The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 23 Showing 441-460 of 476 reviews
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Best price for Best Soundbar 2024!
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Best Soundbar of 2024! It is versatile for use in both music, and games/movies.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Sounds good when it works. But once every couple of days it will stop putting out sound and you need to unplug, wait a couple minutes, and then plug it in again.
Some searching online seems like this is a fairly common issue. Previous LG soundbar that was ~$200 never had this issue. Can’t say I’d recommend this product.
We appreciate you taking a few moments to review the HW-Q990D Samsung Soundbar.
Updating the firmware on your soundbar gives you all the benefits of the latest improvements. When the Soundbar is connected to the Internet, Auto Update allows software to update automatically even when the Soundbar is turned off. You can also update by using the SmartThings app.
If not connected to the internet, you can download it onto a USB device, and then upload it to your soundbar - no wireless connection required. Connect the USB drive that contains the update firmware to the SERVICE port of the Soundbar.
1.Go to the Samsung Electronics website (www.samsung.com) → click on the “Support” option in the upper left corner. 2.Click on “Manuals & Software” from the pop-up list > TVs & Home Theater > Home Theater > Select your model 2. Download the firmware file (USB type). 3. Unzip the file to create a folder with the file name. 4. Store the created folder in a USB and then connect it to the Soundbar. 5. A sequence of “UPDATE” > “BYE” > “ON” will appear on the display 3 times. This will take around 6 minutes. - During update, do not turn it off or remove the USB. - If “UPDATE” does not appear on the display window, remove the power cord from the Soundbar and then reconnect it. - When the latest version is installed, no update is performed. - Depending on the USB type, update may not be supported. 6. After the 3 cycles are complete, the Soundbar will restart and last source used will appear on the display for about 20 seconds and then it will go off (“UPDATE” > “BYE” > “ON”) 3 times “D.IN” > off
If you need more help, Samsung is here for you. Please call us at 1-800-SAMSUNG, 8AM - 12AM EST (Ask for Soundbars), 7 days a week. Live Chat with an agent as well as manuals, software, creating a service ticket, and warranty info can be found at the ‘Support’ link on our Samsung website.
~ Samsung Solutions
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Easy set up
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Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Easy set up. . You can make it loud so warn your neighbors.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This soundbar is not that great. Its just loud and I did not feel the Dolby Atmos effect; it really just sounds like a cheaper Samsung soundbar. I returned it and got a sennheiser. Also the rear speakers are ugly and massive.
Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on your HW-Q990D Soundbar. I’m sorry you were not satisfied with your experience. We are always here to help and would have been happy to assist in providing settings adjustments to resolve any issues you were experiencing.
Please know there are a wide range of audio adjustments available to tune the sound to your liking.
You can manually optimize your audio experience by pressing the SOUND CONTROL button (which looks like a gear), you can set the audio function such as Auto EQ, Spacefit sound, AVA, Voice Enhance mode, Night mode, Sync, Surround speaker mode, Virtual. The desired item can be adjusted using the Up/Down buttons.
Alternatively, you can press and hold the SOUND CONTROL button for about 5 seconds to adjust the sound for each frequency band. 150Hz, 300Hz, 600Hz, 1.2kHz, 2.5kHz, 5kHz, and 10kHz are selectable using the Left/Right buttons and each can be adjusted to a setting between -6 to +6 using the Up/Down buttons.
You can try quickly optimizing the audio by pressing the SOUND MODE button on your remote, and then select the desired sound effect by choosing STANDARD, SURROUND SOUND, GAME, or ADAPTIVE SOUND.
To control the volume of each speaker, press the CH LEVEL button on the provided remote. Then select CENTER LEVEL, SIDE LEVEL, WIDE LEVEL, FRONT TOP LEVEL, REAR LEVEL, or REAR TOP LEVEL. Once you find the channel you are looking for, adjust the volume between -6 to +6 by using the Up/Down buttons.
There are multiple ways to control the bass levels for your new Soundbar.
1) Using the WOOFER button on the provided Soundbar remote. Use the woofer button by pushing forward or pulling backward on the button itself to adjust the bass levels between -12 or -6/+6. If you want to reset the bass to 0 then push the button in. 2) When you press the TONE CONTROL button, you can adjust the treble or bass levels between -6/+6.
Alternatively, you can adjust all of these same settings and more within the SmartThings app. Download the app for your iOS or Android device and then connect your Soundbar to Wi-Fi. From here, you will be able to adjust all of the same settings as the provided remote, but with the added benefit of being able to see the changes on your smart device.
If you need more help, Samsung is here for you. Please call us at 1-800-SAMSUNG, 8AM - 12AM EST (Ask for Soundbars), 7 days a week. Our Live Chat agents are also available by clicking on the ‘Support’ link on our website.
~ Samsung Solutions
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Wrong item
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The product is truly amazing as I ended up purchasing on another site. However, the item I got from best buy was an open box and the wrong item was sent.
Please know you are leaving a review and 3-star rating for the HW-Q990D, but we are sorry to hear of your Best Buy experience, nonetheless. You may want to consider providing feedback directly to the Best Buy store where you made your purchase.
Should you have questions on the HW-Q990D itself, Samsung is here for you. You can reach us at 1-800-SAMSUNG, 8AM - 12AM EST, 7 days a week. Our LiveChat agents are also available by clicking on the ‘Support’ link on our website.
~ Samsung Solutions
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
Sub Par
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Posted . Owned for 3 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The sound from the main bar is decent but has started to crackle in the last week. We never play it really loud because we have kids, not sure what happened. The back speakers almost never play any sound, we have tried all the speaker settings with no change. A lot of money for just the bar and woofer...
Thank you for taking a moment to review the Samsung HW-Q990D Soundbar.
First, try doing a soft reset, unplug the soundbar from the outlet for roughly 30 seconds and then plug it back in.
If this still does not correct your issue, then do a hard reset. With the Soundbar on, press the + & - Volume buttons on the body of the soundbar at the same time for at least 5 seconds. INIT OK” appears on the display and then the Soundbar is reset.
By design, the surround speakers are supposed to simulate sounds happening behind the viewer. Therefore, most of the time the surround channels are only used for ambient sounds, which are naturally lower in volume.
If you need more help, Samsung is here for you. Please call us at 1-800-SAMSUNG, 8AM - 12AM EST (Ask for Soundbars), 7 days a week. Our Live Chat agents are also available by clicking on the ‘Support’ link on our website.
~ Samsung Solutions
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Best buy cancelled order three times
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Then changed the price and refused to honor original sale price, referred to email support team who will not respond
Please know you are leaving a review and 1-star rating for the HW-Q990D, but we are sorry to hear of your Best Buy experience, nonetheless. You may want to consider providing feedback directly to the Best Buy store where you made your purchase.
Should you have questions on the HW-Q990D itself, Samsung is here for you. You can reach us at 1-800-SAMSUNG, 8AM - 12AM EST, 7 days a week. Our LiveChat agents are also available by clicking on the ‘Support’ link on our website.
~ Samsung Solutions
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Samsung sound bar
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Returned too many issues with sound control. Switching from shows to commercials went to full blast almost.
Thank you for your review of the Samsung HW-Q990D Soundbar and for sharing the issues that have caused you to return your unit. Your experience is very important to us and will be shared with our product team.
It is possible that your unit needed minor troubleshooting, a firmware update, or adjustments in settings.
Should you ever decide to give Samsung Soundbars another try and have questions or need assistance with settings, setup, or features, please know we are always here to help. Call us at 1-800-SAMSUNG (Ask for Soundbars), 8AM - 12AM EST, 7 days a week. Or visit us on the Samsung website and click on the ‘Support’ link for: • Live Chat • Manuals, Software, & Warranty Info • Creating a service ticket
~ Samsung Solutions
Pros mentioned:
Sound quality
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Open box surprised
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Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Bought the open box. When I took it home and hooked it up the sound was incredible. But in a minute it kept switching to BT on its own. Had to return it. I really loved the sound too bad it was defected.
Thank you for taking a moment to review the HW-Q990D Soundbar.
For troubleshooting the issue you are experiencing try doing a Factory Reset.
With Remote: Power Off Soundbar Hold the Play/Pause button on the remote for about 5 – 10 seconds Release the button once you see INT or RESET on the soundbar’s LED panel Power on the soundbar and repair your TV
Without remote Turn on soundbar Press and hold the volume up (+) and volume down (-) buttons on the soundbar at the same time for about 5 – 10 seconds Release when you see LED say INT or RESET Wait for the soundbar to reboot
If you need more help, Samsung is here for you. Please call us at 1-800-SAMSUNG, 8AM - 12AM EST (Ask for Soundbars), 7 days a week. Our Live Chat agents are also available by clicking on the ‘Support’ link on our website.
~ Samsung Solutions
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Soundbar
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I hate it theres no real bass and it doesn’t compare to the older model i had. Very disappointed!
We appreciate you providing your feedback and experience with the HW-Q990D soundbar. Please know there are a wide range of audio adjustments available to tune the sound to your liking.
You can manually optimize your audio experience by pressing the SOUND CONTROL button (which looks like a gear), you can set the audio function such as Auto EQ, Spacefit sound, AVA, Voice Enhance mode, Night mode, Sync, Surround speaker mode, Virtual. The desired item can be adjusted using the Up/Down buttons.
Alternatively, you can press and hold the SOUND CONTROL button for about 5 seconds to adjust the sound for each frequency band. 150Hz, 300Hz, 600Hz, 1.2kHz, 2.5kHz, 5kHz, and 10kHz are selectable using the Left/Right buttons and each can be adjusted to a setting between -6 to +6 using the Up/Down buttons.
You can try quickly optimizing the audio by pressing the SOUND MODE button on your remote, and then select the desired sound effect by choosing STANDARD, SURROUND SOUND, GAME, or ADAPTIVE SOUND.
To control the volume of each speaker, press the CH LEVEL button on the provided remote. Then select CENTER LEVEL, SIDE LEVEL, WIDE LEVEL, FRONT TOP LEVEL, REAR LEVEL, or REAR TOP LEVEL. Once you find the channel you are looking for, adjust the volume between -6 to +6 by using the Up/Down buttons.
There are multiple ways to control the bass levels for your new Soundbar.
1) Using the WOOFER button on the provided Soundbar remote. Use the woofer button by pushing forward or pulling backward on the button itself to adjust the bass levels between -12 or -6/+6. If you want to reset the bass to 0 then push the button in. 2) When you press the TONE CONTROL button, you can adjust the treble or bass levels between -6/+6.
Alternatively, you can adjust all of these same settings and more within the SmartThings app. Download the app for your iOS or Android device and then connect your Soundbar to Wi-Fi. From here, you will be able to adjust all of the same settings as the provided remote, but with the added benefit of being able to see the changes on your smart device.
If you need more help, Samsung is here for you. Please call us at 1-800-SAMSUNG, 8AM - 12AM EST (Ask for Soundbars), 7 days a week. Live Chat with an agent as well as manuals, software, creating a service ticket, and warranty info can be found at the ‘Support’ link on our Samsung website.
~ Samsung Solutions
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Not working, no fix offered by Samsung
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Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Would just keep turning on and off mute. Used Samsung tech support. Fix lasted 30 minutes. Samsung website is a mess to try and find solutions. While looking for fix I saw the last update bricked these models and Samsung had no idea. Most people had a 4 week fix to wait for. Issue still persists. No one screen projection for the controls and settings. Returning today.
We appreciate you taking a few moments to review the Samsung HW-Q990D Soundbar.
First, try doing a soft reset, unplug the soundbar from the outlet for roughly 30 seconds and then plug it back in.
If this still does not correct your issue, then do a hard reset. With the Soundbar on, press the + & - Volume buttons on the body of the soundbar at the same time for at least 5 seconds. INIT OK” appears on the display and then the Soundbar is reset.
Should you ever decide to give Samsung Soundbars another try and have questions or need assistance with settings, setup, or features, please know we are always here to help. Just give us a call at 1-800-SAMSUNG (Ask for Soundbars), 8AM - 12AM EST, 7 days a week. Our Live Chat agents are also available by clicking on the ‘Support’ link on our website.
~ Samsung Solutions
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Sound has no depth
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Seems good on paper but even after tuning for a while i couldn’t get it to sound good. For the price just get a sonos sound bar and you’ll be a lot happier.
We appreciate you providing your feedback and experience with the HW-Q990D soundbar. Please know there are a wide range of audio adjustments available to tune the sound to your liking.
You can manually optimize your audio experience by pressing the SOUND CONTROL button (which looks like a gear), you can set the audio function such as Auto EQ, Spacefit sound, AVA, Voice Enhance mode, Night mode, Sync, Surround speaker mode, Virtual. The desired item can be adjusted using the Up/Down buttons.
Alternatively, you can press and hold the SOUND CONTROL button for about 5 seconds to adjust the sound for each frequency band. 150Hz, 300Hz, 600Hz, 1.2kHz, 2.5kHz, 5kHz, and 10kHz are selectable using the Left/Right buttons and each can be adjusted to a setting between -6 to +6 using the Up/Down buttons.
You can try quickly optimizing the audio by pressing the SOUND MODE button on your remote, and then select the desired sound effect by choosing STANDARD, SURROUND SOUND, GAME, or ADAPTIVE SOUND.
To control the volume of each speaker, press the CH LEVEL button on the provided remote. Then select CENTER LEVEL, SIDE LEVEL, WIDE LEVEL, FRONT TOP LEVEL, REAR LEVEL, or REAR TOP LEVEL. Once you find the channel you are looking for, adjust the volume between -6 to +6 by using the Up/Down buttons.
There are multiple ways to control the bass levels for your new Soundbar.
1) Using the WOOFER button on the provided Soundbar remote. Use the woofer button by pushing forward or pulling backward on the button itself to adjust the bass levels between -12 or -6/+6. If you want to reset the bass to 0 then push the button in. 2) When you press the TONE CONTROL button, you can adjust the treble or bass levels between -6/+6.
Alternatively, you can adjust all of these same settings and more within the SmartThings app. Download the app for your iOS or Android device and then connect your Soundbar to Wi-Fi. From here, you will be able to adjust all of the same settings as the provided remote, but with the added benefit of being able to see the changes on your smart device.
If you need more help, Samsung is here for you. Please call us at 1-800-SAMSUNG, 8AM - 12AM EST (Ask for Soundbars), 7 days a week. Live Chat with an agent as well as manuals, software, creating a service ticket, and warranty info can be found at the ‘Support’ link on our Samsung website.
~ Samsung Solutions
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Open box - Excellent but not so excellent
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I got an open box item that was said to be in excellent condition. A best buy employee told me excellent means it was just taken out of the box should be pristine. When I got it, it had dents and chips in it.
Please know you are leaving a review and 1-star rating for the HW-Q990D, but we are sorry to hear of your Best Buy experience, nonetheless. You may want to consider providing feedback directly to the Best Buy store where you made your purchase.
Should you have questions on the HW-Q990D itself, Samsung is here for you. You can reach us at 1-800-SAMSUNG, 8AM - 12AM EST, 7 days a week. Our LiveChat agents are also available by clicking on the ‘Support’ link on our website.
~ Samsung Solutions
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Happy Customer
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Posted . Owned for 3 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Great system plenty clarity on for Netflix movies, and PS 5 games, a lot is being said about the Subs bass, no issues from me, in fact, everyone in my house 2 floors up are always saying turn down the bass it's too loud. Go figure. Overall, extremely satisfied with the Q990D .
Thank you for purchasing the Samsung HW-Q990D and for your review. I am glad to hear that you are happy with the performance of your new soundbar.
If you are experiencing specific issues that caused you to give this a 1-star rating, please know Samsung Customer Support is here to help.
Call us at 1-800-SAMSUNG (ask for Soundbars), available 8 AM – 12 AM EST, 7 days a week.
LiveChat with an agent by clicking the ‘Support’ link on the Samsung website.
~Samsung Solutions
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Samsung soundbar
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Unfortunately, I had to return the soundbar. I don't know if it was bad, but I could not get it to work. I would get popping noises and static. I tried changing out cables and even tried it on another tv to no avail.
Thank you for your review of the Samsung HW-Q990D Soundbar and for sharing the issues that have caused you to return your unit. Your experience is very important to us and will be shared with our product team.
It is possible that your unit needed minor troubleshooting, a firmware update, or adjustments in settings.
Should you ever decide to give Samsung Soundbars another try and have questions or need assistance with settings, setup, or features, please know we are always here to help. Call us at 1-800-SAMSUNG (Ask for Soundbars), 8AM - 12AM EST, 7 days a week. Or visit us on the Samsung website and click on the ‘Support’ link for: • Live Chat • Manuals, Software, & Warranty Info
~ Samsung Solutions
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
It sucks!
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Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I highly do not recommend this product. You cannot control individual signals. You can go from a quiet simple moment to extremely loud noise. It could be because of it trying to “control” sound signals with A.I. with Dolby Atmos.
I say, a cheap sound 5.1 receiver with speakers directed at various positions around the user sounds better than this $1800 over priced product.
We appreciate you taking a moment to review the Samsung HW-Q990D Soundbar.
You can press and hold the SOUND CONTROL button for about 5 seconds to adjust the sound for each frequency band. 150Hz, 300Hz, 600Hz, 1.2kHz, 2.5kHz, 5kHz, and 10kHz are selectable using the Left/Right buttons and each can be adjusted to a setting between -6 to +6 using the Up/Down buttons.
You can try quickly optimizing the audio by pressing the SOUND MODE button on your remote, and then select the desired sound effect by choosing STANDARD, SURROUND SOUND, GAME, or ADAPTIVE SOUND.
To control the volume of each speaker, press the CH LEVEL button on the provided remote. Then select CENTER LEVEL, SIDE LEVEL, WIDE LEVEL, FRONT TOP LEVEL, REAR LEVEL, or REAR TOP LEVEL. Once you find the channel you are looking for, adjust the volume between -6 to +6 by using the Up/Down buttons.
There are multiple ways to control the bass levels for your new Soundbar.
1) Using the WOOFER button on the provided Soundbar remote. Use the woofer button by pushing forward or pulling backward on the button itself to adjust the bass levels between -12 or -6/+6. If you want to reset the bass to 0 then push the button in. 2) When you press the TONE CONTROL button, you can adjust the treble or bass levels between -6/+6.
Alternatively, you can adjust all of these same settings and more within the SmartThings app. Download the app for your iOS or Android device and then connect your Soundbar to Wi-Fi. From here, you will be able to adjust all of the same settings as the provided remote, but with the added benefit of being able to see the changes on your smart device.
I hope these tips help you enjoy your new product. You can always contact us for further help at 1-800-SAMSUNG (Ask for Soundbars), 8 AM – 12 AM EST, 7 days a week. Our Live Chat agents are also available by clicking on the ‘Support’ link on our website.
~ Samsung Solutions
Pros mentioned:
Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
If You Want The Best Look No Further!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I have long moved away from using separate audio components and have instead turned to soundbars to take their place. In the beginning of the soundbar generation sound quality was compromised. But as the art evolved sound quality drastically improved. Since sound quality is a priority for me, I only use flagship model soundbars for my primary viewing area. My previous soundbar system was in this category, and I was very pleased with the powerful surround sound it generated. I thought I had the pinnacle of performance, until I tried the Samsung Q990D. There is a lot of hype surrounding this soundbar, but rest assured that the Q990D completely lives up to that hype. This Samsung soundbar system completely outperforms my previous soundbar system in every category. The price is expensive, but if you want the best audio performance, then look no further. Please read further so I can explain why.
The system arrived in a rather large and heavy box. The total box weight is 62 pounds so be prepared. Most of the weight is due to the subwoofer and the soundbar itself. The weight of the soundbar is not to be underestimated, and had me excited to give it a try. All things being equal, heavier speakers means beefier drivers, which usually mean powerful sound. The components in the box were nicely secured and protected by the packing materials. The included accessories consist of a high speed HDMI cable, remote control, and a wall mount kit for the soundbar. I especially appreciated that the mounting bracket was included because some other manufacturers charge extra for them.
After running the cables and power cords, the next setup step is using the Samsung SmartThings App to configure the system. The App guides you through the setup steps. Setup was seamless and I easily connected the App to the system and configurged the components. The excellent SpaceFit Sound Pro room calibration function uses chirps and tones to analyze the room and optimize the sound to the room. I have used room calibration before with varying results, but I can say without hesitation that this is the best calibration feature I have ever used! I have a very tricky acoustic environment due to high ceilings and an irregular open room design, but this system really dialed in my room acoustics and surround sound distance..
The remote control and SmartThings App provide for complete control and customization of this Soundbars numerous features and settings. There are four settings to choose from: Surround, Game Pro, Standard and Adaptive. There is an EQ but it can only be accessed using the Standard sound settings. The other sound settings seem to disable the EQ. I recommend experimenting with the sound settings to determine what sounds best to you. I have been going back and forth between Adaptive for TV shows and Surround for movies. The Adaptive Sound setting seems to provide the clearest dialogue while maintaining the original sound profile. The Surround mode sounds amazing with Dolby and Dolby Atmos encoded soundtracks. The system can be fully controlled by the App, so I don’t use the remote in any way.
Samsung describes this soundbar as “the best of the best,” and I completely agree. This is hands down the best soundbar system I have ever heard! It easily rivals some excellent, and substantially more expensive component systems, that I have used. The subwoofer produces a bass response that is powerful, while being tight and well defined. If you are a bass lover then you will truly enjoy what this system can do. The soundbar itself truly excels at midrange, midbass, and high frequency sound production. I could not believe how good my favorite TV shows and movies sounded. Dialogue clarity is perfect because voice intelligibility is enhanced without distorting the other sound frequencies. This is likely due to the AI enhanced chipset. The excellent surround sound speakers round out the package nicely. I watched a few Dolby Atmos encoded movies and TV shows and I found the immersion to be amazing. I was completely enveloped in an expansive bubble of sound. I listened to a few of my favorite musical pieces and likewise found the sound quality to be excellent.
This is a 11.1.4 system. Samsung did not provide an exact breakdown of the channel configuration, but a visual inspection seems to indicate the following. The soundbars 7 channels are left, right, center, left front surround, right front surround, left width, and right width. The 4 rear channels are left, right, left width, and right width. There are a total of 4 up-firing Atmos compatible channels, two in the main soundbar and one in each of the surrounds.
Unlike other systems that use puny surround sounds speakers, the surrounds in this system really represent. They feel and sound as good as they look. For movie soundtracks, dedicated quality surrounds are the make or break test of a system. I could tell the moment I lifted them that they would belt out sound with ease. And boy was I not wrong!
There are 3 HDMI ports, 2 inputs and 1 eARC. The inputs are HDMI 2.1 120Hz and are capable of HDR10+ and Dolby Vision pass through. At this time the only devices capable of outputting a 120Hz signal are the PS5 and some PC gaming systems.
I do not have a Samsung TV so I was unable to test the Q-Symphony feature. I am intrigued by the concept however, and am strongly considering a Samsung TV as my next TV purchase.
I was completely blown away by the performance and feature set of the Samsung Q990D soundbar system. The soundstage that it creates makes it hands down the best soundbar system I have ever used. This is the soundbar to get if you want the best that is out there. If I could, I would give it above 5 stars for performance. This system is truly the best in its class.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
My previous soundbar (9.1) with two up-firing speakers was great. It had deep, punchy bass. However, I find the Samsung to be much more well-rounded.
First, setup is as easy as it gets. Get it out of the box, plug it in and you're done. I have it in my "SmartThings" app, which I recommend. (All of this can be done through the remote as well). There are many options to control through the app. Of course volume control, but also sound mode (Standard, surround, game and adaptive sound). An equalizer, which has fine-tuning controls in "standard" mode. In surround mode, you only get bass and treble customization. The subwoofer also has its own control. It has an option for surround speaker mode. This allows you to set up the rear speakers in the front or the rear. Another great option is "private rear sound". When you activate this, only the rear speakers play sound. This is perfect for me because my living room TV is on the wall to our bedroom. That way, if my wife goes to bed and I still want to watch TV, the sound isn't too loud. SpaceFit Sound adapts the sound to the room. If one side of the room is more open, or closer to a wall, it will automatically adapt the sound to the room. Active voice amplifier is also nice. It's perfect for when shows or movies have a lot of other noises going on. When voices would normally be somewhat drowned out, this makes it a lot clearer. If you want to listen to music from your phone, the soundbar has Tap Sound. Just tap your phone to the soundbar and it will start playing it. It doesn't get any easier than that!
As far as the sound. It's great. It absolutely fills the room with sound. There are 11 forward-facing speakers, 1 subwoofer, and 4 up-firing speakers. You can pinpoint exactly where a sound is coming from. If there is a sound coming from the left rear, you can tell that it's at your 7 o'clock. The built-in microphone is constantly listening to the sound and making adjustments. I will say that the subwoofer isn't punchy like my last one at all. It doesn't have the really deep bass that will rattle the windows, and honestly, I kind of like that. It's more true to the sound itself. It's more quality over quantity.
The size of this soundbar is quite large. This includes the bar itself as well as the rear speakers. The subwoofer enclosure is slightly smaller than my last with the same size subwoofer. My previous soundbar sat on my TV stand and fit between the legs. This soundbar is so long that it has to sit on the legs of the TV as it can't fit between them. This is with a 65" TV. This presents a little problem for me. As the TV's remote sensor is at the bottom, it's now covered. I can't sit on the couch and turn the TV on. I have to walk over to it and aim the remote down at it behind the soundbar. I have a new TV on the way and I'm waiting to see if it will fit between the legs of that TV. If it doesn't, I plan to mount the TV to the wall and have the soundbar on the TV stand. If you plan to mount the soundbar and/or rear speakers, make sure you mount it to studs. Both are quite heavy.
If you have a Samsung TV, Q-Symphony also uses your TV speakers with the soundbar for enhanced sound. I don't have a Samsung TV, so I can't speak to the pros/cons of this feature.
Overall, this is a great soundbar and I highly recommend it!
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Samsung's Q Series 11.1.4 Soundbar system is well made and a stylish addition to any home theatre setup. Samsung has done a good job with it and it's quality, appearance, and features show this.
Samsung SmartThings app helps you to easily configure and change settings for the soundbar. It is easy to navigate and find what you are looking for. It's also what you would use to update the firmware for the soundbar. Updating the firmware was quick and easy. The app is easier for me to get to what I need. You have access do the different sound modes, equalizer, SpaceFit sound option, Active Voice Amplifier option, and Advanced Sound Settings. Within the Advanced Sound Settings, you'll find the Voice Enhancement, Base Enhancement, and Night Mode settings. All of that is available from the built-in menu via remote, it's just that I found it more to my liking to use the SmartThings app.
The sound from the speakers is incredibly clear. There is plenty of theatre level base from the large subwoofer. The speakers really impress. Couple that with the audio features you have through the built in menu or the SmartThings app, and you can dial in the audio as you prefer. I found that using the Active Voice Amplifier plus the Voice Enhancement option in any mode and adjusting the equalizer was best for me when using Standard sound mode.
The way the speakers are oriented in each of the rear speakers is that one faces forward, one upward and one outward. The one facing outward can bounce sound off of a wall, but if you have a wall on one side and the opposite side of the room doesn't have a nearby wall, it can make some of the audio a little odd sounding, but I only found that with a few things I watched with surround sound on. The soundbar itself has forward facing speakers and upward facing speakers. The upward facing speakers will also bounce sound. It will bounce it off of your ceiling. I didn't find any problems with this and the sound from it was clear.
The Space Fit sound option, which can be turned off or on, didn't seem to help adjust sound as much as I hoped it would. There is a built-in mic on the soundbar which it uses to analyze the acoustics of your room. This can help, but I didn't find it to help much in my living room. I'm sure it would help in many setups especially ones with walls to each side.
There are multiple options for connecting your soundbar to an audio source. HDMI, Optical, and Bluetooth all worked well. I tried all of them and each work as expected. Having Bluetooth enabled me to connect a second audio source that wasn't near the soundbar, so that is definitely a plus.
The box is very long. The length makes it a bit awkward to carry. Individual components, such as the soundbar and subwoofer and the two rear speakers are easy to move around once out of the box, but the package is long enough that it may pose a problem if you are buying it at the store and trying to put it into a small car. If you can't lift the weight or don't have a person to help you or you have a small vehicle, then you might be better off with delivery service and have it delivered to your home. I placed the soundbar in front of my TV which didn't block the view of the bottom of screen. I don't believe anyone is going to have an issue with that. The two rear speakers are reasonably small, so I didn't have any problems with their placement. Overall, once out of the box, all components were easy to place where I needed them.
The build quality is top notch. Samsung always does a good job with the quality and construction of their sound bars and the Q series 11.1.4 is no different. Samsung continues to innovate with their soundbars and I don't think anyone would be disappointed with the Q Series 11.1.4 with Q-Symphony. If you are considering a new soundbar consider the Q Series especially if you own a Samsung TV which takes advantage of the Q-Symphony feature.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
After endless researching and testing sound systems at a local Best Buy, I purchased the Q990D directly from Samsung and picked up at Best Buy. Thanks Best Buy for such a convenient way to quickly get our device!
Installation:
Installation was very easy. Unbox each item, plug the cables in, place the soundbar in front below the TV, the sub next to our couch, and the surround speakers behind us and facing each other. This is the best sound setup I've found. Connect to the TV via eARC and downloaded the Smart Things app on my phone for easy setup and easy access of sound settings.
Sound Settings:
The app is so simple to use and they give a variety of settings for you to configure to your liking. You can choose the sound setting for the sub and surround speakers. You can set if you have the surround speakers behind you or in front. In front works great for music. Can set the bass and tremble. Different modes with adaptive sound adjusting based on the room is a really nice feature to have.
Movies/TV:
Sounds quality for movies and TV is absolutely fantastic. Crystal clear and smooth sounding. I like bass and tremble, so I set both those settings high and the sub does a great job sending rumbles through the room. No issues with lag. This is true surround sound with impressive height for atmos. Easily the best I've come across. No issues with sounding punchy. Center sound stage is very wide and strong. You won't need to go high with the volume.
Music:
Music sounds great and is just as clear and fine sounding as movies are. With the settings, you can keep your surrounds behind or move in front. I've tried a variety of different types of songs to see how this thing performs and I really enjoy listening to music from it.
Integration:
I have an Apple TV box and this was super simple to add to my Apple TV. I also have a HomePod that I moved downstairs with this system after testing out the Q990D by itself for awhile. Apple TV allows me to pair the TV speakers, the soundbar, and HomePod to all play together and I can tell you my basement sounds like a legit theater. It's very nice having the option to buy this soundbar with surrounds and a sub and not having to worry about wiring a bunch of speakers and a receiver. That was my primary reason for going with a soundbar over a sound system and I'm very satisfied and blown away with the sound I get.
Highly recommend!