Name: Samsung HW-Q990C
Brand: Samsung
SKU: 624f2f8c-eddc-4f7f-987b-7c1deee0630b
Price: 984.95 USD
Availability: InStock

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$984.95

The Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar is highly praised by experts for its exceptional sound quality and immersive experience. It delivers clear and detailed ... more

🤖 Beep-boop. I can read reviews REALLY FAST and summarize. Do you have any questions about Samsung HW-Q990C or Samsung HW-Q990D?

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Experts recommend Samsung HW-Q990C more than Samsung HW-Q990D

As of 8 Jan 2025, experts prefer Samsung HW-Q990C over Samsung HW-Q990D, but both Sound Bars have solid expert endorsements.

As per this month's meta ranking, Samsung HW-Q990C received 4 recommendations: from PCMag (25 Nov 2024), TechHive (6 Oct 2023) WIRED (2 Jan 2025) and 1 other. By contrast, Samsung HW-Q990D received only 3 recommendations from Rtings.com (21 Oct 2024), TechRadar (24 Dec 2024) and What Hi-Fi (5 Dec 2024).

Rank	Change	Price	Sound Bar	Rtings.com	TechRadar	Tom's Guide	PCMag	What Hi-Fi	TechHive	World Wide Stereo	WIRED	SoundGuys	Digital Trends
3	-	$985	Samsung HW-Q990C The Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar is highly praised for its exceptional sound quality, immersive experience, and extensive connectivity options, making it a top choice for enhancing TV audio and creating a cinematic home theater experience.	-	-	-	6	-	5	-	6	-	1
4	-	$1498	Samsung HW-Q990D	1	4	-	-	7	-	-	-	-	-

Curious to see this month's entire Sound Bars ranking? It's here

About our ranking methodology

Endorsement summary:

On 25 Nov 2024 PCMag ranked Samsung HW-Q990C as #6

Rank Sound Bar Comment

... ... ...

#6 out of 9 Samsung HW-Q990C
Best for Samsung TVs

... ... ...

Source: www.pcmag.com
On 6 Oct 2023 TechHive ranked Samsung HW-Q990C as #5

Rank Sound Bar Comment

... ... ...

#5 out of 8 Samsung HW-Q990C
Best high-end soundbar

... ... ...

Source: www.techhive.com
On 2 Jan 2025 WIRED ranked Samsung HW-Q990C as #6

Rank Sound Bar Comment

... ... ...

#6 out of 14 Samsung HW-Q990C
Best Dolby Atmos Soundbar

... ... ...

Source: www.wired.com
On 8 Nov 2024 Digital Trends ranked Samsung HW-Q990C as #1

Rank Sound Bar Comment

#1 out of 13 Samsung HW-Q990C
The best soundbar for most people

... ... ...

Source: www.digitaltrends.com
On 21 Oct 2024 Rtings.com ranked Samsung HW-Q990D as #1

Rank Sound Bar Comment

#1 out of 7 Samsung HW-Q990D
Best Soundbar

... ... ...

Source: www.rtings.com
On 24 Dec 2024 TechRadar ranked Samsung HW-Q990D as #4

Rank Sound Bar Comment

... ... ...

#4 out of 11 Samsung HW-Q990D
The best soundbar for Dolby Atmos surround sound

... ... ...

Source: www.techradar.com

On 5 Dec 2024

What Hi-Fi ranked Samsung HW-Q990D as #7

Rank	Sound Bar	Comment
...	...	...
#7 out of 8	Samsung HW-Q990D	Samsung's latest soundbar package manages to outdo the previous generation, stepping into five-star territory.
...	...	...

Source: www.whathifi.com

After counting and adding up the 93 expert endorsements of the January rankings, Samsung HW-Q990C outranks Samsung HW-Q990D. This is not to say that Samsung HW-Q990D is a bad option. Like Samsung HW-Q990C, it is recommended by experts, but less.

MetaRanking Common points from expert reviews summarized.

As can be seen below, Samsung HW-Q990C outranks Samsung HW-Q990D by 1 position. This indicates that, as of 8 Jan 2025, Samsung HW-Q990C is more critically acclaimed than Samsung HW-Q990D.

Rank	Change	Price	Sound Bar	Rtings.com	TechRadar	Tom's Guide	PCMag	What Hi-Fi	TechHive	World Wide Stereo	WIRED	SoundGuys	Digital Trends
1	-	Check price	Sonos Arc Ultra	-	3	1	1	1	-	-	8	-	2
2	-	$483	Sonos Beam Gen 2 The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a compact and stylish soundbar that delivers excellent audio quality for both music and movies, with versatile connectivity options and compatibility with Dolby Atmos, making it a recommended choice for Sonos fans and those seeking high-quality audio enjoyment.	6	-	-	7	4	4	10	-	2	-
3	-	$985	Samsung HW-Q990C The Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar is highly praised for its exceptional sound quality, immersive experience, and extensive connectivity options, making it a top choice for enhancing TV audio and creating a cinematic home theater experience.	-	-	-	6	-	5	-	6	-	1
4	-	$1498	Samsung HW-Q990D	1	4	-	-	7	-	-	-	-	-
5	-	$233	Polk Audio React The Polk Audio React soundbar is a versatile and budget-friendly device that offers big, detailed, and immersive sound for movies, music, and TV shows, with four audio modes and a variety of connectivity options.	-	-	-	-	-	1	3	-	-	-
6	-	Check price	Polk Audio MagniFi Mini The Polk Audio MagniFi Mini is a compact soundbar with various connectivity options, wireless subwoofer, and Google Cast compatibility, delivering clear and powerful sound suitable for small to medium-sized rooms.	-	-	-	5	-	-	1	-	-	-
7	-	Check price	Vizio M-Series 5.1 The Vizio M-Series 5.1 Soundbar is a versatile and affordable audio system that offers excellent sound quality, making it suitable for a variety of audio content, including music and movies, and is compatible with most TVs on the market.	-	-	-	-	-	3	-	7	-	8
8	+1	$1300	JBL Bar 1300X The JBL Bar 1300X is a highly regarded soundbar that offers impressive sound quality, connectivity options, compatibility with various devices and streaming services, a sleek design, and a range of features, making it suitable for creating an immersive audio experience in various use cases.	-	11	-	3	-	-	-	11	-	-
9	-1	Check price	Bose Smart Soundbar 600 The Bose Smart Soundbar 600 is a versatile and highly compatible soundbar with exceptional sound quality, a sleek design, and a range of connectivity options.	-	10	-	-	-	-	-	5	-	6
10	-	Check price	Sony HT-A7000 The Sony HT-A7000 is a high-end soundbar with a neutral sound profile, wide and immersive soundstage, comprehensive connectivity options, and advanced features such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, making it a great choice for enhancing the listening experience.	-	7	6	-	-	-	-	12	-	-
11	-	$298	Sony HT-S2000 The Sony HT-S2000 soundbar is highly praised for its sound quality, clarity, and dialogue reproduction, making it suitable for both music and movie playback in larger rooms with high ceilings.	-	2	-	-	3	-	-	-	-	-
15	-	$398	Klipsch Flexus Core 200	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	9
16	+1	$2199	Devialet Dione The Devialet Dione soundbar is a high-end, innovative speaker that offers exceptional sound quality, powerful bass, and a sleek design, making it suitable for both music and movie playback.	-	-	4	-	-	-	6	-	-	-
17	+1	$1000	Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus The Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus is a versatile and high-end soundbar that offers impressive sound quality, advanced features, and customization options for an immersive audio experience.	-	-	-	-	-	-	8	-	-	7
18	+1	$700	Sonos Arc The Sonos Arc is a high-end soundbar with impressive sound quality, expansive soundstage, and modern design, ideal for those seeking an immersive surround sound experience for movies and music.	-	-	-	-	5	-	11	-	-	-
19	+1	$1400	Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2	7	-	-	-	-	-	-	13	-	-
20	-4	$210	ZVOX AccuVoice AV157 The ZVOX AccuVoice AV157 soundbar is a great option for those who struggle to hear TV dialogue, with its proprietary AccuVoice and SuperVoice technologies improving the intelligibility of spoken words and its dedicated center channel aiding in dialogue clarity.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	10	-	10
21	+1	Check price	Sony Bravia Theater Quad	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	9	-	13
22	-1	$179	Sonos Ray The Sonos Ray soundbar is a high-quality and affordable option with excellent clarity and crispness in sound, Wi-Fi connectivity, multi-room setup capabilities, and compatibility with most TVs and wireless streaming devices.	-	-	-	-	-	-	12	-	-	11
Show all rows

Expert Reviews There are people on the Internet whose job is to review products. Below are their opinions.

Expert reviews [9]

98

Total expert reviews: 9

with a score: 4
without a score: 5

Highest score by TechRadar	100
Average score based on 9 reviews	98
Lowest score by cybershack.com.au	91

Score distribution:

80-100
60-80
40-60
20-40
0-20

100

The Samsung HW-Q990C is a flagship soundbar that offers exceptional power and immersion, making it a top choice for a home theater experience. With its class-leading channel count, smart features, and impressive sound quality, it delivers great value despite its premium price tag.

+ pros

Exceptional power and immersion: The Samsung HW-Q990C delivers a powerful and immersive home theater experience with its class-leading channel count and 656W of power.
New features: The soundbar includes SmartThings Hub functionality, Amazon Alexa voice control, and Alexa device grouping for multi-room setups, adding convenience and versatility to the user experience.
Integrated auto-calibration system: The Q990C has an integrated auto-calibration system that ensures optimal sound quality and performance.
Improved Adaptive Sound mode: The soundbar has improvements to the Adaptive Sound mode, providing a better audio experience tailored to the content being played.
Music playback: The Q990C excels in music playback, addressing the limitations of its predecessor and delivering impressive sound quality.

- cons

Lack of 4K 120Hz HDMI passthrough: The soundbar lacks 4K 120Hz HDMI passthrough, which may be a drawback for gamers who want to take full advantage of their gaming consoles.
Premium price tag: The Q990C comes with a premium price tag of £1,599/$1,599/AUS$1,499, which may be a deterrent for some consumers.
Limited alternative options: While the LG S95QR and Sony HT-A7000 are mentioned as alternatives, they may not offer the same level of features and performance as the Q990C.

Read Full Review...Report

John Archer www.techradar.com

The Samsung HW-Q990C is a top-of-the-line soundbar that offers room-filling Dolby Atmos sound and comes with key upgrades such as improved bass performance and room calibration features. It is the best option for bringing a high-quality audio experience to your living room without the need for a dedicated speaker system.

+ pros

Improved bass performance: The Samsung HW-Q990C offers enhanced bass performance, providing a more immersive audio experience.
Q-Symphony compatibility: The soundbar can be paired with recent Samsung TVs to enable Q-Symphony, which combines the speakers in the TV with the soundbar for a more immersive sound.
SpaceFit Sound Pro: This feature allows the soundbar to calibrate to the specific room it is being used in, optimizing the sound for the space.
Easy setup: The Samsung HW-Q990C is easy to set up, with wireless rear speakers and minimal placement requirements.
Immersive sound experience: The soundbar's 11 front-facing speakers, four up-facing speakers, and subwoofer deliver an immersive sound experience for TV, movies, sports, and gaming.
Adaptive Sound feature: The soundbar's Adaptive Sound feature brings out the most important elements of sound, enhancing the overall audio experience.
Q-Symphony 3.0: When paired with a recent Samsung TV, the soundbar can enable Q-Symphony 3.0, further enhancing the immersive sound experience.
Supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X: The Samsung HW-Q990C supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, providing a high-quality audio experience.
Multiple connectivity options: The soundbar offers HDMI eARC, HDMI, optical digital input, Bluetooth, and AirPlay 2 connectivity options.
SmartThings Hub: The soundbar also functions as a SmartThings Hub, allowing for easy control of smart home devices.

- cons

Lack of HDMI 2.1 support: The soundbar does not support HDMI 2.1, limiting its compatibility with the latest gaming capabilities.
No 4K 120Hz pass-through: The lack of 4K 120Hz pass-through may be a drawback for users looking to take advantage of the latest gaming features.
Limited support for VRR: The soundbar has limited support for Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), which may be a disadvantage for gamers.
Higher price point: The Samsung HW-Q990C has a retail price of $1,899.99, which may be considered expensive for some consumers.

Read Full Review...Report

Josh Smith www.newsweek.com

The Samsung HW-Q990C Q-Series 11.1.4-channel soundbar is a high-end, top-of-the-line Atmos soundbar that promises to deliver a stunning three-dimensional soundstage with its impressive array of 22 drivers. Despite its hefty price tag, it offers a powerful and immersive audio experience, making it a great choice for audiophiles looking for the ultimate soundscape.

+ pros

The Samsung HW-Q990C offers a stunning three-dimensional soundstage with its array of 22 drivers, providing an immersive audio experience.
The soundbar utilizes Dolby Atmos technology, delivering powerful and clear audio for both movies and music.
The Q990C includes Q-Symphony, which allows it to pair with Samsung TVs for a combined audio experience.
It features wireless Dolby Atmos, eliminating the need for cumbersome HDMI cables and allowing for flexible placement.
The soundbar includes up/side firing rear speakers, providing a captivating all-around sound experience.
It has a built-in voice assistant for hands-free navigation and control of the soundbar and other smart devices.
The Q990C offers adaptive sound, optimizing audio based on the type of content being played.
It includes Game Mode Pro, enhancing the gaming experience with optimized 3D sound.
The soundbar is compatible with AirPlay 2, allowing for easy pairing with Apple devices.
It features AVA (Active Voice Analyzer), ensuring dialogue and commentary are optimized and not drowned out.

- cons

The price of the HW-Q990C is quite high, which may deter customers looking for value for money.
The soundbar's hardware, design, and dimensions have not seen significant upgrades compared to its predecessor, potentially making it less appealing to those seeking the latest features.
The placement of the rear speakers may be limited by the length of the power cable provided.
The display on the soundbar is small and difficult to read from a distance, making it more convenient to make adjustments through the SmartThings app.
Some features, such as Game Mode Pro, are only compatible with specific Samsung TVs, limiting their functionality for users with other TV brands.
The Q990C is one of the more expensive soundbar options on the market, which may be a deterrent for budget-conscious consumers.

Read Full Review...Report

Jack Weisman homesoundbars.com

Show all 9 reviews

No expert reviews linked yet for Samsung HW-Q990D.

From Seller:

11.1.4 CH. TRUE DOLBY ATMOS SOUND: Feel sound all around with 11 front-facing speakers, 1 subwoofer and 4 up-firing channels for a true Dolby Atmos experience; Flood the room with audio from all angles, for sound so real you can almost touch it
Read more

From Seller:

Q-Symphony: With Q-Symphony, your speakers work together to optimize all the audio channels to operate as one | 11.1.4 Ch. True Dolby Atmos Sound: Hear the room fill up with audio you can feel from all angles. Your complete home theater experience is right in the box
Read more