Sony HT-A7000: Best Features:

Independent subwoofer and surround speakers work together. On the other hand, room calibration software improves the overall sound dispersion in your room. The dialogue enhancement option gives out clear and crisp vocals. It uses an Immersive AE option to enable the up-firing speakers in the bar.

Sony HT-A7000: Pros and Cons

Samsung HW-Q950A: Best Features:

It has SpaceFit Sound+ that works as a room calibration feature. It performs well with most of the audio content and can get quite loud. Pair it with any QLED TV and allow seamless synchronization. With the Adaptive Sound option, the bar can adjust the sound with each scene as per need.

Active Voice Amplifier boosts vocals for optimum clarity. You have the option to mirror sound from your phone with a single tap.

Samsung HW-Q950A Pros and Cons

Sony HT-A7000 vs Samsung HW-Q950A: Side-by-Side Analysis

This section sheds light on various features of Sony and Samsung soundbars. As a result, you can take the best decision and figure out which brand suits you.

Aesthetics and Build Quality:

Both Sony and Samsung show modern and stylish aesthetics. Sony HT-A7000 is made of plastic, perforated metal grille (not removable) and fabric cover the bar. It has glass surface on top that attracts fingerprints. It gives you a premium feel. The subwoofer and rear speakers are well built that consist of plastic, metal grille and fabric. They follow Sony’s Omnidirectional Block concept and blend in with each other easily.

Samsung soundbar is made of good plastic and fabric but the cloth is prone to dust. The sub and rear speakers are made of plastic and fabric is used for covering. Build quality is good but average.

Performance:

Comparing Sony HT-A7000 vs Samsung HW-Q950A, Samsung shows superior performance. The HW-Q950A has a broader soundstage with a powerful soundfield. Sound from all around you will engulf you with powerful overhead effects. With 4 up-firing drivers and punchier low-ends movie watching is cinematic.

It is best for overall use and is a premium soundbar for sure. With Sony, you have different options, you can purchase Sony 7.1.2 A7000 standalone soundbar and then add a subwoofer and rear speakers. This will be suitable for users who have limited space or have cost issues. Since Sony HT-A7000 soundbar is futureproofed, you can always expand it later. The single bar has two built-in sub and two up-firing speakers.

Sony uses 360 Spatial Sound Mapping with rear speakers to produce several phantom speakers. Vertical Surround Engine and S-Force PRO Front Surround produce room-filling and immersive surround sound. Movies become enjoyable with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Wide soundstage, powerful low-ends and overall balanced sound make this Sony soundbar system popular among many.

Connectivity and Control Options:

Sony HT-A7000 has HDMI In, and out, an optical port, analog audio, etc. Samsung HW-Q950A has HDMI In, and out along with optical port. Both these bars have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

In terms of controlling the bar, along with physical buttons, they come with user-friendly remote controls. They can also be controlled with mobile apps. Between Sony and Samsung, only Samsung has a built-in voice assistant whereas Sony is compatible with voice-enabled devices. 

Other Features:

Sony uses Sound Field Optimization room correction settings to adjust sound no matter the surround speaker position in your room. To improve digital music files, it uses Edge-AI and DSEE Extreme. In order to improve movie and game content, it uses Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode. With Acoustic Center Sync, when you pair the Sony soundbar with Bravia TV, the bar and TV act as center speaker.

Samsung uses Auto EQ to analyze room acoustics and adjusts the audio. Choose one from the following modes based on your preference and content: Adaptive Sound, Surround, Game Pro, Standard. It uses Q-Symphony when paired with Samsung TV so that the bar and TV can play at the same time.

Price:

Sony HT-A7000 is costlier than Samsung HW-Q950A. However, with Sony, you have the option to purchase the soundbar alone without any independent sub or surround speakers. While this might reduce the cost, the performance will be average.

Conclusion:

We feel Sony HT-A7000 performs well as a standalone soundbar but the overall package with sub and rear speakers should sound better. Surround sound is impactful, and dialogue-heavy content is produced with clarity. It offers several settings and options but compared to Samsung Q950A it doesn’t have bass and treble settings.

On the other hand, at a lower cost, Samsung HW-Q950A bar with sub and rear speaker shows improved audio performance with powerful Atmos effects. It produces room-filling sound with good surround sound effects. Both these bars feature basic smart features, but Samsung is slightly ahead with built-in Alexa. While the Sony HT-A7000 sound system will show pleasant performance, you might like the Samsung HW-Q950A if you are ‘serious’ about sound quality.

FAQ:

Should you choose Sony over Samsung?

Well, with Sony HT-A7000, you have several options. You can install the single bar in compact or small spaces, go with the whole package. Dolby Atmos' performance is impressive as well. Also, if you already have Sony TV, you might choose Sony over Samsung for better integration.

Are soundbars worth it?

Soundbars are the modern solution for any home theater. With space limitations, it is the best way to improve your TV sound. When paired with sub and surround speaker, the output audio enhances more than you can imagine.