Is this the ultimate soundbar?

The Q950T sees Samsung retain its place at the top of the 3D audio soundbar league. It combines Samsung’s customary fearsome power with enhanced precision and dynamism by providing 14 separate channels of sound. Plus, its slimmer shape will see it fit under a wider range of TVs too.

Outstandingly powerful sound; Unprecedented channel support; Tasteful and slender design

Expensive for a soundbar; Unhelpfully positioned display; No auto-calibration system

The Samsung HW-Q950T does almost everything you want a soundbar at this sort of money to do, though not without some minor flaws.

Delivers true surround-sound; Impressive overhead effect; Dynamic and punchy; Impeccably built and finished

More demanding about positioning than some; Imperfectly defined low frequencies; Slightly edgy top end; Expensive

A comprehensive home cinema package that not only supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X object-based sound formats, but even manages to deliver a staggeringly immersive 9.1.4-channel system.

Fully immersive experience; Superb sound quality; Well integrated bass; Dolby Vision and HDR10+ passthrough; Amazon Alexa built-in; Eye-catching design

Display hard to see given position on top; SmartThings app is limited; No Chromecast or AirPlay

Samsung’s HW-Q950T premium Atmos/DTS:X soundbar delivers a thrilling performance. Showcasing a spacious soundstage, it’s capable of power and subtlety, working well across a range of sources. It will be more convenient for some than a traditional speaker package, though it comes with a big price.

Big; immersive Atmos/DTS:X sound; Capable of power and subtlety; Side-firing speakers work well; Premium-looking system; Great with music

Pricey; Odd display placement; Benefits of Game Pro mode feel overstated

In broad strokes, the HW-Q950T has loads of power on tap, good dynamics, beefy bass with articulate midrange and treble – the main aspects you need from an AV system. It’s not cheap, but this is one of the better home-theatre-in-a-box systems available.

+ Handles any home theatre audio format you can throw at it; true surround sound with actual overhead effects; powerful sound with hefty bass.

– Placement of display is completely impractical; first time set-up not user-friendly; no automatic calibration function; wireless connection not bombproof, subwoofer/surrounds failed to turn on occasionally.

The Q950T sees Samsung retain its place at the top of the 3D audio soundbar league. It combines Samsung’s customary fearsome power with enhanced precision and dynamism by providing 14 separate channels of sound. Plus, its slimmer shape will see it fit under a wider range of TVs too.

Outstandingly powerful sound; Unprecedented channel support; Tasteful and slender design;

Expensive for a soundbar; Unhelpfully positioned display; No auto-calibration system

Samsung’s HW-Q950T premium Atmos/DTS:X soundbar delivers a thrilling performance. Showcasing a spacious soundstage, it’s capable of power and subtlety, working well across a range of sources. It will be more convenient for some than a traditional speaker package, though it comes with a big price.

Big, immersive Atmos/DTS:X sound ; Capable of power and subtlety ; Side-firing speakers work well ; Premium-looking system ; Great with music;

Pricey ; Odd display placement ; Benefits of Game Pro mode feel overstated;

A comprehensive home cinema package that not only supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X object-based sound formats, but even manages to deliver a staggeringly immersive 9.1.4-channel system. You also get eARC with Dolby Vision and HDR10+ passthrough, plus built-in Amazon Alexa voice control, and all these cutting-edge goodies are wrapped up in a sleek and attractive design.

Fully immersive experience; Superb sound quality; Well integrated bass; Dolby Vision and HDR10+ passthrough; Amazon Alexa built-in; Eye-catching design;

Display hard to see given position on top; SmartThings app is limited; No Chromecast or AirPlay;

Keeps disconnecting from Tv. Poor reviews on the Web. Samsung need to fix this issue. Have to keep resetting every few days. Not happy.