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We’re also impressed by the width afforded by the virtual surround technology. It’s no match for real surround speakers, but as Dennis Nedry makes his escape through the driving rain you’re almost convinced that sound is coming from either side of you. Later, the herd of Gallimimus sweeps past the camera and the sound moves from one side to the other. There’s a pleasing crispness to the high-frequencies that allows detail and sonic textures to shine through, making Isla Nublar seem wonderfully atmospheric – the hiss of driving rain and the rustle of bushes are clear, while the sound of loud, screeching dinosaurs is conveyed without making your toes curl. Unfortunately, ARC/eARC can sometimes introduce a slight audio lag resulting in lipsynching issues that can vary depending on your TV-soundbar combo. However, many brands include controls to adjust the delay on a soundbar's app, and sometimes there's also an option to modify it on a TV's settings. Ideally, we would recommend going all in on an AV amplifier and matching home theatre speaker system, but in reality, we understand that not everyone has the space and/or the budget for something like this. That's why we recommend a soundbar as a great alternative.
Key specs – Elements: Soundbar, subwoofer; Channel configuration: 3.1; Stated power: 430W; Connections: 1 x HDMI input, 1 x HDMI output, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, optical digital audio input; HDMI passthrough support: HD, SDR (no 4K or HDR); HDMI ARC support: Yes; Dimensions (WDH): Soundbar: 1030 x 105 x 60mm, subwoofer – 184 x 295 x 346mm; Weight: Soundbar – 3.1kg, subwoofer – 5.1kg Manufacturers have tried, with varying success, to enhance the audio coming from their televisions. But, if you want to improve TV audio, you need a separate speaker designed for that purpose. For those who want compelling 3D sound without all the speakers, this is the best soundbar with a premium price tag that we've ever tested, which is why it retained its title once again at the 2023 What Hi-Fi? Awards. Despite sitting in the ‘lifestyle’ section of Samsung’s current soundbar range, the HW-S60B’s attractive and simple design plays host to a surprisingly uncompromising sound system. Assuming you’re in the market for a soundbar first and foremost to bring movies and TV shows to life, the Q800C represents excellent value. It undercuts its rivals, despite serving up the most powerful, impactful and accurately presented Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound stage I’ve heard from a two-piece soundbar system.
The included-as-standard 5.1.2 channels break down into a center speaker, front left and right speakers, side left and right speakers, two up-firing speakers built into the soundbar’s top edge, and a bass channel provided by the external wireless subwoofer. You can also effectively add more speakers to the system via Q Symphony, where the speakers in compatible Samsung TVs can intelligently join forces with those in the soundbar to deliver a bigger, more precisely detailed soundstage. The soundbar works just fine with any TV – compatible Samsung TVs just get an extra boost. However, this is a speaker with practicality and affordability in mind. Its ultra-compact dimensions, tapered build and forward-facing speakers mean it takes up little space and removes any need for a clear line of sight for upward- and side-firing drivers, making it a practical choice for small rooms and even desktops. The soundbar was also tested under the same TV moved to a corner position, to reflect the fact that this remains the most common TV position. The Q800C was not tested with the optional extra rear speakers.
Given the simple nature of the product, there’s very little installation and setup involved. The subwoofer connects automatically with the soundbar (a little blue light indicates a connection has been made) and once rigged up the only speaker configuration you need to worry about is the subwoofer level – settings range from -6 up to +6. If there are lip sync problems, the AV Sync mode allows you to set a delay of up to 300ms. That’s where Samsung’s HW-C450 comes in. It’s a 2.1-channel system that aims to deliver a convincing home cinema experience from a discreet wall-mountable soundbar and a wireless powered subwoofer. It is not, however, an ‘all-in-one’ system per se, as there’s no built-in Blu-ray or DVD player – it’s a speakers-only solution for those who already own a player but are fed up listening to it through their TV’s weedy speakers.Add in HDMI passthrough and Bluetooth/Wi-Fi support, and the Q990B gives you the features and performance of a very decent speaker/AV receiver system for a fraction of the price and inconvenience. Soundbars are slim, often rectangular, speaker systems with drivers positioned side by side that are designed to slot underneath your TV or to be fitted neatly to the wall. With front-facing drivers, even basic, budget soundbars typically offer more direct and clear audio than a TV. Key specs – Elements: Soundbar, subwoofer; Channel configuration: 3.1.2; Stated power: 330W; Connections: 1 x HDMI output, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi; HDMI passthrough support: N/A; HDMI ARC support: eARC; Dimensions (WDH): Soundbar – 1160 x 40 x 38mm, subwoofer – 238 x 238 x 241mm; Weight: Soundbar – 1.4kg, subwoofer – 6.4kg Ideally you’ll want HDMI ports with ARC (Audio Return Channel) or eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) support. These allow digital audio data to be transferred between your TV and soundbar using just one HDMI cable, with eARC supporting higher bandwidth audio formats than ARC. This then enables you to hook up other devices to your TV via HDMI and play audio from them through your soundbar. With TVs getting thinner, especially OLED models with razor-sharp chassis, there is considerably less room for proper sound systems. While this is an inevitability, it doesn't excuse poor sound quality, which is why we always recommend budgeting for some sort of sound system when you buy a new TV.
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