Samsung has prepared a lot of new products for the 2021/2022 season, and the Q950A is the best offer among them.He decided to break all his own earlier records.
Samsung Q950A is the best...In every respect - the most expensive, largest, has the most channels in the most extensive configuration we have ever met.The strip itself measures a record 123 cm!And without any detachable elements...
You can admire, but there is no wonder - the soundbars grow along with the diagonal TVs: the longer it, the better they fulfill their role, providing a wider base for transducers to create a spatial sound.
Samsung Q950A - execution
At the same time, the aesthetics Q950A is more...soft, because textile;in Bar 9.1 and B97 The grilles are stiff, in Samsung Q950A the housing is covered with fabric.It is not easy to see anything by it, except for the sideband transducers located behind the side "backees".In addition to the strip, the set includes a wireless subwoofer and wireless effect speakers.
Samsung Q950A - number of channels
But what are the effects here?Samsung Q950A impresses with configuration 11.1.4.Four means two pairs - front and rear - "ceiling" channels.The first of them is in the strip itself, and the second - in additional speakers.They also radiate the sound of as many as four "horizontal" rear channels (already belonging to the eleven channels saved at the beginning of the format).
The strip itself has (not counting "ceiling") seven more "horizontal" channels.To three obvious front channels (left, right, central), two side pairs were added, tilted at different angles - so as to best fill the space (with reflections).The strip itself is therefore format 7.0.2.The subwoofer is of course one in the device symbol.
Przyciski podstawowych funkcji razem z wyświetlaczem zgrupowano na górnej części maskownicy.The rear speakers look like small monitors, but their design goes far beyond the basic scheme, after all, it contains transducers for up to three channels - rear ceiling and two rear standard layers.The transducers are placed on two neighboring walls, so that their radiation should be directed to the ceiling and side walls, as from the transducers of analogous channels in the strip.
Not counting the subwoofer, so we have a layout of 15 channels, which consists of as many as 21 transducers.Broadband transducers work in all effective (upper and lower) channels.In the main channels, the systems are more extensive, with additional tweeter.
Samsung Q950A - display
The display is modest, placed on the top wall of the strip, between the control buttons.It is poorly visible from the listening site, but the front is an auxiliary, simple LED module, so when choosing individual functions, we have some idea that the strip "answers".In addition, there are other tools, even a mobile application.
Aby było widać z daleka, że soundbar reaguje na komendy zdalnego sterowania, z przodu zainstalowano panel diodowy.Samsung Q950A - subwoofer
The subwoofer looks different than with competitors - the transducer was installed on the side wall;The large masking looks like it hides a 30-cm speaker, in fact it is smaller.The rear speakers are wireless for an audio signal, but we must connect them to a 230 V power supply.
Configuration 11.1.4 Specifies the standards, even atmospheric, additional rear effect channels are only active in special, "Samsung" spatial modes.
An interesting fact is the microphone located in the subwoofer, working in the automatic calibration system.Therefore, it corrects the situation in the immediate surroundings of the subwoofer, and not in the listening place, the integration of the subwoofer with the strip, which changes with the change of the mutual location of these components relative to the listener, remains an unsolved issue..
Głośniki tylne musimy podłączyć do zasilania 230 V, ale w zamian... nie musimy ich podłączać do głównej belki, aby naładować akumulatory.Samsung Q950A - automatic calibration system
There is also a broadband automatic calibration system, but only owners (some models) of Samsung TVs have access to it, because the system harnesses to work microphones on TV (which are also used there for other purposes).
These microphones are also not in the listening place and the calibration is carried out in such a way or it cannot be accurate or...uses very advanced, unknown algorithms.
In view of such doubt, it is better to rely on your own hearing, assess the effects of automatic calibration and try manual, which, fortunately, is also available, including levels for individual channels (but no longer delay) and frequency correction - five -lane or traditional, low and high.
Częścią rekordowo rozbudowanego układu akustycznego są podwójne sekcje boczne.The basic spatial setting is "standard", in which all signals will be restored in the original configuration, but everything can be developed in the "Surround" setting.There is also a mode for players ("game") and intelligent setting "Adaptive Sound", which analyzes the signal on an ongoing basis and modifies spatial effects.
Samsung Q950A - connectors
Samsung has come to the system and configuration of the sockets modernly but safely - it left the optical input, the basis is two HDMI inputs and one way out of EARC.It is Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and if we have the right Samsung TV model, we can connect it to the soundbar wirelessly.
The HDMI cable remains the only option to send Dolby Atmos.Samsung has its own solutions for streaming music, also provides Spotify Connect and (which is new in this model) Apple AirPlay 2.There is no Google Chromecast.Start Samsung Q950A is rapid, all the components of the set report immediately.
Wejścia HDMI są nawet dwa, ale najważniejsze jest wyjście z systemem eARC.Samsung Q950A - listening
I started with a march, so probably Q950A will be often used, because regardless of the effort inserted by the designers in various options and configurations, many users stop at the starting point - when without penetrating into additional modes and settings, remove the device from the carton, connect and connect and connectWe play, not even knowing about the possibility of carrying out automatic subwoofer calibration, sewn somewhere in the menu.Therefore, as I think, the company setting should be in the taste of most potential customers.
We do not always expect space, bass and details from the soundbars - it depends on both the recipient and the company we are dealing with.Considering this, however, I was surprised: Samsung Q950A played all the soundbars of this test the more troasing.
I quickly reached for the pilot, where the basic adjustment of the lowest frequencies is available and allowed the subwoofer to play one "eye" louder.
Na dolnej ściance znajdziemy złącze USB, jednak przygotowane tylko do funkcji serwisowych.This is an exceptional situation, I usually correct the "down" level.The level is one thing, and let's not make it a problem, if it can be regulated, and the other is a character - and we will not change it so easily, although its perception is associated with the shape of the whole.
And now the biggest surprise: we are not dealing with a bulky basidło, but with a dynamic, even contour and hard - more musical than cinema, at least according to some understandable stereotypes, which you need to take into account.
It can also be said that the low tones are "insuborifier", which in three quarters is praise, and in a quarter criticism - a warning for those who need a soft pillow of the lowest frequencies.
The bass of Samsung Q950A is better to maintain the pace, and the impacts will be strong and fast.The bass from JBL is greasy with him, from Philips-teddy bear.
Głośnik subwoofera umieszczono na bocznej ściance, co jednak nie ograniczy możliwości jego ustawienia – zawsze można go "przykleić" do ściany drugim bokiem.In standard mode, the sound is balanced, maybe too correct, for a soundbar with mainly entertainment, not monitoring tasks.It is not only about the bass discipline, the whole is ordered and tense, as if waiting for serious signals to develop the wings, whether in the cinema or in music.The high tones are clean and delicate, the diameter is calm.But let's appreciate it because it's a good starting point.
After a slight correction of the bass, the sound is stronger, better saturated and closer.A more advanced calibration of the subwoofer (during which effectively bubbles) lasts several dozen seconds (probably many samples are taken), in my test introduced rather subtle changes, which, however, does not mean that it works poorly and can be ignored - in each case it can be different, it can be different, thendepends on the setting.The bass has still gained accuracy and "lost weight".
Spatial impressions combine freedom and lightness with presence and expressiveness, both basic sounds at the front and around.In relation to Philips, which also uses the physical "back", we are more absorbed in them, but without unnatural exaggeration.
A layer of height looks less spectacular, which, however, is an obvious derivative of the need to reflect the sound from the ceiling, as well as limitations in calibration (no automation and microphone are foreseen at the listening place or sufficiently accurate manual settings).Interestingly, the Surround mode (in the soundbar itself) favors the central channel, and the effect (upper) channels play more gently.
Piloty Samsunga nie oddają pola aplikacjom mobilnym, które wcale nie zawsze są wygodniejsze.Smart, voice and pilot
Wi-Fi is usually composed with the assistance of mobile equipment and the Samsung SmartThings application.You have to be vigilant, because mobile equipment suggests not only the SmartThings application, but also...Smart Things - and these are two essentially different things.
SmartThings immediately finds a soundbar, but even to carry out a preliminary configuration (including equipment into a home Wi-Fi network) you need to create an account on the Samsung platform.
SmartThings is a wide range of possibilities, although it does not provide access to advanced soundbara functions (e.g..Adjusting the level of individual channels is only possible with a classic remote control), it supports Samsung's intelligent house (with household appliances.
Q950A can also be operated with voice commands.Then it turns out that the soundbar...However, he has microphones (but not for calibration);In addition to the voice assistant, there is also an intelligent system monitoring the environment - in the case of noise (e.g..vacuum cleaner or kitchen equipment).
The new Samsung remote controls are so comfortable that you want to wave your hand at the mobile application.In a traditional, well -thought -out pilot, everything is at hand, available quickly and without thinking.
One of the great ideas turns out to be "hebel" volume controllers and bass intensity (from the subwoofer).
