While Samsung is undoubtfully one of the best television brands in the market, the company also offers high-performance audio systems that enhance the audio-visual experience for both movies and gaming. We take a look at the Samsung HW-Q950A 11.1.4 ch Soundbar system with Dolby Atmos and DTS: X audio enhancements.
Design
With most brands focusing on offering multi-channel soundbars, the Samsung HW-Q950A is the world’s first to feature an 11.1.4 channel configuration. The entire package comes with the main soundbar system, a subwoofer, and two rear speakers for an immersive audio experience.
Samsung ensured that the soundbar features a premium design that goes with the looks of its latest high-end QLED televisions. The soundbar features a dimension of 48.5″ x 2.7″ x 5.4″ (W x H x D), which is quite long. The ports are located on the rear side with gaps for neat cable management. Connectivity includes two HDMI in ports, one HDMI out, and one optical port for audio. The black fabric covers most of the top portions of the soundbar and you can also see the Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and HDMI logos on the front portion of the device.
The controls of the soundbar are located on the top side, along with a small LED screen to display the modes and status. Users will be able to increase/decrease the volume, switch to Bluetooth pairing mode, and more. The soundbar also comes included with a One remote to access the settings, control volume, and sound modes. The One remote also helps to control a compatible Samsung TV if you own one.
Then comes the 28W subwoofer with a product dimension of 8.3″ x 15.9″ x 15.9″. The device weighs about 9.7kg. The main portion of the subwoofer is located at the right side of the device and the connections are on the rear side.
The system also comes with two rear-facing wireless speakers that are capable of producing sound from its top and side angles.
The power connections are seen underneath the speakers with a gap for neat cable management.
Features
The Samsung Q-Series HW-Q950A is all about offering the best audio experience while you watch your favorite shows, movies, or while gaming. As the world’s first 11.1.4 channel sound system, consumers will experience sound from above, behind, front side, and even from the sides, thanks to acoustic technologies such as Dolby Atmos and DTS: X. The main soundbar system features a total of 7 ear-level audio channels and each of the rear speakers comes with two ear-level audio channels. As for the up-firing channels, the soundbar comes with two channels and the rear speakers with one each. The up-firing audio channels reach the roof and bounce downwards, and the bass comes from the sub-woofer.
Samsung says it’s also their first Dolby Atmos soundbar with a true 11.1.4 channel configuration. And if you happen to own any of the Q-series televisions, then the Q-Symphony Sound feature enables users to hear audio from both the soundbar and the television at the same time with perfect sync, adding more sound channels to the entire experience. The soundbar also features the SpaceFit Sound+ Auto Calibration that analyzes the structure of the room and your surrounding and accordingly fine-tunes the audio produced.
You will also be able to seamlessly transfer any music playback from your smartphone to the soundbar with a simple tap on the soundbar, thanks to the SmartThings application. Samsung also included the Game Pro Mode on the Q-Series HW-Q950A, which basically offers 3D directional audio from the up-firing channels and easily syncs with the on-screen gaming. The Game Pro mode also has crosstalk cancellation to minimize distractions.
This is a nice addition for those who own the latest gaming consoles such as the Microsoft Xbox Series X or the Sony PlayStation 5. The Samsung soundbar also features Alexa voice assistant integration. Other features include AirPlay 2, Bluetooth TV connection, and HDMI eARC.
Verdict
If you are looking to amplify your music experience in your homes and want the best experience for both movies and gaming, then the Samsung Q-Series HW-Q950A is a good choice to consider. It’s the world’s first to offer an 11.1.4 audio channel experience. And if you happen to own a Samsung QLED TV, then you can further increase the audio with the Q-Symphony Sound feature.
Users will be able to hear audio from almost all angles from where they sit and the SpaceFit Sound+ Auto Calibration helps to optimize the audio signal delivery. Gamers will enjoy using the Game Pro mode to heighten the experiences and the surround sound effects are enhanced with Dolby Atmos and DTS: X. The inclusion of Alexa voice assistant and AirPlay 2 is a nice bonus.
