW-Q850T soundbar is very good for dialogue-centric content like TV shows. Thanks to its dedicated center channel and balanced mid-range, it reproduces clear and accurate dialogue. It gets pretty loud, too, and there's even a dialogue enhancement feature that can make voices more clear and crisp. It's Bluetooth and Wi-Fi compatible, which is great for wirelessly streaming podcasts and audiobooks to the bar, but it doesn't support Apple AirPlay or Chromecast built-in.
- Gets loud.
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi compatible.
- Doesn't support Apple AirPlay or Chromecast built-in.
The Samsung HW-Q850T soundbar is very good for music. Its balanced, neutral sound profile makes it suitable for listening to lots of different types of audio content, and its dedicated subwoofer helps reproduce an extended low-bass. There's also a graphic EQ and lots of EQ presets to help you adjust its sound more to your liking.
- Gets loud.
- Graphic EQ + presets.
- No room correction feature.
The Samsung HW-Q850T soundbar is good for movies. Its balanced, neutral sound profile can reproduce clear and accurate dialogue, and it has a little extra thump in the bass that's suitable for watching action-packed scenes. It has dedicated surround speakers, so objects in the soundstage are accurately localized. It supports Dolby Atmos, too, but it doesn't provide a very immersive listening experience.
- Gets loud.
- Supports Dolby Digital Plus and DTS:X content.
- Poor Atmos performance.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Samsung HW-Q850T comes in 'Black', and you can see the label for the model we tested here.
If you come across another version of this soundbar, let us know in the discussion section below so we can update our review.
Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The Samsung HW-Q850T is a very versatile 5.1.2 setup. Like the Samsung HW-Q800T and the Samsung HW-Q950T, it comes with Q-Symphony technology that's advertised to create a more immersive sound by syncing your bar with the speakers on compatible Samsung QLED TVs, though we don't currently test for this. It offers lots of sound customization features, including a graphic EQ and presets, but unfortunately, it doesn't offer room correction. See also our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best soundbars 5.1, and the best Samsung soundbars.
The Samsung HW-Q850T is a better soundbar than the standalone Sonos Arc. The Samsung comes with a subwoofer and satellites, and it has a more extended low-bass. It's also more customizable thanks to its graphic EQ and presets. It's Bluetooth-compatible and comes with a Full HDMI In port. However, the Sonos has a better soundstage and Atmos performance. You can also compare the Samsung to the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers.
The Samsung HW-Q850T is a slightly better soundbar than the LG SN9YG. The Samsung has a more balanced sound profile out-of-the-box, and it gets louder. It also comes with dedicated satellite speakers that help create a better surrounds performance, and it has a graphic EQ for sound customization. However, the LG comes with a room correction feature, it has a better Atmos performance, and it has Chromecast built-in.
The Samsung HW-Q900T is slightly better for mixed usage than the Samsung HW-Q850T. The HW-Q900T is a 7.1.2 setup with a better soundstage. It also gets louder. However, the HW-Q850T comes with discrete satellites, so it offers a better surrounds performance.
The Samsung HW-Q800T and the Samsung HW-Q850T are similarly performing soundbars, so depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The HW-Q850T is a 5.1.2 setup that comes with dedicated satellite speakers, so it offers a better, more immersive surrounds experience. However, the 3.1.2 HW-Q800T gets louder, which some listeners may prefer.
Test Results
