Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest deals, product reviews, and more. You can control the soundbar using your voice thanks to built-in Alexa support, and finally theres a nice feature for gamers in the form of Game Mode Pro. One would think the makings of a great Dolby Atmos experience automatically transfer to any other content, but thats not always the case. The subwoofer, of course, provides just the single .1 bass channel. As you might guess from the above description, the up-firing channels work by bouncing height channel information from Atmos or DTS:X mixes off your ceiling. Yes, both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are supported.

Those demos are tailor-made for Atmos spectacle, of course, but the system is also fantastic for other well-made Atmos content like the Jedi episode in The Mandalorian season 2. The Q950A is the first soundbar with an 11.1.4 speaker configuration. and independent advice on what to buy. Credit: Reviewed/Jackson Ruckar. It never just sounds like its rumbling randomly away merrily to itself independently of what the other speakers are doing. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time. We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work.

Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. But even if you have the budget, not everyone has the know-how or space for several large-ish wooden cabinets. The Q950As connections are all tucked on the soundbars underside (with channels provided for cabling), and comprise two HDMI inputs, an HDMI output, and an optical digital audio input. This is more channels than any other soundbar has delivered before, with the main soundbar providing front-centre, left and right; front-side left and right; and two up-firing drivers. That said, at this price another HDMI input would be nice since most people have multiple gaming devices and a streaming box, let alone a Blu-ray player. Samsungs Adaptive Sounddesigned to automatically adjust sound in real time for the best experiencealso works well. To a lesser extent, the same can be said of the side channels that fire out of the main soundbars front corners. Shifting focus to the more established parts of the Q950A package, both the main soundbar and the hefty subwoofer deliver the goods as emphatically as ever.

Hailing originally from Montana, Ryan parlayed his time working as a musician and audio engineer into a career in digital media in 2012.

As we toured through a 3,500 song Spotify playlist, he repeatedly remarked how good it sounds and that it outperforms his own, aging multi-speaker system at home. This allows soundtracks that support the technology to place sounds above and around the listener with compatible kit. Awesome although this looks on paper, however (world firsts always make handy marketing points), we have to wonder whether another increase to the channel count really improves the Q950As sound or whether its more just a case of Samsung playing a numbers marketing game. You can immediately hear the difference the two new channels make. Two HDMI inputs, one HDMI output with eARC, optical audio input, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Dolby Digital, DTS Master HD, John Archer has written about, and been immersed in the world of, home entertainment technology for over 20 years.

Press the VOL button to mute the sound. Theres no support for the special format of DTS:X used by IMAX Enhanced content, but rival soundbars that do support this are extremely rare and IMAX Enhanced content is also hardly common. All rights reserved. then use the Up/Down buttons to adjust the volume within a -6 to +6 range. Except, that is, if you need to adjust channel levels which, on a 22-speaker soundbar, you very well might. It takes a bit of work to get the Samsung Q950A perfectly tunedmore work than it probably should, actually, which Ill speak to below. Brass and woodwinds are sweet with plenty of headroom in the upper frequencies, acoustic instruments sound natural and smooth, and vocals are delivered with presence and definition. Once youve got all the speakers properly configured, simply connect everything to power, connect the HDMI cable to your TVs HDMI eARC or ARC input, and youre up. The desired item can be adjusted using the Up/Down buttons. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. Your room has a vaulted or heavily beamed ceiling The way the soundbar bounces height effects off your ceiling can be compromised by irregular ceiling surfaces. Its likely the multitude of side-firing drivers plays a big hand in that, as does the size of the satellite speakerstheyre much larger than what youll get from cheaper Atmos setups, especially the tiny cubes youll find in entry-level surround bars. The HDMI TV output also supports eARC, meaning it can carry lossless Dolby Atmos/DTS:X soundtracks to the soundbar from compatible TVs. Although, if you do place them on a bookshelf, remember that the rears now need to have plenty of space above and to their outer-facing side, as well as in front, if you want to benefit from every channel they carry. Theres zero distortion or cabinet buzzing from any of the speakers or drivers either, even at volumes that push way beyond what your ears or neighbours will comfortably tolerate. You still get a sense of overhead transitions, with the angled up-firing drivers of the front and rear speakers managing to marry up with each other impressively well.

But the overall feel may be a touch clinical and aggressive for serious hi-fi fans. Musical playback is clear, full, and detailed enough that a friend who was over (because you can do that now) remarked on the bars performance multiple times. And, surprisingly, this isnt available in the app. Samsung added angled drivers to the main soundbar with last years Q950T model. Its predecessors have consistently done a great job of achieving this aim, so hopes have to be high that its extra channels will make the Q950A even better. Overall, though, theres little to complain about when it comes to sound. The unprecedented number of channels are driven by more than 600W of audio power, and the main soundbar incorporates all the sound-improving tech such as wide-angle tweeters to reduce the need to sit in a sweet spot Samsung has developed so successfully over the past few years. Yes but, unhelpfully, its positioned along the soundbars top edge, where you cant see it while sat down.

The soundbar is slim enough to fit under most TVs without creeping into the picture or blocking the TVs IR receiver. Up slightly on last years Q950T, thanks to the power needed for the two new side-rear channels. Wireless streaming options are pretty decked out, including both Spotify Connect and AirPlay 2 for Apple Music fans, though theres no Chromecast connection so other streaming services may have to resort to Bluetooth (or an app on your TV). You want a phenomenally powerful movie performance No other soundbar delivers as much power with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X across as many real channels as the Q950A. The VIRTUAL Speaker function can be turned ON/OFF by using the Up/Down, Push the button up or down to adjust the level of the woofer (bass) to -12 or between -6. to +6. The HDMI loopthrough system supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision HDR, as well as the basic HDR10 HDR format. With tons of drivers, including multiple side-firing and upfiring solutions, the overall immersion is fantastic.

Theres nothing low res about the rear soundstage, either. It expands on 5.1 and 7.1 soundtracks by adding overhead channels. SmartThings is simple, cleanly laid out, and lets you access almost everything you need. That leaves you standing above the bar, clicking the remotes Settings button to the height channels, and then making guesses about how many points to adjust for the listening position (savage, I know). (Make sure the Sound mode is set to "STANDARD". displayed in sequence. Unfortunately, Samsung has seen fit to place this LED on the soundbars top edge, rather than its front. Its still way lower profile than a 7 or even 5-piece speaker system (and dont forget the subwoofer), but this is a big honking system with a big honking price. The display would be a welcome addition if it were usable. If you happen to be partnering the Q950A with a Samsung TV, meanwhile, you may be able to take advantage of Samsungs surprisingly effective Q-Symphony feature. (Sound Control) button for about 5 seconds to adjust the, Manual will be automatically added to "My Manuals". The Q950As addition of two extra channels does exactly what youd hope: make the already impressive sound quality of Samsungs flagship soundbars even better. The HW-Q950A has managed to add two more real audio channels without compromising the enormous power and clarity weve come to expect from Samsungs high-end soundbars. Possibly. Also, its just a damn big bar to drag around, so youll want to make sure youre staying put if you set it up. The subwoofer is the only part of the package that runs large but Im not inclined to complain about that when the main reason for its bulk is the big old 8-inch driver that pumps bass out of its right-hand side. Of course, though, likely the whole reason someone would be buying a Q950A is that they want to get as close as possible to the experience of a separates system without having speakers fixed to their ceiling and walls. The system also supports high-resolution formats including Dolby TrueHD and, according to Samsungs reps, DTS-HD and DTS-HD Master Audio (though they're not listed in the specs).

Thats good because, while Samsungs minimalist remote looks and feels good, unless you need a quick bump of the volume or woofer (the former you can handle with your TV remote over HDMI ARC connection), its pretty limited. Massively powerful, distortion-free movie soundtrack playback, Compact design for such a powerful system, The new rear speakers carry three drivers each, despite their compact size, AirPlay 2 and Tap mobile connection support, Increased feeling of width to the rear soundstage. This brings me to my biggest complaint. We follow the IPSO Editors code of practice to underpin these standards. In fact, the new channels reinforce just how much better Samsung is than arguably any other remotely mainstream soundbar brand at creating the feeling of a true three-dimensional soundscape, without needing a mountain of separate speakers. I also have to admit I really enjoy listening in surround, even for stereo music. To control the volume of the treble or bass sound, select TREBLE or BASS in Sound. Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest.

), To control the volume of the each speaker select CENTER LEVEL, SIDE LEVEL, or, FRONT TOP LEVEL in Sound Settings, and then adjust the volume between -6~+6 by, If the video on the TV and audio from the Soundbar are not synchronized, select, SYNC in Sound Control, and then set the audio delay between 0~300 milliseconds by. And I cant think of any other soundbar package Ive heard to date that gets as close to the sound of a good separates surround sound system as the Samsung HW-Q950A. We always try to judge a system on its value, and it is hard to stomach a soundbar at this price point for anyone not in the six-figure salary range. Lets find out. Is it overkill? Playback of lossless Dolby Atmos or DTS:X soundtracks shipped via HDMI from compatible TVs.

As soundbars go, its as close to a stand-in for a discrete surround sound system as it gets (with a price tag to match). But once youre in the dome you know it. At first glance, the Q950A looks pretty much identical to 2020s HW-Q950T. Even if youve been to a Dolby Atmos-equipped theater or experienced it in a soundbar or virtual setup, if its not tuned properly or the content doesnt take advantage, you mostly lose out on the illusion. This uses the microphone built into the TV to auto-calibrate the soundbars output to get the best results for your room. If you happen to own a Samsung phone running Android 8.6 or higher, you can even connect it to the soundbar simply by touching your phone against the main soundbars bodywork. Previously, our main complaint about the wireless rear speakers that Samsung supplies with its flagship soundbars has been their slight reticence compared with the fearsome power of the front channels and subwoofer. But it also leads to incredibly seamless immersion for surround and 3D content (either Dolby Atmos or DTS:X), and enough sonic force to rumble your seat. Both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks can be played. The new rears carry forward-facing drivers, up-firing drivers, and one side-firing driver each. Settings, and then adjust the volume between -6~+6 by using the Up/Down buttons. Theres no optical cable but that input should only be used for legacy audio devices. And were talking here about 16 genuine channels, where each channel gets its own dedicated driver(s). And by removing arguably the last hole in the 360-degree soundstage, the Q950A delivers the most completely immersive sound Ive heard from any soundbar to date. To name some weaknesses, the bass occasionally gets boomy, and, especially with Hulus pedestrian stereo content, some dialogue can come off shouty in sitcoms like Seinfeld and Frasier, though not to the point of annoyance. However, most recently released AV receivers now carry HDMI passthrough for 4K/120Hz and VRR, so it might be nice if soundbars started following suit.

Adding width to the rear soundstage also helps it tie in better with the Q950As front soundstage. But with that simple task done, it was right back to being completely immersed in the Q950As sound, and marvelling at just how such a compact speaker could simultaneously deliver huge general ambience and the subtlest of details alongside the most aggressive of impact or gunfire sounds. Im personally a fiddler when it comes to surround systemsI like to get it just right. ManuallyConnectingtheSubwooferorSurround Speaker System Samsung HW-Q950A Full Manual, Speaker System Samsung HW-Q950A User Manual, Speaker System Samsung Harman/Kardon HW-Q90R Full Manual, Speaker System Samsung harman/kardon HW-Q90R User Manual, Speaker System Samsung HW-Q900T Full Manual, Speaker System Samsung HW-Q900T User Manual, Speaker System Samsung HW-Q900A User Manual, Speaker System Samsung HW-Q900A Full Manual, Speaker System Samsung harman/kardon HWQ90RXY Full Manual, Speaker System Samsung HW-F Series How To Reset. Its hands off, and usually does a good job priming the sound. You wont get the full-throttle resonance of traditional speakers, and youll also have to settle for an interface thats simplified to a fault in some cases. Presumably, someone at Samsung decided us couch potatoes need to get more exercise. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Youll also want to download Samsungs SmartThings app, not just for Wi-Fi connection, but also for easy access to basic settings like sound mode and input selection, EQ, and a few other settings. Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Vizios value-packed Elevate is the first bar that comes to mind. That totals more than the bar, but hey, in for a penny.

Perhaps because the two new rear channels have subtly shifted the overall balance of the sound. Samsungs flagship soundbars have earned an enviable reputation in recent years for turning ordinary living rooms into foundation-rocking home cinemas. Theyre still the same size, but the addition of a new driver to their sides has led to small tweaks to their lines and finish.

But the absolute authority and precision available with ceiling-mounted speakers isnt quite there. Founded in 2004, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year. sound for each frequency band. Personally, Ill take my 2.1 KEF LSX setup, but for a system for which music is naturally secondary, the Q950A does quite well. SYNC is only supported for some functions.

All that power is well-tuned, too. Adaptive Sound mode surprisingly spread stereo tunes across the full system. On the plus side, the buttons on top of the bar are easy to use, including the mute button which will keep Alexa from listening when you want privacy. Samsung has imported the Active Voice Amplifier it brought in on its 2020 TVs to premium 2021 soundbars including the Q950A. Email us and we'll compare notes.

Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission. After dragging it into your listening room, youll find the main accessories needed for operation, including the wand-style remote and batteries, an HDMI cable, wall mount kit, and power cables for the bar, subwoofer, and each of the surrounds. Look closer, though, and the two wireless rear speakers at least are slightly different. Samsung's top Dolby Atmos soundbar is an ace at fully submerging you in the cinematic experience. Theres no support for passthrough of 4K at 120Hz or VRR from PS5s, Xbox Series X or high-end PC cards, though. At $1,000 or less, it offers a major chunk of the Q950As spoils when it comes to cinematic punch, though I like the Q950A a fair bit better for music. He intends to continue in this vein until he becomes too frail to lift ridiculously b, Unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.

If that sounds like you, and youve got a hankering for major home theater mightDolby Atmos includedthe Q950A will not disappoint. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct. Without any element falling flat or overwhelming anything else.

Again, the vast majority of your settings are in the SmartThings app, so most people should get along just fine without ever even meeting the dark window that sits between the bars onboard controls. The potential sources of wireless music have been expanded with the Q950A, too, with the addition of AirPlay 2 support. But damned if it isnt exquisite when you put the lights down and turn the sound up. Awesome although the Samsung Q950A is at what it does, it doesnt quite replicate the full potential charms of a well-specced separate system. I dont know how loud youd have to play before distortion sets in, and I dont want to. With the Q950A, the sense of a new feeling of width to the rear soundstage greatly enhances the general impact of sound coming from behind you. So much so that while I typically crank up the rear-channel output levels on previous Samsung surround soundbars, here I actually nudged it down a notch. The sound fills the whole front half of even really large rooms, yet thanks to the precision with which the soundbars many drivers propel their sound out to the correct position, theres precious little about even the most dense film soundtracks that sounds vague or wishy-washy. If you can still find it, you may also be able to get a great deal on the 2020 Q950T model. Thats a fair sum for a soundbar, and immediately raises the charge that you could get a decent system of separates without spending much more. Learn more. Here's what you need to know. As such, you can only actually read it if youre stood up bending over the soundbar. And with this the Q950As exceptional talent for creating 3D soundscapes continues to help it stand out from the crowd. Its not just the pumping bass that literally rumbled my couch cushions, the four-part height speakers, or even the smooth quality of the sound signature that makes the Q950A such an Atmos boss. The system also has multiple sound modes, which are actually useful rather than just adding a bunch of trash reverb like some systems. Samsungs new HW-Q950A (available at Amazon for $1,799.99) is not your average soundbar.

The full-blooded, rounded sound from all the rear drivers appears to be at least on a par with that of 2020s Q950T. But once youve got this system locked in, it is a thrilling experience. As noted above, the system also supports plenty of audio formats, including the top two 3D-audio formats in DTS:X and, of course, Dolby Atmos. 150Hz, 300Hz, 600Hz, 1.2kHz, 2.5kHz, 5kHz, and, 10kHz are selectable using the Left/Right buttons and each can be adjusted to a. setting between -6 to +6 using the Up/Down buttons. Having nailed the trick of getting huge volumes out of small boxes some time ago, though, Samsung now seems focused on ramping up the number of genuine audio channels it can support. The soundbar supports a record-breaking 11.1.4 channels, thanks to two new rear side channels being added to the rear speakers.

Another feature that relies on having a compatible Samsung TV is SpaceFit Sound. HDMI eARC/ARC is the only way to source Dolby Atmos from your TV, and also allows you to use your TV remote for soundbar power and volume. The 11.1.4-channel system one-ups its predecessor by sliding side-firing drivers not just in the bar itself but also in the wireless surround speakers, a trick Ive yet to see in one of these systems. Press it again to unmute the sound. Last years outstanding HW-Q950T flagship model managed 9.1.4 channels, and now the new HW-Q950A has stepped things up again by achieving a staggering, world-first 11.1.4 channels. Other notable features include Samsungs Q-Symphony system, which integrates the bar with TV speakers from select Samsung models, and the ability to connect wirelessly to select Samsung TVs as well. And man is it fun.

It offers the best Atmos experience Ive had in a soundbar, good musicality and, apart from a few quirks, easy operation to make it a good choice as the single, supremely powerful system in your marquee entertainment room. Its also worth mentioning here just how ridiculously powerful the Q950A is. The system can also decode high-resolution audio files at up to 24bit/192kHz, but playback is limited to 24bit/96kHz. However, the whole point of the Q950A is that it wants to rival the performance of a good separates system while offering up the convenience of a compact form factor. The Q950A takes some effort to set up, mainly because it is huge. SmartThings is simple, cleanly laid out, and lets you access almost everything you need with an intuitive tap. At the time of writing, the Q950A sells in the US for $1599, which makes the UK price look a little harsh. Jokes aside, it wasnt a massive hassle and once things were locked in the SmartThings app took care of the rest. Recommendations are independently chosen by Revieweds editors. But if youre looking for powerful sound, surprising musicality, and unrivaled Dolby Atmos immersion in a slim and trim machine, this system delivers the goods. Anyone whose enjoyed a good Dolby Atmos or DTS:X experience will appreciate the importance to the 3D effect of feeling like youre fully immersed in a hemisphere of sound. The system creates a clear and immersive experience for music as well as film and TV content. So, ideally, your ceiling wont be either vaulted or heavily beamed. You can certainly do pretty well for a lot less, though. I will say that, while Im not sure the calibration did much for the channel levels, the Q950A was in good shape on its own after auto calibration. Theres no doubting the soundbars ability to make music feel lively and powerful, and it can actually stage vocal tracks very nicely with stereo sources.

Theres also an Auto EQ feature you can use without needing a Samsung TV, which focuses on managing the bass element of the soundstage.

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are both supported, of course, with AAC, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, MP3, OGG and ALAC high-resolution audio formats all playable. The system is powerful, but still easy to hide under your TV. Samsungs SmartThings app isnt quite there yetSonos is as much a software company as hardwarebut it comes closer than expected, and for the most part beats out LGs rival app experience.