Samsung Soundbar

Samsung Soundbars

The channel numbers are the whole specification and they read left to right. The first digit is the number of horizontal channels, so 2.0 is stereo, 3.1 adds a dedicated centre channel for dialogue, and 5.1 adds side or rear channels for surround. The second digit is the subwoofer: a 0 means none, a 1 means one is included. A third digit, as in 5.1.2, counts upward-firing height channels that bounce sound off the ceiling for Dolby Atmos. The single most noticeable upgrade for most people is not surround but the centre channel, because that is what makes dialogue clear against a soundtrack. A subwoofer is the second, and a wireless one only needs a power socket rather than a cable run to the TV. All-in-one bars put everything in a single unit, which suits a small room or a wall mount where a separate sub has nowhere to go. Ultra slim lifestyle models are designed to sit under a wall-mounted TV without blocking the screen. Q-Symphony is worth knowing about if you already own a Samsung TV, since it uses the TV speakers alongside the soundbar rather than muting them. Rear speaker kits can be added later to several models, so a 3.1 bar can become surround without replacing it.

Samsung supplies the whole range. All-in-one bars cover the C400 2.0ch and B400F 2.0ch in titan black. With a subwoofer, the B450F and B530 cover 2.1ch, the C450 2.1ch at 300W, the B650F 3.1ch, the B750F 5.1ch at 400W and the QS750F 5.1.2ch. Dolby Atmos models cover the S60D 5.0ch all-in-one, the Q600C 3.1.2ch with Q-Symphony and the ultra slim S800D in black and white and the S800B 3.1.2ch. An SWA-9250S wireless rear speaker kit is stocked to add surround to Q and S series bars. For the wider range see Soundbars.