Two-minute overview
Despite the fact that the Samsung HW-Q950A stretches the definition of soundbar to the max by really comprising 4 separate bits of package, there’s nothing about its look that prepares you for the size of sound it delivers. The principle soundbar is greater than a metre large, however slim sufficient to tuck below the display of most of in the present day’s TVs. The rears are heavy however sufficiently compact to simply match on a bookshelf, and regardless of carrying an unusually giant 8-inch driver, the subwoofer has a slim-enough profile to cover down the aspect of a settee or below a sideboard.
Tucked contained in the HW-Q950A’s comparatively unimposing set of audio system is a outstanding – unprecedented, in reality – 16 channels of sound, delivered through 22 audio system. And driving all these channels of sound is a mammoth 616W of unbridled audio horsepower.
Whereas the HW-Q950A’s lots of energy and big channel rely may not be apparent simply by taking a look at it, it turns into blissfully apparent if you flip it on. Movie soundtracks erupt out of every speaker with sufficient energy and projection to fill even the most important dwelling rooms, placing you on the coronary heart of the motion more fully than with some other soundbar. Particularly for the reason that HW-Q950A’s two new channels fill the slight gaps that beforehand existed off every shoulder.
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Samsung HW-Q950A worth and availability
- Accessible now
- $1,499.99 / £1,599 / AU$1,999
- Samsung's flagship soundbar for 2021
Soundbars are actually accessible for below £100, and a few very spectacular fashions might be had for as little as $400 / £400 / AU$550. But the Samsung HW-Q950A prices $1,499.99 / £1,599 / AU$1,999. Ouch. As we’ll see, although, by a mix of the sheer variety of bodily audio system, channels, and the ability it delivers, the HW-Q950A has an excellent stab at justifying its worth. In reality, there’s no different soundbar on the market for the time being that’s capable of present so many actual audio channels. Nevertheless, for the value you possibly can, nearly, get your self a reasonably good separates system as an alternative. The HW-Q950A is out there now in each main territory the world over.
Design and options
- 4-piece system comprising the principle soundbar, wi-fi subwoofer and two wi-fi rears
- LED read-out
- 16 channels of sound in an 11.1.4 configuration
The HW-Q950A soundbar is far more than only a soundbar. Sure, it takes the standard type of an extended, slim speaker designed to take a seat below your TV display. However this unit is joined by a big subwoofer with an enormous 8-inch driver, and a pair of wi-fi ‘bookshelf’ rears, which, regardless of their compact dimension, include three drivers every. One fires upwards for top results with Dolby Atmos/DTS:X sources; one other faces ahead in direction of your seating place; the third faces out in direction of the rear aspect of your room.
The principle soundbar continues the theme of being stuffed to bursting level with audio system. In addition to the devoted front-centre, front-left and front-right channels you’d hope to see with a critical soundbar, there are two more upfiring drivers, two drivers firing off to the aspect, and an additional two drivers firing forwards at an angle to ship mid-side results mirrored off your partitions.
Since a variety of these channels must bounce their pontificate partitions or ceilings for finest impact, you must contemplate in case your room design and format is nicely suited to the HW-Q950A’s wants. For example, vaulted or barrelled ceilings received’t assist the peak results, and large disparities within the distance between the partitions to the soundbar’s left and proper aspect might trigger some steadiness points.
You possibly can manually regulate the relative weight of every channel, though it’s a pity that Samsung nonetheless offers a full-bore audio calibration system, regardless of the HW-Q950A being its flagship soundbar. This 12 months, a minimum of, there’s a built-in bass adjuster. And should you occur to have a fairly current Samsung TV, then you should use its mic to supply the soundbar with info in your room traits.
The 11.1.4 channels of sound supported by the HW-Q950A is probably the most we’ve seen – or, quite, heard – from any soundbar thus far. The concept behind this being to get probably the most from the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X codecs’ ‘object-based’ strategy to sound, the place audio results are positioned inside a fastidiously crafted 3D house created across the listener. The more channels there are, in idea a minimum of, the more full that 3D house will sound.
The HW-Q950A even carries a Q-Symphony characteristic that permits you to mix its audio system with these of a appropriate Samsung TV, to create more of a wall of sound on the entrance. This works surprisingly nicely, a minimum of with Samsung’s premium TVs – though, on the identical time, the HW-Q950A is greater than ok by itself to not want any help from different audio system.
Samsung offers processing modes that may remix any sound supply in order that it takes benefit of the system’s full speaker and channel rely, and even features a Sport preset that emphasises encompass and ambient results for better immersion into the sport’s world. Connectivity comes by the use of two HDMI inputs, one HDMI output, an optical digital-audio enter, and the now compulsory Wi-Fi and Bluetooth assist. Samsung even offers assist for Faucet View expertise, the place you'll be able to set up a connection between a appropriate Samsung telephone and the soundbar just by touching the telephone to the soundbar’s chassis. The HDMI loop-through system helps all the important thing HDR codecs: HDR, HDR10+ and Dolby Imaginative and prescient. Nevertheless, they don’t assist pass-through of 4K at 120Hz, or variable refresh charge alerts now accessible from premium PC playing cards and the most recent Xbox Series X/S and PS5 consoles. To be honest, most different soundbars don’t assist such gaming options both, though there are new soundbars from Klipsch and Sony (in addition to many AV receivers) that do.
Samsung HW-Q950A specs
Energy: 616W | Audio system: 11.1.4 | Dimensions: Most important soundbar - 1232 x 69.5 x 138mm/Subwoofer 210 x 403 x 403mm/Rear - 125 x 203 x 141 (W x H x D) | Connections: Two HDMI inputs, one HDMI output with eARC, optical digital-audio enter, USB port, Bluetooth / Wi-Fi | Subwoofer included?: Sure
Audio efficiency
- Exceptionally full three-dimensional soundstage
- Big energy and aggression
- Good playback of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
The query we have now to ask here is – does the HW-Q950A actually make its ground-breaking variety of audio channels rely? The brief reply is, sure. The lengthy reply is, sure – with knobs on.
For starters, the additional drivers that Samsung has shoehorned into every of the 2 wi-fi rear audio system severely punch above their weight when it comes to the distinction they make to the HW-Q950A’s soundstage. What’s more, they accomplish that with out negatively impacting the sound high quality of the opposite rear speaker drivers they sit in such shut proximity.
By way of the brand new rear aspect channels’ impression on the HW-Q950A’s sound, there’s clearly an enhanced sense of width to the rear soundstage versus its HW-Q950T predecessor. This instantly makes three-dimensional Dolby Atmos and DTS:X object-based soundstages seem more full; there are not any gaps within the ‘dome’ of sound to your rear left and proper. Additionally they take away the ‘funnelling effect’, the place sound can slim because it strikes from spacious-sounding entrance soundbars to smaller, less-effusive rears.
Sounds that cross from entrance to again and rear-left to rear-right are dealt with with way more conviction than they aren't solely by final 12 months’s HW-Q950T, but in addition, arguably, by some other soundbar. Plus, you'll be able to hear particular rear-left and rear-right sound particulars that may have been delivered with much less precision by simply the entrance aspect drivers on final 12 months’s HW-Q950T.
As well as, the HW-Q950A’s new rear channels present an sudden secondary profit: they make the rear soundstage really feel typically more concerned within the motion. This once more underlines the cohesion of the wrap-around 3D soundstage, additional sealing your immersion on this planet of no matter film you’re watching.
Whereas that is clearly at its best when that film is utilizing a DTS:X or, particularly, Dolby Atmos soundtrack, the soundbar’s processing choices can do a wonderful job of transforming lower-channel sources to reap the benefits of the HW-Q950A’s unprecedented speakerage.
The HW-Q950A’s new drivers merely add one other layer of excellence to the class-leading expertise that was launched by final 12 months’s HW-Q950T. All of that predecessor’s qualities stay intact. So, the principle soundbar nonetheless spreads its sound left, proper, ahead, up and down with a mix of precision and scale that at instances is difficult to consider. From flooring to ceiling, wall to wall and again to entrance, even the biggest room is full of the type of sound you must solely actually obtain by a separates system that may probably price far more than the HW-Q950A.
This isn’t a obscure audio house, both. The HW-Q950A’s excessive energy is partnered with impressively correct channel ‘throw’ and results placement, leading to a soundstage that’s as busy and involving as it's loud.
And, man – can it go loud. Louder than your ears will likely be comfy with, in reality. And with out a hint of distortion, speaker fall-out, cupboard buzzing/rattling, or harshness. The sound can develop to fill out probably the most excessive motion scenes, and by no means misses a beat on the subject of thumping out even the toughest impression sounds. It isn’t well mannered within the slightest – however that’s precisely how we prefer it.
That’s to not say the HW-Q950A doesn’t care in regards to the little issues. Not even the tiniest element within the combine escapes the soundbar’s consideration – and it exhibits a powerful knack, too, for understanding the relative weight that every factor in a combination is meant to have. The principle soundbar has sufficient dynamic vary to by no means sound skinny or boxy, and it latches on to the bass whumping out from the subwoofer seamlessly. Regardless of that subwoofer hitting depths of bass as profound and well-rounded as something I’ve heard from a soundbar system.
Voices are all the time clear and pure, and appear to take pleasure in just a little raise within the combine, in order that they look like partnering the on-screen photos, quite than coming from beneath the image.
Whereas the HW-Q950A is undoubtedly made with motion pictures on the forefront of its thoughts, its room-filling energy is in proof with music playback, too. The staging is sufficiently large and aggressive to make you're feeling such as you’re at a live performance, quite than simply taking part in a CD or audio file. Whereas that is seldom lower than enjoyable, it doesn’t swimsuit each sort of style or recording. There are different soundbars on the market that ship a greater and more refined ear for music. However none of them have the HW-Q950A’s aptitude and really feel for movies.
The one different criticism that might be levelled on the HW-Q950A is that neither its ‘reflected’ aspect or top channels are as exact with the results they produce as audio system in a separates system. That’s just about inevitable, although. And should you’re taking a look at a soundbar quite than a separates system, you’re absolutely doing so within the information that you just’re ready to simply accept one or two compromises (albeit small ones, within the HW-Q950A’s case) in return for not having a lot of audio system throughout your room.
Ought to I purchase the Samsung HW-Q950A?
No soundbar system we’ve heard sounds more highly effective and immersive with movie soundtracks than the HW-Q950A. So should you’re seeking to flip a lounge right into a critical residence cinema with the minimal of fuss, the HW-Q950A is at the moment pretty much as good because it will get.
When you’re not fussed about having a lot of audio system across the room and even, probably, in/in your ceiling, then you possibly can Try (though you’ll wrestle) to place collectively a separates system for across the HW-Q950A’s asking worth. Or, should you’re a hi-fi in addition to a music buff then you possibly can contemplate one thing with more music pedigree, similar to a Sonos Arc and Sub. Though, clearly, whereas that system is superb, it doesn’t ship anyplace close to as many actual Dolby Atmos-friendly sound channels because the HW-Q950A.
Purchase it if...
Do not buy it if...
First reviewed: August 2021
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