8.0/10
SCORE Samsung HW-S800D Execs Area-saving Superb house audio Amazon Alexa and on-board streaming beef up Cons Now not just right with restricted track inputs The Samsung HW-S800D strikes a chord in my memory of a Bose Acoustimass three-way sound device. When I used to be a child, I had a chum whose circle of relatives had Acoustimass – two small units of dice audio system and a subwoofer. After taking part in the device at prime quantity, my good friend informed me that the audio system have been so just right they “may well be powered by means of an influence plant.” The S800D additionally gives “large sound from small containers” like Bose. Samsung, for those who're studying this, I don't know what sort of witchcraft it’s, however the Ministry of Magic must be knowledgeable. The S800D soundbar can bend physics to its will. The program is to be had at a worth of $ 750 on sale, and I consider that that is the most efficient worth for 2 fashions with Dolby Atmos. Design and lines.
The Samsung HW-S800D is so small it's onerous to inform it's there. Josh Goldman/CNET The HW-S800D is a three.1.2-channel soundbar that incorporates beef up for Dolby Atmos — each stressed and, due to Web connectivity, wi-fi. Wi-Fi brings different advantages, together with streaming track with Amazon Alexa. Despite the fact that onboard audio assistants aren't as common as they was once — most commonly as a result of audio system are affordable — Samsung additionally gives beef up for Google Forged, Spotify Attach and Apple AirPlay. The speaker itself is 45 inches tall by means of about 1.5 inches in top and width, whilst the subwoofer may be smaller at 9.3 inches round. The sound device has 9 drivers in its small shape issue – two stereo racetrack drivers with tweeters, a middle with two different racetracks and tweeters and two Atmos. In the meantime, the subwoofer features a 6.5-inch motive force and a passive woofer.
Josh Goldman/CNET As a result of the soundbar's small footprint, the HW-S800D's enter is restricted. What you get is a small HDMI ARC port, however since nobody else has a Micro-HDMI-to-HDMI cable to beef up it, the corporate has integrated one within the field. calibration, Adaptive Sound and Lively Voice Analyzer (voice), Recreation Mode Professional for video games and Q-Symphony to be used along with TV audio system. Far flung sounds top rate, which is an advantage, and contains get entry to to the whole lot you wish to have.
Ty Pendlebury/CNETSetup The field that contained the HW-S800D was once large, however inside of it got here a speaker that was once actually as skinny as an awl. Seeing the bar of the small stick I muttered “Oh no” underneath my breath. My revel in with small audio system, beginning with that first Bose, has been very tricky. Despite the fact that the efficiency was once truly loud, it didn't sound that just right. Typically, the issues with small programs like those are led to by means of easy physics: When the mains is just too small, the subwoofer has to take some mid-frequency load. The result’s that the sound begins to come back from the sub as an alternative of the TV, and this no longer simplest kills the immersion however too can make the sound sound chesty or lacking within the heart. In any respect, it is among the issues that even Samsung (nonetheless) does no longer have an inventory of authentic TVs to assist. I used a 900C soundbar, which does, and a TV, which the corporate informed me would paintings however didn't. Alternatively, I had no such issues of the 800D and 65-inch Samsung QN90D – when the TV and soundbar have been hooked up to the community, they discovered every different. The usage of the Audio Settings menu, I used to be ready to modify between ARC and Wi-fi Dolby. How does it sound? There is not any higher sound device available on the market, open any of the most recent Sony units, and not anything makes it worse than the S800D. With out pageant, I in comparison Samsung with two soundbars with further options as an alternative – Bose Good Soundbar 600 and Klipsch Flexus Core 200. Sure, those are a lot larger programs than Samsung, however in any case. It didn't topic up to I assumed. Even supposing I visited Samsung Audio Labs, and understanding that the power may do a just right process from my preliminary checking out, was once the sound truly a bridge too a long way, physics sensible? Once I began taking part in Mad Max: Fury Street, my preliminary fears have been dispelled. The soundbar's frequency reaction was once well-delivered in all modes, and not using a “hollow” within the backside that I may simply hit upon. The increase was once loud, even though that's what soundbar-subwoofer combinations can do, however it was once the dialog that were given me hooked instantly. The audio of the release match confirmed that the speaker had just right definition and just right encompass sound – it was once higher than the Flexus, even though inferior to the Bose Soundbar 600. The Samsung was once superb when it got here to it. for Tom Hardy's voice, and the sub was once doing numerous paintings right here together with his deep tenor, however his speech sounded herbal. That subwoofer is tightly built-in, and this was once obtrusive for the reason that competing Flexus couldn't ship integration with its section in any respect.
The subwoofer is small. Josh Goldman/CNETCompared to the Bose Soundbar 600 and the Bose Bass Module 500, I used to be satisfied to listen to that Samsung has the facility to ship deep bass effects. The Samsung combo gave a larger “thonk” than the Bose when Jake (Sam Worthington) touched the bullet shafts on the Thanator assault website online from Avatar. Alternatively, Bose was once ready to deliver the unique wooded area to existence, with the sounds of bugs and birds chirping across the partitions. For audio system that don't fake to be track, the Samsung HW-S800D will nonetheless sound nice together with your favourite track. I performed the whole lot from acoustic rock to rock fuzz and located that the speaker sounded louder than it admitted. tricky phrases. Shellac's Canine and Pony Display sounded amusing at the S800D, however the Flexus 200 (with out the sub this time) had extra assault and higher energy. Nick Drake's Red Moon sounds extra cast and has higher mid-range reaction, which allowed him to select what he was once speaking about within the “crimson moon” phase. Ultimate effects Is the Samsung HW-S800D, to borrow Apple's parlance, “magical?” I will't declare to be world-class skill, however I truly loved the use of this pen. Its small measurement and nice cinematic sound greater than make up for its slight shortcomings with regards to track. If you wish to have a device that sounds just right, however nonetheless can conceal itself, the sound of the HW-S800D video must please many patrons having a look to arrange a lifestyle.
