![]() ![]() If you're looking for a relatively discreet soundbar that still provides a showpiece Dolby Atmos experience, this is absolutely it. Superb Dolby Atmos movement and height effects.You can add Samsung wireless rear speakers in the future, if you want to create a full surround sound system. It also works with Samsung's Q-Symphony feature, where the soundbar and TV speakers work in tandem to create an even larger sound field. The subwoofer connects wirelessly to the main unit, and both units support wireless communication with compatible 2022 Samsung TVs, as long as both are on the same Wi-Fi network, so you wouldn't need an HDMI cable at all. It also includes Samsung's SpaceFit tech, which listens to the output of the soundbar and adjust it to compensate for any quirks caused by the layout of your room. It has multiple listening modes, including a Night Mode for capping how loud things can be, a DTS Virtual:X mode for upscaling stereo to 3D sound, and a Game mode, among others. I had a problem where it didn’t show up consistently as a Bluetooth target on my iPhone, despite being connected in the Bluetooth settings, but it's hard to know whether to blame Apple or Samsung. It also has Alexa built-in, including a mic, so it functions fully as a smart speaker. ![]() Other ways to get sound over to the S800B include Bluetooth, and if you fire up the Samsung SmartThings app, you can connect the soundbar to your Wi-Fi network, enabling Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect streaming (but no Google Cast). But if you love 4K Blu-rays for their maximum fidelity, which offer lossless Atmos sound, you don't quite get the best of them here. This means that it only takes a more compressed, 'lossy' version of Dolby Atmos sound rather than the full lossless Dolby Atmos that eARC supports.ĭepending on your source, this may not be much of a problem – the Dolby Atmos version used by streaming services is 'lossy' anyway, so not having eARC isn't the end of the world. It also means that there's only HDMI ARC support, and not eARC. That's a huge number for the amount of space it takes up, and it explains the quality of the directional audio.Īs mentioned above, physical audio connectivity is limited to the mini-HDMI connector – there's no optical connector, and no HDMI passthrough. To do this, it includes eight separate speaker drivers in the soundbar unit, and another two in the subwoofer. The S800B is designed to deliver 3.1.2 channels of Dolby Atmos or DTS:X audio, which means front, center and right sound, the subwoofer bass channel, and two upfiring Dolby Atmos channels. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi streaming, plus Samsung-specific features.Mini-HDMI connector only – no optical, no passthrough, no eARC.3.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound.There's not much that's a direct competitor to the S800B in terms of being so small, but the biggest danger probably comes from Samsung itself: the Samsung HW-Q800A is only a little taller, and also comes with a subwoofer and Dolby Atmos support, but is now available for around $600 / £550. It also tells you a lot about the kind of quality Samsung is overall aiming for with the audio here, which it largely nails. The price puts it in line with the Sonos Arc, which is a perfect example of the kind of hefty, tall soundbar the HW-S800B is trying to offer you an alternative to. The Samsung HW-S800B was released in summer 2022, and with a price of $899 / £749 / AU$999, it's targeting the more premium end of the soundbar market. (Image credit: Future) Samsung HW-S800B review: Price and release date There's a lot of speaker power in the Samsung HW-S800B's small body. ![]()
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