I in contrast my Sonos Arc Extremely with Samsung's flagship soundbar, and it's fairly dang shut

For a restricted time, Samsung is promoting the HW-Q990F soundbar for $400 (or 20%) off, making it a incredible deal.

Including a soundbar to your TV can drastically enhance your watching expertise, offering fuller, louder, and extra immersive sound to enrich your shiny, new TV. Nonetheless, including rear audio system and a subwoofer can flip your soundbar and TV combo into an immersive residence theater.

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Samsung’s flagship soundbar, the HW-Q990F, comes with two rear audio system and a subwoofer, and features a stellar lineup of residence leisure’s most star-studded options. I gave up my beloved Sonos Arc Extremely system for 2 weeks to spend a while with Samsung’s latest soundbar, and here is what you need to know earlier than making a purchase order.

Coming from final yr’s mannequin, the Q990F soundbar’s exterior acquired a slight redesign, because the coloring is a softer black-grey shade as an alternative of pure black. The Q990F’s exterior subwoofer can be extra compact, with Samsung choosing a cubed design as an alternative of a taller rectangular form.

The Q990F is a big and imposing soundbar; it is beneficial for TVs 60 inches or bigger, and its giant stature does equate to huge, room-filling sound. Regardless of its bigger dimension, the Q990F has a glossy and trendy design, positive to slot in with your own home decor.

I paired the Q990F system with Samsung’s 2025 QN90F Neo QLED 4K TV, and the 2 make a beautiful pair. Though you do not want one in every of Samsung’s newest TVs to get probably the most out of the Q990F, some options, like Q-Symphony, could be unlocked solely with a appropriate Samsung TV.

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Even with no Samsung TV, the soundbar remains to be a powerhouse. With 23 whole audio system and an 11.1.4-channel setup, the Q990F is as flagship because it will get. So long as your TV has an eARC port, you’ll be able to entry an inventory of high-quality audio codecs, like Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, DTS Digital Encompass, Multichannel PCM, and extra. The Q990F helps HDMI eARC 2.1, Optical, and Bluetooth connectivity.

The Q990F will get exceptionally loud, and my alternative of Dolby Atmos content material consisted of “Avengers: Age of Ultron” on Disney+ and “WeCrashed” on Apple TV+. The previous was a mixture of heavy motion scenes and dialogue, whereas the previous consisted of heavy dialogue. 

Throughout combating scenes full of collisions and explosions, the outside soundbar dealt with the low-frequency rumble and grumbles nicely, however I seen it wasn’t as tight as my Sonos Sub 4. The Q990F’s subwoofer is far smaller, which is a vital issue.

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The Q990F’s rear audio system are a welcomed addition, including extra depth and immersion to your viewing expertise. Though the rear audio system could also be small, they make their presence identified. Whereas watching in Dolby Atmos, you’ll be able to succinctly place objects and sounds within the content material’s setting; they carry out precisely how they’re alleged to. 

Even in content material not combined for Atmos and as an alternative encoded in PCM Multichannel, the rear audio system add a layer of immersion within the absence of peak channels.

The Q990F sounds simply as nice enjoying TV exhibits and flicks because it does enjoying music. It has deep bass, clear mids, and current highs. The Q990F has barely much less shine and crispiness within the highs in comparison with the Sonos Arc Extremely, however it’s not a deal-breaker.

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You’ll be able to stream music immediately out of your TV, however the Q990F provides connectivity for an array of streaming companies, platforms, machine ecosystems, and voice assistants. This soundbar is appropriate with Google House, Chromecast, Spotify Join, Roon, AirPlay, Tidal Join, Alexa, and Bixby.

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

In comparison with Sonos’ sound programs, the Samsung HW-Q990F provides extra customization options and sound modes. Nonetheless, Sonos provides modular programs you’ll be able to construct over time, whereas Samsung’s flagship residence theater programs are boxed and bought altogether. 

Lastly, the Q990F is simpler on the pockets than Sonos’ flagship soundbar, exterior subwoofer, and Period 300 rear audio system. It helps that the soundbar is presently discounted by 20% ($400 off) on Samsung’s web site.

Nonetheless, the Q990F is a high-performing soundbar, reproducing full-bodied, energetic sound match for watching your favourite TV exhibits and flicks. It is full of software program options and pairs splendidly with a big TV. However if in case you have final yr’s HW-Q990D, do not feel rushed to improve; there aren’t sufficient enhancements on this yr’s mannequin to justify it.