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Experts recommend Samsung HW-Q990C more than Sony HT-A7000

As of 13 Nov 2024, experts prefer Samsung HW-Q990C over Sony HT-A7000, but both Sound Bars have solid expert endorsements.

As per this month's meta ranking, Samsung HW-Q990C received 4 recommendations: from PCMag (3 Oct 2024), TechHive (6 Oct 2023) WIRED (28 Oct 2024) and 1 other. Sony HT-A7000 was also endorsed 4 times: by TechRadar (30 Oct 2024), Tom's Guide (6 Nov 2024) What Hi-Fi (17 Sep 2024) and 1 other. However, experts generally ranked Sony HT-A7000 lower than Samsung HW-Q990C in their articles, which caused it to rank lower in ReviewFinder ranking.

Rank Change Price Sound Bar
Rtings.com
TechRadar
Tom's Guide
PCMag
What Hi-Fi
TechHive
World Wide Stereo
WIRED
SoundGuys
Digital Trends
3
- $988
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.
-
-
-
5
-
5
-
4
-
1
4
- 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
-
1
-
-
8
-
-

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

About our ranking methodology

Endorsement summary:

  • On 28 Oct 2024 WIRED ranked Samsung HW-Q990C as #4 and Sony HT-A7000 as #8
    Rank Sound Bar Comment
    ... ... ...
    #4 out of 14 Samsung HW-Q990C
    Best Dolby Atmos Soundbar
    ... ... ...
    #8 out of 14 Sony HT-A7000
    Best for Gaming
    ... ... ...
  • On 3 Oct 2024 PCMag ranked Samsung HW-Q990C as #5
    Rank Sound Bar Comment
    ... ... ...
    #5 out of 9 Samsung HW-Q990C
    Best for Samsung TVs
    ... ... ...
  • 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
    ... ... ...
  • On 22 Oct 2024 Digital Trends ranked Samsung HW-Q990C as #1
    Rank Sound Bar Comment
    #1 out of 12 Samsung HW-Q990C
    The best soundbar for most people
    ... ... ...
  • On 30 Oct 2024 TechRadar ranked Sony HT-A7000 as #7
    Rank Sound Bar Comment
    ... ... ...
    #7 out of 12 Sony HT-A7000
    The best soundbar for gaming
    ... ... ...
  • On 6 Nov 2024 Tom's Guide ranked Sony HT-A7000 as #6
    Rank Sound Bar Comment
    ... ... ...
    #6 out of 6 Sony HT-A7000
    Best Sony soundbar
  • On 17 Sep 2024 What Hi-Fi ranked Sony HT-A7000 as #1
    Rank Sound Bar Comment
    #1 out of 7 Sony HT-A7000
    Awards 2023 winner. Powerful, room-filling Dolby Atmos from a single TV soundbar
    ... ... ...

After counting and adding up the 92 expert endorsements of the November rankings, Samsung HW-Q990C outranks Sony HT-A7000. This is not to say that Sony HT-A7000 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 Sony HT-A7000 by 1 position. This indicates that, as of 13 Nov 2024, Samsung HW-Q990C is more critically acclaimed than Sony HT-A7000.
Rank Change Price Sound Bar
Rtings.com
TechRadar
Tom's Guide
PCMag
What Hi-Fi
TechHive
World Wide Stereo
WIRED
SoundGuys
Digital Trends
1
- $489
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
10
-
6
4
4
10
6
2
-
2
- $699
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.
-
9
-
3
5
-
11
9
-
2
3
- $988
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.
-
-
-
5
-
5
-
4
-
1
4
- 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
-
1
-
-
8
-
-
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.
100
The Samsung HW-Q990C is the ultimate soundbar for home cinema enthusiasts, offering an immersive 11.1.4-channel speaker layout, AI-enhanced processing, and support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Despite lacking some passthrough features, it delivers exceptional sound quality and value compared to competitors.
+ pros
  • Remarkable level of immersion with its 11.1.4-channel speaker layout and support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
  • AI-enhanced processing, various sound modes, auto room calibration, and built-in Alexa.
  • Fully immersive soundstage and deep, powerful bass.
  • Sleek and well-made design with a choice of stand or wall mounting.
  • Excellent sound quality with clarity, detail, and surround presence.
  • Better value compared to AV receivers and competitors like Bose and Sonos.
- cons
  • Lacks 4K/120 and VRR passthrough.
  • Rear speakers and subwoofer need to be plugged into power sockets.
  • Higher price compared to the previous model, HW-Q990B.
Show all 9 reviews

Expert reviews [20]

87
Total expert reviews: 20
  • with a score: 15
  • without a score: 5
Highest score by What Hi-Fi
100
Average score based on 20 reviews
87
Lowest score by Rtings.com
73

Score distribution:

80-100
60-80
40-60
20-40
0-20
80
Sony HT-A7000 Dolby Atmos Soundbar review
The Sony HT-A7000 is a powerful soundbar with integrated upfiring speakers that support true Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, as well as Sony's new 360 Reality Audio format. While it comes at a high price point and some optional extras are not included in the box, it is a solid choice for those looking for a full-range soundbar with a wide selection of sources and the ability to connect multiple HDMI 2.1 devices.
+ pros
  • Integrated upfiring speakers for true Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support, as well as Sony's 360 Reality Audio format.
  • Two HDMI 2.1 ports for connecting both a PS5 and Xbox Series X.
  • Optional subwoofer and rear surround speakers for room to grow.
- cons
  • Optional extras are not included in the box, making it a pricey purchase.
  • Height channels could produce a more convincing soundstage.
  • Soundbar cut out once or twice during testing period.
73
Sony HT-A7000 Soundbar Review
The Sony HT-A7000 is a well-built soundbar with a neutral sound profile and impressive sound enhancement features. While it struggles with deep low-bass and surround/Atmos performances, it supports all audio formats and has great latency performance.
+ pros
  • Impressive set of sound enhancement features: The Sony HT-A7000 has S-Force Pro Front Surround and Vertical Surround Engine technologies for an immersive listening experience.
  • Supports all audio formats: The soundbar supports all audio formats, making it versatile for different types of content.
  • Great latency performance: The soundbar has a great latency performance, making it suitable for gaming and watching videos.
  • Wireless streaming: The soundbar lets you wirelessly stream audio from your mobile devices.
  • Supports Alexa and Google Assistant devices: The remote supports Alexa and Google Assistant devices, making it easy to control the soundbar with voice commands.
- cons
  • Disappointing surround and Atmos performance: The soundbar struggles with deep low-bass and surround/Atmos performances.
  • Not very loud: The soundbar doesn't get very loud, but you can upgrade it with a sub and satellites.
  • No HDMI In port: The soundbar lacks an HDMI In port, which may be a dealbreaker for some users.
Show all 20 reviews
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:
  • A wider sweet spot lets everyone have the best seat in the house. Fully enjoy the thrill of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X with Vertical Surround Engine, S-Force Pro Front Surround and 360 Spatial Sound Mapping.
  • Read more
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