I’ve lived fortunately with out a soundbar for years now. ‘How a lot of a distinction can it actually make?’ I keep in mind pondering. It seems quite a bit, which is one thing I found after testing Samsung’s premium Q950A soundbar system.
The image high quality of televisions has come a good distance in only a few years. Only recently I reviewed Samsung’s Neo QLED QN90A TV and was shocked by its image, however felt the in-built sound couldn’t reside as much as it.
Enter the Q950A soundbar, which greater than makes up for it. It was the right associate for the QN90A TV however it would additionally simply bolster the sound of any TV you connect it to.
At almost $1,500, the Q950A is unquestionably not a soundbar set-up for the faint of coronary heart. It’s designed for these wanting true encompass sound that makes your own home really feel like a cinema, and you must be keen to pay for it.
Samsung Q950A Soundbar
WHAT IS IT?
Samsung’s newest 11.1.4Ch Dolby Atmos Soundbar
PRICE
$1,499
LIKE
Immersive encompass sound, ease of connectivity.
NO LIKE
Costly, too many items to plug in.
Design and Setup
Let’s begin with the setup. The Q950A is a beast each when it comes to sound and when it comes to setting it up.
The field accommodates a soundbar, two rear audio system and one subwoofer. The place some soundbars could also be a solo piece, this one provides you the entire package deal in lots of items.
The principle downside I had throughout setup was an absence of energy factors in my lounge. I don’t find out about you however between my TV, consoles, lamps and different charging wants, I don’t have any energy sockets to spare.
Discovering house to arrange the rear audio system was the largest problem seeing as you need them positioned an equal distance aside on reverse sides of your sofa for optimum sound.
The cords aren’t actually lengthy sufficient for each audio system to stretch to the identical twin energy level in order that’s one prolonged energy board you’re going to want. Relying on the place you select to arrange the subwoofer – that’s a second energy board.
It’s actually a set-up that’s designed for these decking out a house cinema. Should you transfer round quite a bit, have a smaller room or reside in a rental it’s not the simplest when it comes to portability and ease of setup.
There are positives although, significantly on the subject of ease of connectivity between the soundbar and your TV.
After connecting the principle soundbar unit to the HDMI port in your tv (keep in mind to decide on the eARC port) it would mechanically join wirelessly to its associate audio system within the room.
Utilizing sonar know-how it additionally mechanically calibrates and adjusts the sound to suit your room, which as a soundbar beginner I tremendous appreciated.
As for the design of the soundbar itself, the button interface is clear and easy however can be simply managed by a separate distant that appears much like Samsung’s TV controller. The distant lets you swap via sound modes and management each the amount and the bass individually.
The soundbar itself is kind of giant at 1.2-metres and solely simply match below my TV, so be sure that the cupboard or stand you’re setting it up on has the house.
Sound
Let’s get to the vital stuff, the sound. Lengthy story quick: sound = good. Truly, sound = superior.
The Q950A is an 11.1.4Ch soundbar. This quantity implies that the soundbar has 11 audio system, one subwoofer and 4 upward-facing audio system which offer added depth by pinging sound at your roof.
It additionally means the Samsung soundbar has a complete lot of grunt behind it.
Having been a non-soundbar individual up till this level, the distinction was instantly noticeable as soon as I’d plugged this dangerous boy in. It was like the whole lot had been muffled and out of the blue I used to be listening to clearly for the primary time.
I examined a wide range of totally different applications together with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and 1917, however one that basically stood out was The Ebook of Boba Fett.
I discovered this a superb one to check as a result of it runs the gamut of dialogue, action-packed sound results and music, generally all on the similar time.
Each ingredient in The Ebook of Boba Fett’s soundscape turned insanely pronounced because of the soundbar and the ability of Dolby Atmos. The unbelievable sounds of Mando’s darksaber placing towards his rival’s armour will reside rent-free in my mind without end.
However it’s not solely the blockbuster sounds this method can deal with.
I additionally discovered much less style heavy reveals like Pam & Tommy to be a terrific take a look at. The soundbar crisply translated each phrase that was mentioned between characters after which simply shifted to immersive head-banging sound each time music got here on.
What additionally blew me away was how integral every speaker was within the setup.
Sometimes I might unplug the subwoofer or the rear audio system to see the distinction and each time discovered there was a noticeable change within the sound high quality.
The soundbar by itself already makes a distinction however, my complaints about energy factors apart, each further speaker provides to the entire expertise.
The subwoofer brings that rumbling depth that makes you are feeling such as you’re in a cinema chair and the rear audio system add to the sensation that you just’re proper within the centre of no matter you’re watching. It actually made me respect the distinction good sound could make.
Options
On high of kick-ass sound, the Samsung Q950A soundbar has just a few nifty options that deserve a name out.
Q Symphony is a function Samsung has devised to assist its Q-series televisions and soundbars work collectively.
The method permits the sound from each the TV’s inside audio system and the soundbar to play in sync collectively, creating totally different ranges of sound. Seeing as I used to be testing this on the Neo QLED TV on the time, I can actually say I discovered a match for its excellent image. It’s a small element however actually an additional advantage for anybody planning to pair add a Samsung soundbar to their repertoire.
One other one is Recreation Mode Professional. AV manufacturers have been huge on added ‘sport modes’, significantly since we bought a brand new era of consoles.
Gaining access to a PS5 myself, I made a decision to see whether or not the soundbar’s Recreation Mode Professional sound made a distinction.
I’m sorry largely for my Pulse 3D headset, which was forged apart like trash after listening to the epic sound high quality that the Q950A supplied. It was a actually immersive expertise.
Numerous the standard is subjective, relying on the depth of sound within the sport you’re taking part in, however I discovered the soundbar may flip even generic noises into glorious ones.
One other cool high quality of life output that Samsung has carried out is an lively voice amplifier which can mechanically elevate the amount of dialogue in a video if there’s a loud noise within the room. A godsend for these occasions a loud airplane flies over or somebody is vacuuming.
Samsung Q950A Soundbar: Worth
Like I mentioned this soundbar isn’t for the informal soundie.
That is Samsung’s high of the road encompass sound system and at $1,499 RRP, it’s going to price you as a lot as a TV would.
For that worth, it principally squeezes anybody who isn’t dedicated to the absolute best encompass sound out of the market. I stand by my opinion that that is the fitting selection for these hoping to make their residence right into a cinema, however for anybody who simply needs a soundbar, there are cheaper choices on the market.
All that being mentioned, it’s onerous to discover a soundbar with this a lot grunt in such a consumer-friendly package deal.
Samsung Q950A Soundbar: The Verdict
In the case of the sound of the Samsung Q950A soundbar, it’s onerous to discover a fault. All the system packs an actual punch and might flip even the dullest of viewing choices into cinematic experiences.
The set-up is a little bit of a ache when it comes to discovering locations (and plugs) for every of the totally different audio system, however there’s little question that every one in every of them added a significant piece to the Q950A’s soundscape.
This can be a top-notch soundbar at a top-notch worth, however it’s excellent for any hardcore residence cinema set-up. It has additionally utterly offered me on the thought of soundbars.