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 the perfect audio high quality of any of the foremost streaming companies, which tracks with my expertise testing this bar: Atmos-mixed reveals like sci-fi hit Basis come via with attractive readability and dynamic bass as you’d count on with any soundbar price its salt.
It is the overhead, object-based Atmos audio results that actually 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 facet 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 might be being attacked on all sides by audio. I actually cherished the best way 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 in terms of sound modes (Customary, Recreation, Encompass, and Adaptive), EQ ranges, and quantity of every speaker, and I might 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 dwelling theater setup with two speaker stands behind my listening place and the subwoofer subsequent to the TV stand, and it sounded nice virtually immediately (I did have to regulate the subwoofer degree 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 significantly attractive; it appeared to spice up the highs a bit however didn’t actually do a lot for general immersion. You probably have a Samsung TV, it’s price making an attempt each on and off, however this function isn’t a deal breaker in order for you an LG, Sony, TCL, Panasonic, or Hisense TV.
The very best a part of this method is that it really works simply wonderful with some other merchandise in TV land, not simply Samsung’s. I like how simple it’s to arrange, and I like that it actually does really feel like it’s providing me the highest-quality sound in essentially the most compact package deal. The truth that final yr’s bar remains to be on the market (and nonetheless very related sounding) is definitely a plus: Samsung has just about nailed the prevailing wants of listeners at this level. There are only a few soundbar techniques that compete, however I might say that higher-end bars from Sonos, Bose, and LG do give this method a run for its cash. That stated, none of them have this many channels achieved this properly, which makes Samsung’s HW-Q990F the highest of the pile for me in 2025 up to now.
