CORRECTION: It has been brought to my attention by several of you that the Q990C and Q990B models also (or now) have the surround speaker Front Mode that was illustrated in this review. If this is true (we no longer have a Q990B/C to confirm this), then it would appear that the only difference between the "new" Q990D and its predecessor(s) is the presence of HDMI 2.1. Apologies if my focus on the Front Mode was confusing to those of you with Q990B/C bars who have been enjoying this feature. The Front Mode, or maybe its presence within the Smart Things App, appeared "new" or updated with the Q990D, which is why I made it a larger point to call attention to it, as I do not recall this feature being available at the time we reviewed the original release of the Q990B or C. Regardless, I have been made aware that legacy bars have this feature, and it is not unique to the Q990D. I still stand by my review and my recommendations to anyone considering a Samsung Soundbar system for themselves. If anything, this news only further cements my conclusion that the bar to get may be the even more affordable Q990C, which you can still find here: amzn.to/3LK0Vlt
On behalf of owners of Samsung Q990B, Andrew you receive forgiveness all the way from Uganda. The front and rear speakers function existed from the day Q990B dropped from skies and it's one of the options you come across when you press the settings button on the remote. There was something else - Q990A doesn't exist. It's Q950A that exists
As a person who pointed this out, i would like to state that you don’t need to apologize. You have always done an excellent job making reviews about various different sound systems and, therefore, may miss things or have already finished your review by the time new features are rolled out. This is beyond your control. It cannot be accounted for. I throughly believe that you did your best in the original Q990B and Q950A reviews. You did not intend to deliberately mislead us viewers. Everything about Front mode is still true anyway, and it also probably mostly applies to the older bars too. P.S. great review as always. An excellent blend of measurements (like RTINGS) and a more down to earth personal view (human perspective). Measurements are great, but they don’t represent the human experience. Additionally, they don’t really express much to most. I may know, that ___ speaker has a boost in sub bass or something, but how would I really know what that FEELS like without equipment to measure my stuff. I know sound, but i don’t have measurements of anything i use.
Andrew: I have a question if you don't mind. The rear speakers appear to be designed to fire away from the ear or are marked incorrectly. The way they are marked, the right rear speaker's cabinet side faces the ear, not the speaker side and vise versa for the left speaker. Do you that to be the design of these speakers or do you think Samsung has them marked backwards? Many thanks!
@@freedomlover3323they are marked to fire away from the ears when placed in the back for surround sound since they use the walls to simulate the surround effect for 7.1 or Atmos for example. And they should be placed in reverse position when used in front mode. So they are marked correctly.🙂
@@AlexandruBurda Thank you for your reply, sir. I finally figured that out after finding a video that shows what speaker was firing and with what sound. The bothersome part is that my right wall is about 18' away while my left wall is about 8 inches away and you cannot adjust the sound per rear speaker - only both at once. I'm coming from Martin Logan speakers, SVS sub and Pioneer Elite receiver but still impressed with this. Once I figure out some calibration, I'm sure I'll be happy with it. Thank you again!
📌Considering the Q990D Sound Bar? Find them here bit.ly/3WvtXLP and bit.ly/3X4W84O 🔌DON’T FORGET to leave your questions in the comments to be featured on the next Unplugged! Catch up on all the latest UNPLUGGED episodes here bit.ly/43NnDkT 😀Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this video, please hit the 👍Like button! 🙏 Please stay on topic and be respectful. 🚫No links, self-promotion, or personal info.
I’m happy to hear a reviewer say don’t buy a product if you simply don’t need it. To many reviewers now a days make it seem as if everything is worth an immediate upgrade
I appreciate that you are talking honestly about soundbars, so many HIFI heads bash soundbars unfairly. Im excited to see what samsung does for a new generation of soundbars.
I appreciate your comment. Soundbars are not something people should vilify or ignore; they're really great and the future whether folks want to admit it or not.
High time Samsung takes on the Sony Quad / A9 - that form factor clearly has serious advantages over standard soundbars and A9 has yet to see any competition!
I agree! The Theatre Quad (and A9 before it) definitely changed the thinking and form factor of soundbar-like systems, and it's time for others to follow suit.
Maybe they use multiple music frames with a bar? I know you can already pair one with Q symphony. At least according to Samsung reps. Haven't been able to rest it myself yet.
I tried this system in home for about a month and ended up returning it. We have acoustically challenging loft appartment with high ceiling and left side open to normal ceiling height smallish kitchen. While Samsung delivered seamless surround movement and panning and a lot of spl capability, those heights could not reflect from almost 20ft ceiling at all. I ended up buying Ambeo max from Sennheiser and paired it with my klipsch SPL 1400 and the combo while being way more expensive completely trumps samsung in almost everything. Ambeo Calibration is so precise and those bigger driver units deliver. Even heights have full effect.
I recently rewatched Bladerunner 2049 with my Nakamichi Dragon. I think it was a bit more like I had 4 subwoofers in the room because I literally had 4 subwoofers in the room.
For $3,000 and under would you say the Sony Quad is your top pick for home theater? This is obviously a positive review of the 990D, but in the comparison it seems like in terms of performance (not bang for the buck) you prefer the quad. If you had the Samsung 95D TV would that change your opinion (does Q-Symphony integration change your opinion)? Is there anything else at/around $3,000 or under that you would choose over the 990D/Quad (whether it be soundbar package or receiver speaker combination)? Thank you! Really enjoy the content!
I’ve been rocking my Q950A for some time now and I’m debating upgrading to the 990D but the Bravia Quad also has my attention. I appreciate your thorough reviews as they give plenty of great information and help making decisions like this easier. You’re the reason I got the 950A in the first place.
i have owned them all Q950A Q990B and now Q990D big differences, Q990D is the complete beast the GOAT it competes with the QUAD no question but QUAD goes that extra mile
Hey Andrew, this may sound like a crazy question, but you did a review of the KEF q750’s it has always stuck with me how much you loved that whole set up. Would you say this sound bar compares to it? Cost is not an issue. I’m down to these two both because of your reviews. lol - thx !
Re the Sound Profiles section, maybe worth mentioning that the different profiles also include different up-mixing? The Standard profile does not up-mix ... i.e. a 5.1 or stereo mix only uses the speakers/channels in the source while leaving many of the soundbar system's speakers/channels unused. The Surround and Adaptive profiles up-mix every source to play sound from all 11.1.4 speakers/channels.
Andy with the new feature. Samsung should have thrown in another 2 rear speakers. 2 at the front as you showed. And 2 at the back. Then that would give the option of un-powering the back speakers when using the front channel for Music Audio. Simple 🔊
Thanks a lot for helping me to choose a sound bar for our large living room. I made my decision purely based on your video. I'm very much satisfied with my samsung sound bar. Thank you
I think they should improve the subwoofer and bass performance in the next iteration. Better stereo and bass performance were the most noticeable improvements for me when I moved from the Q990c to a proper home cinema system.
Have had my eye on this system for awhile and would be interested in maybe owning one someday. I think you are definitely right in calling them out to do something new and different, Andrew. It's time. I think my shortlist would be the ability to add a second subwoofer, maybe a refresh of the rear speakers, and playing with new styles/looks or even as you mentioned, battery power for full wireless configuration/setup. Thanks for the great review as always! :)
You are my favourite reviewer, another amazing review! I need your help please, after I listened to your Bose 900 ultra sound bar review I ordered one for 899. However after watching this one I am now thinking have I made a mistake :) I have a med to small size living room, would you recommend q990D over Bose? Thank you!
hey andrew, as an owner of the the q990b i think its worth mentioning that the front speaker mode with the rears is NOT a new feature! its a great feature of the bar and i used it for quite some time when i had the couch against the wall with no room for rears. Anyway , love ur reviews, cheers from germany
Sick and tired of Samsung not releasing new system that actually changes the drivers and design. They just keep milking it with subtle changes like tunning through firmware updates yet sell it as if its whole new system and charge us full cost. Bass is another issue with this bar the tiny 8inch sub needs more omph emphasis with larger 10 or 12inch at least to put it on top of the rest. I truly hope Samsung can hear our comments and especially all reviewer's complaints they would act out about it. But when everyone is raving on how good it is why would they?? Finally someone dethroned it lol. Thank you Andrew!
@@andyzs2k you have one? Cuz I have the q930c and I small living room though and it's plenty enough sound. I think if your space is massive and you want earth shattering sub then ya this won't be it
@@GadgetsGearCoffee yes I do. Agreed my living room is large and high ceiling so larger sub would help for sure. If you compare bass to say Sonos or JBL its definitely inferior
@@andyzs2k haven't heard the others but sometimes more bass, if boomy, isn't better imo. Having quality crisp bass for the lows is nice but some people literally want to feel it. Could also try playing with placement
You can use the rear as front speakers on the C too. The C also has 2 different voice settings. Active Voice amplifier turns up dialogue if there is noise detected in the house (like a vacuum or kids fighting in another room). Voice Enhancement, just turns up the dialogue. So, the only difference is the HDMI. That's it.
Yup! He got so much wrong in this video and should really edit it or take it down. Not cool. It's one thing to get a casual mention detail wrong, but so much time describing things unique to 990d is wrong and then suggests 990b owners could consider upgrading. Another RUclipsr going down the drain.
Hi Andrew and Kristi,great video as always! Just wanted to let you know that in Germany currently you can get a 990D for 760€ and the Sony Quad is 2600€! That is crazyyyy. Not to mention you also get some streaming services for up to 6 months with the Samsung. Ouch😂
This review pushed me over the edge to take the plunge on the Q990D. Of course the Woot deal (now expired) made it that much easier to pull the trigger. I was initially hesitant to buy a Samsung audio product but this has far exceeded my expectations. I can't believe how expansive the soundstage is. Nothing beats my dedicated home theater but this gets far closer than I would have ever imagined.
I have the Q990B and I can confirm that the surround speakers could be used as front speakers, there was that setting in the SmartThings app. It seems they decided to keep this feature only for current models, so they removed it for older models with an update, unbelievable :)
Hey, have you ever experienced any connection issues with this model? like the sub and the rear speakers disconnecting a lot while playing something? I see a lot of people having this issue. One of my worst puchases ever.
I might be wrong but I think the option is still there via the Soundbar's own built in menu, just weirdly missing from the facelifted. Smartthings app.
Nice review as always. I feel there is still some room to build on this platform, its evident they can allow the rears to be used to widen the front stage via software, why not take it further and offer upgrade packs (even backwards compatible for 990 B +C) of extra surrounds to have rears and front wides right up to a full mini 7.1.4 system? I think that would be a winner, an actual modular high performance WIRELESS system with a small footprint. I think it would steal a lot of business from Sonos etc. Just my thoughts
@@KristiWright bought the 990C on your recommendation paired with the S90c OLED. I am extremely happy with the setup! You all are my goto when I look for AV, keep the reviews coming!
Great review. I have the q990c and was thinking of upgrading and reviewing but i noticed you talked about the Front mode and i remember clearly mine had that already so no need to update. The only issue I have with my q990c is the constant disconnection with the smartthings app which makes me reset the bar always but apart from that this is an awesome home theatre system and for now no need to update to the q990d until samsung brings out something way newer and fresher. Still thinking of what to update to as i'm already bored with the q990c and I need something better and fresher that wont blow the bank. Whats your suggestion?
Ended up getting a 5.1.2 speaker/receiver set up since your last video but still watching this cause I'm always curious about your opinion on different products 😊
I've had Q950R in my kitchen/ living area with stone flooring for the past 4 years and I'm now considering a Q950D in my newly refurbished lounge. With wife doesn't want the big Yamaha AV and big box speakers everywhere and would much prefer a soundbar system. The room is probably better acoustically with soft furnishings and carpets than my kitchen. Will I notice much of an improvement between my current bar and the latest model?
I’ve had the q950a for a couple of years thanks to your reviews. I’ve been very happen with paired with my 65” c1. Would recommend it or stick with it?
I just bought this Soundbar yesterday. Coming from a 5.1 Sony Surround DVD player from 20 hears ago, so should be an improvement. The cashback from Samsung made it too tempting. Hopefully I don't get buyers remorse. Now time to do some reserch as it was a bit of a impulse buy.
I've done the same mate here in the UK.. Looking to upgrade my TV next. Haven't decided yet if Samsung S90D or LG C4 or B4. I wonder what options would I be missing if I go with the LG screen..
@CB_883 I've got the LG 65 B8 from a few years ago. I believe you just miss the Symphony stuff (using the tvs speakers along with the soundbar) Though some say that when you use this option, you use full dolby atmos, so most movie watching they don't use. Unsure how the other tvs stack up nowadays!? Back then the OLED's were the best.
@@markymoo22 I think I just got the last one from RS few minutes ago as the page is now showing "Sorry, we can't seem to find that page" got mine via price match @ £970 - £400 cashback, happy days!
Just done this myself. Nothing left at RS. So click and collect from Hughes Ipswich £999 but got a tenner of for signing up. Well worth it. Been looking at this for a while.
I know some people who don't want to use surround speakers in their home and would really appreciate the "surrounds-in-front" feature. That's a great idea.
Hi Andrew, great review there as usual. Just wondering if the Q990D has issue connecting with Sony TV? I recalled your review on Q990B having issue with Sony TV
@@andrewrobinsonreviews i know when people see these reviews they always want to ask how it compares to a Nakamichi dragon or a Sony Bravia quad or something that's completely out of its price. But honestly is the fidelity difference worth thousands of extra dollars? And what about for you, you've heard all these expensive systems, are they so much better that you can't just go back and be satisfied with a $1500 Samsung system or do you not really notice the difference unless they're side by side
I am using a projector, and it will be located far from the soundbar, so physically connecting through HDMI is not an option. Is it worth buying the soundbar to connect wirelessly in this case? Or will there be a significant loss in quality? Thank you in advance!
I bought it and returned it. It's an INCREDIBLE sound bar, but the subwoofer was not impressive at all for the space I placed the system. I was told this system was more than enough for my open floor living room. Before I returned the system, I did test it in a smaller space and that's of course when I got to see what the hype is about. So this is a caution to anyone looking to put this in an open area. If anyone has any suggestions on what may be great for my space, please let me know.
I wish we could return products like you can in the US, here in Australia. A year or so ago I bought what I had anticipated would be a Very high quality high resolution audio player, the latest Sony walkman, second from the top model, not the ridiculous gold version. It cost a fortune at $1,900 AUD and turned out to be really rubbish, the sound at max volume using IEM earphones was barely loud enough, the Sony app was super basic yet had extremely slow response and when connected to my PC as a DAC and headphone Amp, it had a huge delay so was useless for watching video. I tried to argue it was not fit for purpose, asking for a return and my money back but the Sony warranty reps used the No Change of Mind warranty stipulation we have here in Australia To block me from returning it. The only way we can return products for a refund minus 20% restocking fee which in this case would have been $190 AUD is if the product was still in its plastic wrapped state, unopened. Instead I get to keep my $1,900 brick
For someone like myself - where the couch rest against the back wall and so no space to put satellite speakers behind me exist - having the ability to use the satellite speakers in "front mode" is a welcome feature. If this makes the sound more spacious, that's what I would want, given I have no ability to have a true surround mode. I think others will like this feature too.
I was really hoping to see Samsung upgrade the 990D to either use The Frame speakers as front L/R channels, or at the very least, the ability to purchase another set of the surround speakers and have a "four corner" setup. This would solve a bunch of problems in cases where there's no wall for the side firing drivers in the bar itself to reflect off of.
It'd seem like from the Q990B to the Q990D, besides maybe updates in wireless transmitter / receivers for better connection, would all seem to have the same speakers and physical hardware. I think it would've been better recieved if Samsung offered the latest Q990D's software as firmware updates to the B and C while actually packing physical differences in the next iteration (more speakers, better speakers, etc) The Q990C could've been the Q990B with updated wireless stuff and 120hz hdmi 2.1 passthrough and the Q990D would've just been software / firmware updates to that Q990C. Have the Q990D (Q995D?) be a physical update in the next iteration
for placement of subwoofer, which should be done first? The audio calibration in the home theatre system or the subwoofer crawl to get the optimum placement? 1. Subwoofer crawl, then 2. audio calibration correct?
Great review . Just about to pull the plug on the Q930D on amazon for £649 ... Is Rhys a steal or what and is it worth getting the lesser cheaper model ? Thanks
Hi, two points. Firstly, in my experience, SpaceFit takes time to calibrate. I'd say at least 10-15mins. If you toggle it on/off you'll not hear much difference. Secondly, Active Voice Amplifier is designed to increase the volume of the dialogue if there is background noise. It's not enhancement as such. An example would be if you are celebrating loudly during the Olympics, the sound of the commentary is temporarily boosted so you can still hear it over your celebrations. I'm not sure if you talk about this correctly.
Hello purely from movie or tv series with Dolby Atmos tracks which is better ? The Samsung or the Sony quads w sub woofer ? If they cost the same which would you choose ? I don’t listen to music so my only concern is tv series n movies with Atmos
Great review as always. Whilst I appreciate you did advise to upgrade from an A or B to a D, if you're in the market for an upgrade that is. I am but would I see or rather hear a reasonable difference. I can get my hands on a new Q990D for less than 1k. However, should I buy the new Sony Quad Theatre instead. I have an S95C 77", which means the Q Symphony comes into play.
I have the B and I really love it. Is the C/D really worth the upgrade? Also is it just a case of swapping the speakers out? Ie are all the power cables, brackets still the same?
Good evening Andrew. A friend from Greece. I see your reviews. I read your comments. And to thank you in my turn, for the excellent work you do. I bought the samsung q990c after a lot of searching and I am completely satisfied! Satisfied with everything about the money I gave and the result I got. I will not elaborate further here. Just to answer what Samsung could do for a new and radical product. Having heard so many times, about the differences between a sound system for movies or a stereo for music. Why don't they try to make something like this?? the technology exists (as well as the production line) to make them marketable and affordable!! why couldn't I be able to add two floor or furniture speakers for a stereo (similar power) with bluetooth or wifi connection technology?? Wouldn't that be awesome??? Then I wouldn't listen to many of you judged the difference I mentioned above (stereo and surround) and it was a sound system for everything!! *i really didn't have time to read if someone else mention it. I hope i didn't say something so stupid........ because nobody answered me😊
Thank you for reviewing this! How does this Samsung system compare to the new Sony Bravia Quad or the... Sonos Arc system (2x Era 300 Satellites, 1x Sonos Sub, and 1x Sonos Arc Soundbar)?
That's a much more expensive setup and the Era 300's in particular will be much, much more powerful than the little surrounds you get with the Samsung - I expect it'd be significantly better especially for larger rooms - not sure if I've seen any side-by-side reviews though....
This review is timely for me! I'm currently auditing a Sony Quad upgrade vs a Q990B, due in no small part to your rave review of the Quad. I'm also considering whether I should go for a Q990D instead. I've found that while the front stereo soundscape and 3D placement is of course superior on the Quad, as well as much better musicality especially with guitars, the rear satellites and spatial effects of the Q990B have a certain sparkle or treble "edge" that can make some surround effects sound more believable. I also found the height effects somewhat more spacious, a bit more immersive, and more creepily present-- say in Stranger Things S4 Episode 9 1:03:02, where the creatures are in the ceiling. On the Quad it's more localized to the same rear right spot on the ceiling. On the Samsung, it feels slightly more vague positionally, but the height effect feels more obvious. Is this something you guys experienced comparing the Quad vs the Q990D? Is what I'm experiencing as more "immersive" and "present" a side-effect of the Q990D's positioning being more vague, spacious, and reflecting (no pun intended) how something might actually sound in real life, but less accurate to what was intended in the mix? Did you also experience brighter trebles in the rears, and a spaciousness and seeming distance of effects with the Samsungs? And if so, is that just a pleasant byproduct of the lack of positional accuracy? Rear positioning comparisons between the two is night and day in favor of the Quad. I guess that's to be expected-- if the Quads can create a compelling phantom center, it should of course be able to create a phantom rear. But it's impressive how well it does it with only a foot or so back from the couch. Lastly, do you know if there are any improvements from the Q990B to the Q990D that closes my observed gaps between the Q990B and the Quad, especially with regards to stereo and music?
Great review! I have the Q990B and I love it. I have a full home theater system in my dedicated room, it sounds great, however, the bar in my master bedroom is absolutely amazing. I haven’t found the best location to place the rear speakers, our bed is against the wall, but we love it nonetheless. I don’t know if we will ever upgrade it the newest model.
The Quad (and previous A9) just seems to be in this new 'sector' in between soundbar and home theatre; it's just difficult to pack a bunch of speakers into a box (or bar) and not make it sound like its all coming from...a box (or bar lol). I'm curious if the Quad/A9 form factor will become more popular amongst new models from competitors. Samsung already sorta has the tech with their 'music frame' stuff, jbl has detachable rears already etc
what do you think about the low volume performance ? I have a 990a and didn't relate to your summary as much. is the 990d that much better than the a ? would love to know your thoughts 😊
Samsung is indeed excellent in audio quality. The dolby atmos feature in S21+ also works very well. Now I'm looking for home theater system and i think i will buy samsung Q990D
Hi Andrew, thanks for yet another amazing review. I picked up Q950A a while back when it launched and wondering if it is now time to upgrade to Q990D? I don't have any "problems" besides maybe somewhat weak sub perfomance but would I get much better suround and over all sound with 990D?
@@ToXXeRR are you kidding me? It's absolutely high time you upgraded to C or D. I owned a q950a and I now have a q990B although I am waiting for D. But a q990B is way better than q950A especially with it's current upgrades
It’s great that it now has hdmi 2.1. But I truly believe that if Samsung were to compete with the Quad, the set would be like the Nakamichi Dragon 11.4.6 Not exactly the same features but possibly an extra sub out for a second subwoofer, and 2 extra speakers possibly for the side. All in all for a more cinematic experience, maybe a stretch of my imagination Lol but that setup could be a good reason to upgrade.
I 100% agree. It's time for Samsung upgrade this series of sound bars. I want to see, innovation, bigger speaker drivers. Options to have front speaker with the sound bar in the next generation ie 990E
I would love to see a new Samsung soundbar with Q symphony that doesn’t need or come with a Sub. I don’t want a sub in my main living room and that’s why I have a Sonos Arc in there but I also really want Q Symthony.
The obvious step up for me would be the addition of an optional 2nd sub to even the low end responce Coupled with better room correction and the creation of a morr flexible ecosystem in general. Ive noticed that for most soundbars systems with a sub, the bass responce is not flat, how significant is that? Also I noticed that for previous samsung bars you can have eq bands for certain frequencies but not for the sub frequencies which is pretty significant considering room nodes typically exist below 80hz, is this true?
@constantinoskatodrytis542 I have the q990a and the subwoofer is it's greatest weakness. Also how about being able to add 2 extra surround speakers for dedicated front left and right ? As opposed to having the sound bar doing all the work?
I have YET to find a soundbar that actually produces overhead Dolby Atmos sounds. I have a Sonos system, Arc, sub, ERA 3's. NO overhead sound. I have tried every configuration under the sun, even Pe's recommendations. NOTHING. Eight foot sheetrocked ceilings. NOTHING. Maybe I just don't understand what Dolby Atmos is supposed to do?
Have you tried this Samsung yet? I'm only considering spending this much on a soundbar if the Atmos actually works... In digital trend's review of this soundbar, he said he could feel the Atmos content even with subpar room conditions after he increased the volume levels of the up firing speakers
I currently have A Sonos arc and gen 3 sub. I am looking at either getting the era 300s or selling it and getting the 990d. Money aside do you have a recommendation between the two
I got 990c for 1200 about a year ago. Probably can be bought cheaper. It’s a Fantastic Dolby atmos soundbar. Paired with 89c 77” oh it’s a dream setup. I am a gamer was sad no 2.1 hdmi on soundbar but tv support 4 hdmi 2.1 so no biggie. Panasonic 420 and shield tv are plugged directly to 990c for amazing Dolby atmos surround sound. If 990D is too expensive go for 990c you won’t miss much except those 2 features he mentioned
Great review as always! So, when great brands choose to rebrand, they typically do not come out with a radical change to their logo, but something that is more of an incremental change or polish to what's existing. It seems that, Samsung is taking this approach, recognizing they have a smash hit in the Q990. All said, based on your reviews of the series, this WILL be my next home theater purchase, hands down. I'm not interested in the complication of a legacy surround sound set up. Thanks for all you do, Andrew!
You seem like the best at this I live in an apartment and only want to be a standalone soundbar without having to purchase any extra speakers 🔊 or subwoofers etc. What is the best standalone soundbar for a brand new LG OLED G4 television in 2024? Price point is not a factor I’m will to purchase premium if it’s all in one unit. Any assistance you can bring is greatly appreciated!
Thank you for this video. Very informative and only made me reaffirm my purchase a few weeks ago. I was curious if had a suggestion for channel levels for a medium-sized room? 18' x 12' x 8'
I have a 12foot ceiling, frankly speaking I don't notice a lot of Atmos effect in atmos movies. Is my ceiling too high for atmos? Should I "move" my soundbar higher by installing the wall bracket? But I still very much like the surround sound effects. Music listening is good too. Best all round soundbar!
Andrew, I have learned a lot from your channel. Thank you. I have an annoying question for you, if you don’t mind. Until I find a new place, my theatre room is a problematic ≊ 8.5ft x 8.5ft x 8ft H. Priority is Gaming in Atmos - Good Surround/Atmos effects/positioning. Cost isn’t a huge factor. Because of the small, problematic room in a rented apartment, would it be best to go with more an all-in-one solution like the Bravia Quad, and take advantage of 360 SSM and the built in room correction, or would a traditional solution be better for this situation - say something like Marantz Cinema 40/Dirac, with a Monitor Audio Silver 50, or a Dali Minuet bed layer, and either up-firing Atmos, or MAYBE even height channel style Atmos (can’t swing ceiling mounted this time). Perhaps a mix of both worlds would be best with a Sony STR-AN 1000/same bed layer and only 2 up firing Atmos speakers (no ES models for sale in the country I’m currently in, and the Sony is only 7 channel). I'm sure any of these would be fine, but if anything jumps out at you as the clear best solution given the room constraints and priorities, or you have any useful insights, please let me know! BTW, I just used your REW guide for a different system - awesome stuff.
Thank you for your generosity. I'm going to do my best to advise you. Given that your room is small at the moment, this limits what we can do. Not knowing the size of your display, I'm going to assume it's roughly 65 inches diagonal as that is somewhat "standard" now. The proper viewing distance for a 65" TV is approximately six to eight feet away from the screen for best results when watching 4K content. Let's say you sit six feet away, that leaves no more than two feet behind and to the side of you if you have four feet of seating (think couch). This also means that your front three speakers are likely going to rest four to five feet from you which is more or less a near-field setup. Appreciable Atmos or surround sound isn't going to be an issue for you in this case as you will literally be surrounded by speakers even if only going with a 5.1 setup. I love your Monitor Audio idea, but even the Silver and Bronze series is going to take up quite a bit of space in your room once you factor in stands, cables and other furniture to house an AVR etc. Maybe you don't mind, but I want you to be comfortable in your space too. My advice would be to give the Sony Bravia Theatre Quad with the SW3 subwoofer a try first. I think it's going to be the most flexible for you, and you could even wall mount the speakers to save space (the wall mounts ARE INCLUDED). They mount to the wall with a single screw so it's pretty renter friendly. I think this is the best solution given your space. Another possible solution would be the Sennheiser Ambeo, as it's an all-in-one solution that will have ZERO issues giving you a surround sound experience in a smaller space like what you're describing. Two more bars to consider for surround sound like performance with Atmos content would be the B&W Panorama 3 as well as the Bose Smart Ultra with one of its Bass Modules (don't bother with rears). Now, if you want to step it up and give yourself greater expansion for the future, maybe look at picking up four Monitor Audio Bronze 50 bookshelf speakers with the matching Bronze C150 and a sub of your choosing (you don't have to go crazy). As for an AVR, I don't think you need to go with the Cinema 40. I know DIRAC is enticing, but honestly, in a space such as this, you likely can get by with Audyssey and a little less power. Take a good look at the Cinema 70. If you need more power down the road it has preamp outs so you can add an amp later if need be. Another speaker system to consider would be the Bowers & Wilkins Mini System MT-50. That five speaker plus subwoofer combo would also work and save you even more space over the Monitor Audio Bronze speakers. Hope this helps. Best, Andrew
I have the Q990c and it’s surprisingly good for what it is. I think it helps that I’m seated pretty close and I have it at the front edge just like Andrew is showing here. People if you have one of these, make sure you bring it to the front, it makes a big difference. Also space behind the couch is important because the rear speakers are creating the sense of width and they need to be positioned well.
You say the surround speakers are wireless. Does that go for power too? Can they be plugged in to avoid battery issues? Can you swap the battery packs when they eventually fail? Thanks for the great review.
I go over this in the video, saying that if the surrounds had been new or battery powered like the larger Sony surrounds, that would've been a nice update for 2024, but they didn't do that. The surrounds still need to be plugged in to a wall outlet.
Love your channel. Just moved into a place and got a 2024 85" Sony. Old yamaha soundbar (smallish) +sub is not cutting it anymore. Am after a Soundbar + Sub combo only. No rears or quad setup. Open plan living with high ceilings, so I am not sure how great the ATMOS effects will be. Dialogue clarity is pretty important. I was keen on the Bravia 9, till I saw your review. I am now looking at (1)Sonos Arc + Sub, (2)Bose Smart Ultra + Sub or Samsung 990C/D (will not use the rears) or wait for Arc 2. What would you recommend ? 95% home theater use and 5% music.
Tell you what they could do, add an ethernet port. That’d be “revolutionary”. I love my Q990C, despite typically avoiding Samsung products for their lack of after sales support (at least in Australia), my one gripe is its complete inability to stay connected to my network’s Wi-Fi longer than a day without re-pairing, rendering all of its network and app functionality useless. I’ve kept it because it’s an outstanding performer and we use Sonos for music in the same space anyway, but it would be great to see a return of the traditional network connection that eliminates WiFi headaches. My research online suggests it’s a really common issue, with no resolution to date.
Thanks, your reviews helped convince me to try one and I got it delivered on Friday and I’m hugely impressed with it, having come from an Ambeo Plus and, before that, some high-end Genelec 3-ways with GLM. The only thing I wish it had is an indicator of which codec is being used in the app, like the Ambeo did - did I miss it?
Speaking of the surrounds placed as fronts, how are they for movies and games? My basement can’t accommodate surrounds right now so the capability to have them as front until I can place them as surrounds is really tempting
I bought this soundbar on a very good deal here in the UK just now. I'm so looking to upgrade the TV very soon. Haven't decided between Samsung S90D and LG C4 or LG B4. Is this Samsung soundbar compatible with LG TVs.. In other words... What would I be missing if I decided to go with the LG TV? Thanks
It would be interesting to see the Q990D compared to the Sennheiser Ambeo Max to determine the true goat. Sennheiser claims the Max bass plays down to 30Hz and does not need a subwoofer. The Max also uses the Sony's object-based 360 spatial sound technology.
@@KristiWright Sennheiser kept their professional division but sold their consumer division (in which the soundbar resides) to Sonova Holding AG. You would think the new owner of this consumer division would understand that to sell more of their product they would need to send out review gear to generate sales. Apparently not... I am confused as to why Sennheiser's name is still associated with the consumer products sold under Sonova. Must be some licensing agreement for name recognition purposes. Disappointing none the less. Maybe your subscribers such as myself can start spamming them to send you the soundbar to review :)
I have a question: in my 5.1 (7.2) system, I moved the front L+R speakers from a 40cm tall furniture, to 40cm tall speaker stands (80cm tall now, the central speaker is already higher than the TV), and the sound improved a lot since they are even to my ears sitting on the couch. If I bought a soundbar, standing on the same 40cm tall furniture, the frontal and central speakers would be lower and I fear the sound would be worse. What do you think? I can't place the TV on the wall and making the furniture higher is not an option 😁 That's my main concern.
So I moved and cannot fit my bookshelf speakers and center channel into my configuration for my home theater. I will have to resort to a LCR speaker and two ceiling speakers for surround. I saw the Sonos ARC and was impressed, are there other LCR speakers I should consider? I am finding it hard to find them in an audio retailer. I wonder whether something like the Monitor Audio sb4 would be a better choice than the Sonos. I also want to stay at around $1500 for the LCR. Any help will be appreciated.
CORRECTION: It has been brought to my attention by several of you that the Q990C and Q990B models also (or now) have the surround speaker Front Mode that was illustrated in this review. If this is true (we no longer have a Q990B/C to confirm this), then it would appear that the only difference between the "new" Q990D and its predecessor(s) is the presence of HDMI 2.1.
Apologies if my focus on the Front Mode was confusing to those of you with Q990B/C bars who have been enjoying this feature. The Front Mode, or maybe its presence within the Smart Things App, appeared "new" or updated with the Q990D, which is why I made it a larger point to call attention to it, as I do not recall this feature being available at the time we reviewed the original release of the Q990B or C. Regardless, I have been made aware that legacy bars have this feature, and it is not unique to the Q990D.
I still stand by my review and my recommendations to anyone considering a Samsung Soundbar system for themselves. If anything, this news only further cements my conclusion that the bar to get may be the even more affordable Q990C, which you can still find here: amzn.to/3LK0Vlt
On behalf of owners of Samsung Q990B, Andrew you receive forgiveness all the way from Uganda. The front and rear speakers function existed from the day Q990B dropped from skies and it's one of the options you come across when you press the settings button on the remote.
There was something else - Q990A doesn't exist. It's Q950A that exists
As a person who pointed this out, i would like to state that you don’t need to apologize. You have always done an excellent job making reviews about various different sound systems and, therefore, may miss things or have already finished your review by the time new features are rolled out. This is beyond your control. It cannot be accounted for.
I throughly believe that you did your best in the original Q990B and Q950A reviews. You did not intend to deliberately mislead us viewers. Everything about Front mode is still true anyway, and it also probably mostly applies to the older bars too.
P.S. great review as always. An excellent blend of measurements (like RTINGS) and a more down to earth personal view (human perspective). Measurements are great, but they don’t represent the human experience. Additionally, they don’t really express much to most. I may know, that ___ speaker has a boost in sub bass or something, but how would I really know what that FEELS like without equipment to measure my stuff. I know sound, but i don’t have measurements of anything i use.
Andrew: I have a question if you don't mind. The rear speakers appear to be designed to fire away from the ear or are marked incorrectly. The way they are marked, the right rear speaker's cabinet side faces the ear, not the speaker side and vise versa for the left speaker. Do you that to be the design of these speakers or do you think Samsung has them marked backwards?
Many thanks!
@@freedomlover3323they are marked to fire away from the ears when placed in the back for surround sound since they use the walls to simulate the surround effect for 7.1 or Atmos for example. And they should be placed in reverse position when used in front mode.
So they are marked correctly.🙂
@@AlexandruBurda Thank you for your reply, sir. I finally figured that out after finding a video that shows what speaker was firing and with what sound.
The bothersome part is that my right wall is about 18' away while my left wall is about 8 inches away and you cannot adjust the sound per rear speaker - only both at once.
I'm coming from Martin Logan speakers, SVS sub and Pioneer Elite receiver but still impressed with this.
Once I figure out some calibration, I'm sure I'll be happy with it.
Thank you again!
📌Considering the Q990D Sound Bar? Find them here bit.ly/3WvtXLP and bit.ly/3X4W84O
🔌DON’T FORGET to leave your questions in the comments to be featured on the next Unplugged! Catch up on all the latest UNPLUGGED episodes here bit.ly/43NnDkT
😀Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this video, please hit the 👍Like button!
🙏 Please stay on topic and be respectful. 🚫No links, self-promotion, or personal info.
I’m happy to hear a reviewer say don’t buy a product if you simply don’t need it. To many reviewers now a days make it seem as if everything is worth an immediate upgrade
I appreciate that you are talking honestly about soundbars, so many HIFI heads bash soundbars unfairly. Im excited to see what samsung does for a new generation of soundbars.
I appreciate your comment. Soundbars are not something people should vilify or ignore; they're really great and the future whether folks want to admit it or not.
High time Samsung takes on the Sony Quad / A9 - that form factor clearly has serious advantages over standard soundbars and A9 has yet to see any competition!
I agree! The Theatre Quad (and A9 before it) definitely changed the thinking and form factor of soundbar-like systems, and it's time for others to follow suit.
It should be the cinco with a center dedicated to voice.
Or they need to fix their tv speaker channel.
Maybe they use multiple music frames with a bar? I know you can already pair one with Q symphony. At least according to Samsung reps. Haven't been able to rest it myself yet.
@@daveonezero6258they fixed it. Acoustic Center Sync V2 is a lot better than before. Especially with OLED TV’s
The problem being with those systems is the need to purchase a sub and the cost already just for the basic system, not only that they look awkward.
I tried this system in home for about a month and ended up returning it. We have acoustically challenging loft appartment with high ceiling and left side open to normal ceiling height smallish kitchen. While Samsung delivered seamless surround movement and panning and a lot of spl capability, those heights could not reflect from almost 20ft ceiling at all.
I ended up buying Ambeo max from Sennheiser and paired it with my klipsch SPL 1400 and the combo while being way more expensive completely trumps samsung in almost everything. Ambeo Calibration is so precise and those bigger driver units deliver. Even heights have full effect.
I just bought one last week and then re-watched Bladerunner 2042 and was blown away. I swear I had like 4 subwoofers in the room. It was amazing!!!
@@gdarionb re watch ready player one too! Even better if you play it on disc for better audio
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
What you mean with 4 subwoofers?
I recently rewatched Bladerunner 2049 with my Nakamichi Dragon. I think it was a bit more like I had 4 subwoofers in the room because I literally had 4 subwoofers in the room.
@@michaelspurling4376 I love it!! :)
For $3,000 and under would you say the Sony Quad is your top pick for home theater? This is obviously a positive review of the 990D, but in the comparison it seems like in terms of performance (not bang for the buck) you prefer the quad. If you had the Samsung 95D TV would that change your opinion (does Q-Symphony integration change your opinion)? Is there anything else at/around $3,000 or under that you would choose over the 990D/Quad (whether it be soundbar package or receiver speaker combination)? Thank you! Really enjoy the content!
I’ve been rocking my Q950A for some time now and I’m debating upgrading to the 990D but the Bravia Quad also has my attention. I appreciate your thorough reviews as they give plenty of great information and help making decisions like this easier. You’re the reason I got the 950A in the first place.
Q990D is a beast but honestly get the quad
i have owned them all Q950A Q990B and now Q990D big differences, Q990D is the complete beast the GOAT it competes with the QUAD no question but QUAD goes that extra mile
Hey Andrew, this may sound like a crazy question, but you did a review of the KEF q750’s it has always stuck with me how much you loved that whole set up.
Would you say this sound bar compares to it? Cost is not an issue. I’m down to these two both because of your reviews. lol - thx !
Re the Sound Profiles section, maybe worth mentioning that the different profiles also include different up-mixing? The Standard profile does not up-mix ... i.e. a 5.1 or stereo mix only uses the speakers/channels in the source while leaving many of the soundbar system's speakers/channels unused. The Surround and Adaptive profiles up-mix every source to play sound from all 11.1.4 speakers/channels.
Andy with the new feature. Samsung should have thrown in another 2 rear speakers. 2 at the front as you showed. And 2 at the back. Then that would give the option of un-powering the back speakers when using the front channel for Music Audio. Simple 🔊
Thanks a lot for helping me to choose a sound bar for our large living room. I made my decision purely based on your video. I'm very much satisfied with my samsung sound bar. Thank you
I think they should improve the subwoofer and bass performance in the next iteration. Better stereo and bass performance were the most noticeable improvements for me when I moved from the Q990c to a proper home cinema system.
Have had my eye on this system for awhile and would be interested in maybe owning one someday. I think you are definitely right in calling them out to do something new and different, Andrew. It's time. I think my shortlist would be the ability to add a second subwoofer, maybe a refresh of the rear speakers, and playing with new styles/looks or even as you mentioned, battery power for full wireless configuration/setup. Thanks for the great review as always! :)
I have the q930b and though it isn't the top one. I'm super satisfied with it and it's enough for my bedroom.
If this is the GOAT then it deserves a spot for contention. Keep it in there until it's knocked off.
You have no idea how long I've waited for YOUR review for this product! 🎉🎉🎉
You are my favourite reviewer, another amazing review! I need your help please, after I listened to your Bose 900 ultra sound bar review I ordered one for 899. However after watching this one I am now thinking have I made a mistake :) I have a med to small size living room, would you recommend q990D over Bose? Thank you!
hey andrew, as an owner of the the q990b i think its worth mentioning that the front speaker mode with the rears is NOT a new feature! its a great feature of the bar and i used it for quite some time when i had the couch against the wall with no room for rears. Anyway , love ur reviews, cheers from germany
It wasn't available to my knowledge when we first reviewed the 990B or C, though I understand it was added in one or more firmware updates.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews fair enough, btw my gf finds it adorable u mention kristi as the real star of the show
Sick and tired of Samsung not releasing new system that actually changes the drivers and design. They just keep milking it with subtle changes like tunning through firmware updates yet sell it as if its whole new system and charge us full cost. Bass is another issue with this bar the tiny 8inch sub needs more omph emphasis with larger 10 or 12inch at least to put it on top of the rest. I truly hope Samsung can hear our comments and especially all reviewer's complaints they would act out about it. But when everyone is raving on how good it is why would they?? Finally someone dethroned it lol. Thank you Andrew!
If it's not broke, why fix it.
@@andyzs2k you have one? Cuz I have the q930c and I small living room though and it's plenty enough sound. I think if your space is massive and you want earth shattering sub then ya this won't be it
@@GadgetsGearCoffee yes I do. Agreed my living room is large and high ceiling so larger sub would help for sure. If you compare bass to say Sonos or JBL its definitely inferior
@@andyzs2k haven't heard the others but sometimes more bass, if boomy, isn't better imo. Having quality crisp bass for the lows is nice but some people literally want to feel it. Could also try playing with placement
This is a fantastic review...it has more than helped me to decide on buying one. Thanks so much Andrew
You can use the rear as front speakers on the C too. The C also has 2 different voice settings. Active Voice amplifier turns up dialogue if there is noise detected in the house (like a vacuum or kids fighting in another room). Voice Enhancement, just turns up the dialogue. So, the only difference is the HDMI. That's it.
Yup! He got so much wrong in this video and should really edit it or take it down. Not cool. It's one thing to get a casual mention detail wrong, but so much time describing things unique to 990d is wrong and then suggests 990b owners could consider upgrading. Another RUclipsr going down the drain.
Hi Andrew and Kristi,great video as always! Just wanted to let you know that in Germany currently you can get a 990D for 760€ and the Sony Quad is 2600€! That is crazyyyy. Not to mention you also get some streaming services for up to 6 months with the Samsung. Ouch😂
@@dexterts1 Can you share where did you find the Q990D for that price in DE? Ty :)
@@thebrakingbob1460 Samsung shop with Corporate Benefits
This review pushed me over the edge to take the plunge on the Q990D. Of course the Woot deal (now expired) made it that much easier to pull the trigger. I was initially hesitant to buy a Samsung audio product but this has far exceeded my expectations. I can't believe how expansive the soundstage is. Nothing beats my dedicated home theater but this gets far closer than I would have ever imagined.
Hey i had a question do you use space fit and do you notice any difference being on and off such as extra loudness or more wider sound
I ‘ve just tested and listened to Samsung Q990D and JBL Bar 1300, and I prefer JBL bar 1300 as it’s subwoofer loudspeaker creates more powerful bass
Nice to see improvements and options on an upgraded model. Cool stuff. 👍
Yeah, that front mode is interesting.
I have the Q990B and I can confirm that the surround speakers could be used as front speakers, there was that setting in the SmartThings app. It seems they decided to keep this feature only for current models, so they removed it for older models with an update, unbelievable :)
That's dookie...I have the C model and would probably try this out if it was possible.
Hey, have you ever experienced any connection issues with this model? like the sub and the rear speakers disconnecting a lot while playing something? I see a lot of people having this issue. One of my worst puchases ever.
@Nejham15 Please see my response to your individual thread.
I might be wrong but I think the option is still there via the Soundbar's own built in menu, just weirdly missing from the facelifted. Smartthings app.
Nice review as always. I feel there is still some room to build on this platform, its evident they can allow the rears to be used to widen the front stage via software, why not take it further and offer upgrade packs (even backwards compatible for 990 B +C) of extra surrounds to have rears and front wides right up to a full mini 7.1.4 system? I think that would be a winner, an actual modular high performance WIRELESS system with a small footprint. I think it would steal a lot of business from Sonos etc. Just my thoughts
That will be available on the Q990E ... LMFAO.
On the 990c, if you go into the Smartthings app into Device Settings and change the Rear Speaker mode, you can select front or rear as well.
Apparently, this is a more recent update. This was not an option on the C when we had it for review.
@@KristiWright bought the 990C on your recommendation paired with the S90c OLED. I am extremely happy with the setup! You all are my goto when I look for AV, keep the reviews coming!
Great review. I have the q990c and was thinking of upgrading and reviewing but i noticed you talked about the Front mode and i remember clearly mine had that already so no need to update. The only issue I have with my q990c is the constant disconnection with the smartthings app which makes me reset the bar always but apart from that this is an awesome home theatre system and for now no need to update to the q990d until samsung brings out something way newer and fresher. Still thinking of what to update to as i'm already bored with the q990c and I need something better and fresher that wont blow the bank. Whats your suggestion?
Ended up getting a 5.1.2 speaker/receiver set up since your last video but still watching this cause I'm always curious about your opinion on different products 😊
I've had Q950R in my kitchen/ living area with stone flooring for the past 4 years and I'm now considering a Q950D in my newly refurbished lounge. With wife doesn't want the big Yamaha AV and big box speakers everywhere and would much prefer a soundbar system. The room is probably better acoustically with soft furnishings and carpets than my kitchen. Will I notice much of an improvement between my current bar and the latest model?
I’ve had the q950a for a couple of years thanks to your reviews. I’ve been very happen with paired with my 65” c1. Would recommend it or stick with it?
Please keep reviewing the E, F, G...... But we are all secretly hoping for a Q1000A. :)
I just bought this Soundbar yesterday.
Coming from a 5.1 Sony Surround DVD player from 20 hears ago, so should be an improvement.
The cashback from Samsung made it too tempting.
Hopefully I don't get buyers remorse.
Now time to do some reserch as it was a bit of a impulse buy.
I've done the same mate here in the UK.. Looking to upgrade my TV next. Haven't decided yet if Samsung S90D or LG C4 or B4. I wonder what options would I be missing if I go with the LG screen..
@CB_883 I've got the LG 65 B8 from a few years ago.
I believe you just miss the Symphony stuff (using the tvs speakers along with the soundbar)
Though some say that when you use this option, you use full dolby atmos, so most movie watching they don't use.
Unsure how the other tvs stack up nowadays!?
Back then the OLED's were the best.
For UK buyers, the Samsung Q990D/XU is available for between £479 and £579 through cashback within 30 days of purchase.
I'm here having just grabbed this deal from Richer Sounds. Hopefully it's a good upgrade from my Sony 5.1
@@markymoo22 I think I just got the last one from RS few minutes ago as the page is now showing "Sorry, we can't seem to find that page" got mine via price match @ £970 - £400 cashback, happy days!
Just done this myself. Nothing left at RS. So click and collect from Hughes Ipswich £999 but got a tenner of for signing up. Well worth it. Been looking at this for a while.
I know some people who don't want to use surround speakers in their home and would really appreciate the "surrounds-in-front" feature. That's a great idea.
Hi Andrew, great review there as usual. Just wondering if the Q990D has issue connecting with Sony TV? I recalled your review on Q990B having issue with Sony TV
Been waiting for this. Thank you
Hope it was worth the wait.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews i know when people see these reviews they always want to ask how it compares to a Nakamichi dragon or a Sony Bravia quad or something that's completely out of its price. But honestly is the fidelity difference worth thousands of extra dollars? And what about for you, you've heard all these expensive systems, are they so much better that you can't just go back and be satisfied with a $1500 Samsung system or do you not really notice the difference unless they're side by side
Great question. I've flagged it for Friday's Unplugged. Hopefully we get to it.
This soundbar sounds amazing. I feel like the only thing its missing is an option for a second sub. I wish Samsung could make that an upgrade.
I am using a projector, and it will be located far from the soundbar, so physically connecting through HDMI is not an option. Is it worth buying the soundbar to connect wirelessly in this case? Or will there be a significant loss in quality? Thank you in advance!
I bought it and returned it. It's an INCREDIBLE sound bar, but the subwoofer was not impressive at all for the space I placed the system. I was told this system was more than enough for my open floor living room. Before I returned the system, I did test it in a smaller space and that's of course when I got to see what the hype is about. So this is a caution to anyone looking to put this in an open area. If anyone has any suggestions on what may be great for my space, please let me know.
Today's video might provide you with some additional guidance: ruclips.net/video/R-JqyNK3aCk/видео.htmlfeature=shared
I wish we could return products like you can in the US, here in Australia. A year or so ago I bought what I had anticipated would be a Very high quality high resolution audio player, the latest Sony walkman, second from the top model, not the ridiculous gold version. It cost a fortune at $1,900 AUD and turned out to be really rubbish, the sound at max volume using IEM earphones was barely loud enough, the Sony app was super basic yet had extremely slow response and when connected to my PC as a DAC and headphone Amp, it had a huge delay so was useless for watching video. I tried to argue it was not fit for purpose, asking for a return and my money back but the Sony warranty reps used the No Change of Mind warranty stipulation we have here in Australia To block me from returning it. The only way we can return products for a refund minus 20% restocking fee which in this case would have been $190 AUD is if the product was still in its plastic wrapped state, unopened. Instead I get to keep my $1,900 brick
@@andrewrobinsonreviews thanks I did and subscribed after watching it! God bless.
For someone like myself - where the couch rest against the back wall and so no space to put satellite speakers behind me exist - having the ability to use the satellite speakers in "front mode" is a welcome feature. If this makes the sound more spacious, that's what I would want, given I have no ability to have a true surround mode. I think others will like this feature too.
I was really hoping to see Samsung upgrade the 990D to either use The Frame speakers as front L/R channels, or at the very least, the ability to purchase another set of the surround speakers and have a "four corner" setup. This would solve a bunch of problems in cases where there's no wall for the side firing drivers in the bar itself to reflect off of.
A lot of good ideas you just threw out there. I hope someone from Samsung HQ is paying attention!
It'd seem like from the Q990B to the Q990D, besides maybe updates in wireless transmitter / receivers for better connection, would all seem to have the same speakers and physical hardware.
I think it would've been better recieved if Samsung offered the latest Q990D's software as firmware updates to the B and C while actually packing physical differences in the next iteration (more speakers, better speakers, etc)
The Q990C could've been the Q990B with updated wireless stuff and 120hz hdmi 2.1 passthrough and the Q990D would've just been software / firmware updates to that Q990C. Have the Q990D (Q995D?) be a physical update in the next iteration
for placement of subwoofer, which should be done first? The audio calibration in the home theatre system or the subwoofer crawl to get the optimum placement?
1. Subwoofer crawl, then
2. audio calibration
correct?
what is the recommended ceiling height to get proper Atmos effect for this sound bar.
Great review . Just about to pull the plug on the Q930D on amazon for £649 ... Is Rhys a steal or what and is it worth getting the lesser cheaper model ? Thanks
Hi, two points. Firstly, in my experience, SpaceFit takes time to calibrate. I'd say at least 10-15mins. If you toggle it on/off you'll not hear much difference. Secondly, Active Voice Amplifier is designed to increase the volume of the dialogue if there is background noise. It's not enhancement as such. An example would be if you are celebrating loudly during the Olympics, the sound of the commentary is temporarily boosted so you can still hear it over your celebrations. I'm not sure if you talk about this correctly.
Hello purely from movie or tv series with Dolby Atmos tracks which is better ? The Samsung or the Sony quads w sub woofer ? If they cost the same which would you choose ? I don’t listen to music so my only concern is tv series n movies with Atmos
Great Sunday everyone!!
Hey!
Hey! Thanks for tuning in!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Thanks for bringing us this great review!
@@KristiWright Hey Kristi !!!
Great review as always. Whilst I appreciate you did advise to upgrade from an A or B to a D, if you're in the market for an upgrade that is. I am but would I see or rather hear a reasonable difference. I can get my hands on a new Q990D for less than 1k. However, should I buy the new Sony Quad Theatre instead. I have an S95C 77", which means the Q Symphony comes into play.
I have the B and I really love it. Is the C/D really worth the upgrade?
Also is it just a case of swapping the speakers out? Ie are all the power cables, brackets still the same?
The C/D comparison is made in this review.
B to C not much difference from what I remember them reviewing 990c. Your good no need to upgrade
Good evening Andrew.
A friend from Greece.
I see your reviews. I read your comments. And to thank you in my turn, for the excellent work you do. I bought the samsung q990c after a lot of searching and I am completely satisfied! Satisfied with everything about the money I gave and the result I got. I will not elaborate further here. Just to answer what Samsung could do for a new and radical product.
Having heard so many times, about the differences between a sound system for movies or a stereo for music.
Why don't they try to make something like this?? the technology exists (as well as the production line) to make them marketable and affordable!! why couldn't I be able to add two floor or furniture speakers for a stereo (similar power) with bluetooth or wifi connection technology??
Wouldn't that be awesome???
Then I wouldn't listen to many of you judged the difference I mentioned above (stereo and surround) and it was a sound system for everything!!
*i really didn't have time to read if someone else mention it.
I hope i didn't say something so stupid........ because nobody answered me😊
Out of curiosity what TV stand do you have? I really like it
Thank you for reviewing this!
How does this Samsung system compare to the new Sony Bravia Quad
or the...
Sonos Arc system (2x Era 300 Satellites, 1x Sonos Sub, and 1x Sonos Arc Soundbar)?
That's a much more expensive setup and the Era 300's in particular will be much, much more powerful than the little surrounds you get with the Samsung - I expect it'd be significantly better especially for larger rooms - not sure if I've seen any side-by-side reviews though....
Welcome back Kristi ...lol. good morning to you both 😊
Thanks for joining us!
Thanks for the GREAT video.
One question... do you use the "Virtual Mode"?
I did. I didn't notice a significant difference between on and off.
This review is timely for me!
I'm currently auditing a Sony Quad upgrade vs a Q990B, due in no small part to your rave review of the Quad. I'm also considering whether I should go for a Q990D instead.
I've found that while the front stereo soundscape and 3D placement is of course superior on the Quad, as well as much better musicality especially with guitars, the rear satellites and spatial effects of the Q990B have a certain sparkle or treble "edge" that can make some surround effects sound more believable. I also found the height effects somewhat more spacious, a bit more immersive, and more creepily present-- say in Stranger Things S4 Episode 9 1:03:02, where the creatures are in the ceiling.
On the Quad it's more localized to the same rear right spot on the ceiling. On the Samsung, it feels slightly more vague positionally, but the height effect feels more obvious.
Is this something you guys experienced comparing the Quad vs the Q990D? Is what I'm experiencing as more "immersive" and "present" a side-effect of the Q990D's positioning being more vague, spacious, and reflecting (no pun intended) how something might actually sound in real life, but less accurate to what was intended in the mix?
Did you also experience brighter trebles in the rears, and a spaciousness and seeming distance of effects with the Samsungs? And if so, is that just a pleasant byproduct of the lack of positional accuracy?
Rear positioning comparisons between the two is night and day in favor of the Quad. I guess that's to be expected-- if the Quads can create a compelling phantom center, it should of course be able to create a phantom rear. But it's impressive how well it does it with only a foot or so back from the couch.
Lastly, do you know if there are any improvements from the Q990B to the Q990D that closes my observed gaps between the Q990B and the Quad, especially with regards to stereo and music?
He already says in the video don’t bother upgrading from previous Q990 versions to the D.
Great review! I have the Q990B and I love it. I have a full home theater system in my dedicated room, it sounds great, however, the bar in my master bedroom is absolutely amazing. I haven’t found the best location to place the rear speakers, our bed is against the wall, but we love it nonetheless. I don’t know if we will ever upgrade it the newest model.
The Quad (and previous A9) just seems to be in this new 'sector' in between soundbar and home theatre; it's just difficult to pack a bunch of speakers into a box (or bar) and not make it sound like its all coming from...a box (or bar lol).
I'm curious if the Quad/A9 form factor will become more popular amongst new models from competitors. Samsung already sorta has the tech with their 'music frame' stuff, jbl has detachable rears already etc
I'm hoping the wireless quad or surround sound trend will catch on because it really is the future.
what do you think about the low volume performance ? I have a 990a and didn't relate to your summary as much. is the 990d that much better than the a ? would love to know your thoughts 😊
Samsung is indeed excellent in audio quality. The dolby atmos feature in S21+ also works very well. Now I'm looking for home theater system and i think i will buy samsung Q990D
Hello Andrew, how does this soundbar play music compared to for example a pair of floor speakers? //Robin
Great review. I really do love the Sonos ark sound bar. Beautiful sound.
Hi Andrew, thanks for yet another amazing review. I picked up Q950A a while back when it launched and wondering if it is now time to upgrade to Q990D? I don't have any "problems" besides maybe somewhat weak sub perfomance but would I get much better suround and over all sound with 990D?
@@ToXXeRR are you kidding me? It's absolutely high time you upgraded to C or D. I owned a q950a and I now have a q990B although I am waiting for D. But a q990B is way better than q950A especially with it's current upgrades
@@yvanokuba1649 Thanks! if you were to compare few specific things, what stands out?
It’s great that it now has hdmi 2.1.
But I truly believe that if Samsung were to compete with the Quad, the set would be like the Nakamichi Dragon 11.4.6
Not exactly the same features but possibly an extra sub out for a second subwoofer, and 2 extra speakers possibly for the side.
All in all for a more cinematic experience, maybe a stretch of my imagination Lol but that setup could be a good reason to upgrade.
Could the system function well if permanenty set up in front mode, or would that mess up the imaging "secret sauce" for movies?
I 100% agree. It's time for Samsung upgrade this series of sound bars. I want to see, innovation, bigger speaker drivers. Options to have front speaker with the sound bar in the next generation ie 990E
Happy sunday! Coffee in hand
Me too! Enjoy the video.
Morning!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews will do!
@@KristiWright Mornin Kristi!
Can you please help me decide which one to pick? Samsung Q990D or Sony Bravia Quad home theatre system 🙏
Please watch the video.
Thank you @@andrewrobinsonreviews
Quad for music, Samsung for movie.
Hey Andrew, I was wondering if you had any plans about reviewing the Sennheiser Ambeo plus?
As Kristi mentioned in another comment, Sennheiser does not respond to our requests despite sending one press release after another.
I would love to see a new Samsung soundbar with Q symphony that doesn’t need or come with a Sub. I don’t want a sub in my main living room and that’s why I have a Sonos Arc in there but I also really want Q Symthony.
The obvious step up for me would be the addition of an optional 2nd sub to even the low end responce Coupled with better room correction and the creation of a morr flexible ecosystem in general. Ive noticed that for most soundbars systems with a sub, the bass responce is not flat, how significant is that? Also I noticed that for previous samsung bars you can have eq bands for certain frequencies but not for the sub frequencies which is pretty significant considering room nodes typically exist below 80hz, is this true?
@constantinoskatodrytis542 I have the q990a and the subwoofer is it's greatest weakness. Also how about being able to add 2 extra surround speakers for dedicated front left and right ? As opposed to having the sound bar doing all the work?
Definitely agree, hook on Atmos speakers for TVs might be a good addition as well 🙃
I have YET to find a soundbar that actually produces overhead Dolby Atmos sounds. I have a Sonos system, Arc, sub, ERA 3's. NO overhead sound. I have tried every configuration under the sun, even Pe's recommendations. NOTHING. Eight foot sheetrocked ceilings. NOTHING. Maybe I just don't understand what Dolby Atmos is supposed to do?
Have you tried this Samsung yet? I'm only considering spending this much on a soundbar if the Atmos actually works... In digital trend's review of this soundbar, he said he could feel the Atmos content even with subpar room conditions after he increased the volume levels of the up firing speakers
Just wondering if youve done a recent toom tour? Are your receivers wired to the back somehow. Love the clean look.
We have not. The gear in the back is currently unplugged, but we may move our equipment to the rear of the room as I like the cleaner look, too.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the front mode also supported by the C? I recall mine having this feature. I'll check :)
Maybe it was added in a firmware update, but when we reviewed the C originally it definitely wasn't an option.
Thank you! And killer review, as always 😊@@andrewrobinsonreviews
@@andrewrobinsonreviewsyup, I can confirm that it was added to the Q990C, thanks again!
I currently have A Sonos arc and gen 3 sub. I am looking at either getting the era 300s or selling it and getting the 990d. Money aside do you have a recommendation between the two
I got 990c for 1200 about a year ago. Probably can be bought cheaper. It’s a Fantastic Dolby atmos soundbar. Paired with 89c 77” oh it’s a dream setup. I am a gamer was sad no 2.1 hdmi on soundbar but tv support 4 hdmi 2.1 so no biggie. Panasonic 420 and shield tv are plugged directly to 990c for amazing Dolby atmos surround sound. If 990D is too expensive go for 990c you won’t miss much except those 2 features he mentioned
Great review as always! So, when great brands choose to rebrand, they typically do not come out with a radical change to their logo, but something that is more of an incremental change or polish to what's existing. It seems that, Samsung is taking this approach, recognizing they have a smash hit in the Q990. All said, based on your reviews of the series, this WILL be my next home theater purchase, hands down. I'm not interested in the complication of a legacy surround sound set up. Thanks for all you do, Andrew!
Glad you found the review(s) helpful. The Q Series has been a consistent hitter for three-plus years, and it gets my "blanket" recommendation!
You seem like the best at this I live in an apartment and only want to be a standalone soundbar without having to purchase any extra speakers 🔊 or subwoofers etc. What is the best standalone soundbar for a brand new LG OLED G4 television in 2024? Price point is not a factor I’m will to purchase premium if it’s all in one unit. Any assistance you can bring is greatly appreciated!
@@jonathanbarnes7641 looking for same recommendations. Following
Sony Theater Quad
Thank you for this video. Very informative and only made me reaffirm my purchase a few weeks ago. I was curious if had a suggestion for channel levels for a medium-sized room? 18' x 12' x 8'
Hi! Where did you get that nice marble tv stand?
I have a 12foot ceiling, frankly speaking I don't notice a lot of Atmos effect in atmos movies. Is my ceiling too high for atmos? Should I "move" my soundbar higher by installing the wall bracket? But I still very much like the surround sound effects. Music listening is good too. Best all round soundbar!
how does the Bose bar ultra surround setup compare
Noting your question for Friday's Unplugged.
Andrew, I have learned a lot from your channel. Thank you. I have an annoying question for you, if you don’t mind. Until I find a new place, my theatre room is a problematic ≊ 8.5ft x 8.5ft x 8ft H. Priority is Gaming in Atmos - Good Surround/Atmos effects/positioning. Cost isn’t a huge factor. Because of the small, problematic room in a rented apartment, would it be best to go with more an all-in-one solution like the Bravia Quad, and take advantage of 360 SSM and the built in room correction, or would a traditional solution be better for this situation - say something like Marantz Cinema 40/Dirac, with a Monitor Audio Silver 50, or a Dali Minuet bed layer, and either up-firing Atmos, or MAYBE even height channel style Atmos (can’t swing ceiling mounted this time). Perhaps a mix of both worlds would be best with a Sony STR-AN 1000/same bed layer and only 2 up firing Atmos speakers (no ES models for sale in the country I’m currently in, and the Sony is only 7 channel). I'm sure any of these would be fine, but if anything jumps out at you as the clear best solution given the room constraints and priorities, or you have any useful insights, please let me know! BTW, I just used your REW guide for a different system - awesome stuff.
Thank you for your generosity. I'm going to do my best to advise you. Given that your room is small at the moment, this limits what we can do. Not knowing the size of your display, I'm going to assume it's roughly 65 inches diagonal as that is somewhat "standard" now. The proper viewing distance for a 65" TV is approximately six to eight feet away from the screen for best results when watching 4K content. Let's say you sit six feet away, that leaves no more than two feet behind and to the side of you if you have four feet of seating (think couch). This also means that your front three speakers are likely going to rest four to five feet from you which is more or less a near-field setup. Appreciable Atmos or surround sound isn't going to be an issue for you in this case as you will literally be surrounded by speakers even if only going with a 5.1 setup.
I love your Monitor Audio idea, but even the Silver and Bronze series is going to take up quite a bit of space in your room once you factor in stands, cables and other furniture to house an AVR etc. Maybe you don't mind, but I want you to be comfortable in your space too. My advice would be to give the Sony Bravia Theatre Quad with the SW3 subwoofer a try first. I think it's going to be the most flexible for you, and you could even wall mount the speakers to save space (the wall mounts ARE INCLUDED). They mount to the wall with a single screw so it's pretty renter friendly. I think this is the best solution given your space. Another possible solution would be the Sennheiser Ambeo, as it's an all-in-one solution that will have ZERO issues giving you a surround sound experience in a smaller space like what you're describing. Two more bars to consider for surround sound like performance with Atmos content would be the B&W Panorama 3 as well as the Bose Smart Ultra with one of its Bass Modules (don't bother with rears).
Now, if you want to step it up and give yourself greater expansion for the future, maybe look at picking up four Monitor Audio Bronze 50 bookshelf speakers with the matching Bronze C150 and a sub of your choosing (you don't have to go crazy). As for an AVR, I don't think you need to go with the Cinema 40. I know DIRAC is enticing, but honestly, in a space such as this, you likely can get by with Audyssey and a little less power. Take a good look at the Cinema 70. If you need more power down the road it has preamp outs so you can add an amp later if need be. Another speaker system to consider would be the Bowers & Wilkins Mini System MT-50. That five speaker plus subwoofer combo would also work and save you even more space over the Monitor Audio Bronze speakers.
Hope this helps.
Best,
Andrew
I have the Q990c and it’s surprisingly good for what it is. I think it helps that I’m seated pretty close and I have it at the front edge just like Andrew is showing here. People if you have one of these, make sure you bring it to the front, it makes a big difference. Also space behind the couch is important because the rear speakers are creating the sense of width and they need to be positioned well.
Mate, fantastic review. I went & bought this based on your review ! Well done 👏
Hope you enjoy it!
Hi ! How the Samsung q990d compares with the Ambeo Max with a SVS PB 1000 Pro subwoofer ?
You say the surround speakers are wireless. Does that go for power too? Can they be plugged in to avoid battery issues? Can you swap the battery packs when they eventually fail? Thanks for the great review.
They are wireless in the sense that they are not wired to the soundbar and subwoofer. Both speakers need to be plugged into a power outlet.
I go over this in the video, saying that if the surrounds had been new or battery powered like the larger Sony surrounds, that would've been a nice update for 2024, but they didn't do that. The surrounds still need to be plugged in to a wall outlet.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Thank you. Sorry, I missed that. I actually prefer them to not have batteries, so that works for me.
Great review! I agree that Samsung just played with the product names last 3 years on this soundbar.
Love your channel. Just moved into a place and got a 2024 85" Sony. Old yamaha soundbar (smallish) +sub is not cutting it anymore. Am after a Soundbar + Sub combo only. No rears or quad setup. Open plan living with high ceilings, so I am not sure how great the ATMOS effects will be. Dialogue clarity is pretty important. I was keen on the Bravia 9, till I saw your review. I am now looking at (1)Sonos Arc + Sub, (2)Bose Smart Ultra + Sub or Samsung 990C/D (will not use the rears) or wait for Arc 2. What would you recommend ? 95% home theater use and 5% music.
@andrewrobinsonreviews any thoughts on this. For users who cannot use rear speakers
Tell you what they could do, add an ethernet port. That’d be “revolutionary”. I love my Q990C, despite typically avoiding Samsung products for their lack of after sales support (at least in Australia), my one gripe is its complete inability to stay connected to my network’s Wi-Fi longer than a day without re-pairing, rendering all of its network and app functionality useless. I’ve kept it because it’s an outstanding performer and we use Sonos for music in the same space anyway, but it would be great to see a return of the traditional network connection that eliminates WiFi headaches. My research online suggests it’s a really common issue, with no resolution to date.
Thanks, your reviews helped convince me to try one and I got it delivered on Friday and I’m hugely impressed with it, having come from an Ambeo Plus and, before that, some high-end Genelec 3-ways with GLM.
The only thing I wish it had is an indicator of which codec is being used in the app, like the Ambeo did - did I miss it?
The front screen will show you what format you're hearing --at least with respect to Atmos. I believe the info button on the remote shows this.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews thanks, I saw that - I might raise an RFE on the app 🙂
Speaking of the surrounds placed as fronts, how are they for movies and games? My basement can’t accommodate surrounds right now so the capability to have them as front until I can place them as surrounds is really tempting
@@sebastienhotte I don't see why it would be different. Just a wider front soundstage
I bought this soundbar on a very good deal here in the UK just now. I'm so looking to upgrade the TV very soon. Haven't decided between Samsung S90D and LG C4 or LG B4. Is this Samsung soundbar compatible with LG TVs.. In other words... What would I be missing if I decided to go with the LG TV? Thanks
S90D all the way!
Got the q990c and getting the G4 tomorrow so I hope it works lol. I’ve looked it up and yes they pair just fine.
S90D combo with 990D 🎉❤
It would be interesting to see the Q990D compared to the Sennheiser Ambeo Max to determine the true goat. Sennheiser claims the Max bass plays down to 30Hz and does not need a subwoofer. The Max also uses the Sony's object-based 360 spatial sound technology.
We would love to answer that question for you, but since Sennheiser was bought out, they have become nothing more than press release houses.
@@KristiWright Sennheiser kept their professional division but sold their consumer division (in which the soundbar resides) to Sonova Holding AG. You would think the new owner of this consumer division would understand that to sell more of their product they would need to send out review gear to generate sales. Apparently not...
I am confused as to why Sennheiser's name is still associated with the consumer products sold under Sonova. Must be some licensing agreement for name recognition purposes. Disappointing none the less. Maybe your subscribers such as myself can start spamming them to send you the soundbar to review :)
I have a question: in my 5.1 (7.2) system, I moved the front L+R speakers from a 40cm tall furniture, to 40cm tall speaker stands (80cm tall now, the central speaker is already higher than the TV), and the sound improved a lot since they are even to my ears sitting on the couch. If I bought a soundbar, standing on the same 40cm tall furniture, the frontal and central speakers would be lower and I fear the sound would be worse. What do you think? I can't place the TV on the wall and making the furniture higher is not an option 😁 That's my main concern.
So I moved and cannot fit my bookshelf speakers and center channel into my configuration for my home theater. I will have to resort to a LCR speaker and two ceiling speakers for surround. I saw the Sonos ARC and was impressed, are there other LCR speakers I should consider? I am finding it hard to find them in an audio retailer. I wonder whether something like the Monitor Audio sb4 would be a better choice than the Sonos. I also want to stay at around $1500 for the LCR. Any help will be appreciated.