Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Samsung - HW-Q800D | Samsung - HW-S800D |
|---|---|---|
| Total power | 360 W | 330 W |
| eARC | true | false |
Between the HW-Q800D and HW-S800D, the HW-Q800D comes out ahead in total power / earc, while the HW-S800D wins on several specs. Overall, the HW-Q800D scores 76.3 and the HW-S800D scores 75.4 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (76.3 vs 75.4). The decision is not about overall quality — both clear the bar — it is about which specific trade-offs fit your use.
Pick the HW-Q800D if you care most about total power / earc. The biggest gaps in its favor are total power, earc. The single most decisive one: Total power — 9.09% more. 360 W vs 330 W.
The HW-S800D similarly does not carry a headline advantage on the popular specs — look at the full table for category-specific deltas.
Both ship with comparable dolby atmos, subwoofer included, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity says both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Which should you buy: Samsung - HW-Q800D or Samsung - HW-S800D?
Samsung - HW-Q800D leads the current Mars Score by 0.9 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare total power against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Samsung - HW-Q800D if…
Samsung - HW-Q800D has the measurable edge on total w, has earc.
Choose Samsung - HW-S800D if…
Samsung - HW-S800D does not lead a decisive measured field here, so choose it for price, ecosystem, design, or availability when those matter more to you.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Samsung - HW-Q800D wins
- ▲Total power — 9.09% more. 360 W vs 330 W.
- ▲Has eARC.
Why Samsung - HW-S800D wins
- No decisive advantages.
Spec comparison
Audio
| Spec | Samsung - HW-Q800D | Samsung - HW-S800D |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | 5.1.2 | 3.1.2 |
| Total power | 360 Wlead | 330 W |
| Dolby Atmosⓘ | true | true |
| DTS:X | truelead | false |
Connectivity
| Spec | Samsung - HW-Q800D | Samsung - HW-S800D |
|---|---|---|
| HDMI inputs | 1lead | 0 |
| eARCⓘ | truelead | false |
| Subwoofer included | true | true |