32 T3 FEBRUARY 2022Ultimate TV audio upgrades
SOUNDBARS
Soundbars are the most convenient way to send your TV’s puny built-in sound system packing.
Handy, then, that there are now some seriously awesome models out there
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SAMSUNG HW-Q800A
No brand does raw, action
movie-loving aggression
from an affordable soundbar
better than Samsung. So if
your budget won’t stretch
to Samsung’s remarkable
16-channel Q950A featured
to the left but you still want
explosions, gun-fire, dinosaur
footfalls and so on to hit hard
enough to flap your trousers,
this more affordable sub/
soundbar combi gets the job
done brilliantly.
£699, samsung.com4
ROKU STREAMBAR
The Streambar is much more
than just a soundbar. Uniquely
it’s also a fully fledged video
streamer, letting you enjoy all
the benefits of Roku’s famously
user-friendly, incredibly
content-rich smart TV platform
on even the dumbest of TVs.
All you need is an HDMI
connection and broadband, and
that’s it. To seal the deal, the
Streambar also sounds better
than you’ve any right to expect
for its puny asking price.
£130, roku.com1
SAMSUNG HW-Q950A
There are soundbars and
there are S O U N D B A R S.
The Samsung Q950A is the
latter. Its four-piece system
fills even large rooms with a
stunningly detailed 616W of
Dolby Atmos sound via 16 real
(rather than virtual) channels
of sound – including four up-
firing speakers to deliver Dolby
Atmos’s overhead effects.
It’s like owning a separates
surround sound system but
without the hassle.
£1,199, samsung.com3
YAMAHA YAS-207
As well as being great value,
this two-piece package stands
out courtesy of its unusual
DTS Virtual:X technology. This
creates such an effective, large
and convincing 3D, surround
sound effect – despite only
having the soundbar and a
subwoofer to work with – that
you’ll lose track of how many
times you find yourself glancing
over your shoulder looking for
a side or surround speaker that
isn’t actually there.
£299, uk.yamaha.com1
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