The best bass is when it gives a vibration that hits the heart without troubling it, and with the right depth. Unfortunately, not many mid-range speakers have done it as well for us just yet.
But we did recently try the Samsung QS700 Q-Series Soundbar, which Samsung says is a powerful soundbar that complements their Q TV series for immersive sounds. While we can't say much for its immersiveness as you'll need more than just the TV and soundbar for that experience, we did think the QS700 Q-Series was a very powerful soundbar that can command volume without cracking.
Editor
Jodee Tan chevron_right
Table of Contents
Key Specifications
- Channels: 3.1.2 (3 front channels, 1 subwoofer, 2 height channels)
- Operating Power: 38W
- Gross Dimensions: 1237.0 x 392.0 x 296.0 mm
- Subwoofer: Wireless
- Connectivity: HDMI eARC, Optical, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, AirPlay
- Audio Formats: Dolby Atmos (main)
- Sound Modes: Surround Sound expansion, Game Pro, Standard, Adaptive Sound, DTS Virtual:X
Design
The QS700 Q-Series is a set of a simple soundbar and a rounded subwoofer. The former is a soundbar sleek enough to slip under most TVs without looking awkward, designed with a matte black finish that doesn't scream for attention. It doesn't have any LED screen on it. Instead, there are modest buttons for crucial control of "on and off, volume and connectivity".
With a 3.1.2 channel design (3 front, 1 subwoofer and 2 up-firing channels.), Samsung has ditched the typical boxy sub design for something more compact and looks kind of classic and traditional.
And for the subwoofer which has rounded edges and dual-sided driver approach (one active 8-inch driver, one passive), you'll be getting serious bass response without the usual furniture-dominating footprint. Although small in size, it has some heft to it, which is kind of a good thing in our books (for some serious tech inside).
Performance
- Music
We're not going to mince our words. This soundbar is not the best for playing music in general as it does just decent for lows and mids. BUT it did play one type of music well, and that's pop, party-music which, not surprisingly, are known for poppy beats and bass.
At first it was fun listening to songs without much embelishment or synth features, songs with simple mids and vocals such as Someone Like You by Adele.
But when we started playing songs with more complicated mids like Hypnotize by The Notorious Big, we noticed vocals and instruments would mesh together to create a union unit of a sound. It became clear that separation in musical units is not a specialty of this soundbar set. Not only that, the lows at the start of songs like Storms in Africa (Enya) and Chun Li (Nicki Minaj) became noticeably distorted with too much grain for our liking.
That's when we decided to play party music like Rollacoasta (Robin Thicke) with fun, simple beats and clearer vocals, that we noticed what this soundbar is good for: hosting parties. We found the soundbar and subwoofer set to be very loud in a 400+ square feet room, at 50% volume. Not only that, both units integrated seamlessly with each other, and with pleasant fun bass.
- Movies
Because of what we experienced during our music playing session, we also started experimenting with Dolby Atmos movies like "Dune" or "Top Gun: Maverick" and the QS700F showed some credentials. The soundstage may not be the most immersive but it's almost there, as the volume, treble and bass extends well beyond the physical boundaries of the soundbar itself, creating an immersive-enough bubble of sound that'll make you forget you're only working with a 3.1.2 setup.
Despite its fairly compact two-piece design, it's capable of both getting seriously loud and projecting its sound far beyond the boundaries of its physical form (we could hear clear dialogue outside of the studio, and without any signs of cracking audio). Explosions hit with genuine impact thanks to that dual-sided subwoofer, while dialogue remains clear in most chaotic action sequences.
The height channels do their job well in both configurations, though they're slightly more effective when the soundbar is in its standard horizontal position.
- Games
The QS700F includes a dedicated Game Pro mode that emphasizes directional audio cues. While it doesn't support 4K 120Hz passthrough (you'll need to connect your PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X directly to your TV), the audio performance for gaming is good enough. You'll definitely hear enemies approaching from behind or pinpoint exactly where that sniper shot came from.
More Features and Connectivity Options
The QS700F is well-equipped for a mid-range soundbar. It can also be mounted onto the wall or placed onto your TV cabinet underneath your TV.
- Samsung Q-Symphony: Works with compatible Samsung TVs to use TV speakers alongside the soundbar
- Wireless Dolby Atmos: No cables needed with compatible Samsung TVs
- SpaceFit Sound Pro: Automatically optimizes audio based on room acoustics
- Voice Assistant Support: Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
Streaming options also include AirPlay 2, Bluetooth 5.3, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect. Simply put, Wi-Fi connectivity is stable and setup is straightforward.
Who is This For?
Pros
- Very good volume reach (without cracking)
- Hits bass nicely
- Classic design that is easy to install
- Good list of connectivity options
Cons
- Not the clearest for music-playing in general (separation of music aspects can be better)
- Price is slightly more premium than other options
At a price of RM2,699, the QS700 Q-Series sits in a competitive space. You're paying a small premium for the convertible feature, but you're getting more convenience for the user experience. It pass for what many casual listeners (not audiophiles) want in a soundbar: clear enough, loud and not copmplicated to use or set up.
You can purchase the Samsung QS700 Q-Series Soundbar at this Samsung Malaysia page. Stay updated with ProductNation on here, Instagram & TikTok as well.
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