Design and build:

Samsung Q600A is slightly shorter in width than the Q600B. They will be a good choice for medium-sized TVs. The bars are available in simple yet elegant black color. For users who seek a clean look, they can wall mount the speakers. Design-wise, the Q600A goes with a standard rectangular size whereas the Q600B has curved sides. Build quality is good where the bars are made of plastic and have metal grilles. Care should be taken of the subwoofer that has a cloth-type covering the front area.

Performance:

Samsung HW-Q600A and HW-Q600B are 3.1.2 channel soundbars that support Dolby Atmos. They have a total of 8 drivers along with 6” dedicated subwoofers. To improve the surrounds, users have the option to pair surround speakers. The Q600A is compatible with Samsung SWA-9100s and for Q600B there is SWA-Q9200s speaker.

They work with Acoustic Beam Technology to improve the overhead performance and so that you feel engaged. If you hear the Samsung Q600B and Q600A soundbars, you will see they sound in an almost similar pattern. Without changing any settings, the soundbars are quite balanced.

Samsung HW-600A delivers a good soundstage. It shows average accuracy and detail. With dialogue heavy contents, it shows great performance thanks to dedicated center channel and voice mode. In terms of Atmos performance, it is better than any non-Atmos soundbar. It improves movie watching experience by boosting and creating a sense of height regardless of its accuracy.

It has an SPL of around 95 dB and has got good volume for parties. That said, we think this 3.1.2 channel soundbar is great for small rooms. Comparing Samsung Q600A vs Q600B, the Q600A has decent surrounds that seems better than the Q600B. Since it does not have side-firing drivers, you should not expect impressive sound coming from all around you.

Samsung Q600B has a decent soundfield that is as wide as the bar. Dialogues are crystal-clear and intelligible. Consider it like a stereo soundbar as the surround sound is not its top point. Atmos sounds are present even if it is not outstanding. It will still be more enjoyable than 2.0 soundbars or built-in TV speakers. The soundbar delivers 3-dimensional sound even if it is not audiophile grade sound. It has detailed highs and decent mids.

In terms of bass response, the low ends are amazing even if it is not chest thumping. For placement, it is suggested to place the subwoofer within 32.8’ away from the bar. While the bar can get quite loud, it may show distortions, so it is wise not to crank them up too high. Place them in compact spaces and allow them to shine.

Features: 

When paired with selected Samsung QLED TVs, users can take advantage of Q-Symphony feature where the bar and TV will play in sync. The Q600A is 3D ready and is compatible with contents from Blu-ray player or TV. In Q600B, it has Tap Sound feature where you need to tap the phone to play contents. Although the soundbars do not have HDMI 2.1, they still support VRR and ALLM. This means gaming scenes will be clearer and crispier.

Since the soundbars support 4k passthrough, HDR and HDR 10+, contents from Blu-ray players will be more accurate. They will have good resolution. This is similar for gaming consoles as well.

Connectivity:

They have the same types of ports: HDMI out, 1 HDMI In, optical out and USB. You can connect the TV, USB drive or simply use your phone. For wireless, there is Bluetooth but no Wi-Fi. Wireless connection to Bluetooth TVs is also possible where you can have a clean look without wires running around in the room.

Control options:

On the top of the soundbars, you will see options like input change, volume adjust and power. They have dedicated remote control where you can pair, choose sound mode, adjust woofer level or go to settings. None of them have voice support. For that, you can check the Samsung Q700A.

Settings:

They have different sound modes like Adaptive Sound, 3D Surround, Game Pro and Stereo. There are also voice mode, night mode, virtual surround mode, sub, height and rear (only Q600B) level options. Bass and treble adjustments take the audio performance to another level. Users can tweak the sound tone as per their preference.

Cost:

Samsung Q600A and Q600B are similar priced soundbars with a minor difference of around $100 between them. They are both available under $500.

FAQ:

What is a good alternative to Samsung Q600A and Q600B?

You can check the Samsung Q990B soundbar system. It has a more powerful sound quality with a total of 11.1.4 channels. The bar is more versatile as it supports Airplay 2 and has Alexa built-in. It has more immersive and impactful surrounds and soundstage.