I’d like to compile a concise list of known issues and considerations with the Q950T. that Samsung can be referred to. Please contribute issues if you can.
I came up with 11 items.
1. The system needs revised default speaker gain balance, as the individual speaker ‘cab’ components are well out of gain balance from each other on factory settings. Plus their adjustment needs more, and finer gain steps for all of the speakers, including sub. The steps are currently too coarse for a high-end system.
2. This system’s 7-band EQ memory does not work. Plus, why does the System's EQ setting menu have a "Reset" option on it, when no one can currently stop it from resetting itself? Doesn't this EQ Reset option establish that the system's EQ software functionality was released in a non-functional state, and that the EQ memory function needs to be repaired?
3. The next version needs a longer and far more visible display.
4. Speaker antennas which have more WiFi gain, for faster more stable connections in marginal conditions.
5. Pressing the remote's sub-volume adjustment button should toggle a sub MUTE function, a sub like this absolutely needs a mute on its remote.
6. Easier initial setup integration and trouble-shooting, when connecting with other TVs, and their software options and connection standards. It took me a couple of days to figure out that LG’s SimpLink Network setting needed to be enabled for the audio to get out of the TV to the sound bar via HDMI ARC out. That sort of initial setup trouble-shooting information with TVs must be available to the buyer.
7. The remote's 4-way button needs a different texture, it's much too difficult to feel where it is, without having to look for it on the remote. The edge and surface of that button needs some tactile contrast.
8. The “Game Pro” and “Adaptive Sound” effect modes appear to be gimmicks which produce substandard sound. You do not need to try and market to gamers with guff, just tell them that the Surround mode is amazing in games. And it is, I’ve used it, but the "Game Pro” mode was cr_p.
9. ‘Q-Symphony’ on Samsung TV’s is also being reported as sounding like another lame gimmick. How could this sound-bar’s reproduction image be improved by adding a TV’s comparatively rubbish sonic cacophony to it? Why not spray graffiti on the Taj Mahal while you’re at it? Someone has been putting too much LSD in the marketing section’s water-cooler again. Just because your marketing dept can spray paint the Taj Mahal, does not mean they should. Common sense is not an elective.
10. What is this 'Virtual', on my remote? The manual says, ”The VIRTUAL Speaker function can be turned ON/OFF by using the Up/Down buttons”. Does this seem a bit ambiguous? Why does a real surround system need a virtual speaker?
11. A speaker finish which is a bit less attractive as a kitten scratch post.
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Personally I think it’s a shame Samsung has invested much time and money into useless marketing gimmicks, and the focus moved away from using resources to make the bar as functional as it should be, out of the box. The people who designed and engineered the Q950T largely got it right. But my impression is the marketing department focused on gimmicks which undermine the product itself, rather than make it actually more useful. This has weakened the production item and not made it more attractive or useful. Mostly just more confusing and time-wasting.
I’m trying to be reasonable with these criticisms as I love the underlying sound and potential of the Q950T. The engineers did a great job creating a powerful 9.1.4. It’s impressive but IMHO, I don’t think a high-end audio company like Yamaha would have rushed the development, nor allowed the focus to move so far towards impractical marketing gimmicks, over first completing the sound function and utility, for the person buying a new audio surround system. Complaints about functions and maturity of products do not haunt companies like Yamaha because they so maintain the right balance and focus. Just read their product reviews, their customers are almost always very pleased.
It’s a feat that Samsung produced this integrated affordable true Atmos system, and it’s not just a sound bar, it has 4 speaker units, not 6, but it is still mostly a single-speaker array system. But one look at the Q950T feature list and you can see where they went a bit off the rails getting it to buyers in good working order and establishing a new level of surround sound reproduction in just 4 boxes.
In design, sound quality and engineering terms, it’s hard not to give the Q950T a 10/10 result, as it’s ‘brilliant’ in those respects. The remote could do with a little more finesse though. I’m not using the app, and may never, so the remote has to work well doing every thing.
In terms of the default settings and the system firmware, which is currently version 1016, the best I can give the Q950T is 4/10, which is not even ‘good’.
If the money and time had been allocated to developing this, instead of integrating pointless gimmicks, then Samsung would have produced a system out of the box which would have sold on its stellar system reputation and reviews. Rather than pleading a case to buyers, based on features no one really wants. For getting that wrong Samsung will sell fewer Q950Ts, plus have many more of them returned for a refund.
My first hour of listening to this system was one of disappointment, and wondering if it was faulty, because it sounded so bad as updated are initialized. My first impression was that my LG TV’s speakers sounded better. This shouldn’t be the case. Talk about failing to “make a good first impression”, or to, “put your best foot forwards”.
If I was heading up Samsung’s relevant management team I’d fix that first-impressions problem before any other firmware priority I have. 30 years ago every one knew that if a ‘stereo’ did not make a good first-impression no one would buy it. Somehow this simple fact has been lost sight of. People would walk into a store and the store was one giant demo display. People wanted to hear it before they buy, or no sale. Now people are expected to take on faith that the unit will work as advertised and to buy a box, without hearing, having some inadequate reviews, specs and conflicted videos to go by. So it you get it home, turn it on and your TV speaker sounds better, you’re probably going to want to return that, be annoyed, and never buy something expensive off that company again.
First-impressions still count and factory default settings are the first impression.
2c