Samsung HW-Q990C review

Finest Costs Immediately: Samsung HW-Q990C

$1,597.99

$1899.99

Samsung has correctly chosen to remain the course with the HW-Q990C, the most recent model of its flagship 11.1.4-channel soundbar. Delivering huge, daring, but refined sound, the HW-Q990C boasts a no-fuss setup course of (nicely, brief energy cords however), Dolby Atmos and DTS:X assist, automated room correction, and a few bonuses for Samsung TV homeowners, together with wi-fi Atmos connectivity and Q-Symphony, a characteristic that syncs the soundbar’s audio with the TV’s audio system.

So, what’s modified on the HW-Q990C since final yr’s HW-Q990B? Not a lot, truthfully. Q-Symphony has acquired some upgrades, as has SpaceFit Sound room correction, whereas the Adaptive Sound 2.0 mode is alleged to carry out higher at decrease volumes. In any other case, that is largely the identical soundbar, proper right down to the principally aluminum design aesthetic, the terrific audio efficiency, and even the svelte distant.

When you already personal the Samsung HW-Q990B (and even the HW-Q950A from 2021), I don’t see any urgent have to improve to the brand new HW-Q990C; certainly, should you spot a superb deal on final yr’s flagship, you would possibly need to seize that mannequin as a substitute. Additionally, these with no Samsung TV would possibly balk at paying prime greenback for a soundbar with signature options that depend upon a Samsung set.

That stated, the Samsung HW-Q990C does churn out super sound even with no Sammy TV (I examined it with out one). Given the standard and maturity of this flagship mannequin, I’d take into account the hefty $1,899/£1,599 price ticket (which is at present getting a steep low cost) a worthy funding.

Design & construct

• Perforated aluminum chassis
• 11.1.4 channels
• 22 drivers

The Samsung HW-Q990C seems virtually equivalent to its predecessor, final yr’s HW-Q990B, with the hefty predominant soundbar unit arriving with the identical measurements (48.5 x 2.7 x 5.4 inches, WxHxD) and weight (17 kilos).

The soundbar has a perforated aluminum chassis, with angled left and proper finish caps that permit the side-firing drivers to bounce audio in numerous instructions across the room. The dual wi-fi satellite tv for pc audio system have the same design, full with a barely vaulted prime, whereas the cumbersome subwoofer (8.7 x 16.3 x 16.1 inches, WxHxD) has an “acoustic lens” design that enhances its bass response, in accordance with Samsung.

Ben Patterson/Foundry

All advised, the HW-Q990C packs 22 drivers, together with 15 in the principle soundbar unit, 3 apiece within the satellites, and the woofer within the sub. The principle unit’s 15 drivers embrace upfiring left and proper cones; forward-firing drivers for the left, proper, and centre channels; and angled encompass channels on the ends, whereas the satellite tv for pc audio system have front-, side-, and up-firing drivers. That every one provides as much as an 11.1.4-channel configuration, together with 4 peak channels for immersive Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks.

It’s value noting that in addition to being positioned behind your couch, the 2 wi-fi satellite tv for pc audio system could be positioned within the entrance of the room, flanking the soundbar and thus bolstering the entrance and peak left and proper channels. It’s a configuration it is best to in all probability skip except there’s completely no room in your listening space for rear audio system, however the choice is there should you want it.

Sitting on prime of the soundbar are 4 clickable buttons, together with a multi-function button (that powers on the soundbar and wakes built-in Alexa, which we’ll focus on in a second), quantity up and down buttons, and a mic mute button. In the meantime, the distant options easy-to-find rockers for the principle and subwoofer quantity, together with a five-way navigation pad for controlling media and buttons for trimming channel ranges, switching sound modes, and dipping into the soundbar’s varied settings.

Moreover the distant, you can even management the HW-Q990C from the Samsung SmartThings app, which you’ll want to attach the soundbar to your house Wi-Fi router. As soon as related, the SmartThings app will allow you to place the HW-Q990C in a “room” in your house, alongside your different SmartThings-connected units

The HW-Q990C’s LED show peeks out from behind the chassis’s perforations on the correct finish of the unit, providing particulars on quantity degree, the at present chosen inputs, audio codecs, and the like. By default, the show shortly goes darkish after a short interval of inactivity, so I by no means discovered it distracting.

Connectivity

• HDMI-eARC and 2x HDMI inputs
• Wi-fi Dolby Atmos
• AirPlay 2, Spotify Join, Tidal Join
• Bluetooth

Hidden considerably awkwardly on the underside of the HW-990C (its predecessor had the identical design) are the soundbar’s varied enter and output connectors. Most customers will go for the HDMI-eARC port, which permits a TV to pipe audio (together with lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Grasp Audio tracks) to the soundbar from any of the TV inputs, however there are additionally a few HDMI inputs for individuals who’d slightly join video sources on to the soundbar. For the latter situation, remember the fact that the HW-Q990C (like different Samsung soundbars) helps 4K HDR10+ however not Dolby Imaginative and prescient passthrough. 

Ben Patterson/Foundry

There are additionally a few methods to wirelessly join your TV to the HW-990C, however solely when you’ve got a Samsung TV. The primary is by way of Bluetooth, which delivers stereo audio to the soundbar (the 2-channel sound can later be upmixed all the way in which to 11.1.4), and the second permits for wi-fi Dolby Atmos, a characteristic launched with final yr’s HW-Q990B. Wi-fi Dolby Atmos is a rarity so far as soundbars are involved, and whereas LG’s flagship soundbar can do Atmos with out wires too, doing so requires an elective dongle. (Then once more, LG’s dongle can be utilized with third-party TVs.)

Wi-fi casting assist for the HW-990C consists of Apple’s AirPlay 2, permitting the soundbar to affix AirPlay speaker teams, together with Spotify Join and Tidal Join. There’s no Chromecast assist, however Android customers can at all times stream tunes to the soundbar by way of Bluetooth.

Lastly, there’s an optical (Toslink) enter that permits you to join the HW-990C to legacy TVs, whereas the USB-A port is just for putting in firmware updates.

Setup

• Wall mounting {hardware} included
• Straightforward Wi-Fi connection by way of SmartThings
• Satellite tv for pc speaker energy cords are too brief

The simplest technique to set up the Samsung HW-Q990C in your front room is by putting it in entrance of your TV. Provided that the soundbar is just 2.7 inches excessive, it seemingly received’t block the underside of your TV (it does graze the attention line to the underside of my low-slung LG C9, however not distractingly so). An alternative choice is to mount the soundbar on the wall below your TV, and Samsung supplies mounting brackets, a screw equipment, and a wall mount information for this objective.

Ben Patterson/Foundry

The principle soundbar unit, the subwoofer, and every of the satellite tv for pc audio system include their very own energy cords; plug them in, and the audio system ought to (and did, in my case) join to one another robotically. One annoying setup quirk is that the facility cords are every simply 5 ft lengthy–not a giant downside for the soundbar itself and the subwoofer, however restrictive in the case of putting the encompass audio system. My recommendation: Seize a few extension cords (simply be sure they accommodate three-prong plugs).

As I discussed earlier than, you join the HW-Q990C to Wi-Fi utilizing the Samsung SmartThings app. I’ve had complications connecting different soundbars to my dwelling Wi-Fi router prior to now, however the connection course of with the SmartThings app was a snap.

Sensible options

• Q-Symphony
• SpaceFit Sound Professional
• Constructed-in Alexa
• Adaptive Sound

Q-Symphony is Samsung’s signature soundbar audio trick, permitting its higher-end Q-series soundbars (such because the one we’re reviewing right here) to sync with the audio system on equally high-end Samsung TVs. Final yr’s Q-Symphony 2.0 added the flexibility to sync its soundbars with all the drivers on a Samsung TV slightly than simply a few of them. For this yr’s Q-Symphony 3.0, the expertise now leverages the Neo Quantum Processors within the newest Samsung units to drag out dialogue audio and pipe it by the soundar’s drivers, whereas encompass audio goes to the TV audio system. 

Sounds fairly cool (Samsung says the up to date Q-Symphony delivers “extra detailed and three-dimensional sound”), however you want a Samsung TV to make use of it–and alas, I used to be utilizing an LG C9 OLED for my testing. As you’ll learn later, I don’t imagine Q-Symphony is crucial for teasing out glorious audio from the HW-Q990C, however should you don’t have the correct Samsung TV to pair with the soundbar, you’re not getting the total bang in your buck.

Ben Patterson/Foundry

One other new characteristic that works with no Samsung TV is SpaceFit Sound Professional, a room calibration characteristic that’s been up to date to analyse decrease audio frequencies slightly than merely specializing in encompass results. SpaceFit Sound Professional works repeatedly within the background, utilizing the soundbar’s built-in microphone to regulate the audio on the fly in accordance with your room’s acoustics. It’s a straightforward set-it-and-forget-it characteristic, however seemingly received’t be as exact because the extra time-consuming technique employed by many AV receivers, which includes putting a mic in a number of listening positions.

Then there’s Adaptive Sound, a sound mode that tweaks the HW-Q990C’s audio relying on what’s enjoying. In my expertise with earlier Samsung soundbars, Adaptive Sound did a formidable job of optimising the soundbar’s audio throughout quite a lot of content material, from huge Dolby Atmos soundtracks to 2.0-channel dramas. This yr’s Adaptive Sound 2.0 is billed at being higher at tweaking the audio at decrease volumes.

One more good audio characteristic is Lively Voice Amplifier, which detects and amplifies the dialog within the audio. It’s a helpful characteristic for anybody who’s annoyed by poorly blended sound that emphasises the music and explosions whereas shunting dialogue into the background, nevertheless it runs the chance of pushing the voices slightly too laborious at larger volumes. Fortunately, you’ll be able to toggle the characteristic from the distant or the Samsung SmartThings app.

Ben Patterson/Foundry

Lastly, the HW-Q990C presents built-in Alexa, which basically turns the soundbar into a wise speaker. Whereas it might appear handy to talk with Alexa immediately from the soundbar, I used to be aggravated that the quantity of Alexa’s voice is tied to the principle speaker quantity, which implies Alexa will shout at you when you’ve got the soundbar’s quantity dialed to a good reasonable degree. This has been an issue with all of Samsung’s earlier soundbars with built-in Alexa (the problem isn’t remoted to Samsung, both), and after being jolted by Alexa’s loud chatter too many instances, I turned the characteristic off.

Efficiency

• Clear, detailed, naturalistic sound
• Terrific Dolby Atmos results
• Deep however managed bass
• Delicate music efficiency

I’ve been very impressed by the audio efficiency of Samsung’s top-of-the-line soundbars prior to now, utilizing phrases like “terrific,” “thrilling,” “immersive,” and “pulse-pounding” to explain their sound. I’ll be reaching for lots of the similar adjectives as I describe the sonic efficiency of the HW-Q990C. 

First, I ought to be aware that I performed most of my exams utilizing Samsung’s Adaptive Sound mode, which (as I’ve discovered prior to now) was greater than sufficient for dealing with a variety of content material on the soundbar. The Encompass and Recreation Professional modes have been effective too, however preserving Adaptive chosen meant that I didn’t should swap sound modes when leaping from motion pictures to TV exhibits to music. (Adaptive Sound upmixes all content material to 11.1.4 channels; should you’re a purist, Normal mode preserves the unique channel configuration.)

I started my listening tour with the 4K Blu-ray of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Again, which comes with a remastered Dolby Atmos soundtrack. Leaping to the scene the place Han Solo and Chewie uncover the Imperial probe droid on Hoth, I used to be impressed by the immersive explosion as Han scored a direct hit on the bot, whereas the Tie Fighters buzzing across the Imperial fleet delivered a convincing “raaawwrrr” over and throughout the peak channels. The HW-Q990C’s subwoofer served up a deep however not boomy rumble as Darth Vader “Pressure-choked” the unlucky Admiral Ozzel, whereas the hiss of snow and ice from the crushed ceiling of the Insurgent base sounded prefer it was falling on my head.

Ben Patterson/Foundry

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Shifting over to the UHD Blu-ray of Blade Runner 2049, the HW-Q990C easily dealt with the notoriously bassy intro to the movie, gracefully delivering these lowest of low-frequency results with out heading into boomy territory. On the opposite facet of the spectrum, the soundbar additionally excelled on the delicate atmospherics on the moisture farm, the exactly positioned gurgle of the hot-water kettle in Sapper Morton’s in any other case darkish and silent kitchen, and the gentle putter of Ok’s drone because it floated overhead. Better of all, the sudden booms of Ok’s firearm within the lethal struggle with Dave Bautista’s runaway replicant have been huge and deep, but satisfyingly tight and managed.

I additionally tried the 4K Blu Ray of High Gun: Maverick, which presents the proper Atmos demo as Mav’s Darkstar jet takes off immediately above Admiral Kane’s head, shaking the bottom and unsettling the roof of a close-by hut. It’s the proper alternative to listen to peak cues glide from the entrance upfiring drivers to the rear ones, and the Samsung delivers fairly properly. (The Darkstar’s deep engine roar on this sequence wasn’t as thrillingly deep because it was in IMAX, however I’ve observed that throughout different dwelling theater setups too, not simply the HW-Q990C.) Much more spectacular is when Maverick maneuvers his F-18 above Rooster’s in an inverted place, triggering an almost silent growth that you just really feel greater than hear. Cool.

Switching to music, I teed up a brand new recording of Rachmaninoff’s piano concertos carried out by Yuja Wang, with Gustavo Dudamel conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Showing on the Deutsche Grammophon label in Dolby Atmos on Apple Music (I streamed the tracks on an Apply TV 4K), the efficiency sounded expansive but centered on the Samsung HW-Q990C, with easy, detailed sonics and massive however natural-sounding dynamic adjustments–general, an thrilling but nuanced expertise that locations you in (I’d say) row 10 of the orchestra part.

Altering gears to Taylor Swift, the bubbling “Willow” on Evermore (once more in Dolby Atmos by way of an Apple TV 4K) sounded silky, delicate, and intimate, whereas the large beats in Billie Eilish’s “Oxytocin” on Happier Than Ever didn’t overpower the HW-Q990C’s subwoofer. (Different soundbars I’ve examined do have points with “Oxytocin,” typically requiring cautious twiddling with the low frequency ranges to maintain the bassline from overwhelming the observe.) The non-Atmos “Alone Collectively” on Chet Baker’s Chet sounded atmospheric and detailed, though when upmixed in Adaptive mode, I felt like I used to be up on the stage, and never in a great way; this was a uncommon case once I most popular the Normal sound mode, which preserves the unique 2.0-channel combine.

Value & availability

The Samsung HW-Q990C has a hefty $1,899.99/£1,599.99 price ticket, but when historical past is any information, the soundbar shall be often discounted–and certainly, it’s at present accessible on Samsung.com for $1,599.99, and on Amazon UK for £958.

The HW-Q990C can also be on sale at Amazon, Finest Purchase, B&H Photograph within the US, and Samsung and John Lewis within the UK.

For options, check out our chart of one of the best soundbars.

Do you have to purchase a Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar?

For me, the Samsung HW-Q990C hits the candy spot among the many present crop of high-end soundbars. It delivers pleasing and immersive sound, simple setup, AirPlay 2 and Spotify Join assist, and room calibration, whereas Q-Symphony and Wi-fi Dolby Atmos are good, if not must-have, bonuses for Samsung TV homeowners. (I used to get hung up on the truth that the HW-Q900C’s signature Q-Symphony required a Samsung TV, however the soundbar’s out-of-the-box efficiency is so good that I don’t actually care anymore.) For these causes, I’m naming the Samsung HW-Q990C our new Editor’s Selection for high-end soundbars.

Amongst its equally priced opponents, the LG S95QR from 2022 (LG didn’t refresh its flagship soundbar this yr) is true up there within the operating, though its 9.1.5-channel configuration (which features a heart peak channel, distinctive to LG) is a bit totally different than the HW-Q990C’s channel setup. The Sonos Arc is a terrific soundbar for these steeped within the Sonos ecosystem, however upgrading it with satellites and a subwoofer is a dear proposition–and personally, the Arc’s sound is slightly brilliant for my style. The Sony HT-A5000 delivers distinctive sound too, however we thought it sounded boxy at instances, and (as with the Sonos) upgrading it with further audio system will value you.

This text has been translated and syndicated from TechHive – you can read the original here.