ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Samsung HW-Q990F residence leisure system is obtainable for $2,000, together with a soundbar, exterior subwoofer, and two rear audio system.
- The Q990F is filled with software program options, loads of audio modes, and delivers huge, room-filling sound.
- There aren’t many substantial upgrades over final yr’s mannequin, leaving no urgency to improve.
extra shopping for decisions
For a restricted time, Samsung is promoting the HW-Q990F soundbar for $400 (or 20%) off, making it a implausible deal.
Including a soundbar to your TV can enormously enhance your watching expertise, offering fuller, louder, and extra immersive sound to enhance 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 this 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 coloration as a substitute of pure black. The Q990F’s exterior subwoofer can also be extra compact, with Samsung choosing a cubed design as a substitute of a taller rectangular form.
The Q990F is a big and imposing soundbar; it is really useful for TVs 60 inches or bigger, and its massive stature does equate to huge, room-filling sound. Regardless of its bigger measurement, the Q990F has a smooth and trendy design, certain to slot in with your house decor.
I paired the Q990F system with Samsung’s 2025 QN90F Neo QLED 4K TV, and the 2 make an exquisite pair. Though you do not want one among Samsung’s newest TVs to get probably the most out of the Q990F, some options, like Q-Symphony, will be unlocked solely with a suitable Samsung TV.
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Even and not using a Samsung TV, the soundbar continues 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.
Samsung HW-Q990F exterior subwoofer.
Jada Jones/ZDNET
Throughout preventing scenes filled with 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 way smaller, which is a crucial 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 purported to.
Samsung HW-Q990F rear speaker.
Jada Jones/ZDNET
Even in content material not blended for Atmos and as a substitute 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 reveals 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, but it surely’s not a deal-breaker.
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You’ll be able to stream music immediately out of your TV, however the Q990F presents connectivity for an array of streaming companies, platforms, gadget ecosystems, and voice assistants. This soundbar is suitable with Google House, Chromecast, Spotify Join, Roon, AirPlay, Tidal Join, Alexa, and Bixby.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
In comparison with Sonos’ sound techniques, the Samsung HW-Q990F presents extra customization options and sound modes. Nonetheless, Sonos presents modular techniques you’ll be able to construct over time, whereas Samsung’s flagship residence theater techniques are boxed and offered altogether.
Lastly, the Q990F is less complicated 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 reveals and flicks. It is filled with software program options and pairs splendidly with a big TV. However when 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.
