The 9.1.4 channel Samsung Q950T soundbar features the best software and audio processing currently offered for Samsung smartphones. For instance, it has more features than any other sound bar Samsung offers, including support for voice assistants, satellite speakers, and a subwoofer, tap-to-connect, and connectivity with the SmartThings hub, to mention a few of the more significant features.
The unit’s big external subwoofer, which is also included, is largely to blame for the soundbar’s lower size than its packaging would suggest. The Samsung sound bar comes with two additional satellite speakers that are intended to be placed behind the listener if the soundbar serves as the centrepiece of your home theatre. However, as the satellite speakers and sub each require external power to operate, you’ll need to have three more free outlets available for these extra channels.
Pretty much every smart function you could imagine is included in Samsung’s flagship soundbar, which is clearly meant to go with the company’s QLED television lineup. It was actually created with the 2020 Q90 series in mind, which is why I say that (per Samsung). The bar fits nicely over the television’s aluminium stand and tucks into the space between the panel’s bottom and whatever surface you could be placing it on. Don’t worry if you decide to wall-mount your home theatre. There is enough hardware in the packing to also mount the soundbar to the wall at the desired height.
Samsung HW-Q950T review: Design
When the Samsung HW-Q950main T’s unit is lifted out of its box, it is a sizable bar in every way. Its dimensions are 1232 x 138 x 69.5mm (WDH), or around the width of a 55-inch TV. As long as there is about 70mm of clearance underneath the TV, installation beneath the Bluetooth TV adapter should be acceptable. It’s comfortingly heavy, tipping the scales at 7.1kg for the main unit. And if it hasn’t already spilled over, you’ll need to make room for it or have a table or stand large enough for it.
Both the main bar and the satellite speakers can be wall-mounted, and the packing includes the mounts and screws you’ll need to do that as well as instructions for hoisting the soundbar onto a wall. Since this is a wireless system, you won’t be adding a tangle of cables to your home; yet, in order to fully utilise its capabilities, you should have a medium- to large-sized room.
The Samsung Q950T isn’t an enormous industrial slab of design, despite its size. It’s extremely attractive, incorporating design inspirations from Samsung’s lifestyle soundbars like the HW-S60T. The Kvadrat fabric covering and chamfered edges, as seen on the S60T, give refinement to the soundbar, which is further enhanced by the side-firing speakers hidden behind a grille. The side-firing speakers, like the S60T, will necessitate making some room outside along the sides. The S60T and Q950T both have displays, and the Q950T has two. But this is where the soundbar commits a puzzling design error.
Samsung HW-Q950T review: Sound quality
Within seconds of turning it on, any concerns that switching to a thinner design would have diminished the Q950audio T’s quality are dispelled. It actually has a more powerful sound than its earth-shattering predecessor. Without even the slightest indication of rattling, distortion, or fuzziness from any of its several drivers, the system is capable of reaching extremely loud volumes that are far beyond what most hearing can handle.
Furthermore, if you start to push it harder, the sound doesn’t get harsh in the treble or muddy in the midrange. The sound actually improves, becoming more open and dynamic as the volume is increased.
For a soundbar, the dynamic range is enormous. Not least of all because the subwoofer produces incredibly deep rumbles that you would often only expect to hear from a premium separates system. There is no tougher bass test in the world of movies than the enormous bass drops at the beginning of Blade Runner 2049, and the Q950T easily handles them.
The subwoofer is agile enough to adjust the frequency and loudness of its output as well, avoiding the “all or nothing” trap that soundbar subwoofers occasionally fall into. Bass levels nevertheless feel like an integral part of the soundscape thanks to the subwoofer’s agility and the primary soundbar element’s nearly unfathomably vast dynamic range. They don’t simply dangle annoyingly from the bottom of the mixture.
Samsung HW-Q950T review: Performance
Although the Samsung HW-Q950T is simple to set up, there are a few potential concerns that you should be aware of. First and foremost, if the ceiling is high or vaulted, forget using upward-firing speakers because they perform best with a low, flat, reflective ceiling. Additionally, the speaker volumes can be adjusted simultaneously left and right, which isn’t a problem if your space is symmetrical but a problem if it isn’t.
To generate the required sounds, you’ll need a different source, such as a disc, as the soundbar doesn’t produce internal test tones. In order to measure the tones and set the levels, you’ll also need an SPL metre (there are many available free apps). At some point, Samsung should incorporate automated room correction, menu access through SmartThings, and internal test tones.
However, after initial setup, the HW-Q950T impresses right away, and using a 9.1.6-channel test pattern yields audio coming from all the expected places. A helicopter buzzing around above you as it travels fluidly from speaker to speaker docks and thunder rumbling overhead during a torrential downpour are all present in the test situations, which all have outstanding audio quality.
The Dolby Atmos audio for a movie like 1917 is excellent and makes great use of directional effects. Rear speakers, together with front and back overhead channels, are required to deliver these effectively. The increased breadth, and notably the side speakers, help fill in any acoustic gaps as sounds move about the room.
Samsung HW-Q950T review: Connection
The power input is located on the end of the soundbar that is opposite the HDMI ports, to start with the essentials. The power line will need to be skillfully run in order to be effectively disguised because it is easily accessible. There isn’t much more to report, which is nice.
The HDMI ports consist of two HDMI inputs and one HDMI eARC that connect to the TV. We’d want to see a few more HDMI inputs at this price point (as you probably have more than two devices to connect), but the eARC is what makes this product stand out. This is a really good benefit for the future if you’ve read our post explaining ARC and eARC. eARC isn’t very well known right now, but that’s just going to change.
Additionally, there is a digital optical input, but you hardly ever need to use it. Due to its restrictions, digital optical can only support and carry 5.1 channel signals. Therefore, you would be squandering a significant portion of the 9.1.4 channels available to you if you decided to use optical with this equipment. However, the soundbar will function with optical if that’s all you have while you figure out other stuff.
Samsung HW-Q950T review: Price and availability
The Q950T is Samsung’s top-tier soundbar for 2020, thus it makes sense that it will cost top dollar. However, as we’ll see, you get a lot of power, functionality, and speaker channels for your £1,499/$1,399/AUS$1,949 price. The LG SN11RG is currently the Q950closest T’s competitor because both devices provide full Dolby Atmos speaker sets with front and rear height channel drivers. Although it costs £200 less than the Q950T, it lacks rear side-channel drivers.
In particular, the Q950T would be the perfect match for Samsung’s most recent high-end TVs because of its Q-Symphony feature, which enables the TV and soundbar’s speakers to cooperate to expand the soundstage’s height and presence. The Q900T, a variation of the Q950T without built-in rear speakers, is additionally available and costs £1,099/£1,099/AU$1,549. you can purchase this product from Samsung official store
Final Words
There are many advantages to the Samsung HW-Q905T. Both its surround-sound qualifications and the scope of its sound are excellent. Since it consists of four units, it doesn’t really have much of an excuse not to produce a more realistic impression of overhead sound than nearly any other soundbar.
Additionally, those four boxes are able to give a good deal more audio finesse than the majority of single soundbars. However, the latent pointiness at the other end of the frequency spectrum and the lack of delicacy in the lower frequencies are regrettable. The HW-Q950T is a fun alternative and an excellent home theatre improvement in the most important areas, even if it isn’t quite flawless.
