Customer Ratings & Reviews

Very good item, the team sounds excellent and I like it a lot

I really am impressed with this system! The sound quality, clarity and balance is breathtaking!! I just moved into a new house and put the soundbar on a Mantlemount with the TV. The subwoofer is to the right of the TV as shown on Samsung’s web page and the rear surround behind the sofa on stands. The first thing that I noticed was that the “wireless” rear speakers had some wires!!! Technically they are wireless I guess because the receiver portion is wireless, but the rear speakers still need to be connected to the “wireless” receiver unit with traditional speaker wires. Not a huge deal in my opinion because it will be behind my sofa but does require some wire management. I bought some speaker stands that have built in wire maintenance that allows me to run the rear speaker wires down the center of the stands for a cleaner look. The second thing that struck me was the lack of set up instructions. There were some but they were confusing and not very helpful. You can download the whole manual from Samsung’s website and I highly recommend doing so. I had to read how to adjust the rear speakers volume. After getting it set up and the rear speakers on the stands, I powered it up and started with some live TV. I watched a little golf since that was the first thing on when I turned the TV on and the surround sound really caught my ear just watching golf! The ambient crowd noise and clapping and background noise really made me feel like I was on the green with the golfer!!! I was eager to see what a movie would sound like. Started with some Guardian of the Galaxy and the opening with the music and water jets on the planet and the Marvel opening….Absolutely immersive and incredible! As the base shook the floor and the cinematic music swept through my living room from all directions and the crisp clear vocals coming so naturally from the sound bar It took my breath away! Danced through a couple more action movies with gun fights and had a perma smile on my face! Next I moved to the music and streamed some songs from my phone. The unit paired quickly and the sound was just amazing… So crisp and clean and full and balanced. The surround sound truly felt like a concert. I found some live concert performance recorded songs and it felt like I was there at the concert. I can’t wait to have my next party…with this Samsung I won’t need a DJ to bring the music! I began to explore the remote it comes with a little closer. It feels good in the hands and is fairly straightforward. It is a little tricky to turn up the sound on the rear speakers (consult the owners manual guide). You have to move it to the rear speaker selection and wait a second until you see the volume number appear then move it up or down. I turned it up to 4 since I liked to really hear the rear ambient noises and music from the movies. The unit has a few preset modes as well. -Standard: which is the original sound according to the manual. I can’t imagine wanting to use that one since the surround is so immersive. - Surround: = AMAZINGING - Game Pro: give you “stereoscopic” sound in the action for gaming. I had to fire up the PlayStation and decided to fight a few hordes in Days Gone and some stealth kills in Hitman. Pretty amazing the foot steps and silencer kills as well as the ambient sound near and far were totally awesome. - Adaptive which allows the unit to decide based on the content. Overall this Samsung Soundbar sound quality is just phenomenal…. The little negatives like the rear speakers have to be wired into the wireless receiver and the lack of a manual being shipped really is insignificant after spending time with this unit. Samsung saved some trees by having the manual digital and the wires behind my couch just hang out there not bothering anyone! The quality of the sound is the show stopper and Samsung brings it with this system! LOVE! 5 STARS all the way!!!!

I’m hard of hearing. Because of that, I have a hard time enjoying TV and movies sometimes. The audio quality that comes from most standard TVs is just not good enough for me to be able to hear dialogue on a lot of shows. I have tried adding surround sound systems and soundbars before, but have never found the ideal audio set-up for me. That said, I was hesitant to try out the Samsung Q850A Soundbar until I heard that it featured Dolby Atmos. The soundbar also comes with an external subwoofer and two surround speakers. All of the devices connect wirelessly to the soundbar, which was another big selling point to me. With those features available, I decided to give it a shot. I opted to use the soundbar in my office at first. In that space, I have a 65-inch LG TV that I use for watching YouTube and gaming and I’ve only ever used this TV with its internal speakers. I thought that this soundbar would take my entertainment experience to the next level. The first thing I did was unbox the set. In addition to the two surround speakers, soundbar, and subwoofer, a wireless receiver box is also included for the rear speakers. The receiver box ultimately sends signals between the soundbar and the rear speakers. There are speaker wires that run to each surround speaker (included) so it’s not a 100% wireless system. The subwoofer does not require a cable between itself and the soundbar, but it does need a power cable as does the wireless receiver and the soundbar itself. For me, this meant some rewiring had to be done to accommodate the extra power plugs. The audio setup is pretty simple. You either choose to use the HDMI connection or the optical connection to the TV to replace the sound output going to the TV’s internal speakers. I tried both options and didn’t have problems with either connection type. The only issues I did end up having been with the remote and the level of volume coming out of the subwoofer. The remote control did work, but the volume control left something to be desired. Whenever I pressed the volume button, it just muted or unmuted the soundbar. I couldn’t find any direction from the instructions about this issue, and most of the time I just default to using the app to control the volume or adjust any settings. As for the subwoofer volume, I was expecting a bit more from it. I set the volume to full, but it wasn’t until I changed some of the advanced settings that I was able to get punchy bass from it. Overall, the thing I was most impressed with was the sound quality. It all seems very well balanced and I was even able to hear dialogue from shows that I haven’t been able to watch and enjoy for a long time. The Atmos sound is incredible and I like the adaptive and surround modes, too. The overall sound volume was impressive and was loud enough to fill a decent space. My office is approximately 180 square feet in size and I didn’t have any issues with the soundbar filling it with sound. I didn’t have any issues with audio sync, but I was happy to see that there was an option for adjusting that if it were a problem. Aside from the minor issues I had with the remote and volume of the subwoofer, I enjoyed using this soundbar and its accompanying elements. I think it’s a good investment for anyone who wants to hear dialogue and for anyone who wants clear crisp sound.

In an average room this subwoofer is INCREDIBLE! The center stage and surround from the bar alone (I didn’t hook up the rear speakers as they are not truly wireless) and couldn’t be happier. I now have this system in 4 rooms. Sound is powerful; crisp, balanced and amazing from such a compact unit. Unlike the 950; it doesn’t suffer the lint collecting cloth cover, it’s finished in a sleek hard cover that looks and performs excellent. Down side. My living room is much larger than all others, and has an open to the kitchen markedly enlarging the space to probably... 800-1000 sq ft. The bass is a little weak for such a large room; but at this price point, it’s adequate but just shy of what a room that expansive needs. Overall 5 STARS for its Expected room size and again. It’s in 4 other “normal size rooms” performing beyond expectations! Great buy on sale now!!!!

I bought this to replace an LG SN7R that sounded great but kept cutting in and out. This Samsung sounds OK, not really better than the LG even though the LG is half the cost. The LG was much cheaper but the constant disconnections were a deal breaker and got to be unusable. So here's my take on the HW-Q850a. The good: -Dialogue is very clear. -Wide soundstage. Surround mode is excellent. -The different sound modes are mostly good but they all sound very similar with the exception of Standard mode which just reproduces the original signal without any processing. Although the differences between the other modes are subtle, Surround mode seems to sound a little better to me. -Setup was very easy. -Atmos content was excellent. -The rear surrounds can get relatively loud, definitely enough to create a very immersive sound. -Build quality feels excellent. All the pieces feel very solid and well made. -It has eARC which a lot of soundbars still lack. The bad: -Very weak bass from such a large subwoofer. I have the sub volume at 6, the bass at 6, and I've tried using Standard mode with the graphic EQ with the two lowest frequencies at max level. Sure, you can hear the bass and there are no issues with connectivity, no interference, just the bass doesn't really punch that hard. It's most noticeable when playing music. -The high frequencies such as some dialogue and things like crowd noise sometimes sound hollow, tinny, out of phase, metallic, etc... While setting it up I was playing Thor:Ragnarok and the dialogue sounded very metallic, hollow, and out of phase. Some commercials in which people are speaking. Crowd noise while watching Wimbledon and soccer. I thought it might be the Active Voice Amplifier doing something strange but turning it on and off didn't make a difference. What did make a difference is turning the Virtual setting ON. I'm not sure what's going on with this. I contacted Samsung support via chat and the rep had no clue either. I'd expect the Virtual setting to actually cause the tinny, hollow sound when turned on since it's adding some artificial processing but it does the exact opposite. When Virtual is OFF, that's when the high frequencies get tinny and hollow. It's almost as if the setting is backwards and On is really Off and vice-versa. -There is no explanation anywhere in the included Quick Start booklet or in the full manual of what the Virtual setting actually does. The Samsung rep couldn't really explain it other than saying it creates a wider virtual soundfield. I thought that's what the Surround mode was for... Other than having an effect on the tinny, hollow sounding treble, I don't see what else it does. -The Treble and Bass controls have no effect at all. I can move them from -6 to +6 and there is no noticeable difference. When in Standard mode, the Graphic EQ also has zero effect. I can move all the frequencies from lowest to max and there is no effect on the sound. The review on the Rtings site which is even referenced in the review section here mentioned that they found the same thing - the treble and bass controls had no noticeable effect, even when measured with their equipment. -The USB port to update firmware is a micro-usb, not a regular USB port. You can't just plug in a regular USB drive, you need a pigtail adapter which is not included. Fortunately I was able to update the firmware via wi-fi through the SmartThings app. -The SmartThings app doesn't give you access to a lot of the standard settings. It does give you access to a couple of other features though like voice enhancement, which seems to just boost the upper midrange frequencies (although this thing already has plenty of highs and upper mids), and a bass enhancement setting that seems to add a tiny amount of bass although not enough to compensate for the overall weak bass. -Given its weaknesses and flaws, it's a little overpriced. Samsung could easily fix the bass response with a firmware update. They could also fix the Treble and Bass and Graphic EQ controls that don't do anything. Bottom line, what could be a 5 star product is reduced to 3 stars because of weak bass, settings that don't do anything, and tinny and out of phase sounding high frequencies. I've only had it for one day and am not sure if I will keep it or return it and try out the new Vizio M512 that just came out. In case anyone is interested, here are my preferred settings that give me the best sound out I think the system is capable of producing. I have it connected to a TCL 65R635 via HDMI/eARC. Sound mode - Surround. AVA - Off Treble - 0 although like I mentioned, it doesn't matter since the control doesn't make a difference. Bass - 6, although it doesn't make a difference. I just left it at 6 in the hopes that at some point it will start working. Center - 2 Front Top - 2 Rear - 6 Virtual - ON (otherwise I get tinny hollow-sounding treble) Subwoofer - 6 Settings available only from the SmartThings app - Voice Enhancement - Off Bass Enhancement - On Night Mode - Off (although it works well if you need it)

The sound when playing Dolby Atos or DTS content is impressive. The subwoofer has plenty of bass and the wireless rear surround module eliminates having to run wires across the room. Note: the rear surround speakers connect to the module with wires but the module connection to the soundbar is wireless. The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is that speaker level control is very limited. You do however get control for center, front top, rear, and subwoofer. There are also several different sound modes.

Been using this for quite a while now and absolutely love it. With more and more streaming content and of course UHD blu-rays available with Atmos, this is a great purchase. The sounds is amazing. Super easy to set up with HDMI arc.

Great Sound but if you want to get the best sound out this system, you'll need to match it with a TV, an UHD Blue ray DVD player, and apps capable to reproduce the highest sound quality like DTS X or Dolby Atmos.

I bought this sound at open box. It is an amazing product for a fraction of the price when it was released in 2021. The system has 1 HDMI Input, and 1HDMI Out/eARC, which can send audio/video signal to TV. Sound quality is top notch.

Very happy with this sound bar. Have it connected to my 75" Samsung Frame TV and the system works flawlessly. Really like the "wireless" rear speakers. Rear speakers are small and fit in a bookcase behind our sectional sofa. Sound really fills the room and eliminates the need for speakers in the walls and ceiling (which I had in a previous house). Sub woofer fits in a corner of our living room, is wireless (other than the power cord) and works well.

Great sound bar system if you can get it on sale. I’ve heard that the more expensive version of this has better rear speakers and atmos height

I picked this up open box for $249. Fantastic Dolby Atmos at this price point. I have to run the back speakers and woofer at max volume and have the main center unit lowered for a balanced sound experience. I would not be as happy with that at full or even half price. You can connect to TV by HDMI ARC, Bluetooth, optical, and direct through Wifi... Wifi is great to easily connect with other devices.

First time buying a soundbar and I was a little worried. Hearing it in-store is one thing. Having it in your home is another. And I've gotta say, I am pleasantly surprised. Next day delivery by Roadie was a cinch. Appreciated the text updates. Setup at TV was also easy, although, I wish there was a little more information included in the setup guide. Not specifically about the setup, but more on the features/options of the soundbar. But back to setup... I followed the steps in the guide to connect to my Sony X900H 75" TV via HDMI arc and everything worked right away. I also connected to the SmartThings app on my phone. Easy-peazy! Love being able to manage the soundbar from my phone. I've never had a soundbar so I don't have any other systems/brands to compare to. That being said, I love having this soundbar. The subwoofer hits great! The speakers on soundbar are adequately balanced. I'm still waiting on my speaker stands before I connect the rear speakers, so I can't comment on the surround sound just yet. But so far, I've been blown away at how awesome this is. I would definitely recommend this soundbar!

Sounds fantastic and the deal I got as an open box item was awesome. Cosmetically thrashed but in perfect working order. Matching set with my Samsung TV, also open box and less than perfect in every way … except for as a TV! OLED and screen only, $100 on Black Friday. Together the TV and Soundbar cost less than either alone, by half! Buy Open Box! Feels like I shouldn’t say that too loudly … and thank you Best Buy.

Pros: Great sound Dolby Atmos Great looking sound bar Rear speakers included Cons: Rear speakers are not wireless Bass need tweaking Bought the item open box and was very happy with the price. I think it's a little too expensive at retail price for the quality. Great sound with clear voices.

Amazing sound. I bought these openbox. I would have kept them if i didnt already hear the 930b. Gave this to my friend for his new home and he was blown away. If you can get open box or referb then def get. But if youre buying new I would definitely suggest the 930B. Bass is fantastic and sound is clear.

I am pretty happy with the Samsung 5.1.2. I got it as an open box but in great condition. It sounds quite good on average but it gets out of sync at times and I need to unplug it. It may be a setting. The remote is limited. Most adjustments will need to be by phone app.

Got it for around $650 open-box and including geek squad protection during a sale. For that price it is a great soundbar. Keep in mind there is no HDMI 2.1 on most soundbars so don't expect to be able to run 120hz with Atmos. With this bar if I want Atmos on my Xbox I have to pass through the bar and not the TV, this removes VRR, 120hz and low latency features. If I want 120hz with Dolby Vision, I pass through the TV but then the Atmos audio is delayed a lot. Still excellent for Dolby Digital with those specs though. This is only for the Xbox 120hz though, the Atmos on the soundbar works great on the apps from the TV regardless of where the Xbox is hooked up to. At $999 I think it's a little steep. Maybe wait for a sale like myself. It sounds great but if you want a lot of bass then go with the Vizio Elevate. For me, I didn't want too much bass. Otherwise if you are looking for only buying once and all the bells and whistles at once (Dolby Vision @ 120hz with Atmos) the only thing to do is wait a year or two.

Great little system! Got it on sale AND with the $250 gift certificate so a great buy. Fairly easy set up. downloading the online menu is a must because it shows you how to properly use the remote which comes in handy especially for the eq adjustments. Not a fan of the input placement/design. I would suggest buying a hdmi with an ‘L’ design to help fit it better. You need the ‘SmartThings’ app to connect to WiFi. Sub is solid. Wireless rears are great. I have the wireless receiver on the other side of a single wall and it works fine with no disconnection. I am having trouble with my atmos signal but I think it’s an issue with my tv and it’s pass through with the Apple TV. I think for this price it should have pink noise for each speaker to check levels and be able to adjust every speaker individually. It’s actually kind of ludicrous you can’t do something as basic as that. Especially with rear speakers where ideal identical placement isn’t always an option. All in all though a great buy!

I got this from the outlet and it was crazy cheap so i am giving it 5 starts, but if you pay the price on the website i would be disappointed with the bass. Don't get me wrong it has great bass but for that price i would expect more otherwise its a great system