Samsung is the Los Angeles Dodgers of the soundbar world. Every single year, the tech giant fields a new flagship soundbar behemoth. And every single year, it shines as an outstanding system that sits at the top of most rankings and offers incredible value, even at a premium cost. The problem, though, lies in the lofty expectations that come with that role. Samsung’s new high-end system, the HW-Q990F, needs to be a league above last year’s ensemble to satisfy the masses. And as impeccable as the Dolby Atmos-enabled system continues to sound year-in and year-out, it’s getting tougher and tougher to continue to outdo itself.
Samsung HW-Q990F – Design and Features
Let’s be honest, the HW-Q990F is a bit of a statement piece. This isn’t a soundbar you’ll want to (or even be able to) hide away – it’s sleek, powerful, and definitely makes a presence alongside your TV on your entertainment setup. It’s got that premium look and feel you’d expect from a flagship model. And while it does take up some real estate, the sound it delivers certainly justifies the footprint. More on that later.
The system’s subwoofer did get a substantial facelift this year, both in terms of aesthetics and hardware. Gone is the more computer tower-adjacent look of the old sub, and it is a design more akin to traditional home theater woofers, a more compact cube complete with dual 8-inch drivers. Inside, Samsung’s new optimized subwoofer uses AI-driven controls to minimize distortion when it’s delivering deep bass notes.
In addition to the excellent Samsung SmartThings app serving as the ultimate control panel for the Q990F, the WiFi-enabled system provides plenty of other forms of compatibility. Whether you’re an Alexa devotee, a Google Home enthusiast, or an Apple AirPlay aficionado, the Q990F has you covered.
There’s a few other features that Samsung seems excited about, from a Game Mode Pro meant to add enhanced audio cues that put you right in the heart of the action, to Adaptive Sound that allows the soundbar to actively recognize the type of content you’re watching and adjust sound settings to give you the best experience possible. While these are both truly neat features, I don’t think they’re going to put anyone over the top if they’re considering spending a mortgage payment on a soundbar system.
The same generally goes for the Q990F’s collection of Samsung-specific goodies. The soundbar has a few features that are only accessible when paired with a corresponding Samsung TV, including a Wireless Dolby Atmos option and a Q-Symphony mode that lets the soundbar work in harmony with the speakers on your Samsung TV to (in theory) create a wider soundstage. I didn’t have a Samsung display to test these features out, but I have been able to do so in the past. They’re cool, but they’re not the reason you buy a system like this.
Notably, at least for gamers, the Q990F does add support for 4K/120Hz gaming and variable refresh rates.
Samsung HW-Q990F – Performance
Where the Q990F truly shines is in its performance, and that should come as no surprise. Like its predecessor, Dolby Atmos content comes alive with this soundbar, masterfully utilizing its four upfiring drivers to create an immersive soundscape that envelops you in sound. Overall, the bar’s audio is impeccably balanced, with a healthy dose of bass that adds weight and impact to movies and TV shows, but without overwhelming the other frequencies.
I usually audition some of my go-to Atmos content, including Apple TV+’s The Greatest Beer Run Ever for how it spatially puts you right in wartime Vietnam alongside the main character. But with Disney+ now offering Dolby Atmos for a significant portion of its library, I revisited Black Panther and was impressed by the enhanced audio. There’s a particular climactic fight scene towards the end of the film where the Q990F brought me along for the ride as Wakandan aircraft ripped through the air around me.
I also put the Q990F to the test with “Daredevil: Born Again,” a series that navigates chunks of heavy, impactful dialogue while tossing in some truly gnarly action sequences. Samsung’s flagship bar made easy work of it, generating clear, detailed voices, including Vincent D’onofrio’s low, gruff grumble as Wilson Fisk. And when it came time for the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen to stop some crime, we watched and listened as the Q990F added visceral depth to each devastating blow he landed. There’s a specific, gruesome scene where he…hooks (for lack of better word) a bad guy straight through the chest, and I honestly couldn’t get that all-too-real sound out of my head for a day or two.
Music lovers will also appreciate the Q990F, although it’s worth noting that the Sonos Arc Ultra might have a slight edge in sheer musicality. However, the Q990F still handles a wide range of genres with aplomb. From the classic rock of Creedence Clearwater Revival to the modern hip-hop of Doechii, the soundbar delivers clear, detailed audio with plenty of punch. It’s hard for me to say if Samsung’s new subwoofer is a monumental improvement over the last iteration, but I will note that it delivers an impressive range of bass notes free of distortion of any kind.
If there’s one con I have, and it’s squarely in the realm of nitpicking, it’s that as great as the Q990F performs, it doesn’t quite wow me in the same way I was wowed when I first heard the Q990C a few years back. Samsung is scraping a ceiling in terms of what’s possible with soundbar performance, it seems, and as great as it continues to be, it’s just not as groundbreaking as it used to be.
Samsung HW-Q990F – The Competition
The Samsung HW-Q990F faces some stiff competition, with the Sonos Arc Ultra serving as an obvious contender. Both are flagship soundbars that deliver incredible Dolby Atmos performance. The choice often comes down to your overall ecosystem. If you’re already deep in the Sonos world, the Arc Ultra makes perfect sense. But if you’re looking for a standalone home theater solution with exceptional sound, the Q990F holds its own.
And let’s not forget another premium-priced counterpart, the Sony Bravia Theatre Quad. This soundbar-less home theater system is still one of the most detailed systems I’ve heard, with unmatched separation in the front soundstage. However, the addition of a dedicated subwoofer in the Samsung setup gives it a significant advantage in terms of bass impact and overall punch.
Then there’s the Samsung HW-Q990D, the predecessor to the Q990F. Oddly enough, it’s likely the Q990F’s biggest competition to date. The systems are ridiculously similar in performance and features, with only things like a refreshed subwoofer and some new gaming features setting the new system apart. And now that the Q990F is on the open market, the Q990D will see plenty of discounts, driving down the cost of entry for a one-year-old flagship soundbar system.
I guess it’s not the worst problem in the world to have. But the Q990D has been ranked as our best soundbar for a reason, and now that people can get it for cheaper, it’s hard to see a ton of incentive for bypassing it for a more expensive, albeit newer version.
