Samsung HW-Q950A vs Klipsch Cinema 1200 which is a better choice?

It has been a while since I looked at the Klipsch Cinema 1200. It went head to head with the Sonos Arc in this Klipsch Cinema 1200 vs Sonos Arc which is better? article that I put together. Today it is going up against the Samsung HW-Q950A which is a soundbar I hold in very high regard. I am actually a pretty big fan of both Samsung and Klipsch and as of right now, I have no idea which way this thing is going to go! This is going to be a lot of fun as I have spent a lot of time with each one and had a great time putting both of these through their paces so I am going to give my honest thoughts on each one.

The Price

We are starting this Samsung HW-Q950A vs Klipsch Cinema 1200 battle for the championship off right and that is with the price. Both of these are rather expensive, but they are not what I would call overpriced. These come with a full surround setup so that means you have to expect to pay more than if you were just getting a soundbar.

Samsung HW-Q950A:

You can find the Samsung HW-Q950A at all kinds of price points depending on where you shop! As I write this, Amazon are actually out of stock right now on this, but last time I checked it was priced at $1,749 which is a very fair price for something like this, especially as that price did include a two year warranty. If you were to head to somewhere like Walmart, they have this for $1,647.99 which is a fantastic price I really do think that Samsung has this thing priced very, very fairly. If you want to do a bit of legwork, you can head on over to eBay and there are some pretty great deals for this thing on there. I have seen this for as low as the 1200 bucks range brand new! So be sure to look around before you throw down any money for this.

Klipsch Cinema 1200: 

As I write this the Klipsch Cinema 1200 is going for $1.899.99. That does put it at a little bit more expensive than what the HW-Q950A is going for. Overall, as this comes with a fantastic subwoofer and an awesome set of satellite speakers, I think the asking price here is not bad at all. You can shop around for this and you may find it a few bucks cheaper here or there. However, I did as I always do and jumped on eBay and the price for this is all over the price. Also, like most other packages like this, some people are trying to just sell the soundbar on its own or the subwoofer on its own. This means you have to be very careful with what you are buying as you may think you are getting an amazing deal, only for it to be just for the soundbar and not the other stuff.

The Verdict: 

The Klipsch Cinema 1200 does tend to be a little higher, maybe two hundred bucks at the most.  That is no small chunk of change as that could easily buy you a whole load of Blu-Rays or 4Ks. I have to say that I think between the two the Samsung HW-Q950A is the better deal when it comes to the pricing. Not just because it usually retails for a bit less, I just feel that overall it is giving you more bang for your buck.

The Design

If you have read any of these things before, you know that the next round in our Samsung HW-Q950A vs Klipsch Cinema 1200 contest is going to be looking at the design. These have a very different kind of design to them and I think that as the designs are so different, it is going to boil down to personal preference here in regards to which one you like the design of best.

Samsung HW-Q950A:

While this Soundbar – Q950A: Official Introduction | Samsung video that Samsung put out only shows off the actual soundbar, it gives you a great idea about what the Samsung HW-Q950A is all about. I love the design of this soundbar! Samsung has managed to make this look very cool and sleek, but at the same time, it has a real sense of style about it so it is going to look fantastic in any kind of living room or home theatre. The dimensions of this are 48.4” x 5.4” x 2.8”. This is a good size and it is not so large that you have to be worrying about it getting in the way of your TV if you have it in front of it. The whole soundbar has a very premium feel to it and as soon as I took this out of the box, I knew I was holding something very special. The most special thing about the design is the way it is not just a rectangular shape like most soundbars are, the sides are angular and it not only looks great, it also helps with the sound hits you.

The Samsung HW-Q950A has a fabric grille that covers the top and the front of the soundbar. While I would never personally pick a fabric grille, it works here, but you will have to make sure you keep the dust and pet hair off it! Also, you do not want the kids poking their fingers through it either. It just has a very stylish and cool look to it and I can hand on heart say that I would happily have this sitting front and center in my home theatre. Around the back of the soundbar, we have an HDMI Arc port and two other full HDMI ports as well. You can also use an optical cable as well if you want to connect it to your TV that way, but you will lose your Dolby Atmos sound if you do that. You could even connect this to your TV wirelessly if you want to go that route. Actually, the satellite speakers and the subwoofer connect to the soundbar wirelessly which I do like.

As the Samsung HW-Q950A is a surround sound system we do have a few other things that we need to talk about. We will start with the subwoofer which is 8.2” x 15.8” x 15.9” so it is not the largest subwoofer. I like the size and despite it not being huge, it adds a real nice amount of kick to whatever it is you are watching. It is made from a pretty damn solid wood and on the sides you have a fabric grille so it goes with the design of the soundbar very well. Now the satellite speakers that make up this package are really cool. These are nice and compact as they come in at 4.9” x 8.0” x 5.0”. They are the ideal size for rear speakers and they look cool and fit with the style of the soundbar and the subwoofer, but they just kind of blend into the background which I am sure many people will appreciate. While the subwoofer and the satellite speakers are wireless, they do each have their own power cable.

Klipsch Cinema 1200:

I recommend that you have a look at this Klipsch Cinema 1200 | Dolby Atmos 5.1.4 Sound Bar + Surround Sound System video if you want to get a closer look at what the Klipsch Cinema 1200 is all about. This is a pretty damn big soundbar coming in at 54 inches in its length! This is the kind of soundbar where you have to be very careful if you want it to sit in front of your TV as you do not want it hanging off the edge of your entertainment center or obscuring the view of the bottom of your TV. The overall design of the Klipsch Cinema 1200 is not something I am a massive fan of. It has a very cool grille that covers the front and top and I love the way they highlight the up-firing Dolby Atmos speakers. However, I hate and I mean hate the way that the side of the Klipsch Cinemas 1200 looks. They actually took the design they already had with the Klipsch Cinema 600 and I did not like it there and I still do not like it here. This is a premium soundbar, but those side speakers look cheap. If it were not for those side speakers, I think I would have loved the design of this soundbar.

On the back of the Klipsch Cinema 1200, you have your HDMI Arc port and two other HMDI ports as well. Klipsch also gives you a USB port on the back of here in case there is any kind of update that you need to do. There is no optical port on the back of here, but to be fair to Klipsch, this is a premium soundbar that is offering Dolby Atmos so I am sure they are thinking that someone spending this kind of money will want to use Dolby Atmos. At the same time, would it have killed them to have thrown an optical port on the back of here?

One aspect of the Klipsch Cinema 1200 that I absolutely love is the subwoofer. This thing is epic and one of the best subwoofers I have used that came with a soundbar. It is a down-firing subwoofer and I love the little feet it is standing on. This is one very, very impressive subwoofer and it is one area where I think the 1200 has a clear advantage over the HW-Q950A. The Satellite speakers also look great and have a similar kind of design as the subwoofer. I have to say that the subwoofer and the satellite speakers look way better than the actual soundbar does.

The Verdict: 

As far as the actual soundbars go the Samsung HW-Q950A wins this one for me hands down. I am just not a huge fan of the way the sides of the Klipsch Cinema 1200 look, as a matter of fact, because of that there is no way I would ever have that in my living room or home theatre. The thing is, I actually prefer the design and build of the subwoofer that comes with the Klipsch Cinema 1200, but as an overall package, I do have to give this one Samsung.

The Sound

The main event of our Samsung HW-Q950A vs Klipsch Cinema 1200 battle is the sound. At the end of the day no matter if you are spending 100 bucks or well over 1000 bucks like the two soundbars we are looking at today. It is how they sound that really is going to be the deciding factor on what one you decide to go for.

Samsung HW-Q950A:

At this price range I think that the Samsung HW-Q950A is very close to the top of my list of best soundbars/surround sound systems! I recommend that you check out this BEST SOUNDBAR 2021? Samsung Q950A Soundbar Review & Demo video as it not only shows the system off, you also get a sound test as well. This is a Dolby Atmos capable soundbar and if you have read anything that I have written lately, you know that I am a massive fan of Dolby Atmos! The way the sound fires up is something that you truly do not appreciate until you have experienced it. I overuse the term “cinema quality sound at home” like crazy, but that really is what you are getting here with the Samsung HW-Q950A. If you watch a movie like One movie that has a fantastic Dolby Atmos track is Everest. It is actually a great movie too, but the atmospheric sound that you get with this soundbar is truly amazing and will make you think that you are in the movie theatre…. Or even on Everest!

As the Samsung HW-Q950A is a full surround sound system, you truly do get spoiled here. While I focused on Dolby Atmos, this also fully supports DTS X as well. What is great about this is that while most new 4K Blu-Rays have a Dolby Atmos track, not all do right now. Some pretty big movies such as The Bourne movies and incredibly Jurassic Park have a fantastic DTS X track, but they do not support Dolby Atmos. To the average person, this is not going to be a big deal, but if you want your movies to sound as close to the sound you are getting in the cinema as possible, you want your soundbar to support as many sound styles as possible.

Even though the subwoofer and the satellite speakers are on the compact size, you are still getting a great overall sound with the Samsung HW-Q950A. The bass is nice and punchy which really did surprise me considering that the subwoofer is not the largest. The surround sound effect you get here is something that I really did think was great. While this is awesome for being nice and loud, it is important to note that the vocal clarity here is second to none. I have been watching through The Vampire Diaries with my wife and we watched a few episodes with the HW-Q950A and I was very impressed with how clear the dialogue was.

Klipsch Cinema 1200:

I have been looking at Klipsch stuff for years and they always offer great quality sound and the Klipsch Cinema 1200 is no different. This Klipsch Cinema 1200 Dolby Atmos Sound Bar Overview & Demo! video has a sound demo so be sure to give it a look, although it is hard to appreciate how good the sound here is through your computer or phone speakers. I have to start by talking about the Dolby Atmos that the Klipsch Cinema 1200 offers and at this price it is some of the best around. The first time I ever tested this out, I used Captain Marvel, so I decided to use another Marvel movie, ANT-MAN AND THE WASP to see how the Dolby Atmos here held up and I was very impressed. Those extra speakers really do make a world of difference and if you are purchasing this because you first and foremost want a Dolby Atmos soundbar, you are not going to be disappointed by what this is offering.

Now, one area where this is lacking compared to the Samsung HW-Q950A is that it does not support DTS X. At this price, I do think that is pretty questionable if I am being honest with you. Still, let’s not just be negative here, the overall surround sound that the Klipsch Cinema 1200 offers is great and very close to what you get in the cinema. I actually played around with this in my living room which is not a massive room and as a result, I was “surrounded” by sound and it was truly epic. My son and I watched Wreck It Ralph and the part at the start of the movie where it goes through the arcade was truly an amazing experience.

When it comes to vocal clarity, you are not going to be disappointed by what the Klipsch Cinema 1200 is offering you. My wife and I loved DR. Sleep and she really wanted to see the Directors Cut so we watched that through this and I was very impressed by how clear vocals were through this. What really nailed it for me was how vocals were still very clear and easy to understand no matter what else was going on in the scene. You can even play around with different sound options to get it just the way you want it.

The Verdict: 

This is such a hard one to call! Both the Samsung HW-Q950A and the Klipsch Cinema 1200 offer you an amazing Dolby Atmos and surround sound performance. I have to say that I think the 1200 has the edge in terms of sheer power, mainly thanks to that awesome subwoofer. However, the fact it does not support DTS X is a bit of an issue with me considering the asking price. Overall, I think that side by side and after watching a few movies back-to-back with both of these I did slightly prefer the overall performance of the Samsung! However, I could see why someone could make a real argument for the 1200.  

The Remote Control

Next up in our Samsung HW-Q950A vs Klipsch Cinema 1200 showdown is a personal favorite category of mine, the remote control. I could not tell you why I love remote controls so much! I think it is because I grew up in the 80s and back then they tried to cram as many buttons on a remote as possible and it just always was something I was interested in! Let’s take a closer look at the remote controls that both of these soundbars have.

Samsung HW-Q950A:

One of the coolest things about the Samsung HW-Q950A remote control is that it supports what Samsung call their smart remote feature. This means that if you have other Samsung devices like a TV or a Blu-Ray player, you can use the remote that comes with the HW-Q950A as a universal remote for them all! On its own, I really do like this remote control. It is a good size and while it gives you complete control, it does not have too many buttons on there to confuse you. If you like to be super high tech and feel like you are living in the future, you can also use Alexa with this.

Klipsch Cinema 1200:

Klipsch tends to make fantastic remote controls and the remote control that comes with the Klipsch Cinema 1200 is one that I really do like. It has a very cool and curvy design that feels great to hold and flip around which is something that drives my wife nuts! Anyway, you have the basic functions at your fingertips here and that to be honest with you is more than enough. Klipsch does also have one of the best apps around which gives you even more control!

The Verdict: 

This is another category that is really hard to call as I like the remote controls that come with both of these. I do like the overall design of the remote that comes with the Klipsch Cinema 1200 a tad more as I like that curvy design as it feels awesome to hold. However, if you have other Samsung devices, you will probably really like how the HW-Q950A can be used as a universal remote…. Hmmm, I think I have to give the edge here to the 1200, but only just.  

What Is In The Box?

The final part of our Samsung HW-Q950A vs Klipsch Cinema 1200 contest is going to look at what you can expect to find in the box for both of these things. This way you can get a better idea of exactly what you are getting for your money.

Samsung HW-Q950A: With the Samsung HW-Q950A you are getting all you need inside of the box. Speaking of the box this thing is pretty damn big as you would expect. You of course have your soundbar, subwoofer, and satellite speakers and I really appreciate how well packaged this thing was. Actually, Samsung always does a great job of packaging their tech. You also get your remote control and a set of batteries for it. The HDMI cable they give you is a pretty high-quality one too. They also give you a mounting template with bar brackets which may come in handy for you depending on how you want to have this thing in your home.

Klipsch Cinema 1200: You will not be surprised to hear this that the Klipsch Cinema 1200 comes in a huge box!  To be fair, that is to be expected, just make sure you are able to get this sucker home if you are getting it from a store. Inside the box, you get the soundbar, subwoofer, and satellite speakers. They do also throw in a set of batteries for the remote control which is something I always appreciate. They also give you a good quality HDMI cable in the box as well.

The Verdict: I am raising the hands of both competitors here as a draw. If you want a recent wrestling reference, it is like when Hangman Adam Page fought Bryan Danielson at AEW Winter is Coming. Out of place wrestling reference aside, both Samsung and Klipsch are taking good care of you here, just make sure your car can handle the huge ass box for both of these if you are going to be picking them up in the store!

What Is The Best?

We have come to the end of our Samsung HW-Q950A vs Klipsch Cinema 1200 contest and it has been a hell of a ride. I have to start by sitting on the fence and saying that both the Samsung HW-Q950A and the Klipsch Cinema 1200 are two amazing soundbars. You cannot go wrong with either one of these and I can see why anyone who has one of these will proudly tell you it is the greatest soundbar ever made! You could make an argument for either one of these as the winner in my book. However, I do have to pick a winner and for me, the best soundbar is the Samsung HW-Q950A. I think overall, I preferred the sound that it offered and the fact it also supports DTS X gives it a slight edge too. It may not have as powerful bass as the Klipsch Cinema 1200, however, overall, I thought it gave me what I want when it comes to cinema quality sound. Also, I have to say that I love the design of the Samsung whereas I really do not like the way the 1200 looks at all.

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