Samsung HW-Q990C Soundbar Review: Great Dolby Atmos at a Premium Price

8.2

Samsung HW-Q990C Soundbar

Like

• 
  Very good sound for Atmos films
• 
  Class-leading music replay
• 
  Glorious construct high quality

Do not like

• 
  Costly
• 
  Restricted inputs
• 
  Show is difficult to learn

In 2016 Samsung mentioned it wished to be known as the next Bowers and Wilkins, however a couple of months later the corporate fast-tracked these ambitions when it bought Harmon. And whereas Samsung now owns JBL and a boatload of different revered manufacturers, its personal audio merchandise have however continued to face up properly towards the competitors. Merchandise such because the Q990C.

The HW-Q990C is Samsung’s flagship soundbar and it consists of many of the issues individuals are searching for in a $1,000-plus speaker system. These extras embody Dolby Atmos and wi-fi streaming — and even each on the similar time.

I’ve all the time believed that if a soundbar prices over a grand, you are higher off with an AV receiver and audio system. (The $359 Klipsch Reference Cinema and the $589 Onkyo TX-NR6100 are two good picks.) But, I additionally acknowledge that there are many individuals who desire the space-saving and comfort elements of soundbars.

In my assessments the Samsung positively sounded higher than my favourite Atmos soundbar system total, the Vizio Elevate, however how a lot are you keen to pay for that enchancment? The Vizio is at the moment promoting for $800 and the Samsung is at the very least $500 greater than that proper now. But, the Samsung 990C is the perfect devoted encompass soundbar package I’ve heard in years, and can reward anybody keen to pay further for the privilege.

Design and options

My normal advice is to restrict your soundbar budget to $300, however there are positively advantages to spending extra. Pricier fashions just like the Samsung 990C, as an illustration, can supply a greater array of options together with Wi-Fi streaming and voice help. And this explicit mannequin guarantees higher sound, too.

Design-wise the Samsung 990C is of the identical chunky type the corporate has employed for years, which carries a few of the drawbacks I’ve seen with earlier designs. For instance, the show is hidden behind a mesh display and it may be tough to learn.

The Q990C is a 11.1.4 soundbar however you must take its declare of 11 discrete channels with a superb pinch of salt. As a substitute consider it as your customary 5.1.4 encompass configuration (left, proper, heart, two rears, subwoofer and 4 top channels) with a couple of extra vast and side-firing drivers for vast results. 

The set consists of 4 separate speaker bins, they usually’re all fairly giant. The principle soundbar measures 48.5 by 2.7 by 5.4 inches. The subsequent-largest is the wi-fi subwoofer at 8.7 by 16 by 16 inches. The surrounds are about the identical dimension as pc audio system at 5.1 by 7.9 by 5.5 inches.

For those who have been contemplating this soundbar you will have been attracted by its wi-fi Dolby Atmos functionality. I am speaking about its capacity to attach wirelessly with choose 2023 Samsung TVs and stream Dolby Atmos wirelessly. Proper now, nonetheless, the one TVs in that “choose” group are the comparatively cheap CU7000 and CU8000 fashions.

My query is: Are folks with a $600 TV actually going to purchase this soundbar, particularly simply to forsake a $10 cable? Possibly that is you. And I am not the boss of you, you are able to do what you please! However actually, by utilizing a cable you are going to get higher reliability and efficiency too. 

The Q990C will decode all the related codecs together with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X whereas additionally together with compatibility with audio requirements Spotify Connect and Apple AirPlay 2. The soundbar additionally tucks in Q Symphony, which pairs the speaker with the onboard audio system of your Samsung TV, however given that each speaker on this package is healthier than those that go into TVs, I do not suppose you must use it. Different audio gubbins embody the SpaceFit Sound Professional Calibration routine and the voice-optimizing Energetic Voice Amplifier.

Connections embody two HDMI 2.0 inputs (so, sadly, no gaming-friendly 4K/120Hz) with an HDMI eARC output, digital optical, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It might have been good to see seen a couple of extra connections together with an analog enter for folks to attach a report participant, as an illustration.

The distant management is compact and feels premium, with a faux-metallic end. It misses out on the solar energy charger of the TV remotes, however for those who personal a Samsung TV you should utilize its distant to regulate the soundbar too.

How does it sound?

I in contrast the Samsung Q990C towards an array of various soundbars in CNET’s audio lab, together with the Vizio Elevate, the LG S9C and the Bose 600 Smart Soundbar and subwoofer combo. With its 4 top audio system and huge sub, the Samsung positively had a bonus towards the others when it got here to cinematic immersion. As you’d anticipate with a model hoping to turn out to be a family identify in audio, the music replay of the Q990C was additionally glorious.

I started my assessments with Dennis Villenueve’s Dune and in contrast the Samsung towards a Bose Smart Soundbar 600 and Bass Module 500 subwoofer combo, plus the LG S9C. When watching the scene the place the ornithopters land in an try to rescue spice miners from a sandworm (1 hour, 1 minute into the film), readability was one phrase that got here to my thoughts. The whispered dialog, the sound of the spice filtering by Paul Atreides’ airways and the deep thump of the sandworms have been exceedingly clear and impactful. In comparison with the Samsung, the Bose supplied much less presence and slam, and the Samsung’s immersion was helped vastly by the its discrete rears audio system (you may add them to the Bose system aftermarket, nonetheless). The LG S9C was the weakest of the three and I used to be unable to get a lot quantity out of it. The LG bought a little bit misplaced attempting to convey the majesty of the scene.

Subsequent I swapped out two of the soundbars and substituted them for the Vizio Elevate — an awesome speaker in its personal proper. Nonetheless, the Samsung pulled forward in Dune because it did for the rest of the assessments. Whereas the Vizio had extra low-end punch, the Samsung was capable of delve deeper into the low frequencies and sounded higher total.

Subsequent I fired up Mad Max: Fury Street and located that each the Samsung and the Vizio have been glorious at encompass steering and creating an all-enveloping sonic world. The Samsung sounded extra achieved nonetheless, particularly in its capacity to position a lady’s voice instantly overhead when she inquires, “Max?”

Lastly I listened to a choice of music on the Samsung 9900C together with the wonderful remix of The Replacements’ album Tim. Paul Westerberg’s newly uncovered voice sounded fuller on the Samsung through the fist-pumping Bastards of Younger and the devices have been extra cohesive within the soundstage. Although followers of the band would possibly argue that “collectively” is one thing that the ‘Mats by no means have been.

Must you purchase it?

On the finish of the dialogue it turns into a matter of how a lot cash you wish to spend. The Samsung sounds noticeably higher than the Vizio Elevate, and it is higher constructed too, but it surely’s additionally rather a lot costly. The Samsung’s worth is at the moment diminished for Black Friday at $1,400, and at this type of cash I feel it is honest, and definitely I would not wish to pay the complete $1,800. Plus, whereas I am on a nitpicking jaunt, that built-in show on the unit itself is a little bit annoying.

However, designing a soundbar which performs this properly with each music and films is sort of a feat, and Samsung has achieved it with the Q990C. Whereas most individuals will not use many of the options, it is the efficiency that ought to draw folks in.