Samsung HW-K850
FOR Deep bass; expansive sound; smooth tone AGAINST Not dynamically powerful; lacks sonic precision
What do you if you want the truly immersive Dolby Atmos experience – but wrapped up in a neat package that sits underneath your television? Samsung believes it has the answer here. With two 6cm upfiring drivers on the top, this unit gives the impression that audio is coming from above and in front of you.
Running along the soundbar’s 120cm-wide body are nine more drivers: three 35mm tweeters and six 5cm midrange drivers, divided into threes for the left, centre, and right channels, and all driven by 360W of power amplification. Completing the 3.1.2 channel setup is a wireless subwoofer. The Samsung HW K850 has both Bluetooth and wi-fi connectivity, but to connect it to your wi-fi network you’ll have to download the Samsung Multiroom app. It’s the only way to play Tidal, Napster or your on-device music – so not as connected as the Bose Soundtouch 300, although the K850 does have Spotify Connect built-in. The soundbar has a couple of HDMI inputs and one HDMI output that support 4K passthrough, and an optical input – all tucked away in the K850’s base. There’s a micro-usb port too, but that’s only for software updates.
The soundbar’s remote looks similar to the motion-control wand that comes with Samsung televisions. It’s a stylish design that’s comfortable to hold, and we like the divide between overall volume control and subwoofer volume.
However, the buttons aren’t quite as responsive as we’d like, and the click of the button isn’t very satisfying. As for tonality, you can adjust the bass and treble individually, but the K850 has various audio presets too, such as ‘Clear Voice’ (which enhances the midrange and treble), ‘Night’ (which keeps the vocals at the same volume while dynamically reducing loud sounds), and ‘Standard’ (with no extra processing). This is the one we keep it on.
To its credit, the HW K850 does fill our medium-sized test room with ease. The enthusiastic subwoofer helps the low bass rumbles during the opening of Jupiter Ascending, in which futuristic guns are firing and rocket boots are taking off, feel suitably large-scale. The upward-firing drivers on the soundbar help to create a wall of sound, adding the perception of height to the soundtrack.
Tracking spaceships
While it doesn’t reach high enough to really put the sound effects overhead, the K850 makes a good attempt at creating a three-dimensional space and can make sounds appear to be coming from above your television. It also has a wide soundfield, which makes it easy to track the general movement of spaceships flying across the screen.
The K850 is an easy listen, with a smooth tone that doesn’t grate in the high treble or display any brittleness in the midrange. It’s big and bassy, but lacks in other aspects. It’s not as dynamically impressive or insightful as the Dali Kubik One or the non-atmos Yamaha YSP 2700.
The bass needs to be tightened up too – play California by Grimes, and the beats are too slack to capture the punch. The opening thumps should have good kick to contrast Claire Boucher’s light vocals, but the K850 hasn’t quite got its boots on. Ultimately, the Samsung HW K850 sits between the rock and hard place of the Atmos-enabled Yamaha YSP 5600 and cheaper, better soundbar options such as the Bose or the Dali.
If you’re set on having Dolby Atmos from a soundbar, then save some more money for the pricier, but more capable, Yamaha YSP 5600. If not, there are better conventional soundbars available. The K850 delivers a large-scale sound, full of low-frequency force, but it’s not precise, dynamic, or subtle enough to be recommended ahead of the competition.
”The K850 makes a good attempt at creating a 3D space, with sounds appearing to be coming from above your television”