Samsung’s flagship soundbars have been our pick for the top Dolby Atmos soundbar system for several years now. And while they may not deliver the same performance level as, say, a full Sonos Dolby Atmos system, performance vs price is Samsung’s sweet spot.
Samsung’s top soundbar system has been among the best soundbars every year, going as far back as the Samsung HW-Q990B in 2022. The Samsung HW-Q990C, from 2023, is our current reference that we use for the Blu-ray Bounty, a feature where we test the video and audio quality of the latest 4K Blu-ray releases.
The Q990C and Q990F are both 11.1.4 channel systems, with 22 speaker drivers in the Q990C and 23 in the Q990F. Both are comprised of a soundbar, subwoofer and two rear speakers, and they have a similar matte gray/navy blue finish and support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for music streaming.
In addition, both systems support Samsung Q-symphony (a feature that lets compatible Samsung TVs and soundbars work in tandem for enhanced sound), and they have the same sound-based features, such as Adaptive Sound and voice enhancement. Both also support Dolby Vision pass-through on their HDMI ports.
Where the Q990F mainly differs is in its more compact subwoofer design. It also has HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K 120Hz and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) for gaming consoles. Are there other differences beneath the surface? I’ve been using both systems for several weeks now, and here’s what I found.
All about that bass
The most noticeable difference between the Q990C and Q990F is their subwoofers. The Q990C has a larger subwoofer, measuring 220 x 413 x 277mm (WxHxD) in size with a single 8-inch driver. The Q990F has a much more compact subwoofer with two 8-inch active drivers in a cube design measuring 249 x 251.8 x 249mm.
But, a smaller subwoofer can’t be a good thing, right? Actually, it is. Not only is it a real space saver for those with smaller viewing environments, but I found that I preferred the Q990F subwoofer’s sound profile.
Having used both the Q990C and Q990F while watching the Batmobile chase scene from The Batman, the Q990C’s subwoofer has sheer, raw power with good control, but the Q990F felt more nuanced, with a tighter sound. And crucially, it wasn’t lacking any power, doing the thunderous rumble of the Batmobile’s engine justice. That’s not to say the Q990C was bad, far from it in fact, but the Q990F had a little more depth and detail to its bass.
Positioning of effects
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Both the Q990C and Q990F’s soundbars and rear speakers do an excellent job of creating a wide, expansive soundstage that truly does Dolby Atmos soundtracks justice. Both deliver clarity and superb positioning and directionality with sound effects, too.
Even so, the Q990F felt more controlled in my comparison. Watching the Death Star attack from Star Wars: A New Hope, the height channels perfectly mapped the overhead shrieks of the TIE fighters, while laser fire and explosions came from the side, with the galloping string and horn-heavy score placed behind me. The Q990C also delivered this in its performance, but the Q990F just felt that bit cleaner and tighter once again.
Testing other content on these two soundbars, I found the Q990F a bit more refined, with subtle improvements that made a difference. This was apparent when listening to music via Tidal on both soundbars. Dolby Atmos tracks also sounded more spacious and clear on the Q990F than on the Q990C. Although I’d still choose a soundbar like the Marshall Heston 120 or Sonos Arc Ultra for music, both of these Samsung soundbars are still a good option for music listening.
Price: enough of a difference?
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The Q990C is still available and is much cheaper than the Q990F, though it is becoming more scarce. You can pick up the Q990C for $899 / £749 / AU$1,399 (though stock is all but gone in Australia), whereas the Q990F costs around $1,599 / £1,299 /AU$1,499, though it has dropped as low as £949 in the UK before.
While the price gap is big in the US, the Q990F doesn’t quite hold the same value in the UK and Australia, where you can pick it up for a very good deal. But ultimately, does the Q990F justify any real price differences?
In my eyes, yes. I’m a fan of the Q990F’s redesigned subwoofer, and if you’re a gamer, the newer soundbar’s 4K 120Hz support is a valuable feature. Samsung has also made notable performance improvements with the Q990F’s handling of Dolby Atmos soundtracks.
While the Q990F may not be the same big upgrade over the Samsung HW-Q990D, the best Dolby Atmos soundbar from 2024 and the Q990F’s predecessor, we’re already seeing some huge price drops on the Q990F that could make it a very tantalising option in the Black Friday sales.
