▲ (From left) Mingyo Oh, Haekwang Park and Shinhye Choi, at Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display Business behind Premium Soundbar, the HW-Q950A

With the increasing popularity of large screen televisions and the continued addition of further OTT (over-the-top) services, more users are looking to establish a theater-like experience in their homes. On top of that, social distancing measures have required people to go out less, stoking their desire to enjoy premium visual and audio experiences from home.

Full, clear and deep sound plays a crucial role in ensuring that content is delivered as it was originally intended. Paving the way for new audio experiences, Samsung Electronics introduced its high-end soundbar models, the HW-Q950A and HW-Q900A, in May of this year. The new premium models take sound quality to the next level with up to 16 channels and a host of enhanced functions that bring even greater satisfaction to users. Samsung Newsroom met with the product experts of the 2021 soundbar models to find out the secret behind their powerful and precise sound.

11.1.4-Channel Surround Sound That Fills the Entire Room

▲ Haekwang Park, Principal Engineer at the Sound Device Lab, Samsung’s Visual Display Business

Thanks to our ever-evolving content culture, sound is getting richer, fuller and more expressive. The days of one-directional (mono) sound are long gone as we have ushered in the era of multi-directional channels that allow sound to fill up the surrounding space. “Sound is becoming increasingly important as people nowadays watch a wide variety of programs that place more emphasis on audio quality, such as music shows and films,” says Haekwang Park, Principal Engineer from the Sound lab at Samsung’s Visual Display Business.

To live up to consumers’ heightened expectations, Samsung has spared no effort in developing high-quality soundbar products that deliver very realistic sound. In 2016, Samsung brought its first 5.1.4-channel soundbar model to market. This soundbar was equipped with left, right and middle channels, two rear channels, a subwoofer and four upward-firing speakers, and delivered immersive, three-dimensional surround sound. More channels were added to later models, including a surround channel on the side of the soundbar and a wide surround channel to deliver sound from the front and sides. In 2020, Samsung introduced a 9.1.4-channel model.

In 2021, Samsung went a step further with its latest 11.1.4-channel model, the HW-Q950A, which features two rear surround channels. Product planner Mingyo Oh explained that, “The newly added channels are located on the sides of the rear surround speakers. They add liveliness to dynamic scenes involving things like airplanes in flight and car chases by allowing the sound to hit the side walls before it bounces back to where the audience is positioned.” The premium soundbar delivers an outstanding audio experience by filling previously quiet moments with powerful, immersive sound.

▲ Mingyo Oh from the Product Planning Group at Samsung’s Visual Display Business

Delivering Sound Exactly as Intended With Advanced Rendering and Waveguide Techniques

A channel is a passage for sound that dictates which direction it travels. This is why having a higher number of channels provides better, smoother sound. It usually requires costly equipments to offer 11.1.4-channel sound, but Samsung’s HW-Q950A is able to provide a breathtaking 3D surround sound experience with only four speakers thanks to its unparalleled rendering and waveguide techniques.

Rendering is the process of creating a way for the audio output to deliver sound exactly as the artist intended. The Samsung developers made it possible to deliver an optimal acoustic experience with the soundbar system by tapping into its cutting-edge rendering technology. “To provide the most natural audio experience to users, we have carefully designed our products to deliver sound seamlessly. The HW-Q950A soundbar delivers sound that is reflected in various directions and arrives at users’ ears at the optimal angle,” related Shinhye Choi.

▲ Shinhye Choi from the Global Product Marketing Group at Samsung’s Visual Display Business

An advanced waveguide technique is also indispensable when it comes to delivering next-level sound. A multi-channel speaker emits sound in multiple directions, and the waveguide technique allows components in the speaker to deliver sound in the direction intended by the developer. Haekwang Park reported that, “Top-tier experts at the Visual Display Business’s Sound Lab and Samsung Audio Lab in California came together to design the parts that went into the speakers. Our soundbar models are meticulously constructed to deliver world-class sound performance.”

How SpaceFit Sound+ and Q-Symphony Further Elevate the Viewing Experience

Usually, most of the sound emitted by speakers hits walls or curtains before reaching the audience’s ears. This explains why the same sound is heard differently depending on the dimensions and layout of the viewing environment. Samsung’s HW-Q950A soundbar and 2021 TV models deliver stunning sound that tunes into users’ viewing environments by analyzing the dimensions of the space they’re in using SpaceFit Sound+.

SpaceFit Sound+ combines SpaceFit Sound technology, which delivers optimized audio, and Auto EQ (auto equalizer) technology. Together, the SpaceFit Sound and Auto EQ solutions use embedded microphones to thoroughly survey the viewing space, and then feed that data to the soundbar to enable it to deliver a tailored sound experience.

But the collaboration between the Samsung TV and the soundbar does not stop there. Samsung’s innovative, proprietary Q-Symphony technology additionally combines and enhances the sound generated by the TV and soundbar to guarantee optimal sound quality. Normally, when you connect a soundbar to your TV, the sound is emitted only from the soundbar. What’s more, some technical issues involving out-of-sync sound and tone disparities between the two devices had been observed. Q-Symphony overcomes these issues by incorporating a stereoscopic sound effect that allows sound to play through the speakers that wrap around the TV in addition to through the soundbar, providing richer and more realistic sound compared to when sound is produced through the soundbar alone.

Combining Truly Rich Sound With Highly Convenient Functionality

As with other models, Samsung has placed great emphasis on creating a new level of acoustic immersion with the HW-Q950A. But that doesn’t mean it can’t also include a host of convenient features. To begin with, the Active Voice Amplifier (AVA) feature clarifies dialogue in the viewer’s favorite shows to help them hear on-screen conversations clearly amid a variety of background noises. With an embedded microphone, the soundbar automatically measures noise levels and enhances voices if the noise continues for more than three seconds or surpasses a certain threshold.

And the HW-Q950A optimizes sound for different types of scenes, such as those with loud sound effects and dialogue-heavy scenes. For instance, the Adaptive Sound feature analyzes sound signals to deliver an optimal sound experience for each scene. Moreover, Game Mode Pro delivers a powerful, immersive gaming experience with subwoofers and upward-firing speakers. The Tap Sound feature also enables users to simply tap their smartphones on the soundbar when listening to a song to take their listening experience to the next level.

The motto of Samsung’s soundbar developers is to get the basics right when it comes to sound. “We are working our hardest to deliver sound of the highest quality,” the developers related. “We do this by collaborating closely with groups of experts and employing Samsung’s advanced measuring and simulation techniques to set clear standards for what we define as ‘optimal’ sound.”

The developers’ ultimate goal is to deliver a best-in-class acoustic experience to users regardless of the type of content they’re consuming, or the specific features of their viewing environment. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that they make this dream a reality.

Samsung, India’s largest and most trusted consumer electronics brand, has launched its 2021 Soundbar lineup, including the world’s first 11.1.4 channel soundbar ushering in a never before rich and immersive surround sound experience.

The new Q-series, A-series and S-series soundbars are carefully tuned at the Samsung Audio Lab in Valencia, California to make each in-home entertainment experience perfect – be it binge-watching your favorite show or action movie or playing heart-racing video games.

The new soundbar lineup will be available at all leading consumer electronics stores, and across online platforms, including Samsung’s official online store Samsung Shop from July 7, 2021.

The new and premium Q-series soundbar, an epitome in audio technology innovation, comes with the world’s first 11.1.4 channel that enables consumers to enjoy the most realistic three-dimensional audio. To help consumers experience perfection, Q-series soundbars come with Samsung’s signature Q-Symphony technology that plays surround sound from TV and soundbar simultaneously, creating incredible audio synergy.

For a real cinematic experience, all models of Q-series support Dolby Atmos/DTS:X. The audio experience is taken to an all-time high with Samsung’s SpaceFit Sound technology that automatically analyses the surrounding environment and provides an optimized sound experience. That’s not all, when a game device is connected to your TV, the soundbar automatically switches to the Game Mode so that you can solely focus on enjoying the game. The new lineup has Amazon Alexa built-in, making it easy to take full control of the listening experience.

To address the demands of Indian consumers for high wattage soundbars, the new A-series soundbars come with enhanced wattage. This series comes equipped with Dolby Audio/DTS Virtual:X, a 3D sound made with Samsung’s exclusive audio processing technology, providing an immersive surround sound simulation. Its new Bass Boost feature allows users to add ‘more boom’ with a simple click, while the Adaptive Sound Lite technology automatically enhances voice clarity and optimizes sound for TV series, sports, and news, depending on content.

The S-series soundbar comes stylishly design wrapped in a premium fabric along with smart usability and mind-blowing sound experience and is a perfect addition to any living room. Without a central speaker, those sitting near the edges of the room can often only hear the sounds closest to them. This series includes a central speaker that replicates a room-filling cinema-style environment. For those who play music from their mobile devices, Tap Sound makes it as simple as tapping a device to the soundbar to play music.

“In-home entertainment is one of the most important stress busters today as work and play boundaries continue to fade. Our 2021 Soundbar lineup has been designed to offer premium sound experience with stylishly elegant looks. With innovative features and industry first technology that are truly game changers, the new lineup is designed for those looking for the sound of perfection. In a time when consumers have access to an endless range of content, soundbars help elevate their audio-visual entertainment experience,” said Raju Pullan, Senior Vice President, Consumer Electronics Business, Samsung India.

Price, Offers, where to buy

The 2021 Soundbar lineup would be available on Samsung’s official online store, Samsung Shop and select Samsung Smart Plazas from July 7, 2021.

The Q series soundbar models – Q950A, Q900A, Q800A, and Q600A will be available for INR 147,990, INR 111,990, INR 61,990 and INR 43,990 respectively.

A series soundbar models A670, A550 and A450 will be available for INR 47,990, INR 33,990 and INR 27,990 respectively.

S series soundbar model S61A will be available for INR 47,990.

Consumers buying the soundbars can avail up to 10% additional cashback of up to INR 6,000 on all leading credit and debit cards of HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Federal Bank and Bank of Baroda.

All Soundbars will come with 12 months of warranty.

Q series

Dolby Atmos/ DTS:X: Enjoy a real cinematic experience with ultimate 3D sound from all the directions at home. Q950A and Q900A will support true Dolby Atmos through its full range driver with the waveguide. Q series models Q800A and Q600A will also be support true Dolby Atmos via Samsung patented technology, the Acoustic Beam that acts as upward-firing speaker delivering an immersive overhead sound.

True 11.1.4 Channel Soundbar: With the first 11.1.4 channel in the world that sends out detailed expressions of sound motion in 11 directions, one can enjoy an unprecedentedly rich and stereoscopic sound. This is unrivalled new sound technology from Samsung that perfectly reproduces all the motions around the world.

Up-firing rear speakers: Waveguide technology, engineered by Samsung Audio Lab, enables up-firing speakers project audio above you, maximizing the overhead and surround sound effect.

Q-Symphony: Awarded as the best CES innovation, Q-Symphony allows your soundbar to sync with your Samsung TV, together creating immersive sound. It combines and enhances sound through the soundbar’s front, side, and up-firing speakers as well as the TV’s speakers, giving you a new level of acoustic immersion so you can experience content like never before.

SpaceFit Sound: SpaceFit Sound automatically analyzes the surrounding environment of your living space and provides the optimized sound for you.

Game Mode Pro: Powerful up-firing speakers, acoustic beam and strong woofers of soundbar provides multi-dimensional 3D dynamic sound optimized for gaming. The soundbar automatically switches to Game Mode when connected to your Samsung TV so you can focus on playing.

One remote: Samsung soundbar has the same interface with Samsung TV so one can control the soundbar too with a Samsung TV remote. One can turn their soundbar on and off and control various features like mute, sound effects and EQ settings with the remote control for Samsung TV.

Built-in Amazon Alexa: Take full control of the listening experience with built-in Amazon Alexa.

Music streaming made easy: Airplay2 is newly supported through OTN enabling it to be used to stream audio from iPhones and other Apple ecosystem devices. Tap Sound is a feature that mirrors the mobile sound to the powerful soundbar by a single tap. You can also enjoy your mobile screen on the TV and mobile sound through the soundbar simultaneously in a more immersive way.

A series:

Dolby Audio/ DTS Virtual:X: It is a room filling technology that fills up your room with virtual surround sounds. It analyzes the scenes based on big data and sends out the sounds to right places, providing a perfect surround sound experience regardless of the numbers of speakers or their locations. If you want to enjoy a richer surround sound, optional rear speaker SWA-9100S will be able to provide it.

Bass Boost: This feature delivers more power and allows users to add ‘more boom’ with a simple click so you can feel every beat.

Adaptive Sound Lite: Adaptive Sound Lite provides the optimized sound for TV series, sports, and news by automatically analyzing the audio tracks of each content.

Inbuilt Subwoofers: The great bass of an in-built wireless subwoofer brings your entertainment to life.

One remote: Samsung soundbar has the same interface with Samsung TV so one can control the soundbar too with a Samsung TV remote. One can turn their soundbar on and off and control various features like mute, sound effects and EQ settings with the remote control for Samsung TV.

S series:

Side horn speaker with acoustic beam: This technology provides a true surround sound experience that completely dominates the space. Acoustic beam has multiple up-firing holes. Each of these holes works like a single speaker and generates more dynamic and panoramic sound effects. Side horn speaker mounted at both ends of the soundbar has a spacious delivery with sound acting like a megaphone that amplify sound. Side horn speakers with acoustic beam will spread the sound surrounding you from a simple all-in-one form factor.

Premium fabric design: Wrapped in a premium fabric to fit beautifully into any interior, it is a sound system designed to be part of your home. The soundbar’s timeless look combines natural expression with dimension and durability. The texture and its curved shape design, together with cutting-edge technology, matches the exceptional feeling of room-filling sound.

Built-in Amazon Alexa: Take full control of the listening experience with built-in Amazon Alexa.

Music streaming made easy: Airplay2 is newly supported through OTN enabling it to be used to stream audio from iPhones and other Apple ecosystem devices. Tap Sound is a feature that mirrors the mobile sound to the powerful soundbar by a single tap. You can also enjoy your mobile screen on the TV and mobile sound through the soundbar simultaneously in a more immersive way.