The Samsung HW-Q950T is a 9.1.4 setup from 2020. It has a neutral and balanced sound profile that delivers a thumpy, punchy bass suitable for a variety of audio content. It also has several sound enhancement features like a graphic EQ plus presets so that you can tweak its sound. As a high-end soundbar, it comes with Q-Symphony, a feature that works in tandem with compatible Samsung QLED TVs to create a more immersive audio experience, but we don't currently test this feature. However, despite its elevated price point, it has a mostly plastic and fabric build, which feels like a bit of a step down from Samsung's other premium models that use metal grilles. It also has a screen on its top side, which is impossible to see unless you're standing directly over it. Still, if you're looking for a soundbar that works more closely with your Samsung TV, this is a solid choice.
Note: There have been some reports of the subwoofer or satellites' sound cutting out or dropping, possibly because of issues with the wireless connection. We didn't experience this issue with our test unit. However, this may be because our testing space doesn't have many issues with interference, since there aren't a lot of other Wi-Fi networks in the area.
Our Verdict
The Samsung HW-Q950T is great for mixed use. Whether you're watching movies or listening to music, this bar has a balanced and neutral sound. If you want to tweak its sound, it has a graphic EQ as well as presets. There's a dialogue enhancement feature, which is great if you like to listen to audiobooks or TV shows. It can get loud enough to be used during a house party, and you can also stream your favorite songs to it using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. It even supports Atmos, giving you a more immersive movie experience.
- Well-balanced sound profile.
- Can get loud.
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatible.
- Supports Atmos.
- No room correction.
The Samsung HW-Q950T is great for dialogue and TV shows. It has a balanced and neutral sound, which helps reproduce clear and accurate dialogue. There's also a dialogue enhancement feature to further improve vocal content. You can stream podcasts and audiobooks to the bar using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth too, which is great.
- Well-balanced sound profile.
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatible.
- No auto-volume/night mode.
The Samsung HW-Q950T is great for music. It has a neutral and balanced sound profile suitable for most music genres and if you like to tweak your sound, there's a graphic EQ and presets to help you get the most out of your audio. It has a good soundstage that's as wide as the bar and focused. As it can get quite loud, you can even crank the volume to your favorite tunes without too many compression artifacts.
- Well-balanced sound profile.
- Can get loud.
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatible.
- No room correction.
The Samsung HW-Q950T is very good for movies. It has a balanced sound profile that's capable of delivering a thumpy bass to liven explosions in action movies. If you prefer a different sound, it has a graphic EQ and presets. It can get pretty loud and there aren't many compression artifacts present at max volume. However, while it supports Atmos, its surround and height performances aren't as immersive as a home theater setup.
- Well-balanced sound profile.
- Can get loud.
- Supports Atmos.
- Disappointing height performance.
Changelog
- Updated Oct 14, 2022: Added market comparison for the Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 eARC to the 'Style - Sub' box.
- Updated Nov 25, 2021: Confirmed 5.1 PCM support via eARC with firmware update.
- Updated Jun 17, 2021: Updated Surround 5.1 setup photo.
- Updated May 14, 2021: Updated 5.1 PCM support via ARC and Full HDMI In after updating firmware.
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Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The Samsung HW-Q950T is a premium 9.1.4 setup from Samsung's 2020 lineup. This soundbar has a neutral sound profile capable of reproducing a nice low bass. It comes with Q-Symphony, which allows you to connect this soundbar to a compatible 2020 Samsung QLED TV that supports this feature and use its speakers in addition to those in the setup to create a more immersive experience, but we don't test for this feature. If you're looking for more soundbars, check out the best soundbars for Dolby Atmos, the best soundbars for movies, and the best soundbars.
The Samsung HW-Q990B is a bit better than the Samsung HW-Q950T. The Q990B is a newer bar with more features, including room correction to optimize the sound based on your room's unique acoustics. Its surround sound and Atmos performances are better, so sound effects reproduce more accurately in your favorite movies. The Q950T is still a really good bar, so you can't go wrong with either pick.
The Samsung HW-Q950A is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q950T. The HW-Q950A comes with more sound enhancement features, including room correction and auto-volume mode. It also supports Apple AirPlay 2, and it even comes with some sound features that we don't test for, like SpaceFit Sound and TapSound. However, the HW-Q950T gets louder with less compression at max volume.
The Samsung HW-Q950T or the Klipsch Cinema 1200 are both very versatile, premium soundbar setups. The Samsung is a 9.1.4 setup that's better-built and has better surround and Atmos performances. Unlike the Klipsch, it also supports DTS content. That said, the Klipsch's bass-heavy sound is more suitable for listeners who like to feel extra thump and punch in their audio.
The Samsung HW-Q950T and the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) are two very different soundbars. The Samsung is a 9.1.4 setup that has a subwoofer and satellite speakers. It's much more versatile, with better surrounds and a more extended low-bass out of the box. But if you're low on space, the Sonos' small, standalone design is ideal. It's still a good choice for vocal-centric content and music, and it even has a better soundstage than the Samsung soundbar.
Test Results
