The HW-Q800B is a 5.1.2 channel soundbar from the 2022 lineup of Samsung soundbars. Accompanied by its wireless subwoofer, it brings together many technologies, including the new wireless Dolby Atmos.
The HW-Q800B does honor to previous high-end sound bars from Samsung thanks to its overflowing energy and sound reproduction that suits films and series as well as musical content. The bar, however, shows an immersive virtual spatialization that lacks a slight touch of precision on the placement of elevation effects. That being said, the HW-Q800B remains an excellent soundbar, capable of bringing you great cinematic, playful and musical experiences at home.
Strong points
- Homogeneous and balanced sound reproduction.
- Side surround effects accurately reproduced.
- Absolutely mind-blowing sound power.
- Remarkable subwoofer (responsiveness, precision, power).
- Neat design.
Weak points
- Slightly messy elevation effects.
- Tiny display, no interface on the TV.
- Does not support 4K/120Hz streams and VRR.
NB: The reported price drop is calculated by comparing the lowest price of the day with the average of the lowest prices charged by all merchants for the product last month, with security rules to exclude prices from shops whose the VAT policy is not clear (known as “grey” shops, typically in the case of imports from China).
Alternatively
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is certainly only a very minor evolution of the first Beam of the name, but it does not need more to remain one of the most recommendable compact soundbars on the market. Its remarkably musical and immersive sound (despite anecdotal Dolby Atmos compatibility) combines with a connected audio ecosystem of unparalleled completeness and maturity to form a very attractive whole. Beware, however, of its ultra-minimalist connectors, which could be a source of frustration in certain installations.