Samsung HW-Q60T Review – Should You Buy This Soundbar?
What should be the difference between a $50 soundbar and a $500+ soundbar? The way audio gear is developing these days, you can expect impressive sound from the lower end of the budget. So, what should compel you to spend ten times more?
I think Samsung makes some of the most interesting techs today. At the very least, when you’re shopping for a new TV or a fridge, they should be on your list of brands to check out.
I’ve been recently checking out their audio gear and playing with the soundbars. As it is with most brands, if you have a Samsung TV, it will pair the best with a Samsung bar. But which bar to choose?
Samsung released a bunch of soundbars that don’t look too different from each other. In this Samsung HW Q60T review, I’ll show you what this model can do and if it’s worth your money.
I’m already quite happy with more affordable releases from the same brand, so my expectations are very high. I want clear sound, no distortions, and for it to be easy to set up and use.
There are two options. You can either buy the soundbar and subwoofer only or get the full surround system by choosing the set with satellite speakers. The satellites are also available for purchase separately if you change your mind.
The subwoofer and the satellites are similar in size (about the size of an average desktop computer subwoofer) and connect wirelessly through the bar.
The look is minimalistic, and more grille than plastic. The bar is just under 39 inches long and should work with 42-inch TVs or bigger.
Device compatibility.
The Q60T connects to all devices that support HDMI, 3.5mm jacks, and Bluetooth.
Two smart devices can connect at once. You don’t have to do anything special. Just look for the bar on the list when the Bluetooth is on. A third device trying to connect will not knock out the other two.
If you have a Samsung TV, you can use the same remote to control the soundbar.
I was worried about all the grille, but it’s very sturdy and didn’t look like it was going to break easily. The rest of it is that good plastic, and every piece in this set feels robust when picked up.
As always, I have issues with cables. I would prefer they were thicker, especially at this price point. But, they are also not those fragile ones that will fall apart if you ever try to unplug them.
How easy it is to set up?
The setup was very smooth and easy. It took a minute to pair the subwoofer and the satellites to the bar, then connect everything to the TV via the cable.
Pairing smart devices through Bluetooth was also easy. I’ve tried pairing two devices at once and there were no issues there.
I mentioned above that a third device will not kill the connection of the ones that are already connected. I didn’t force the pairing, so I don’t know how it would handle that type of shenanigans.
Sound quality.
Let’s get this out of the way first. I mentioned in the cons list that the bar offers underwhelming bass. Underwhelming, not terrible.
It’s just that I expected more. I think I’m getting as much as I would from cheaper Samsung models, and I’m not impressed. It didn’t hinder my movie-watching experience, but it showed when I tried to play certain music genres.
It’s not a deal-breaker for me, but it could be for you.
Speaking of music, if you’re into classical (both chamber and orchestra), you’re in for a treat. This is pretty much one of the nicer ways to experience your favorite pieces. Considering that it’s from a device that’s supposed to be a multitasker, that’s saying something.
As for the movie experience, it’s a treat as well. I basically threw at it half of my catalog and finished with some Michael Bay. Everything sounded great, enough that I could immerse myself and forget for a moment that I’m watching this stuff at home.
I prefer the Adaptive Mode for all purposes, even over the Gaming Mode for gaming itself. However, this is subjective and will depend on the games you prefer to play. I would recommend testing both modes with each title in your collection to find the best pairings.
Without satellites, the sound was still amazing. However, I think it’s worth spending extra on them since it takes the listening experience to a whole another level.
Time to see where the limit was. Just like other times, this Samsung HW-Q60T review has to include me doing some things that the manufacturer probably didn’t think of. It’s mostly to test the suitability of the product for non-mainstream users.
The first is the Mayhem test. If you’re new here, Mayhem is a lovely band from Norway you should never look up, unless you enjoy the sound of broken vacuums. They take pride in bad production and are some of the best ways to push audio equipment to its limits.
The Q60T gets a pass. I was not expecting clarity of sound where there is none, but I was expecting the soundbar not to burst into flames at max volume. In fact, the sound quality was the same at max volume as it was at more bearable levels.
Next, I tested the Adaptive Mode with one of the bootleg recordings of the Lord of the Rings. It was only a 10-minute clip, so the FBI don’t come and arrest me. It was the “You shall not pass” scene where the characters are speaking in a normal tone, then the dramatic music and stuff build up. Recorded in a cinema, with other human voices bleeding through.
It was not great. I will not fail it because this mode was not setup to deal with it, but I still wanted to see if it can handle it. I’ll give it a pass for still not giving up under those conditions.
Finally, we had the kitchen mitten test. This was mostly to test the usability of the remote and how suitable is for people with disabilities and hand dexterity issues. And it’s a fail.
I’ve already failed Samsung on their remote previously. It’s not completely useless and I can see many people using it with no issues or adapting to it. However, if it’s not 100%, it’s a complete fail in my books.
Yes, but you have to make sure to connect the subwoofer to the bar before connecting it to another device.
At the back of the bar or on the remote, find the Source button. Once you press it, your device should be able to recognize the soundbar. If it’s not happening, a restart of the bar should do the trick.
How many speakers does a Q60T soundbar have?
The Q60T has eight speakers and one subwoofer.
All eight speakers are spread out the length of the bar, which is what gives this Samsung model its sound quality. You can also connect additional satellites if you need or want to.
Does HW Q60T support eARC?
Yes, you can connect the Q60T to any TV with eARC through the HDMI eARC cable.
The cable is included in the box, so you can set up everything straight away.
Conclusion
This is a very nice toy to have, even though it’s pricey. There’s another Samsung soundbar I would recommend as an alternative if the price is outside of your budget.
Still, if you have a Samsung TV and you’re looking to create an amazing setup, I would highly recommend the Q60T.
As usual, we’ll wrap up this Samsung HW Q60T review with a few opinions I’ve encountered online. I’ve mostly seen people being happy with the bar. However, when they are not happy, the thing they dislike the most is Customer Support.
Samsung has a bit of a bad rep in that area, so if you have issues, you’d fare better troubleshooting with other users on the internet, than turning to Samsung if nothing helps.
Is a musician and journalist with over 13 years of experience writing for some of the music world's biggest brands. Ray loves getting nerdy about everything from guitar gear and synths, to microphones and music production hardware.
