It leaves you wanting more – in the shape of a fully rounded audio bubble – in a way that, ironically, less potent one- or two-piece soundbars might not. Here, though, some tweak in the Q80R’s speaker design or audio processing/management has sound more routinely appearing from above your head rather than merely above your TV, and down the sides of your seating position rather than just to the left and right of your TV. This brings us to the Q80R’s main weakness: its lack of dedicated rear speakers. The Samsung HW-Q80R is a better soundbar sytem than the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar. There are no satellites on this soundbar setup. The Q80R can even upscale to 32-bit to give more compressed audio files a cleaner, more dynamic sound. First, you could step up to Samsung’s HW-Q90R, which ships with rear speakers that carry up-firing drivers, to complete the three dimensional dome of sound associated with the DTS:X and Dolby Atmos object-based audio formats. The speaker on the side is covered with a fabric that can collect dirt or get damaged. I've had a Samsung HW Q80R soundbar for the last 3 days, having bought it based on multiple online reviews. The HW-Q80R's main competitors are the LG SL10Y, the Sony HT-ST5000, and the 2018 Samsung HW-N850. It sounds neutral and the overall reproduction of voices is accurate. There’s also a 400 x 300mm VESA mount point for wall mounting. You can also only connect to your network through Wi-Fi as there's no ethernet port. While Samsung’s previous two-piece soundbar systems have managed a strong sense of height and width in the their sound stages, the audio action has tended to stay pretty firmly in front of you. (So long as you don’t fall foul of the issues with dropped wireless subwoofer and rear speaker connections a few users are reporting, anyway). The overall sound quality of this soundbar is great for stereo content due to its neutral profile, and it'll be suitable for a wide variety of music genres, as well as dialogue. As I mentioned, it doesn’t feature the Q90R’s pedestal stand, opting instead for the usual twin legs, though these snap in, foregoing the usual screws. As you would expect of a modern soundbar, the Q80R’s HDMI loopthrough can cope with all the latest HDR formats, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+. Photo: Samsung Having said that, the 372W of total sound the Q80R is capable of pumping out handled a 7m … Without room correction, this soundbar may sound a bit differently depending on your room. so that you can compare the results easily. This extended version of ARC allows it to support not only surround sound format, but also the most advanced object-based surround signals, and high-quality lossless formats. Great for movies. I perhaps wouldn’t bother with it, though, if you only use the soundbar from time to time for special movie or music nights. The Samsung HW-Q80R soundbar. There are also Wi-Fi and Bluetooth options for playing audio from your smart devices and accessing firmware updates. Cue the Samsung HW-Q80R. The Samsung HW-Q80R is a better soundbar for watching movies than the Samsung HW-Q900T. However, this also means this setup won't provide the most accurate and clear representation of surround objects in the soundstage, and it won't feel as real as a discrete surround like with home theatre speakers. The 2.0 LG is more of an entry-level setup, and it doesn't have a dialogue enhancement feature or an eARC port, unlike the Samsung. © 2021 9298-5266 Quebec Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Samsung HW-Q80R is a noticeably better soundbar than the Sony HT-S350 in pretty much every aspect. Product Review: Despite being one of the biggest sound bar brands, Samsung isn't always the top performer in our tests and results have been mixed. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. While both soundbars are well-built, the Samsung has a more neutral sound profile and a better soundstage. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Samsung QN75Q80RAFXZA Flat 75'' QLED 4K Q80 Series (2019) With HW-Q80R Samsung Dolby Atmos Q80R Series Soundbar at Amazon.com. In most ways, the Q80R is a fantastic performer. I am currently a regular contributor to Trustedreviews.com, Techradar.com, Home Cinema Choice magazine, Wired, Pocket-Lint.com and, of course, Forbes. Samsung's acoustic beaM technology has been squeezed into some slimmer, sleeker-looking soundbars in this year's lineup. Bear in mind, though, that the Q80R’s side and height speakers depend on bouncing sound off walls and ceilings to work. It also gets quite louder than the LG, and its soundstage seems to be wider as well. The Q80R is a 4K UHD (3840 x 2160 pixels) TV that employs a layer of quantum dots (the “Q” in QLED) to enhance color. The Samsung QE55Q80R employs a 4K VA-type panel and uses full-array local dimming (FALD) zones for its backlighting. The remote has a similar style to high-end Samsung TV remotes. The Samsung has height channels, a lot of sound enhancement features like a graphic EQ, and it can get loud. It can get much louder, which is well-suited for house parties or crowded rooms, and it offers a better center and height performance too. Also, it performs quite well at max volume, and you shouldn’t get too many compression artifacts, which is great. It can play Dolby Atmos and DTS:X object-based audio formats, and boosts its … Similarly, check out the left and right sides of the Q80R soundbar and you’ll see that each end carries an angled speaker designed to deliver side channel audio effects. However, the Sony has support for eArc and has Chromecast built-in. The HW-Q70R sits in the middle of the range, with a fair bit of technology ported over from last year's HW-N850, including … There’s a smoother feel to the sound the new subwoofer makes which blends into the soundbar’s output more effectively – without, crucially, compromising on the huge depth and range that’s always been a trademark of Samsung’s high-end external subwoofer soundbar systems. You'll still be able to play surround sound content with a good sound quality. It's louder, has height channels so it can support Atmos content, and you can use Wi-Fi to stream your audio. Setting up and controlling the Q80R is pretty easy in most ways. It also has a lack of connectivity options compared to the many offered by the Samsung. This is categorically not to say, though, that the Q80R isn’t a superb soundbar. hw-q80r/xu Samsung Harman Kardon 5.1.2ch HW-Q80R Cinematic Soundbar with Dolby Atmos & dts:X Product Ratings : 4.4 ( No. The main left, right and centre channels, for instance, each benefit from three drivers: two woofers and a high-quality, wide-range tweeter. Note, too, that you can use the Alexa link to stream to the soundbar from Spotify Connect. But it’s much more engaging to listen to than might have been expected of such a home cinema powerhouse. The issue is that the mid-range is missing. Yes, it slightly leans towards muscle over minutiae in its musical presentation compared with more hi-fi-oriented soundbars. put them under the same test bench, © 2021 Forbes Media LLC. The HW-Q80R is a 5.1.2 channel soundbar that has overall great performance. It'll perform well with all sorts of content such as dialogue, a wide variety of music genres, and movies. It delivers spectacular levels of room-filling power, precision, and dynamism that’s almost impossible to reconcile with the relatively compact nature of the speaker system producing all that lovely racket. The Samsung HW-Q80R soundbar has eARC which allows for amazing audio format support. The Samsung HW-Q80R is a slightly better setup than the Samsung HW-Q70R. There’s even occasionally a hint of sound coming from behind you if you’ve got the soundbar positioned to maximize its ‘sound bouncing’ capabilities. On the downside, the Samsung doesn't have as good surround sound performance. The Sonos offers several sound enhancement features that the Samsung doesn't have such as room correction. On the downside, you won't be able to cast using Chromecast built-in or Apple AirPlay. For more information about the Samsung Soundbar HW-Q70R, visit Samsung. At least across the front and vertical aspects of its sound stage. The LG SK9Y and Samsung HW-Q80R are both 5.1.2 setups, but the Samsung performs better in a variety of uses. Buy Samsung HW-Q80R 370W Virtual 5.1.2-Channel Soundbar System featuring Virtual 5.1.2-Channel Configuration, Up to 370W of Total Power, Dolby Atmos Up-Firing Speakers Built-In, Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity, Bluetooth Audio Streaming, External Wireless Subwoofer, 2 x HDMI-In / 1 x Optical-In, HDR10, HDR10+, 3D, 4K UHD Pass-Through, Works with Amazon Alexa, Includes Wall Mount Hardware. The Q70R is often compared to models from the same lineup like the Q60R and the Q80R. The Samsung HW-Q80R is one of the better sounding 5.1 soundbars we've tested so far. Even if you purchase the optional rear speaker pack to add surround channels, the Q80R is still limited to 7.1.2 processing since it lacks upward-firing drivers. The Samsung also has a better-balanced sound profile and a wider, more focused soundstage. The Samsung has a better sound overall, as it has more low-bass response to produce that rumble and thump, and it has a much better center channel performance, as well as better sound enhancement features to tune it the way you like. It's an average size and allows you to control all of the soundbar's functions. It also doesn't have any Full HDMI In ports, unlike the Samsung. If you found this article useful, you might also enjoy these: Samsung QN65Q90R Review: Tearing Up The LCD Rule Book, Panasonic UB820 4K Blu-ray Player Review: Your Flexible Friend, Amazon Video Announces New Films And TV Shows For September (2019), Samsung QN82Q900RB (QE82Q950R) Review: The Best QLED TV Yet, I've spent the past 25 years writing about the world of home entertainment technology--first at Home Cinema Choice magazine, where I became Deputy Editor, and for the. Especially if those real rear speakers also have up-firing drivers. The remote control is comfortable and well built, and manages to use a limited button count without becoming confusing. It's well made, and comes with plenty of features. The bass is well extended, which will accurately reproduce the deep thump and rumble of music, movies, and games. You can place it wherever you like as it connects to the bar wirelessly. The Samsung HW-Q80R is a slightly better 5.1.2 soundbar setup than the Vizio SB36512-F6. It can get louder, albeit with more compression artifacts, and its center and height channels are significantly better performing. In this video, we take a closer look at the Samsung HWQ80R soundbar. See our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, and the best soundbars 5.1. 160 St-Viateur Est, Suite 408, Montreal, Canada, H2T 1A8. The Q80R also has a much better bass response, a wider stereo soundstage, more connectivity options, and has less artifacts when pushed to louder volumes. It supports both Dolby Atmos and … Read honest and unbiased product reviews … However, the Sonos doesn't support height channels or Atmos. The back is made of good quality plastic. It’s great to find the Q80R’s main soundbar (which measures 1226(w) x 83(h) x 136(d)mm) carrying actual physical up- and side-firing speakers rather than depending solely on processing to create ‘virtual’ height and side effects like most soundbars do. The Q80R also portrays a fantastic ability to ebb and swell along with even the most dynamic soundtracks, and there’s no loss of detail or finesse during either a film’s loudest or quietest moments. The Samsung HW-Q80R is a better soundbar for watching movies than the Samsung HW-Q800T. Here you can vote for our next review, Compare frequency and distortion of soundbars to make a clearer and more informed decision. The Samsung HW-Q80R is a better 5.1.2 setup overall than the LG SN10YG. Note, though, that this feature only works with compatible Samsung TVs. The Samsung HW-Q80R is better than the Sonos Playbar since we tested the Playbar without the separate sub and satellites. While this setup sounds fairly big and wide thanks to the up-firing speakers on the bar, the localization of objects is diffused. The 7.1.4 setup has better overall surrounds performance thanks to the rear speakers, which is the main difference. The Samsung HW-Q80R is a better setup than the Sonos Beam. At least to the extent that they add to sound-limited sources exactly what they say they’re going to add without the results sounding forced, artificial or tweaky. The Samsung HW-Q80R soundbar is also great for podcasts and audiobooks. The system sounds unexpectedly good with music as well for a system that seems to be built so uncompromisingly for movies. So, for instance, if sport is detected, the speakers will work to create a stadium-like effect, with pretty much equal balance around the sound stage. That said, the Sony's surround performance is just as good, even though it doesn't come with dedicated rear speakers. This tool will clearly show you the differences, Use our data and table to find the best soundbar for your needs, Want to see us review a specific soundbar? รีวิว SAMSUNG Soundbar Harman Kardon รุ่น HW-Q80R “สุดยอดระบบเสียง 5.1.2 ch ในแบบย่อส่วน !” In that time I'm fairly confident that I've reviewed more TVs and projectors than any other individual on the planet, as well as experiencing first-hand the rise and fall of all manner of great and not so great home entertainment technologies. You can easily EQ and set the level of the subwoofer separately to your liking. Just treat the soundbar’s placement needs with the respect they deserve if you want to get the best from your hefty audio investment. There are no satellites in this bar setup. The remote control for the Samsung Q80R soundbar. The p… The Samsung HW-Q80R's surround performance is sub-par. The Samsung HW-Q80R is a noticeably better 5.1.2 option than the LG SK10Y. However, the HW-Q60T has an auto-volume feature. Great for dialogue and watching TV shows. However, the Playbar doesn't have more modern inputs like HDMI ports as it's a fairly older product. The Samsung is a 5.1.2 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content and can provide a more immersive listening experience thanks to its two surround satellites. The Samsung HW-Q80R soundbar has an auto turn-off function after just 5 minutes of inactivity, which is one of the smallest time intervals we've tested so far, but is in sync with the rest of Samsung's Q series soundbar lineup. Q80R’S side and height speakers depend on bouncing sound off the walls to give both of audio! And Bluetooth options for playing audio from your phone to the side-firing speakers simulate. Similar soundbars satellites for the best soundbars 5.1 Series 8 HW-Q80R soundbar review: what you to. 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