Samsung HW-Q800D review: Better Than The HW-Q800C Soundbar?

The Samsung HW-Q800D is a 360W 5.1.2-channel soundbar that features 11 audio drivers and wireless Dolby Atmos. Find out how it performs by watching the review!
Buy from Newegg: howl.me/cmgsJT5dfGK
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Buy from Samsung UK: fave.co/44NnDlh
Buy from Samsung USA: fave.co/3K63DAS
My Peugeot e-3008 review on TotallyEV: • Peugeot e-3008 review ...
Alternatives to consider:
Samsung HW-Q800C: Its predecessor
My review: • Samsung HW-Q800C revie...
Buy from Newegg: howl.me/cmgsYr9RMfD
Buy from Amazon: locally.link/nN5P
Buy from Samsung UK: fave.co/3uomKlb
Buy from Samsung USA: fave.co/3RaqNKF
Samsung HW-Q800B: Two generations old
Buy from Amazon: locally.link/6c2J
Samsung HW-Q990C: Currently the same price as the Q800D but far superior
My review: • Samsung HW-Q990C revie...
Buy from Newegg: howl.me/clRqolF3UFL
Buy from Amazon: locally.link/MNwl
JBL Bar 1300/1300X: Better low-end response
My review: • Most Versatile Soundba...
Buy from JBL: fave.co/3p6l1yG
Buy from Amazon: locally.link/uJuU
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus: Even better sub-bass (with subwoofer)
My review: • Better Than Other Flag...
Buy the Sennheiser Ambeo Plus from Amazon: locally.link/LYae
Buy the Ambeo Sub from Amazon: locally.link/WJfz
Harman Kardon Citation Multibeam 1100: Favourite all-in-one for the price
My review: • Best All-In-One Soundb...
Buy from Amazon: locally.link/sxgi
Denon Home 550: Good all-in-one soundbar but no subwoofer
My review: • Denon Home 550 Sound B...
Buy from Amazon: locally.link/AawZ
Buy from Denon: fave.co/3gJ7F3F
Creative SXFI Carrier: Best compact Dolby Atmos soundbar
My review: • Creative SXFI Carrier ...
Buy from Creative: fave.co/2YDYueT
Buy from Amazon: locally.link/2ZmS
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max: The best flagship soundbar
My review: • Upgraded & Better? NEW...
Buy the Ambeo Max from Sennheiser: locally.link/1zkd
Buy the Ambeo Sub from Amazon: locally.link/WJfz
Buy the Ambeo Soundbar from Sennheiser: fave.co/2KjEtzC
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Music by ‪@priyajaye‬, titled 'Like Me': • Priya Jaye - Like Me
Buy Priya's song from Amazon (Affiliate link): locally.link/F9bQ
Also available for streaming on all platforms: priyajaye.hearnow.com/
Video timestamps:
Price & design: 00:00
Controls & app: 01:10
Connectivity: 02:27
Sound demo: 04:31
Driver configuration: 06:47
Bass: 08:45
Treble: 09:30
Dolby Atmos demo: 10:44
Soundstage: 12:38
Verdict: 13:57
#samsung
#samsungsoundbar
#Soundbar
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Full disclosure:
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Unless otherwise specified, I'm not sponsored, endorsed or given any monetary incentives for reviews. All views and opinions are my own.
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[@TotallydubbedHD]

Buy from Newegg: howl.me/cmgsJT5dfGK Buy from Amazon: locally.link/Ee2O Buy from Samsung UK: fave.co/44NnDlh Buy from Samsung USA: fave.co/3K63DAS Video timestamps: Price & design: 00:00 Controls & app: 01:10 Connectivity: 02:27 Sound demo: 04:31 Driver configuration: 06:47 Bass: 08:45 Treble: 09:30 Dolby Atmos demo: 10:44 Soundstage: 12:38 Verdict: 13:57

[@DanielMitraMusic]

Thanks for the review! Probably the only video on YT for the Q800D. I got this recently from a local retailer (upgraded from the small Bose TV speaker). Enjoying it so far!

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Pleasure, glad you enjoyed it and thanks for sharing!

[@d4nith3]

Amazing that u discovered the fact that there is no HDMI 2.1 but only 2.0 That's why is important to watch reviews before buying something.

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Yup! Glad you liked the video!

[@chinteikyeap4425]

I owned Q800A with SWA9500S …. Awesome Atmos content

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Nice!

[@Bagarrao_]

Hello sir @TotallydubbedHD I love your monitor videos, I basically watch them all. Could you make a video explaining the best PANEL TYPE for competitive games? How the difference between (FAST TN / TN / FAST IPS /IPS / VA)

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Thanks! That's an interesting one, but quite complex to say the least lol; not sure it'll happen, but you never know!

[@TripleBug]

thanks for the detail comparison, may I know if it comes with HDMI cable (for eARC) inside the box? or it need to be purchase seperately?

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Pleasure! From my understanding an HDMI cable should come in the box, but I can't say for certain, sorry!

[@vijju49]

Does jbl 800 pro supports dts x and dts streaming contents

[@DoctorHades]

Great review. The first I have seen for the 800D here in the UK. I was one of the suckers that bought the 800D over the £350.00 cheaper 800C from Richer Sounds for £849 because, like you, I went by the Samsung website which listed this as having HDMI 2.1 passthrough! I actually feel scammed and will be contacting Samsung about this with a link to your video. While the soundbar is admittedly superb, I feel that I could have got 99.9% of the same experience from the £500 800C and that the extra £350.00 I paid does not justify the few improvements that this has over last year's model.

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it! Indeed, I do think you would have been better off saving that money and maybe even putting towards rear speakers or even last year's flagship - I wonder if you'll be able to get a refund given it's false marketing (and it's still live - v2.1 - on many retailers like John Lewis!). Feel free to use my video as proof to the retailer in question.

[@DoctorHades]

@@TotallydubbedHD - Thanks for the reply. I did contact Samsung via their Live Chat earlier today and I linked your video. I was told that someone from support will be calling me back in the next two days. I'll update this post once they do to let people know what they said.

[@DoctorHades]

True to their word at least, someone from Samsung did call me this morning to discuss my complaint about the misleading specs for HDM 2.1 passthrough originally posted on their website for the Q800D. This has since changed but only after I'd bought it and realised it only supported 60 Hz passthrough. The conversation was confusing as the Samsung representative was telling me that their website currently shows this as 60 Hz passthrough only but then went on to ask me if I was using an HDMI 2.1 cable which would enable 120 Hz passthrough! He also mentioned that I could send it in for a repair, as if that would do anything unless they were offering to upgrade the HDMI passthrough port from 2.0 to 2.1 (not very likely!). Not sure if it was a language barrier but while he apologised for their product not meeting my expectations, he didn't go as far to admit that had made a mistake and had changed their website to remove all mention of 120 Hz passthrough. A very frustrating experience really. They are going to send me a follow up email. I will then contact the retailer and see if I can get some kind of refund for the misleading advertising, thought that is Samsung's fault not the retailer's. @TotallydubbedHD - Can you confirm please if you did see the Q800D advertised on the Samsung website as having 120 Hz passthrough and what date you saw this? I thought I saw this on 20th May as I posted this on the AVForums: www.avforums.com/threads/samsung-q800-series-is-it-just-me.2497675/#post-32272594. I then ordered this soundbar that same day and it was delivered on Wednesday, 22nd. I was only able to test the passthrough with my Xbox Series X when I got my new LG C3 TV on Friday, 24th. I assume that Samsung must have amended their website for the Q800D between 20th and 24th May. Thanks.

[@TotallydubbedHD]

@@DoctorHades thanks for sharing! I noticed it on 17 May 2024 (and a few days before), and it was then amended on Samsung's website (as far as I'm aware) after 28 May - as Samsung's UK PR then confirmed that Samsung had made a mistake.

[@DoctorHades]

​@@TotallydubbedHD - Thank you for replying. I really appreciate this, and the info. So Samsung PR admitted to you that they had made a mistake and then corrected it? Wish I had known that before I spoke with Samsung! I have had two phone calls from Samsung today. The second was at 4:45pm and from someone called John, who was following up on my phone call this morning. I explained the situation (again) and also mentioned your video as evidence that the Samsung site did show 120 Hz passthrough for the Q800D as a feature. I again asked them if they had changed the website and he basically said he did not know and there was no way to check. Whether he was telling the truth or not, is hard to say; he was very pleasant on the phone and it is not hard to believe that in an organisation as big as Samsung that the 'right hand' might not know exactly what the 'left hand' is doing so maybe he didn't know about the PR blunder? He apologised and said that it was his job to ensure that the products they are selling are advertised properly, to avoid mistakes like this happening again (which sounds like an admission really) and that he had been reviewing all the Q800D products from UK retailers to check that they were correct and only mentioned 60 Hz passthrough. He could only suggest that I contact Richer Sounds and return the soundbar as not fit for purpose since I bought it thinking it had 120 Hz passthrough. Since Richer Sounds advertised the soundbar correctly and the mistake was entirely on Samsung then I don't think there is anything more I can do. I don't want the hassle of having to return the soundbar as I am happy with it as far as its primary function (audio) is concerned. I will email them to explain what has happened and see what they say though. I think I have learnt a valuable lesson to NOT order anything that has not been reviewed on your site!!!

[@reddead2067]

Good review. I liked hearing about the pros and cons. But I don’t understand the audio test sections. Are they useful when the audio goes through your mic, then out our own speakers? And likely compressed by KZbin as well. The audience can just sense loudness, not quality.

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Thanks. As for the audio demos, if I don't include them people complain, if I do people also complain, there's no winning with the internet - would just be great if people just appreciated the work that goes into creating videos!

[@MrJodete23]

This one is sold with the rear speakers included for $500 here in Chile. Which I find insane deal and strange at the same time as I can't find this combo anywhere online. Must be a Chilean exclusive lol.

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Wow nice!

[@japzahaha]

HW-Q800D its product lasted of this year ?

[@darshaktds342]

Bought the 800c after seeing this. Was waiting for the 800d to launch since two months but upon comparing the specs found that there is no major upgrade and didn't make sense to wait for the new version and pay extra.

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Good decision!

[@piyushhell]

How is the performance of 800c. I am confused between jbl 500 pro, sony g700 and samsung 800c. @totallydubbedHD can you help me out in selecting any one. I am not much of a bass person but would want to have dolby atmos and clear music

[@stevetaibi320]

You say HDMI 2.1 is being "updated"? Do you mean that they are updating their site or are doing a software update to "enable" HDMI 2.1 features?

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Updating the site, as shown in the video :)

[@Thealexandrept]

Between the Soundbar Samsung 800C and the SoundBar, JBL 800, Pro which one will be better, which one will have better sound quality? (I can find it, practically at the same price, hence my doubt/Question?)

[@TotallydubbedHD]

I'd pick the Samsung.

[@evo78]

Hi, i got a Q700A how do you enable Dolby Atmos on Q700A?

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Use Atmos content

[@Hermcules]

So you are saying that if i connect this to my tv with the EARC port and then my pc to my tv with 4k 120fps capability it wont be an issue?

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Of course not, as long as your TV has HDMI 2.1 and your PC does too - soundbar is irrelevant in that chain

[@Hermcules]

@@TotallydubbedHD yeah thats why i was so confused when you said that i wont be able to play at 4k 120 fps. I was thinking what does the soundbar have to do with that haha. Anyways thanks for your answer

[@TotallydubbedHD]

@@Hermcules well it's still relevant for people that don't have a TV with HDMI 2.1. But for a PC, that wouldn't be relevant anyway, as you'll have to connect to the TV, not the soundbar.

[@onderdemir9596]

Merhaba sence jbl derp bass 2.1 mi yoksa samsung Q800c mi çok kararsızım

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Get the Samsung

[@johnkelvinleyba8681]

Which is better this samsung or sony HT-S40R?

[@TotallydubbedHD]

The samsung

[@Marsha_83]

Has anyone compared the sound quality of 800d and 800c?

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Really?

[@darshaktds342]

Q800C in itself is so brilliant, I don't think there would be any change in q800d sound quality. One version higher of Bluetooth is the only change I could see as far as specs are concerned.

[@MrDeniosPL]

JBL Bar 800 or Q800D? I know that there's a pretty big price gap and JBL is almost 2x "stronger", but what about sound quality?

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Suggest watching both reviews.

[@MrDeniosPL]

@@TotallydubbedHD Thanks for response! ​I'm just watching, but it's always harder to decide when watching two reviews :/

[@toddc737]

Re: verdict, what model was "Last Year's Flagship?"

[@TotallydubbedHD]

See description...

[@toddc737]

@@TotallydubbedHD HW-Q990C?

[@TotallydubbedHD]

@@toddc737 yes.

[@toddc737]

I appreciate your replys. I have a cathedral ceiling. Will 990c/d rear speakers lose their effectiveness as compared to 800D?

[@Coach_cesar]

Just got it for 700 on amazon

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Not bad!

[@kearley]

$350 at Video Only

[@joelkuznetsov2826]

​@kearley love my local video only

[@kearley]

@@joelkuznetsov2826 Absolutely the BEST prices! Prices so good it’s plain stupid to go anywhere else…

[@Marsha_83]

Hello. Is there Dolby Vision pass through support?

[@TotallydubbedHD]

Not sure, best checking the specs!

[@f4ll3nzr0]

it will recognize Dolby Vision but processes it to HDR and will not do 120hz. Sony HT-A7000 with the sw5 sub and RS5 satellites.

[@DoctorHades]

I can confirm that this soundbar supports Dolby Vision via the HDMI passthrough as I tested it on my Xbox Series X (60 Hz only as it does not support HDMI 2.1 passthrough) and Panasonic UB-820 4K BD player. It also supports DTS passthrough from my PS5, Xbox Series X, Panasonic UB820 and LG C3 TV despite Samsung TVs not supporting DTS at all. It's a great soundbar, having been using the 800D for over a week now here in the UK, but on reflection I feel that I should have bought the cheaper 800C as my reason for buying the 800D in the first place was for HDMI 2.1 passthrough, which I swear was what the Samsung website stated prior to me ordering it. However, when I checked the day after receiving the soundbar and testing it, the website description had changed. I have complained to Samsung about this today and am currently awaiting a phone call from them in the next 24-48 hours.

[@TotallydubbedHD]

@@DoctorHades thanks for sharing! Indeed it was, as you'll see from my video - I had a pre and post image. Hopefully this review will help people make the right decision.

[@richirdfitzwell]

only 360 watts? weak