Sound quality: Samsung's HW-Q600A/ZA Good overall sound quality - this model reproduces music and dialog reasonably well despite the obvious shortcomings in its sound. In the Standard sound mode, the bass has good impact and goes fairly deep, but is slightly prominent and somewhat boomy. Midrange is fairly even, but is somewhat grainy, a bit dark, and a touch etched and echoey. Treble is fairly extended and detailed, but the upper treble is a bit subdued. Does a decent job of recovering the actual room ambience from the recording; the echoey quality of the midrange may add to the sense of room ambience in a way that can sound artificial and the overall sound is a bit congested. With stereo program material sound field extends somewhat above and not much beyond the width of the speaker array, and lacks front to back depth. The various sound modes have a noticeable effect on the sound field and tonal balance. In the Standard sound mode with Dolby digital and DTS multi-channel program material the sound image may extend well past the sides and above the soundbar, but still lacks depth. The various sound modes have a noticeable effect on the sound field and tonal balance. When playing Dolby Atmos or DTS:X material the width and height of the sound stage expands and depending on the program material can fill the front end of the room; the sound field can extend up and above from the front of the room to almost directly overhead depending on the program material, but there was no rear surround effect, and sounds that should have been in the rear come from the front. The various sound modes had minimal, if any, effect when Dolby Atmos or DTS:X material is played back. There was no significant difference in sound quality between the HDMI, optical, USB, and Bluetooth inputs when playing two channel program material; Dolby Atmos and DTS:X program material can only be played through the HDMI input. We found that the sound mode and the tone settings of this model were a bit glitchy - even though the settings look like they haven't changed they may actually change to some other settings which will cause the sound of the soundbar to change when it is unplugged or turned off and turned back on again. To make sure the settings are the ones that were originally chosen (and the sound of the soundbar is the way it was intended to be set) the sound mode and tone controls settings have to be re-set to the desired values. If not for this problem with the settings the sound quality of this model would have scored higher in the Good range. The system can provide satisfying volume in a medium sized room.
TV setup and ease of use: Very Good overall. Setup:
Features setup and ease of use: Good overall.
