Samsung HW-Q990B Review
The new Samsung HW-Q990B soundbar represents the pinnacle of the brand in this category.
This package includes a soundbar, a wireless subwoofer, and two rear satellite speakers for surround effects. It packs a punch with an impressive array of 22 speakers designed to deliver a truly immersive and impactful audio experience.
Compatible with all audio and video formats, including the often overlooked DTS, this soundbar proudly claims to be the first in the market to offer wireless Dolby Atmos support. We had the opportunity to test it out for a while.
Av info
| PRODUCT | Premium 11.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar |
| POSITION | Samsung’s flagship, replacing the Q950A |
| PEERS | LG S95QR; Devialet Dione; Sennheiser Ambeo |
| WEBSITE | www.samsung.com |
The Samsung HW-Q990B soundbar follows the design cues of its predecessors like the HW-Q950T, featuring a substantial width measuring 123.2 cm, a height of 6.95 cm, and a depth of 13.8 cm. It is suitable for TVs sized 55 inches and larger. Departing from the fabric covering used previously, it now sports a metal front and top, which helps prevent dust buildup and cat scratches. Its relatively low height allows it to sit comfortably in front of a television without obstructing the view. Alternatively, it can be wall-mounted with all necessary hardware provided in the box.
The soundbar has a robust appearance with angular ends, carefully oriented to provide wide and side-filling audio effects. It weighs 7.7 kg, just for the soundbar alone.
Finally, the satellite speakers of the Samsung HW-Q990B measure 20 cm in height, 13 cm in width, and 14 cm in depth. They are not extremely compact and require suitable supports to accommodate them, each weighing 3.4 kg. For comparison, this is nearly twice the weight of the Teufel Cinebar 11 MK2 soundbar…
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The satellite speakers also feature a metal finish. They are equipped with three speakers: one on the front, another on the side, and the last one upward-facing, each protected by a grille. Naturally, they need to be connected to a power outlet, and Samsung provides cables that are 1.5 meters long for this purpose.
The new Samsung HW-Q990B soundbar represents the high end of the brand in this field. This package consists of a soundbar, a wireless subwoofer, and two rear satellite speakers for surround effects. It hides its capabilities well with a whopping 22 speakers aimed at providing a truly impactful and immersive ambiance. Compatible with all audio and video formats, including the often overlooked DTS, this soundbar can even boast of being the first on the market to offer wireless Dolby Atmos. We’ve had a chance to try it out for a while.
The pairing between the soundbar, subwoofer, and surround speakers is automatic and immediate upon plugging them into their respective power outlets. The soundbar supports WiFi connectivity and also offers Bluetooth connectivity. Four buttons on the top allow switching between sources, toggling the integrated microphone, and adjusting the volume. The volume control has a long range, going up to 100, with noticeable changes starting from around 15.
At the rear, there are two sets of connectors. The space to access these connectors is not very wide, which may cause cables to bend sharply, potentially leading to disconnections when handling the soundbar. We even experienced a connector coming loose just from handling the bar. An additional 5 cm of space would have prevented this issue. The HW-Q990B is equipped with two HDMI inputs, one HDMI eARC output, an optical digital audio input, and is also compatible with AirPlay 2.
The soundbar comes with an infrared remote control, similar to those that come with the brand’s TVs, although those benefit from a rechargeable solar battery (2020-2021 series) or even induction charging (2022 series), whereas here, it requires 2 AAA batteries. However, this potential drawback can be mitigated by the fact that the soundbar remote is seldom used after initial setup, typically ending up in a drawer in favor of the TV remote for basic actions and the app for everything else. Switching between sources on the soundbar remote requires multiple presses of the corresponding button, reducing the number of buttons but increasing the risk of missing an input.
You can initiate an acoustic room analysis phase so that the soundbar can assess the acoustic environment and adjust the sound output accordingly. This feature is called SpaceFit Sound+. It’s worth noting that the subwoofer also includes a microphone, allowing it to self-calibrate automatically.
Listening Experience: Truly Immersive Sound
The Samsung HW-Q990B soundbar incorporates left and right front channels, a center channel, front and rear height channels, front wide channels, and front and rear side channels. With all these, you’re truly surrounded. The system boasts a total of 22 speakers, including 4 upward-firing speakers positioned both at the front and rear on the surround speakers.
The subwoofer features an 8-inch (20 cm diameter) woofer with an acoustic lens system that Samsung claims delivers more uniform bass. Based on our tests, we must acknowledge the subwoofer’s excellent performance, providing indeed a robust bass level with great depth.
The Adaptive Sound (AI Sound) mode performs admirably thanks to its precise scene analysis tailored to content. The Standard mode channels all audio through the soundbar only, limiting surround effects. The Game mode is particularly enveloping, similar to the Surround mode. Continuing with Q-Symphony, now in version 2.0, this soundbar can utilize a TV’s speakers (Samsung only) to enhance spatialization further, which notably enhances elevation effects, already impressive with just the soundbar alone. It’s particularly appreciated that the soundbar supports Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos, and DTS:X formats at this price point. Omitting any of these would be incomprehensible, despite claims that DTS is less commonly used.
A noteworthy update this year is the ability to wirelessly transmit Dolby Atmos signals from a TV to the soundbar, bypassing the eARC HDMI cable connection.
The soundbar’s HDMI inputs support Ultra HD signals at 60 frames per second, HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision. It also supports Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) to reduce display lag, though it lacks Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), which is important for gaming consoles to minimize screen tearing.
Specs
| DRIVE UNITS | 21 drivers including Atmos heights on main enclosure and rears |
| ONBOARD POWER (CLAIMED) | 656W total |
| CONNECTIONS | 2 xHDMI inputs; 1 xHDMI output with eARC; optical digital audio input |
| DOLBY ATMOS/DTS:X | Yes/Yes |
| SEPARATE SUB | Yes. 8in driver |
| REMOTE CONTROL | Yes |
| DIMENSIONS | 1,232(w) x 70(h) x 138(d)mm (soundbar); 220(w) x 413(h) x 410(d)mm (sub); 129.5(w) x 201(h) x 140.4(d)mm (rears) |
| WEIGHT | 7.7kg (soundbar); 11.7kg (sub); 3.4kg (rears) |
| FEATURES | Adaptive Sound Mode; wireless Dolby Atmos support and Q Symphony with compatible Samsung TVs; Dolby Vision/HDR10+ passthrough; SpaceFit Sound+; Bluetooth; Wi-Fi; Alexa built-in; Apple AirPlay 2; app control |
Verdict
In summary, the immersion level was already impressive with the Samsung HW-Q950T. With the Samsung HW-Q990B Home Cinema soundbar system, it reaches even higher thanks to excellent spatial sound, genuinely immersive audio, and an extremely effective and expansive soundstage. The sound delivered by the soundbar, its subwoofer, and rear channels is remarkably precise, enveloping, yet balanced. It may seem pricey at first glance, but it delivers enough satisfaction to justify its cost.
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Samsung HW-Q990B Full Review
I get pretty handsy with Samsung's loftiest sound bar offering ... the HW-Q990B Clarification (11-1-22): Chromecast compatibility ...
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