TCL Q85H vs Samsung HW-Q800F
Get the TCL Q85H. Unless you don't have room for rear speakers: then the Samsung's bar and sub is the tidier setup.
TCL Q85H
A 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos system with a sub and two rear speakers, for much less than the big names.
Samsung HW-Q800F
A 5.1.2 bar with a compact subwoofer, clear dialogue and real up-firing speakers, for about half the price of the big systems.
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The Q85H gives you a 7.1.4 system with a sub, two rear speakers and up-firing Atmos for less than the Q800F's bar and sub. The Q800F adds Wi-Fi features and Samsung TV tricks, but its surround effects come from the front only.
- —You want real surround sound.
- —You want to spend less.
- —You have room behind the sofa for speakers.
- —You only want a bar and a sub.
- —You have a Samsung TV.
- —You stream music over Wi-Fi.
What verified owners report
Only reviews from checked buyers count, and every 1–3 star review is read by us. How we do this
Owners rate its cinema-like surround sound highly. One owner advises updating the firmware first, which fixed a hiss from the rear speakers.
- ✓Powerful, cinema-like surround sound
None came up often enough to list.
Owners love the sound, how easy it is to set up and how well it works with a Samsung TV. Complaints are rare.
- ✓Great sound quality
- ✓Easy to set up
- ✓Works well with a Samsung TV
None came up often enough to list.
Key differences
Pros and cons
- +7.1.4 surround with a sub and rears
- +Real overhead Atmos from up-firing drivers
- +Room correction and clear dialogue
- −Wireless is Bluetooth and AirPlay 2 only, with no voice assistant.
- −Audio lags over optical; use HDMI eARC.
- −It plays stereo music through every speaker, rears included.
- −The sound tweaks are fairly basic.
- +Deep bass from a compact sub
- +Clear dialogue from a centre channel
- +Remote and wall bracket in the box
- −HDMI passthrough is 4K/60 only, with no HDMI 2.1.
- −No rear speakers in the box.
- −Samsung's 2026 HW-Q800H has replaced it, so stock is running down.
Ready to choose?
- Is the TCL Q85H worth it?
- Is the Samsung Q800F worth it?
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How we reached this verdict
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: RTINGS, What Hi-Fi, What Hi-Fi, manufacturer specifications.
Owner reports for the TCL Q85H: 8 verified buyer ratings at Otto (Germany), read October 2026.
Owner reports for the Samsung Q800F: 40 verified buyer ratings at Currys, read October 2026.