HW-Q850D

I have the Samsung Q850D from Best Buy paired with my TCL QM851G, but somehow it shot up in price so I'd look elsewhere 😅

I have the 850D (7.1) and have always noticed the 9.1 and 11.1 versions have the exact amount of standalone speakers as mine. I assume they just squeeze in a few more up-firing speakers for more "Atmos"? Curious how different they sound.

Definitely. I got the Samsung Q850D for around $300 (open box) at Best Buy and the surround sound is so much better than I thought was possible without a dedicated multi-channel system with an AV receiver. I think it would be perfect for your setup

Look for an open box Samsung Q850D from Best Buy. It’s an awesome setup and like $310 right now in “good” condition.

That depends on the make and model but my Samsung Q850 is pretty much mainstream. With 2-channel input it synthesizes a surround sound similar to the old analog Dolby Pro Logic. When the content is either encoded for Dolby Surround or is stereo with a lot of random phase differences between channels the surround speakers are quite active. If it’s mono or just a talking head nothing comes out of the surround speakers. If the content is Dolby Digital or Atmos the surround speakers play their appropriate channels. The subwoofer outputs the lowest octave in all these cases.

If you get a Samsung 600,700 or 800 series you can add the rear speakers on at a later date for a couple of hundred bucks and then you have 80% the effect of the 900 series for 1/3 the price

Just get a samsung 800 series (without satellites) or 900 series (with satellite) and ffs!

I would suggest to try out Samsung 800 series and 990 series in the display/showroom experience and then decide if you want to increase budget and get proper soundbar to match up with tv. I’ve tried these and i now own 990d and its worth money spent ! In india i got this at 78K.

Get the Sonos system. Samsung is terrible at support. Further you can buy the Sonos components from Costco. At least most of them. Return policy is quite generous as you probably know. Don’t be tempted by the Samsung pricing. It’s just not as good or reliable as the Sonos systems. He’ll even the JBL soundbar systems have better sound than the Q series.