The Samsung HW-S800D is a stylish Dolby Atmos soundbar that delivers cinematic audio despite its slim size. The company has built the new model on the solid foundation of the S800B, refining the design and adding features that make the S800D an even more attractive choice for those looking for a sleek, high-performance soundbar.
Among the additions to the S800D are eARC support, the ability to connect wireless rear speakers, and a Mini HDMI to HDMI cable included in the box. In addition to Dolby Atmos, the HW-S800D supports DTS Virtual:X audio processing, intelligent assistants, Apple AirPlay 2, and Chromecast, as well as Samsung-specific features like AI Adaptive Sound and Q-Symphony. In our Samsung HW-S800D review, we take a closer look at how an ultra-slim profile delivers powerful sound.
Samsung HW-S800D review
Design and functions
The Samsung HW-S800D soundbar has an ultra-slim body and uses a durable metal mesh grille, as well as a sleek style. The build quality is good, and the panel’s rounded edges and matte finish create a discreet but attractive appearance. The matching wireless subwoofer is equally compact.
You can choose between a black or white finish, although Samsung also offers optional brown or teak finishes to better match your home. The soundbar can be placed on a stand or shelf underneath your TV, but brackets are also included for a neater wall mount. Whichever mounting method you choose, make sure the soundbar has an unobstructed view of the ceiling.
The soundbar itself is 38mm tall, making it ideal for almost any TV. The wireless subwoofer combines a 6.5-inch woofer with an 8-inch passive radiator to reduce cabinet vibration and increase output power, creating deeper, more powerful bass in a compact package.
Like the S800B , the Samsung S800D Soundbar is compatible with Q-Symphony, a technology that syncs the soundbar with the speakers of select Samsung TVs to create a larger, more immersive soundstage. This feature works seamlessly to enhance overall sound quality when paired with a compatible TV.
The SmartThings app, available for both Android and iOS devices, provides access to a wide range of customization options and additional features. For example, SpaceFit Sound Pro (an upgrade from SpaceFit Sound on the S800B) analyzes your room acoustics and automatically optimizes the soundbar’s performance to suit your surroundings.
The S800D also offers a range of sound modes. Adaptive Sound+ (an upgrade from Adaptive Sound on the S800B) analyses and optimises audio content scene by scene, delivering clear dialogue and rich, detailed sound. Game Mode Pro optimises the soundbar settings for gaming, while Active Voice Amplifier (AVA) ensures clear, intelligible dialogue, even during action-packed scenes.
Connections and management
The HW-S800D soundbar only has one physical connection – a Mini HDMI port with eARC . But now that Samsung includes a Mini HDMI to HDMI cable, that’s no longer an issue. Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Chromecast, and AirPlay 2, which is pretty comprehensive. Setting up the soundbar is a breeze, thanks to the SmartThings app.
It walks you through everything from connecting to Wi-Fi, launching SpaceFit Sound, setting up any smart assistants, and updating the firmware. There’s Alexa built-in, plus the S800D works with Google Assistant. The well-designed and intuitive app is also a great controller, especially considering there’s no digital display on the soundbar itself.
But the included remote control offers just as much control and is ergonomic to use. The S800D can be controlled using some basic controls on the top of the soundbar itself, by voice via smart assistants, or with your TV remote when connected via HDMI-CEC.
The remote control that comes with the S800D soundbar is well designed and easy to use, with dedicated buttons for basic functions like volume control, sound mode selection, and subwoofer level adjustment. Also nice are the small LED indicators on the soundbar itself, which provide clear visual feedback during setup and operation.
Sound quality
The Samsung HW-S800D Soundbar delivers a surprisingly wide soundstage for such a thin chassis. That means you don’t have to compromise on sound quality just because you want a more compact soundbar. This is partly due to design innovations developed at the Samsung Audio Lab in California, namely smaller speakers and a subwoofer.
The soundbar contains nine of these speakers. Three are located in the center and face forward (left, right, and center). A pair of front speakers are located on each side of the soundbar, and there is also a height speaker there. Although the speakers inside the soundbar are small, they manage to reproduce a clean and clear midrange and some nice detail in the high frequencies.
The subwoofer also looks compact, but you will be impressed by its power. It does a lot of heavy lifting – generating not only the low frequencies, but also the lower midrange frequencies due to the smaller size of the drivers and the very thin cabinet. Although the depth and height of the Samsung S800D soundbar are limited, the cabinet is quite wide, and this provides decent stereo separation.
Now that the Samsung S800D Soundbar supports eARC, lossless Dolby Atmos audio can be sent back to the soundbar via HDMI, and the result is an object-based performance that is generally very good. There is a sense of scale to the front soundstage, as well as a degree of immersion thanks to the clarity of the overhead channels, which rely on the reflectivity of the ceiling to be effective.
Overall, audio objects are localized with excellent accuracy, but this spatial effect is limited to the front third of the room due to the lack of rear surround channels with overhead drivers. This is easily solved by adding the wireless rear speakers mentioned above. The result is that you find yourself in the center of a completely enveloping sound cloud.
Conclusion
The Samsung HW-S800D represents a remarkable advancement for the brand, building on the strengths of its predecessors while addressing many of their shortcomings. Its sleek and unobtrusive ultra-slim design is complemented by a robust yet compact subwoofer, resulting in a clear and well-balanced front-facing soundstage. The Mini HDMI port now features eARC support, and an adapter is included for straightforward connectivity. Additionally, the S800D is compatible with Samsung’s rear speakers, enabling a fully immersive audio experience, provided you are willing to invest a bit more. Although it lacks DTS:X decoding, this is not a significant drawback given the limited adoption of the format. For those seeking a more expansive surround sound experience, the Samsung HW-Q930D is a viable option, though it does come with a considerably larger soundbar compared to the S800D.