8.2
Samsung HW-Q990C Soundbar
Like
Very good sound for Atmos motion pictures
Class-leading music replay
Wonderful construct high quality
Don’t love
Costly
Restricted inputs
Show is tough to learn
In 2016 Samsung mentioned it wished to be known as the next Bowers and Wilkins, however a number 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 effectively towards the competitors. Merchandise such because the Q990C.
The HW-Q990C is Samsung’s flagship soundbar and it consists of a lot of the issues individuals are on the lookout for in a $1,000-plus speaker system. These extras embrace Dolby Atmos and wi-fi streaming — and even each on the identical 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 favor the space-saving and comfort facets of soundbars.
In my checks the Samsung undoubtedly 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 presently promoting for $800 and the Samsung is not less than $500 greater than that proper now. But, the Samsung 990C is one of the best devoted encompass soundbar package I’ve heard in years, and can reward anybody keen to pay additional for the privilege.
Design and options
My typical advice is to restrict your soundbar budget to $300, however there are undoubtedly advantages to spending extra. Pricier fashions just like the Samsung 990C, as an illustration, can provide a greater array of options together with Wi-Fi streaming and voice help. And this specific mannequin guarantees higher sound, too.
Design-wise the Samsung 990C is of the identical chunky model 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 show may be exhausting to learn.
The Q990C is a 11.1.4 soundbar however you must take its declare of 11 discrete channels with an excellent pinch of salt. As a substitute consider it as your commonplace 5.1.4 encompass configuration (left, proper, heart, two rears, subwoofer and 4 peak channels) with a number of extra large and side-firing drivers for large results.
The set consists of 4 separate speaker packing containers, and so they’re all fairly giant. The primary soundbar measures 48.5 by 2.7 by 5.4 inches. The following-largest is the wi-fi subwoofer at 8.7 by 16 by 16 inches. The surrounds are about the identical measurement as pc audio system at 5.1 by 7.9 by 5.5 inches.
For those who had been contemplating this soundbar you’ll 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? Perhaps 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.
Two HDMI in and one out
The Q990C will decode the entire 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 embrace the SpaceFit Sound Professional Calibration routine and the voice-optimizing Energetic Voice Amplifier.
Connections embrace two HDMI 2.0 inputs (so, sadly, no gaming-friendly 4K/120Hz) with an HDMI eARC output, digital optical, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It will have been good to see seen a number of extra connections together with an analog enter for folks to attach a file 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 in case you personal a Samsung TV you need to use its distant to manage 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 peak audio system and enormous sub, the Samsung undoubtedly had a bonus towards the others when it got here to cinematic immersion. As you’d anticipate with a model hoping to develop into a family identify in audio, the music replay of the Q990C was additionally wonderful.
I started my checks 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 and 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 via Paul Atreides’ airways and the deep thump of the sandworms had been exceedingly clear and impactful. In comparison with the Samsung, the Bose provided much less presence and slam, and the Samsung’s immersion was helped significantly by the its discrete rears audio system (you possibly can 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 received a bit of misplaced attempting to convey the majesty of the scene.
Subsequent I swapped out two of the soundbars and substituted them for the Vizio Elevate — a fantastic speaker in its personal proper. Nevertheless, the Samsung pulled forward in Dune because it did for the rest of the checks. 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 had been wonderful at encompass steering and creating an all-enveloping sonic world. The Samsung sounded extra achieved nonetheless, particularly in its capacity to put a lady’s voice immediately 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 had been extra cohesive within the soundstage. Although followers of the band may argue that “collectively” is one thing that the ‘Mats by no means had been.
Do you have to 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, nevertheless it’s additionally loads costly. The Samsung’s worth is presently lowered for Black Friday at $1,400, and at this type of cash I believe it is honest, and positively 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 bit of annoying.
However, designing a soundbar which performs this effectively with each music and flicks is sort of a feat, and Samsung has achieved it with the Q990C. Whereas most individuals will not use a lot of the options, it is the efficiency that ought to draw folks in.
