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Head-to-head · Best Dolby Atmos Soundbars Under $1000

Samsung HW-Q800D vs Sonos Beam Gen 2

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Samsung HW-Q800D and Sonos Beam Gen 2 score essentially the same (4.6 vs 4.6). Pick the one whose trade-offs match your priorities — the strengths and watch-outs below are where they actually differ.

Samsung HW-Q800D
Ranked #1 in Best Dolby Atmos Soundbars Under $1000
Samsung HW-Q800D
$587.95as of Jun 7

The Samsung HW-Q800D is the most complete Dolby Atmos package you can get comfortably under $1,000. Its 5.1.2 layout, 360W output and included wireless subwoofer deliver spacious, punchy, room-filling sound with convincing overhead effects from real up-firing drivers. The main caveat is a treble that can sound thin and edgy when pushed, but for most living rooms it is the standout mid-range Atmos bar.

Strengths
  • — Powerful 5.1.2-channel system with 360W output and a genuinely capable wireless subwoofer that delivers serious low-end weight
  • — Convincing wireless Dolby Atmos with real up-firing height channels that open up overhead effects
  • — SpaceFit Sound auto-calibration tailors output to the room and Q-Symphony pairs it with Samsung TVs
Watch-outs
  • — Treble can turn thin, hard and edgy at higher volumes
  • — Q-Symphony and some features only fully unlock with a recent Samsung TV
  • — No DTS:X support, which matters for some Blu-ray collections
$587.95 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Sonos Beam Gen 2
Ranked #2 in Best Dolby Atmos Soundbars Under $1000
Sonos Beam Gen 2
$369as of Jun 7

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is the best compact, all-in-one Dolby Atmos soundbar under $1,000. Without any up-firing drivers it uses processing and forward-facing drivers to recreate Atmos more convincingly than many pricier bars, while delivering crisp dialogue and a warm, musical balance. It can't reach the bass depth of a system with a separate subwoofer, but for small-to-medium rooms and Sonos households it's a five-star performer.

Strengths
  • — Best-in-class virtualized Dolby Atmos from a single compact cabinet, with no external speakers needed
  • — Excellent, clearly defined dialogue thanks to an upgraded center tweeter
  • — Full Sonos ecosystem: AirPlay 2, Trueplay room tuning, multiroom and voice assistants built in
Watch-outs
  • — No physical up-firing drivers, so overhead effects are simulated rather than truly height-mapped
  • — Only one HDMI eARC port and no HDMI passthrough or extra inputs
  • — Lacks the deep, physical bass of a system with a dedicated subwoofer
$369 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

How they stack up

Samsung HW-Q800D

The HW-Q800D is the only pick here that ships with a real external wireless subwoofer plus up-firing drivers, giving it more low-end authority and a bigger 5.1.2 soundstage than the all-in-one Sonos Beam Gen 2 or Bose Smart Soundbar. The LG SC9S matches its height ambitions but can't match its bass control, and the Sony HT-A3000 relies on virtualization rather than physical Atmos channels.

Sonos Beam Gen 2

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 trades the physical up-firing height drivers of the Samsung HW-Q800D and LG SC9S for clever virtualization, which keeps it far more compact but limits true overhead mapping. Unlike the Samsung HW-Q800D it ships with no external subwoofer, so it gives up deep bass, but it beats the Sony HT-A3000 for dialogue clarity and out-of-the-box Atmos convincingness, and adds the Sonos multiroom ecosystem the Bose Smart Soundbar can't fully match.

Specs side-by-side

SpecSamsung HW-Q800DSonos Beam Gen 2
Channels5.1.25.0 (virtualized Atmos)
Total Power360W—
SubwooferWireless 8-inch externalNone (optional Sonos Sub)
Up-firing Drivers2 (height channels)None (virtualized)
Audio FormatsDolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, DTSDolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, DTS Digital Surround
ConnectivityHDMI eARC, HDMI in, Optical, Bluetooth, Wi-FiHDMI eARC, Optical (adapter), Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2
Room CalibrationSpaceFit SoundTrueplay
TV IntegrationQ-Symphony (Samsung TVs)—
Width—25.6 inches
Voice Assistant—Amazon Alexa, Sonos Voice Control
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