Soundbar of the Year $500-$1000

AV SOUND

Samsung was one of the first companies to really raise soundbar performance, and its premium offerings have won our awards several years running, ever since a sonic transformation led by its Californian ‘audio lab’ set up by Allan Devantier, formerly of Harman. This year we were impressed by a bar and subwoofer combo further down the range at $949 (sometimes less), the Q800T described as a 3.1.2-channel package, reproduces left, centre and right channels from the front, plus additional left and right height channels from its top surface — all genuine, not simulated. There’s also a ‘Q-Symphony’ option of incorporating the built-in speakers of a 2020 Samsung TV for extra sound. You get a not-insubstantial wireless subwoofer with its 8-inch driver firing to the right. The 98cm bar is nicely flat at just 6cm high.

There’s one HDMI input, and one HDMI out to your TV with eARC, also an optical input; networking is by Wi-Fi only, enabling the built-in Alexa to give voice control and all-round general smart speaker skills via Samsung’s SmartThings app.

We enjoyed a large and dynamic sonic performance from the Q800T soundbar, which delivered a strong and dynamic output, with powerful gut-thuds to explosions and a broad soundstage for Atmos effects, a sense of width beyond the bounds of the bar from the total of seven drivers — though don’t pay too much attention to Samsung’s extravagant claims for immersive wall-bouncing sound.

Music via Bluetooth was also perfectly enjoyable, supported by the subwoofer and able to hold a tune at quite some level.

Combining skills for TV, movies and music, the Q800T is a soundbar worthy of use outside as well as within a Samsung ecosystem, able to deliver a big sound for your big screen. More info: www.samsung.com.au