9

Samsung HW-Q800C Review

True Score

86
86
3

Experts

90
859

Consumers

Product Awards

Top 10

GR Certified

Customer Favorite

Expert Rankings

Samsung HW-Q800C offers great sound quality, versatile performance, and useful features for those replacing old home theater equipment. Despite minor drawbacks, the Samsung HW-Q800C offers a compelling audio upgrade at its price point, making it worth considering for those looking to elevate basic sound quality.

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Product Snapshot

Overview

The Samsung HW-Q800C is a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbar that hit the market in 2023. Positioned as an affordable alternative to Samsung’s flagship models. It supports Dolby Atmos, it immerses to enhance its ability to deliver an immersive surround sound experience. However, the model lacks satellite speakers for full surround sound, which many of the best speakers have.

The HW-Q800C has a well-rounded sound output with dialogue-centric content. Its room correction tool, called SpaceFit Sound, helps suit the sound of the rooms it’s in. It also offers lots of sound customization options, and it offers a 7-band EQ as well as bass and treble adjusters. To help with latency, the bar comes with an AutoSync feature. For enhanced controls, the bar comes with a dedicated remote and built-in Alexa feature, which are common features among the most popular soundbars.

Best For

  • 5.1

  • Samsung

  • Small

  • Subwoofer

Consensus

our Verdict

The Samsung HW-Q800C soundbar offers dependable connectivity and latency performance that’s generally good, with some minor latency issues in scenes of rapid dialogue. However, this can be manually adjusted using the Audio Sync feature.

The soundbar offers a versatile audio upgrade for those replacing old home theater equipment and seeking better sound quality than built-in TV speakers. It reproduces clear mids for good dialogue and provides powerful bass, enhancing your movie and music experiences. It also supports Dolby Atmos and various sound customization tools. While the room correction tool optimizes sound, there is some compression at maximum volume. The subwoofer provides extended low bass but may overpower at times. It also has a durable build quality and robust controls, including built-in Alexa for hands-free control.

Reason to Buy

  • Amazing sound quality
    • With clear and accurate dialogue reproduction and a separate subwoofer for deep bass, the soundbar delivers versatile performance and power for movies and TV shows.  It excels for high-quality movie viewing, given its Dolby Atmos support and room correction tool.

  • Impressive sound customization
    • The 7-band EQ allows users to select a variety of presets that enhance surround sound, gaming, and more. Users can also adjust frequencies according to their desires via the smart app.

  • Good connectivity
    • Users may experience a slight delay during fast-paced dialogue scenes, but overall, the soundbar has impressive connection speeds, and delays can be adjusted with the Audio Sync feature. Additionally, it has a wide range of wireless playback options, including Bluetooth, Apple Airplay, and Spotify Connect.

  • Great design and build quality
    • Materials used to build the soundbar are high quality, and the soundbar features a simple remote and button panel to accomplish basic controls

  • Helpful smart features
    • The dedicated SmartThings App allows users to control the soundbar and make adjustments directly from a smartphone. Also, it has a built-in Alexa voice assistant, which provides great hands-free controls

Reason to Avoid

  • Lacks satellite speakers
    • No discrete satellites mean surround sound clarity isn’t crystal clear for certain surround sound formats.

  • Limited clarity in very low bass
    • Although fine for most audio, music genres with low bass may experience muddled or distorted sounds, especially at higher volumes.

  • Lacks advanced gaming features
  • No 4k 120 HDMI passthrough means high-quality gaming on 4k devices experiences degraded quality.

Samsung HW-Q800C Specs

Bluetooth EnabledBluetooth EnabledYes
DepthDepth4.7"
Dialogue Enhancement FeatureDialogue Enhancement FeatureYes
Energy Star CertifiedEnergy Star CertifiedNo
HDMI ARCHDMI ARCYes
HeightHeight2.4"
Number of Audio ChannelsNumber of Audio Channels5.1.2
SubwooferSubwooferIncluded
Surround Sound SupportedSurround Sound SupportedDolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS:X
Voice AssistantVoice AssistantAmazon Alexa
Wall MountableWall MountableYes
WeightWeight11.2 lbs
WidthWidth43.7"
Wireless ConnectivityWireless ConnectivityBluetooth, Wi-Fi
Wireless Subwoofer ConnectivityWireless Subwoofer ConnectivityYes
Works WithWorks WithAmazon Alexa, Bluetooth, Remote Control, SmartThings, Wi-Fi

All Specs

Test Results

Low End Roll Off (Hz)35.125
High End Roll Off (Hz)16,974.656
Max Volume Test (db)97.2
Latency (ms)49
THD @ 80dB0.23

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Product Comparison

Samsung HW-Q800C Review

True Score

86
82
NR
NR
NR

Ranking

#

9

/

149

#

48

/

149

#

/

#

/

#

/

Market Context

The Samsung HW-Q800C is a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbar that hit the market in 2023. Positioned as an affordable alternative to Samsung’s flagship models. It…

The Samsung HW-Q800C is a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbar that hit the market in 2023. Positioned as an affordable alternative to Samsung’s flagship models. It supports Dolby Atmos, it immerses to enhance its ability to deliver an immersive surround sound experience. However, the model lacks satellite speakers for full surround sound, which many of the best speakers have.

The HW-Q800C has a well-rounded sound output with dialogue-centric content. Its room correction tool, called SpaceFit Sound, helps suit the sound of the rooms it’s in. It also offers lots of sound customization options, and it offers a 7-band EQ as well as bass and treble adjusters. To help with latency, the bar comes with an AutoSync feature. For enhanced controls, the bar comes with a dedicated remote and built-in Alexa feature, which are common features among the most popular soundbars.

The LG S90QY and the Samsung HW-Q800C are impressive 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbars, but they have distinct differences. The LG S90QY boasts slightly more power…

The LG S90QY and the Samsung HW-Q800C are impressive 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbars, but they have distinct differences. The LG S90QY boasts slightly more power at 410W than the Q800C’s 360W, potentially providing more room-filling sound. However, the Q800C has an edge in sound customization with its 7-band graphic EQ, giving users more control over audio adjustments. Regarding connectivity, the Q800C supports more advanced HDR formats through its HDMI passthrough, while the S90QY lacks this feature. Additionally, the S90QY includes Google Assistant for voice control, whereas the Q800C relies on Amazon Alexa.

When comparing the Samsung HW-Q900C to the Samsung HW-Q800C, you’ll find a few key distinctions. The HW-Q900C is a step up with its 7.1.2 channel…

When comparing the Samsung HW-Q900C to the Samsung HW-Q800C, you’ll find a few key distinctions. The HW-Q900C is a step up with its 7.1.2 channel configuration, offering more immersive sound thanks to the additional rear speakers, while the HW-Q800C has a 5.1.2 channel setup. This translates to a clearer and more encompassing surround sound experience on the HW-Q900C. The HW-Q900C also boasts a higher total power output at 480W, potentially delivering louder and more impactful audio. To check out a similar but more advanced model, check out our Samsung HW Q900C review.

The Samsung HW-Q990C and the Samsung HW-Q800C are impressive soundbars, but the HW-Q990C takes things up a notch. With a 9.1.2 channel configuration, the Q990C…

The Samsung HW-Q990C and the Samsung HW-Q800C are impressive soundbars, but the HW-Q990C takes things up a notch. With a 9.1.2 channel configuration, the Q990C offers a more immersive audio experience than the Q800C’s 5.1.2 setup, thanks to additional rear and height channel speakers. This translates to clearer and more enveloping surround sound, making it a fantastic choice for home theater enthusiasts. The Q990C also boasts a higher total power output at 590W, delivering even more robust and room-filling audio. For a glimpse into another mid-range Samsung offering, check out our Samsung HW Q60C review.

The Samsung HW-Q800C and its predecessor, the Samsung HW-Q800B, share many similarities as both are 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbars. However, the Q800C brings a few…

The Samsung HW-Q800C and its predecessor, the Samsung HW-Q800B, share many similarities as both are 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbars. However, the Q800C brings a few notable improvements. In terms of sound quality, both offer impressive audio. Still, the Q800C’s room correction tool, SpaceFit Sound, provides more precise optimization for your room’s acoustics, resulting in a more balanced sound. The Q800C also introduces better connectivity, with HDMI passthrough supporting more advanced HDR formats. While both soundbars support Dolby Atmos, the Q800C has an edge with its slightly clearer height channel effects. Additionally, the Q800C boasts an upgraded Active Voice Amplifier for enhanced dialogue clarity.

Bluetooth Enabled

Yes

Yes

Depth

4.7"

5.3"

Dialogue Enhancement Feature

Yes

Yes

Energy Star Certified

No

No

HDMI ARC

Yes

Yes

Height

2.4"

2.5"

Number of Audio Channels

5.1.2

5.1.3

Subwoofer

Included

Included

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Score Card

E

Expert Score

86

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

90

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

86

Expert Score Breakdown

  • Rtings
    103

    Category Trust Score

    82
    The Samsung Q800C is great for mixed usage. This 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbar offers a… read more

    By:

  • Techradar
    46.31

    Category Trust Score

    88
    Don’t be fooled by the Samsung HW-Q800C’s unassuming looks. Inside that all that angular grey… read more

    By:

  • Expert Reviews UK
    43.18

    Category Trust Score

    100
    The Samsung HW-Q800C offers many of the benefits of Samsung’s higher-end Dolby Atmos soundbars without… read more

    By:

Customer Score Breakdown

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