We put Samsung's Q990F soundbar to the test, and it wowed our audio expert with powerful Dolby Atmos immersion

Business Insider

3 days ago

If you're looking for a complete home theater in a box, the Samsung HW-Q990F is an excellent place to start. Instead of fussing with big tower speakers, lots of wires, and an AV receiver, this package offers a much more manageable audio solution with a soundbar, wireless subwoofer, and two wireless rear speakers. Not only does the Q990F simplify listening, but it offers an impressive 11.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos experience with a big cinematic punch.
I've been reviewing and obsessing over audio products for more than a decade, and this system delivers on its promise. The number of features and level of performance packed into the Q990F are remarkable. And though I'm a big fan of powerful single-unit soundbar models, like the Sonos Arc Ultra, there's something nice about getting all the components you need for a true surround sound experience in one box.
That said, it's key to remember that several previous-generation versions of the Q990F are still available for less money. Compared to the older Q990C and Q990D, the Q990F doesn't rock the boat. The biggest difference is the Q990F's switch to a more compact sealed subwoofer, which is easier to place while still offering plenty of rumble. It also carries over HDMI 2.1 support, which was first introduced on the Q990D last year. Though the new sub's design is cool, those older models remain a great value for people who don't mind a larger subwoofer.
Setting up the Q990F is a piece of cake
The Q990F goes from box to home theater speaker system in record time. The package comes with the soundbar unit, one subwoofer, two rear speakers, power cables, two optional mounting brackets for the rears, a remote control, and an HDMI cable. The hardest part of the setup was lugging the hefty, 16-pound soundbar to my media console.
At first glance, the rear speakers don't have many distinguishing features, but it's easy enough to figure out that the metal mesh side faces inward, directing the sound toward the listener. The subwoofer has exposed drivers on either side and can be placed anywhere in the room, though a corner is ideal for its lower frequencies. While the rear speakers and subwoofer connect wirelessly to the soundbar, each component still needs to be plugged into a power outlet.
If you've bought a Samsung TV within the last few years (2022 and newer), you can connect the Q990F soundbar to your display wirelessly with full Dolby Atmos support. Otherwise, there's an eARC HDMI port on the bottom of the soundbar for wired connectivity to any TV with HDMI. There's also an optical port for older TVs, but that kind of connection won't offer high-bandwidth sound quality or Dolby Atmos playback. I don't love that the ports are on the bottom of the soundbar, which makes them a pain to access, but you shouldn't need to fiddle around with them too much after your initial setup.
The soundbar also has two handy HDMI 2.1 passthrough ports. These connections can be used to pair a media device, like a streaming player or gaming console, to the soundbar and pass its video to your TV. Since they're version 2.1, these ports offer full support for sending 4K/120Hz signals, which is ideal if you want to pass video from a PS5 or Xbox Series X system.
A time-tested design with a few small tweaks
The Q990F is the latest iteration in Samsung's long-running Q9 series of flagship soundbars, and it sticks closely to the same general design the brand has used in its last few generations. This year's model is a different shade of black that looks like a dark gray to my eyes. And although the soundbar remains nearly identical in size to previous versions, it's worth noting that the bar is big. At 48.5 inches wide, 2.8 inches high, and 5.4 inches deep, the Q990F is longer, wider, and taller than the Sonos Arc Ultra, for instance. It's also heavier.
Packed inside the main soundbar are 15 drivers. That includes two up-firing and four side-firing ones to bounce sound around and above the listening area. The rear speakers also have up- and side-firing drivers to enhance their Dolby Atmos capabilities. I didn't find the rears too obtrusive in size, but I wouldn't want them any bigger. They each measure around 7.5 inches tall and 5.5 inches deep. Coated in the same dark gray color, they aren't particularly attractive decor, as I was told by my wife. They're straight out of the corporate collection, but they get the job done.
While the system is designed well overall, I have one gripe with the soundbar's integrated text display, which is hidden behind its plastic grille. It's so small that it needs to scroll a bunch to display any settings, modes, or messages it tries to convey. This was also the case on older Q990 models, but this choice is increasingly outdated.
So, while you can change settings on the soundbar using the remote control, I would recommend using the Samsung SmartThings mobile app instead. This app is used for all Samsung devices and is not purpose-built for home theater stuff, but it works well. My only complaint is that it doesn't display the current audio format that the soundbar is playing.
That kind of information is useful if you want to confirm whether your system is properly receiving Dolby Atmos or other high-quality audio signals. As it stands, there's no way to see this in SmartThings. For people interested, this information is obtainable on the tiny, scrolling soundbar display if you press the "i" button on the remote. But it should be in the app as well.
Sound quality is thoroughly impressive and immersive
The Samsung Q990F's main selling point is its high-end sound quality with an impressive 756W of total power. And it doesn't disappoint. From the moment I turned the system on and pressed play on "Dune II," I was impressed. The subwoofer offered plenty of rumble, and the rear speakers instantly engulfed me in a sand-filled soundscape.
When watching movies, tires screeched with piercing clarity, and bullets fired with pointed sharpness. I cycled through the soundbar's different audio modes, such as Surround, Standard, and Adaptive Sound, to find the best option for my tastes. I was satisfied with each for different uses, but the nuances are there for those who care.
Dolby Atmos support is another big draw of the Q990F, as this feature allows the soundbar to simulate audio effects coming from above your head. You can learn more in our Dolby Atmos guide. In this regard, the system performed beautifully. I ran through movies like "Ready Player One," "Top Gun: Maverick," and other titles with fun immersive scenes, and loved what the soundbar offered. All the drivers worked in conjunction to create a dome of audio, drawing me into the movies.
The Q990F's subwoofer has been tweaked compared to previous models, as this new version has a more compact, sealed design that's built to reduce rattle. Though I couldn't directly compare it to the older ported subwoofer, I certainly like this new one's smaller size. Plus, it still packs a full-throttle punch. I didn't find the need to tweak any EQ settings when watching movies, but if you do, you can likely squeeze out even more oomph to shake your decor or annoy your neighbors.
The Q990F also supports Samsung's SpaceFit Sound Pro feature, which adapts the audio to your room's physical dimensions. There's no lengthy configuration process needed, and instead, you simply toggle it on and off in the SmartThings app. I noticed a slight difference in the audio performance, but not enough to be strict about turning it on. My living room is a rectangle without any odd reflections, so there's not much for it to adapt to. But to my ears, this feature did offer slightly tighter sound with less reverberation.
There are a few other audio tricks that you can perform using the SmartThings app. For instance, in the advanced sound settings, you can activate "Moderate Bass," which turns the subwoofer off and lets the main soundbar handle all low-frequency duties. Apartment dwellers might find this useful.
There's also a "Private Rear Sound" function in the Surround Speaker Setup section. This option diverts all audio to the rear speakers, so sound playback is (theoretically) closer to the person or people sitting between the two rears. The sound quality wasn't anything special in this mode, but it does make for a neat way to watch TV after the kids have gone to bed.
Like previous Q990 soundbars, this model supports Samsung's Q-Symphony feature, which uses a compatible Samsung TV's speakers in concert with the Q990F. I've always been a bit torn about Q-Symphony as a concept. After all, people are buying a soundbar to get better speakers than the small ones in their TVs, so why would I want to still use those? In practice, though, the feature doesn't distract from what the soundbar provides. However, I'm not sure that my Frame TV added anything worthwhile, audio-wise, to the experience.
The Q990F is also great for music, and it doubles as a smart speaker
As much as the Q990F is a powerhouse for watching movies and TV shows, it's also a good general-purpose soundbar for listening to music and other living room tasks. For example, it ticks nearly all the boxes for wireless playback, including Bluetooth, WiFi, Chromecast, Apple AirPlay, and Spotify Connect.
I had no problems linking it to my iPhone through all of those protocols. I also used the Apple Music app on my Apple TV streaming player to play Dolby Atmos spatial music, and it sounded terrific.
Whether you find spatial music gimmicky or not, I like that the Q990F has so many connection methods. It's easy to AirPlay a playlist to the speaker while you make dinner, for example.
The Q990F also has built-in support for Amazon Alexa, so you can use voice controls and access digital assistant functions.
Should you buy the Samsung Q990F soundbar?
The Samsung HW-Q990F is a fantastic high-end soundbar. It's a complete surround sound system in a box that delivers a thunderous clash of sound to any living room. For people who want a full home theater experience without having to piece together multiple speakers and a receiver, this is an obvious choice. It comes with all the components you need and doesn't overcomplicate things.
However, the Q990F's convenience doesn't come cheap. The soundbar has a full retail price of $2,000 but is often on sale for around $1,700. That's not unreasonable for what you get, but it's still a big chunk of change. And though this system is more compact than a full-sized speaker setup, it's still a decent size commitment with a separate subwoofer and two satellite speakers. As such, it's not ideal for smaller apartments.
It's also important to remember that the 2024 Q990D and 2023 Q990C are still available for less money, though it's not clear how long inventory will last. Given recent discounts, the Q990C in particular is a fantastic deal, and it's still Insider Reviews' pick for the best soundbar value overall.
That said, the Q990F does have some upgrades over the Q990C, including a more compact, refined subwoofer and HDMI 2.1 support. If you're looking for a premium Dolby Atmos soundbar solution with those features in mind, the Q990F is an excellent option.
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