Design and build:

Comparing Samsung Q800A vs Q800B, the Q800B is longer in size and is suitable for large TV screens of 75 to 80” sizes. The Q800A is less than 40” long and is ideal for 65 to 75” TVs. The bars are made of plastic and covered with metal grille. They are available in standard black color. They are wall mountable and mounting brackets are included. They have great build quality and feel durable.

Performance:

Comparing Samsung Q800A vs Q800B, the HW-Q800B has a 5.1.2 setup whereas the Q800A is a 3.1.2 channel soundbar. Samsung Q800A has a total of 7 drivers for front left, right, center and height channels. It uses Acoustic Beam Technology with which sound will come from several holes at an angle so that sound reflects from walls.

It focuses on producing a soundfield from sides along with overhead effects delivering a room-filling sound. It has a broad soundstage that has very good accuracy. Sound will follow actions on screen making the performance more realistic. It includes a subwoofer with an 8” driver and rear port. Bass response has adequate thump that makes action movies enjoyable. Atmos effects are present and powerful. You can consider this an all-rounder soundbar that is good for everyday use.

Voices have excellent clarity which means you can watch TV shows and dialogue-heavy movies. Use the Surround mode to enjoy the movie effects in movies. The soundbar has a good dynamic range and ensures clean sound with different source types.

Samsung HW-Q800B shows its massive power and aggression with the subwoofer. It has a total of 11 drivers that work together delivering an impressive performance. It is capable of producing a 3-dimensional soundspace around the user. It has left and right side-firing drivers that ensure broader sound field. Similar to the Samsung Q800A, it has noteworthy highs from the two up-firing drivers. Movie soundtracks and scenes are delivered with accuracy.

The bar makes contents engaging and enjoyable for users. It can create a powerful atmospheric sound around the user. Unlike the Q800A, the Q800B has auto room calibration features. It has a similar 8” subwoofer like the Q800A. Bass response is delightful with controlled and deep sound. Comparing Samsung Q800B vs Q800A, the Q800B has more powerful and immersive surrounds thanks to the side-firing drivers.

To improve it further and make the effects more realistic, add the Samsung SWA-9500S rear speakers (sold separately). Dialogues are natural and loud enough so that everyone in the room can comprehend.

Both these bars come with independent subwoofers. They both have SpaceFit feature where they can perform room correction when paired with specific Samsung TV models. They have a high SPL and can play at high loudness. Place them in small to medium sized rooms and allow them to shine. These Samsung Dolby Atmos soundbars support major audio codecs like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

Features: 

Both these soundbars have Active Voice Amplifier (AVA) that increases the clarity and volume of TV dialogues when there is noise in the background. They will work with Q-Symphony feature when the bars are paired with specific Samsung TV models. When TV and soundbar play along, the overall performance has improvement.

The bars support HDMI 2.1 which means gaming is possible with clearer images and crispier texts. Compared to Q800A, the Q800B supports VRR and ALLM. Instead of Chromecast, the soundbars have Airplay 2 compatibility with which you can stream contents in a multiroom system. Apple users can take advantage of this and stream from those devices and apps. Users will be able to talk to Siri. In case you have Bluetooth TV, the bar can connect to it wirelessly leaving less wires running in the room.

Connectivity:

They have optical, HDMI eARC and ARC, and HDMI In ports. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are available for wireless streaming. Overall, the soundbars are versatile as they include basic connection ports.

Control options:

Samsung HW-Q800A and Q800B can be controlled with the included remote control. It has buttons including sound modes, pairing, woofer level, etc. Samsung SmartThings app is also available for the bar. In terms of voice control, only Amazon Alexa is supported. There are also some basic controls on the top of the bars including volume, mic on/off, etc.

Settings:

Sounds modes like Adaptive Sound, 3D surround, Game Pro and Stereo are available on both bars. They include voice enhancement, night mode, height and sub level adjustment, bass/treble adjusment and EQ. The Q800B also includes surround and rear level options. You can say that these bars are packed with settings and options allowing users to tweak the sound in case they do not like the out of the box accuracy.

Cost:

Comparing Samsung Q800A vs Q800B, the HW-Q800B is costlier than the Q800A but the difference is not much. While the Q800A is available under $500, the Q800B model price exceeds $500.

FAQ:

Is upgrading from Samsung Q800A to Q800B worth it?

If you already own the Samsung Q800A, then it will not be suitable to upgrade to Q800B soundbar. This is because they are quite similar in terms of audio codecs compatibility, ports, etc. Although the Q800B has better audio quality, it is reasonable to add rear speakers with the Q800A if you want to upgrade its performance.