Samsung has completed its 2020 soundbar lineup with the launch of its premium Q-series, which includes two Dolby Atmos models.
The new soundbars join the Samsung Q800T, Q70T and Q60T models that were launched earlier this year, and are meant to be successors to last year’s flagship Q90R soundbar.
They include the new flagship 9.1.4-channel HW-Q950T and both are designed to match with Samsung’s latest QLED TVs.
The Samsung HW-Q950T offers two wireless speakers with up-firing Atmos drivers to support the surround back channels, while the main bar houses the surround, wide and front speakers, plus the centre unit. There’s also an external subwoofer included.
For something a tad less glitzy, the Samsung HW-Q900T offers a simpler 7.1.4-channel setup that’s similar to its cousin with the only omission being the rear satellite speakers.
Both of the soundbars support Dolby TrueHD, DTS:X multi-dimensional audio technology and enhanced Audio Return Channel. The units are finished in Kvadrat Danish textile to give them that premium-quality feel and to enable appropriate sound penetration.
It’s also worth noting that both of the soundbars are much shorter than last year’s Q Series devices, measuring just 69.5mm across compared to 83mm for last year’s edition. That should enable them to fit better at the feet of smaller QLED screens.
The soundbars also come with a new feature called “Q-Symphony” that lets 2020 Samsung TV owners use the soundbar together with the television’s built-in speakers for an enhanced audio effect. In addition, both models are compatible with the Samsung SmartThings app and Amazon Alexa, which makes it possible to connect to music streaming services such as Amazon Music, Spotify and TuneIn, and control playback using voice commands.
Samsung’s new soundbars look set to compete with similar high-end models from LG, Sony and Sonos. The latter company debuted its first Dolby Atmos Soundbar, the Sonos Arc, in May.
Samsung’s Q-Series soundbars are already on sale in Australia, with the HW-Q950T priced at AU$2,099 (around £1,158), and the HW-Q900T retailing at AU$1,599 (£880). It’s not clear when they’ll go on sale in the U.K.
