The Samsung HW-Q930B is a 9.1.4 bar released in 2022 as a more affordable alternative to the premium Samsung HW-Q990B. It's much smaller in size than the manufacturer's flagship model. However, it still comes with a dedicated subwoofer to bring plenty of rumble in the bass, as well as rear speakers with a new design that maximizes immersive audio formats like Dolby Atmos. While it lacks Auto EQ room correction to adjust the subwoofer's output, its SpaceFit Sound feature still allows you to optimize the bar's audio reproduction based on your room's unique acoustics. There are lots of other customization tools on hand, too, including Samsung's Q-Symphony, which pairs the bar with certain compatible TVs for a more immersive sound.
Our Verdict
The Samsung HW-Q930B is impressive for mixed usage. It's a premium bar with lots of features and a great sound right out of the box. With balanced mids, voices and lead instruments are clear and present in the mix, making it suitable for lots of different music genres as well as vocal-heavy TV shows. There's plenty of rumble in the bass to bring action-packed movies to life. With its rear speakers, you get a truly immersive sound with surround sound and Dolby Atmos content. There are also lots of customization features on hand if you prefer a different sound.
- 7-band graphic EQ.
- Extended low-bass.
- Impressive Atmos performance.
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay compatibility.
- No Chromecast built-in support.
The Samsung HW-Q930B is impressive for dialogue-heavy TV shows and podcasts. With its discrete center channel, it reproduces voices with greater accuracy. Its balanced mids ensure that dialogue is detailed and clear in the mix. You can even use its dialogue enhancement feature, called Voice Enhance, if you have trouble hearing voices. You have lots of wireless playback options for streaming podcasts from your phone to the bar.
- 7-band graphic EQ.
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay compatibility.
- No Chromecast built-in support.
The Samsung HW-Q930B is great for music. If you have a compatible Samsung TV, you can use its SpaceFit Sound room correction feature to calibrate the bar to your room's unique acoustics. With it on, the bar's sound is neutral, especially in the mids, where most voices and instruments reproduce. There's a little extra punch in the bass range to bring bass-heavy genres like hip-hop and EDM to life. If you prefer a different sound, you have lots of customization tools on hand, including a 7-band graphic EQ.
- 7-band graphic EQ.
- Gets loud.
- Extended low-bass.
- Some compression at max volume.
The Samsung HW-Q930B is great for movies. It supports lots of different audio formats that you're likely to find on streaming platforms and Blu-rays alike, including Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos. For 5.1 surround sound formats like Dolby Digital, its rear speakers provide a clear and real sound that makes it seem like the action is happening around you. Object-based formats like Dolby Atmos have lots of height, and sound effects seem like they're coming from pinpoint locations in the space around you. With its rumbling low-bass, the floor shakes during action-packed scenes, giving a real cinematic feel.
- Extended low-bass.
- Impressive Atmos performance.
- Some compression at max volume.
Changelog
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Updated May 13, 2025:
We've updated this review to add a comparison with the Samsung HW-Q910D in the Video Passthrough to TV box.
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Updated Dec 13, 2024:
This review has been updated to mention the Samsung HW-Q930D in Stereo Frequency Response.
- 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 Oct 06, 2023: Added market comparison with the Samsung HW-Q930C in the Style - Bar box.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Samsung HW-Q930B is available in 'Black'. 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 discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The Samsung HW-Q930B is a premium 9.1.4 soundbar that offers a versatile performance overall. While its soundstage isn't as wide and immersive as more premium models like the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module or the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers, it still offers really good performance, especially with surround sound and Dolby Atmos content. It has a similar sound to the Samsung HW-Q990B, with most of the same features. It's a good option for those who don't want to spend as much on Samsung's flagship offering.
See also our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, and the best Samsung soundbars.
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-Q930C is the next generation of the Samsung HW-Q930B. They're both 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos soundbars with rear satellites. They offer similar performances overall, though the Q930C is a bit better, with a slightly more neutral sound out-of-the-box that some users may prefer.
The Samsung HW-Q930B is a bit better than the JBL Bar 1000, though they're both very versatile soundbars. The Samsung bar is a 9.1.4 setup, meaning it comes with two extra surround channels than the JBL. It also has more sound enhancement features and a more bass-heavy sound out-of-the-box. Plus, there's built-in voice assistant support, whereas you have to attach a third-party device to the JBL to control it with your voice. You may prefer the JBL bar's design since its satellites are truly wireless, unlike the Samsung model's.
The Samsung HW-Q990B and the Samsung HW-Q930B are the top-of-the-line offerings from Samsung's 2022 lineup—and you can't go wrong with either bar. The Q990B is the best of the bunch. It's an 11.1.4 setup with two more channels and a bigger design that brings a little more punch in the bass range. The Auto EQ allows you to adjust its subwoofer's reproduction based on your room's acoustics, which the Q930B lacks. The extra two channels don't make much difference in the sound. You can still get an awesome sound with the Q930B for less.
Test Results
