Samsung HW-QS700F review

Since the soundbar category gained popularity in the mid-2000s, there has been a significant increase in the variety of models presented. From solo soundbars to packages that include surround speakers and subwoofers, there’s a layout that will suit everyone these days.

And tech giant Samsung has tried out a whole range of different set-ups with more models than we could count on two hands. But while the brand's recent flagship offerings have been hugely impressive, its mid-range and entry-level models have tended to struggle somewhat against their price rivals.

It’s with that in mind that we come to the Samsung HW-QS700F – a package consisting of a main soundbar and wireless subwoofer. Can this bar outperform its rivals in such a competitive market?

Price

While the Samsung QS700F first launched at £749 / $700 / AU$999, you can now find it for a lower price at most retailers. In the UK, for example, it can be consistently bought for £649.

That puts it in the mid-range Dolby Atmos soundbar category, and at that price, it’s got some stiff competition. The QS700F is positioned neatly between the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) and the Sonos Arc Ultra.

The Beam is our current frontrunner in the entry-level Dolby Atmos soundbar category, impressing with its precise and impressively spacious audio performance. It comes in a fair bit cheaper than the QS700F – we tested it at £449 / $449 / AU$649, but it can often be bought for less.

At the other end of the scale, the Sonos Arc Ultra is dubbed the best overall model in our best soundbar guide and costs £999 / $999 / AU$1799.

Unlike both of these Sonos models, the QS700F does include a dedicated subwoofer as well as the main soundbar, so in pure component terms, you do get more kit for your money with the Samsung.

Build

The front centre, left and right channels, two up-firing channels and the central bass from the subwoofer are arranged in a 3.1.2-channel configuration. You can position the soundbar either on a tabletop with the grille facing the ceiling or on a wall mount so it is facing the listener.

This is where things get interesting, as Samsung is employing a ‘Convertible Fit’ feature that means the soundbar will automatically detect any change in position via a built-in gyro system. Then, the front and up-firing speakers will switch roles depending on what orientation the soundbar is in. Pretty neat.

The subwoofer’s design features rounded corners and a black exterior in a cuboid shape. In fact, it has the same dimensions as the subwoofer included in the Samsung HW-QN990F package, both measuring 25 x 25 x 25cm (hwd). It’s slightly different under the hood, however, as the QS700F doesn't quite match its pricier sibling in terms of low-end reach (34Hz vs the Q990F's 32Hz).

The system’s remote provides various shortcuts, allowing you to change the volume, bass level, sound mode, power and input. There’s a tactile glossy D-pad to skip songs when playing music, and a button in the middle to pause or play. You can also adjust the volume of each speaker, including the centre, front top, rear and rear top speakers.

Features

Around the back of the main soundbar, you will find a decent selection of connectivity options, including an optical digital and two HDMI ports, one of which supports eARC. The HDMI connection supports signals up to 4K/60Hz, which could be a disappointment for gamers with a console or PC capable of outputting at 4K/120Hz.

Bluetooth 5.3 and wi-fi are available as well, and music fans will be pleased to see support for Chromecast and AirPlay as well as Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect.

Movie lovers should also be satisfied with the Samsung QS700F’s Dolby Atmos and DTS:X capabilities, which are delivered via the soundbar’s up-firing drivers.

The subwoofer and the soundbar connect easily with a simple pairing process, and once they’re in position, you shouldn’t need to adjust anything. If you want to add the soundbar to a bigger system, you can connect it to Samsung speakers with the Q-Symphony feature.

You can also control the soundbar via the Smart Things app. It has the same features as the remote, but you can also access a variety of EQ controls, such as adjusting the bass and channel balance. A Night mode can be enabled here, too, which reduces dynamics and bass so that the sound travels less readily between rooms.

Samsung’s Space Fit Pro system automatically calibrates the QS700F to your space.

Sound

There are five sound options to choose from: Standard, Surround, Game, Adaptive Sound and DTS Virtual X. After testing them all, we opt for the movie default, Surround, as we get the best level balance between each frequency while keeping the soundtrack clear and engaging.

We watch a variety of movies with the QS700F and find there is a lot to like with Samsung’s entry. It’s a very forward performer, with vocals coming through clearly, so you won’t miss a word. While watching Thunderbolts in Dolby Atmos, assassin Yelena’s terse conversation with her unlikely companions is crystal clear. It doesn’t sound quite as realistic as rivals, but the voices still have a decent tonality and emotion.

This excitement doesn't falter when turning to the soundbar’s bass performance, provided by the excellent subwoofer. We switch to Jurassic World, and as the sea-dwelling Mosasaurus leaps out of the water with a huge crash, the brilliant bass truly shocks the system and gives the scene a massive amount of punch, while still keeping the audience’s gasped reactions in the mix.

The bar continues to impress with the lively soundtrack as our young protagonists see the park for the first time. The instruments in the midrange have the same level of clarity as vocals, while the lower strings are kept in the mix to deliver a rich overall sound.

Where the QS700F does not perform so well is in its execution of Dolby Atmos. We turn to our old familiar, Unbroken, to test out its surround sound capabilities. As the pilots get caught in a bombing raid in the air, explosions should hit the viewer with a sense of precision that will have you looking around to check there isn't a flak cannon hidden on your bookshelves.

But the Samsung bar does not manage to capture the control needed for the scene, so the bombs land in more of a vague area without a huge sense of accuracy. The width of the soundfield doesn’t reach much wider than the screen, either. As the camera pans around the interior of the plane, the Samsung doesn't provide enough ot a sense of scale to convince.

We switch to the Sonos Arc Ultra and find a presentation that stretches higher and wider while also delivering a more precise audio experience. Bombs land with an excellent level of precision and land all around the soundstage to give that extra level of tension to the scene.

The Samsung’s bass is certainly more impactful thanks to the separate subwoofer, which adds to its punchy performance, but the Arc Ultra’s more subtle sound reveals the QS700F’s slightly shouty balance. The Arc Ultra is of course a fair bit more expensive than the Samsung QS700F, but the gap in performance is larger than the gap in price.

What’s more, even the cheaper Beam (Gen 2) is more detailed and nuanced than the Samsung model – though it naturally lags behind in terms of weight and scale.

With the Samsung, there’s not much in the way of low-level dynamic delicacy to let quieter moments breathe, and that contributes to an occasionally overwhelming sound that, after a while, can get a little tiring.

But how does it sound with music? Switching to Standard mode, we play a range of tracks via Tidal, from Tame Impala’s Dracula to August by Taylor Swift. While the subwoofer gives louder tracks a great bass boost that keeps your toes tapping, quieter songs, such as Swift’s August, are missing that sense of delicacy. Where the track’s vocals should be filled with emotion, they again slip into sounding a little harsh and unsubtle.

Verdict

The Samsung QS700F offers a strong performance, with crystal-clear vocals and pleasing bass levels thanks to the separate subwoofer.

But its lack of precision and spaciousness against the best rivals can’t be pushed aside, and the slight lack of finesses means it doesn’t reach five-star heights.

The Sonos Arc Ultra, although more expensive, offers a more precise and subtle sound, and provides a more complete Dolby Atmos experience, making it more than worth the extra outlay.

The Samsung QS700F remains a decent option if your budget won’t stretch that far, though, and recent history suggests it could get even more discounted in the coming months.

SCORES

• Sound 4
• Features 4
• Build 4

MORE:

Read our review of the Sonos Arc Ultra

Also consider the Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9

Read our Sonos Beam (Gen 2) review

Best Dolby Atmos soundbars: our reviewers' five recommendations