Most individuals aren’t utilizing bodily media anymore, which is why I spent the vast majority of my time testing the HW-Q990F with streaming media. I discover that Apple TV has one of the best audio high quality of any of the main streaming companies, which tracks with my expertise testing this bar: Atmos-mixed reveals like sci-fi hit Basis come by way of with beautiful readability and dynamic bass as you’d count on with any soundbar value its salt.
It is the overhead, object-based Atmos audio results that basically stagger me. Raindrops and creaky chairs appear to exist in my testing room with me; the burbling engines of Ford GT prototypes fill the room when watching Ford v Ferrari.
Samsung has each stellar processing and the power to bounce sounds round smaller and medium-size rooms nailed. The aspect audio system on the satellite tv for pc drivers and the assorted angled audio system on the principle bar actually make you’re feeling like you’re being attacked on all sides by audio. I actually beloved the way in which sounds swirled round me when watching my 4K Blu-Ray copy of Blade Runner 2049, with wavy synths assembly ship sounds and wet backgrounds amongst different on-screen noises in 3D house.
{Photograph}: Parker Corridor
There’s tons of adjustability relating to sound modes (Customary, Sport, Encompass, and Adaptive), EQ ranges, and quantity of every speaker, and I would suggest tuning the settings to your private style in your particular room. I discovered the settings to be fairly bang-on out of the field; I’ve a reasonably conventional house theater setup with two speaker stands behind my listening place and the subwoofer subsequent to the TV stand, and it sounded nice nearly immediately (I did have to regulate the subwoofer stage barely up).
The soundbar can pair with trendy Samsung TVs just like the S95F in a mode Samsung calls Q-Symphony, permitting it to make use of the TV audio system along with the bar, subwoofer, and surrounds. I didn’t discover this notably engaging; it appeared to spice up the highs a bit however didn’t actually do a lot for total immersion. In case you have a Samsung TV, it’s value making an attempt each on and off, however this function isn’t a deal breaker if you’d like an LG, Sony, TCL, Panasonic, or Hisense TV.
The perfect a part of this technique is that it really works simply superb with another merchandise in TV land, not simply Samsung’s. I really like how straightforward it’s to arrange, and I really like that it actually does really feel like it’s providing me the highest-quality sound in probably the most compact bundle. The truth that final 12 months’s bar continues to be on the market (and nonetheless very comparable sounding) is definitely a plus: Samsung has just about nailed the prevailing wants of listeners at this level. There are only a few soundbar methods that compete, however I would say that higher-end bars from Sonos, Bose, and LG do give this technique a run for its cash. That mentioned, none of them have this many channels finished this nicely, which makes Samsung’s HW-Q990F the highest of the pile for me in 2025 to this point.
