eARC firmware update is FINALLY live. There is no official press release from Samsung yet, but they released a firmware update 1010.5 on May 3rd for the Samsung Series 9 HW - Q90r, Q80r and Q70r, and users are confirming that it enables eARC and performs as expected. Check out the buzz on Samsung's forums here: eu.community.samsung.com/t5/Audio-Video/1010-5-Firmware-Update-for-hw-Q70R-hw-Q80R-hw-Q90R-Soundbars/td-p/1716942 Reddit users have started chattering as well: www.reddit.com/r/Soundbars/comments/gd2t8y/looks_like_the_samsung_hwq90r_soundbar_got/
No mention of HDMI 2.1 connection though? That's what will truly make it future proof. Surprised a soundbar of this price range coming out in 2020 doesn't have HDMI 2.1 technology....
@@masifkhan. Same! HDR 2.1 (and all the cool features it brings) is the next major tech advancement in home audio. (and Not 8k) I'm not sure what manufactures like Samsung are thinking, especially if they are focusing so much of their efforts on trying to push 8k bandwidth (which no one asked for btw!)
@@masifkhan. It has Earc now which works great. Just plug your device into your TV and you can still use HDMI 2.1 features. I have my xbox one x plugged into my LG C9 which has HDMI 2.1 and supports ALLM and send Dolby Atmos to the sound bar over Earc. Works perfect.
Sumsung's latest Firmware update was in July of 2019, and DIDN'T include eARC support. The HDMI ARC port is still available, but there is no scheduled date for the eARC support. We made a mistake in this review and said that they had already rolled that improvement out. Sorry for the mistake.
A lot of upset people about Samsung not keeping their promise. eu.community.samsung.com/t5/Audio-Video/What-is-going-on-with-eARC-update-for-the-soundbar-HW-Q90R/td-p/1368639
I have had this for just over a year now and it’s all about the speaker placements. The woofer needs to sit closer to the sound bar otherwise it will “pop” which will annoy you in no time. It took me 6 months to figure this problem out - and the satellites sound best when they are a foot away from your background setup. They don’t work well as “back of the room” surround. Because Atmos is so subtle at times, to pick up the nuances, get the speakers as close to your head as possible. Right behind the couch and no further away. I finally got what feels like true theater sound when I got them in their proper place. This system is finally worth every penny.
I purchased this sound bar to go with my Samsung Q90R 65" 4K TV and it's on it's way to me. I loved your instructions. I feel like I know how to hook it up already. Thanks.
Excellent, thorough review! Do you have a recommended sound mode across the board? I watch cable tv, stream movies, and game on my ps4. Would you recommend adaptive, standard, or surround? Any idea if the game pro sound mode is worth switching to when gaming?
Would like to use it with an 8k tv and with an Xbox Series X. But does it have HDMI 2.1 Output to television to transfer the best possible Signal for 8k TVs?
Thanks for the great review! My living room is about 15 square meters. Does not it make the sound unbearable? Or it's also appropriate for such sized room? I know I can't take advantage of Dolby atmos and I am fine with that.
Just purchased this soundbar with a big thanks to your review for the insight! Question for you, does the soundbar have to be turned on to watch tv? I have an Apple TV 4K connected to the soundbar and the soundbar connected to a Samsung Q70R tv via HDMI ARC. I don’t want to use surround sound when I just want to watch the news or a tv show. Does this soundbar pass through audio/video when it’s turned off? As of right now, I can’t watch TV without the soundbar being turned on. Hope you can help. Thanks!
Man that's a good question. I'm currently reviewing another soundbar and don't have it hooked up to my TV anymore or I'd go test that out tonight. What I can say is you can change the sound mode back to standard, and it will create a stereo sound (not surround), when you want to watch regular old TV. Sound will still come through all the channels though, but at least it won't be dynamic. Hope that helps.
Thanks for the review. Now I'm really leaning towards buying this. Do you need a TV with ARC that can playback Dolby Atmos? I do have an XBOX ONE S which I think should be able to play Dolby Atmos, am I right?
"While Dolby Atmos can be passed over regular ARC today (via Dolby Digital Plus) eARC offers improved bandwidth for higher-quality Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio streams, including Atmos. The new format also has lip-sync compensation built-in. This feature was optional in ARC, but is now required."
So no issues pairing a Samsung sound bar with an LG tv? Also did you raise your tv so the sound bar doesn’t block it? Great video nonetheless, very informative.
I used an LG C9 OLED TV to demo the Q90r and it paired perfectly. They are obviously engineered to pair seamlessly with the Samusng QLED series TVs, but they've also made them very TV agnostic to capture a greater market share. It should work very well with whatever TV you chose. With some TVs it might make sense to place a base/stand underneath the TV to get it a little higher, which might help with the signals from the remote control. But I ended up just placing the Q90r in front of my TV and it only clipped a small portion of my screen and the remote worked fine.
Do you have an additional stand under your LG TV stand to raise it up a little higher? If you do would you be so kind as to tell me where you purchased it and what name/brand it is? Thank you in advance for your help!
People says they have cut out issues all the time, so many bugs and problems, You didn't mention this kind of staff at all. Did you get any cut out problems with the rears and sub?
Awesome! Recently got a 65” 80r QLED tv. Just bought a house and I’m looking into this. The living room has vaulted ceilings (floor to the ceiling of the second story, basically) so I’m unsure if I could benefit from the sound bar? 🤔
It would still be an amazing soundbar for your situation. It's built for large rooms, the Atmos affects might be a little bit lost with such a high ceiling - but it definitely was built for large sized rooms. If you don't get this soundbar, or something Atmos Enabled, get the Bose 700. It's built for large rooms, has great surround and doesn't have Atmos upward firing speakers. Just my 2 cents. Good luck!
I currently have the N950 it kicks ass for dolby atmos. I am definitely a movie watcher an it hasn't disappointed me at all. Haven't notice much late tendency I am one happy camper..
This is probably not related to the video, but, what size is your LG c9? I had the LG c9 65 inch and I'm wondering if it can sit on the Sonos playbase.
I am looking to buy the QA85Q80 85" Qled and matching with the HW-Q90 sound bar. My question is can you add more wireless speaker to this soundbar? I was thinking of getting the SWA-9000S/XY as side atmos speakers. What is your suggestion please? Also I have an old SAMSUNG system with wireless rear speakers SWA-5000 would these connect to the Q90 soundbar ? And utilise them. Thanks Todd
I'm fairly certain that you cannot pair additional speakers to this system. It would be really nice to move from a "virtual" 7.1.4 to an actual 7.1.4 system, from the sideways firing speakers on the bar to actual components beside you. But really, if you're willing to go to that work, maybe look into designing your own component system....?
Thanks for the positive comment. The TV in the background is an LG C9 OLED. It's a 77" so it's a bit of a monster, but I love it. The smaller 55" and 65" perform as well and are a bit less expensive. Good luck!
Man, all of those bars are going to rock! I'm really excited about the JBL 9.1 to be released this spring. The LG is rated up to 770W, so it should SCREAM! But I don't know when Klipsch will have the 54a out, it's rumored sometime this fall....? We will for sure try and get reviews for each of those as they become available.
Thanks for the video, i came to your channel via the Bose 700 Review, now my question to you is which of the two is better? Is there A Sonos offering also? I'm considering getting a system for movies, music and general use. I dont trust samsung for sound quality, so i'm abit sceptical given alot of people have rated this 90R highly! I just sold my Samsung HTS-J5500W system and want to go to Bose 700 (+ the Bass Module).. you advice will come in handy.
Aik Jones would like to know the exact same. I want to buy the Bose 700 with base module and rear speakers but the reviews for this Samsung bar are really good. Now I want to know what’s better 👀
Stevooone in my opinion I’d go with the Q90R. I have the Bose soundbar 700 with subwoofer and rear speakers, and I love it... but it doesn’t offer atmos support AND (this is the big one) it only has an hdmi out and optical port. No HDMI in. That’s a pretty big deal considering this has two that support full HD. Hope this helped swing you towards this. I just ordered the Q90R so I’m hoping to enjoy it when I get back from this deployment.
Would there be any issues(like latency) with connecting the soundbar to a projector that has no eARC in the below configuration BluRay player ->Q90R->projector
A projector wouldn't necessarily need eARC, because it's not pushing sound back into the soundbar. The configuration that you've outlined is your best bet. Plug your BluRay directly into the soundbar, and then run an HDMI cable to the projector (just pay attention to the ports you plug them into, BluRay should go into HDMI 1 or 2, and the HDMI going to your projector should be plugged into the ARC/eARC port regardless of whether or not it's an eARC projector). That's your best bet and should give you the best performance (no latency). Good luck and let me know how it works out.
Been trying to get my hands on the Q90R but they're rare to come across these days apparently. My buddy who's the salesman said he would give me the 950T for the price of the previous version. Have you compared the 2 and if so which one would you rather go with? Design for the 950T I'm not a huge fan of but if the sound is better then I might still go for it
Hey Buddy, Nice detailed review. Your voice was very clear. Detailed and precise as well. Huge Thumbs up, Hope you are enjoying your movie time with Q90r.
Yep, that's what the TV is. In a couple of the shots it's actually siting on a previously reviewed Sonos PlayBase. But if you put a 2" spacer under it that should do the trick.
Should be, you can check the support or compatibility here www.samsung.com/us/televisions-home-theater/home-theater/sound-bars/hw-q90r-samsung-harman-kardon-7-1-4ch-soundbar-with-dolby-atmos-hw-q90r-za/
Oh no! We did make a mistake - apparently the rumor was the update in the fall of '19 was going to have eARC support, but they haven't actually released it yet. Thanks for catching that. We will post a note to identify the error in the review. We did see a few threads online at the Samsung Website talking about when the eARC update will happen, so if you'd like to follow along with the discussion here is a link to forum: eu.community.samsung.com/t5/Audio-Video/What-is-going-on-with-eARC-update-for-the-soundbar-HW-Q90R/td-p/1368639/page/18
Great video ! In the picture that shows MAY CAUSE LATENCY VS ELIMINATES LATEncy .. I’m looking to hook it up via the elimination route, would that mean that playing Netflix off the tv app would not be able to produce the Atmos effect ? Also if the game console is going into the sound bar , where’s the image coming from since the HDMI is now going to the sound bar and not the tv ?
1. Playing NetFlix from your TV's application will STILL ALLOW you to have Atmos sound, if you can find something that is encoded in Atmos. More and more streaming services are encoding Atmos, so you'll see more and more streaming options and should love it! 2. Your Soundbar will act as a pass through device; meaning, it recognizes a TV/VIDEO/GAMING signal, knows that it can't do anything with it, and simply passes it through to your TV/AV unit. It's pretty rad but it's the best set up for sound quality. Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions.
@@HelpCloud is there any way how i can test whether the subwoofer is working? I did the testing by pressing the surround mode button and there is sound coming from the woofer, it just doesn't have alot of bass. Settings woofer in the smart things app are set to high. Thanks.
@@pieter-6385 I would reset to factory setting. If the bass settings are high and it has little bass. It could be blown or starting to seize from overworking.
I own this Q90R for over six months, the sound quality is beyond Awesome, I only wish that it has a finer tune control like an EQ than just simple Center, Front, Rear volume controls.
The Smart Things App has a fairly decent EQ. It offers 150Hz, 300Hz, 600Hz, 1.2kHz 2.5kHz, 5kHz and 10kHz frequency levels to adjust in the advanced settings. The trick is that whatever levels you choose will be played through all channels, so you can't adjust each speaker in your room to your TOTAL liking. But it is a start - I hope that helps a little!
i owned it for over a month and after a few bugs (rear speakers not working, then Woofer turning on and off randomly) i sent it back and bought a Canon Smart 10 with subwooefer and 2 rears...its day and night the sound is so much better and crystal clear. The atmos quality despite not having rear upfiring speakers is so much more intense. i would never go back to those buggy Samsung crap. To be honest the sound quality ont he samsung is ok....but nothing special i had the LG Sk10y and it had a better surround feeling than the samsung, althought he Q90R had better voices overall. Coming from the LG i wasnt impressed at all with the almost double the price Samsung.
Ive had mine longer I wish you could pair more than one subwoofer to a sound bar...unfortunately samsung said no...i need more bass as the high end is really loud and clear
@@HelpCloud you definetly have to! if you do not get sponsored and just want to have a comparison to anything just try it out, it will blow your mind... yes its a bit costy, but @Canton you can add anything you want up to 6 speakers. you can buy for example the soundbar then wait a bit and buy the rears and then later the sub or or or. It has an onscreen menue display, it measures your speakers where they are axaclty placed and so many featuers i would have loved @samsung Q90R..and yes it has a really decent equalizer i have it now for a while and they add more and more features i really like it.....
Brilliant review thanks proper helpful, just a quick question when listening to music through RUclips or Spotify what sound setting is best because obviously films and tv shows all sound different to music, preferably id like the sound to be surrounding
Definitely lost the remote for this sucker! Now I'm struggling connecting the satellite speakers both left and right. How can I access settings and update if I dont have the remote anymore >_
You will need a remote, as part of the pair process you need to press the volume up button on the remote. "Luckily, pairing the wireless speakers with the soundbar is easy: Just press the “ID Set” button on the back of each speaker for five seconds, and then press “Up” on the included remote. Once I did that, the speakers connected to the soundbar, and the problem never recurred"
By the way, great informative video! Does Samsung include wall mounts for the rear speakers? If not, do we know the size of the screw thread on the back of the rears?
Yup! Pretty much. "The Samsung HW-Q90R is basically the Samsung HW-Q80R, but with rear satellites that have up firing speakers. They both perform quite similarly, but the Q90R has a small edge over the Q80R. The 7.1. 4 setup has better overall surrounds performance thanks to the rear speakers, which is the main difference."
All depends on what you are looking for. This website may help out! www.rtings.com/soundbar/tools/compare/samsung-hw-q90r-vs-samsung-hw-q950t/866/15423?usage=8767&threshold=0.10
I've never owned a sound bar, so this may seem like a dumb question. If I plug my PS4 into the Sound Bar using an HDMI cable, then how do I get the video signal to the TV???
Some sound bars have an "HDMI in" label and the arc is the out. So it's basically one HDMI to the sound bar and then another from sound bar to tv. Hope that helps.
It's not a dumb question, essentially they build the processor inside the soundbar to "pass-through" certain data, in this instance all the video will pass through the device into your TV or Projector. So as @Giuseppe Pellegrini said, you would plug your PS4 into the HDMI 1 or 2, and then plug your TV/Projector into the ARC port.
My Plan is to use the LG C9 77" Version with this Soundbar. When i use the onboard Tv Tuner and connect the soundbar with ARC (hopefully soon eArc), is the Video / Audio in Sync or do i have to buy an extra TV receiver ?
There is no need to buy an extra AV Unit with the LG C9 TV and this soundbar. That's the exact set up I used to demo the system. No latency issues at all.
@@HelpCloud That's what i wanted to hear :) Not the cheapest setup but hey :D (Do you know when the eArc update is planned) Nice greetings from Austria
All the way form AUSTRIA! That's awesome, I'm glad you found the video. Unfortunately, Samsung doesn't have a concrete release date for eARC support yet.... Kind of lame I know....
Bought this today. Started using it and I feel like it runs good. Tried updating through smartthings app, it says "no new updates". Should I still update it through the USB stick or not? Got it for 600 dollars brand new from the store. Limited sale. Also how do I know if the Soundbar is playing atmos. I usually watch 4k on Netflix with hdr, but not all 4k has Dolby atmos right? I usually just search for "Dolby atmos" on Netflix to find that content. But I don't get a message on my soundbar saying it's playing Dolby atmos like you did. If someone knows, please help.
Looks to me like it is awesome. "I managed to get it working by connecting HDMI from the GPU to the HDMI in and the audio is amazing." Source:us.community.samsung.com/t5/Home-Theater/HW-Q90R-Soundbar-and-desktop-PC-connectivity/td-p/1333886
Great soundbar overall, BUT the ARC function keeps dropping out and Samsung have no fix for this (they keep pleading ignorance, but several reviewers have commented on this issue). Anyone know of a fix, please? Cheers!
hello i have the same since december i haven't used it much but you are so good that you made me want to watch a movie right away! bravo for this video, I also added vebos column for the rear satellites and it's great, I can send you photos if you want, thank you
How do you control the Hw-Q90r on the LG tv. I got a lg b9 tv and i wanted to know if the soundbar turns on with the tv and if the sound can be controlled with the tv remote control. Thank you
if you are using your HDMI ARC port, then yes, when you turn your TV on it will also turn the soundbar on, and you will be able to control the vol up/down, mute, etc. Depending on how you set up your AV components (running them through the soundbar first) you'll also be able to do some other really cool stuff - like control your Apple TV through your LG B9 remote. You should figure it all out as you go but that TV/Soundbar combo would be great!
Hi thank you for your dettailed review. I know that samsung is going to release soon q950t soundbar that allows 9.1.4 channel with Q Simphony feature related with 2020 Qled. Do you have any news about date of release of this new model? Do u suggest to wait for this new model before to buy q90?
Man I wish I had more information about their release dates, but I don't. I also wonder if the price is going to be considerably more with the 9 channels verse the 7. Maybe once they release it I can do a head to head between the two.
Here in Canada, the Q90R can be had for about $1298, the Q900T will release at about $1699, and the Q950T will be priced at about $2199 or so. The Q90R for all intents and purposes will slot in as the “middle ground” between the two devices IMO as the Q900T won’t come with dedicated rear speakers. At those prices, you can make your own assessment on if it’s worth an extra $900 or so for the 2020 model.
Unfortunately, this soundbar isn't available in India. Samsung bringing another model called HW-Q950R as 9.1.4. Not sure if it will be the same with different label or new version altogether..
I bought this today. Cost me about AUD$1200 in Bunbury, Western Australia. That's only US$800! Considering we generally pay more than converted US prices for stuff, you should do a lot better than the quoted prices there...
I have the 2016 version and the Q90R The one issue with the newer Q90R is one of the back speakers will not shut off. When you turn off the system it stays on. I have to unplug it to turn it off. Other than that I love them both.
Why is there separate power ports on the rear speakers here in the UK the rear speakers connect to the sub via wires no power ports for the speakers just 2 separate power leads one for sound at and one for sub which also provide the speakers with there power
Apple TV 4K to HDMI input1 to Q90R, then from Q90R to (Arc HDMI) Samsung Q60R-TV(Doesn't has Atmos/DTS) but HDR. Does this produce Dolby Atmos and HDR/Dolby Vision together? Heard Q90R won't reproduce DV/HDR10 from the soundbar to TV. Is it true? Now I decided to get LG C9; if so Q90R able to reproduce DV/HDR to the TV from the soundbar?
If you wire your Apple TV into the HDMI 1 (in) input, and then run an HDMI cable from the HDMI ARC port to your television you will get Atmos (or DTS:X) sound into the soundbar and still push DD, HDR10 or HDR10+ into whichever TV you'd like (whether you stick with the Samsung Q60r QLED TV or go with the LG C9 - which happens to be the demo TV I used in this setup). The Q90r has 4K pass through, and will DEFINITELY support HDR10 or HDR10+ on your television. And because you're running your HDMI cables into the soundbar FIRST, it will act as a pass through device and you shouldn't have any latency issues.
@@HelpCloud Hi thank you so much for your reply. How about Dolby Vision? eARC required? as update of firmware possible to pass through DV to Oled C9? or ARC alone able to pass thru DV. Forums are saying this isn't available. is true on your setups?
@@HelpCloud i couldnt get this way to work. very frustrating. had image dropouts/ no image at all. ended up connecting device to hdmi n tv . and soundbar to tv directly.. not sure if still can get dolby etc
That's frustrating you couldn't get it to work. Sometimes you have to rig the system to your needs. It gets really hard when each TV manufacturer has different processors; they all handle signals differently so there really is no magic set up. As long as you're running good HDMI cables, and using your TVs HDMI ARC you should be good to go. Sometimes though you have to comprimise on what works for your TV (Like reverting back to Digital Optical Audio Cables).
@ 06:09 on the video you talked about Samsung re-engineering the subwoofer to, hopefully, enable or enhance the transition into those mid frequencies. Was Samsung able to address that?
@@HelpCloud Samsung's latest firmware, 1012.6 released in November, seems to have made an improvement on the mid frequencies. Dialogues from the soundbar sounds "fuller" now.
Attention people interested in getting his: my room is 13ft x 14 ft ( not open space), and I've the Q80R ( bought late May2020). It's too much system for this size room, overpowers the room. You'll never be able to turn it up much at all without getting a noise complaint. This system is IMO designed for a room twice or more the size of mine.
Thanks for the great review. I do have one very big question, though a very silly one. The rear wireless speakers obviously need power sources near them. And if I were to mount these rear speakers, a great deal of work needs to be done to conceal those power cables isn't it? And if I place these speakers in the middle of the living room (right behind my sofas), it's even more impossible to have power sources near these speakers without having to pull a great amount of cables?
Yes they do need power sources next to them. There are a lot of solutions depending on what your room looks like. Is your sofa against a wall or does it create it's own boundary with nothing behind it but another room? Some people tuck power cables under their base boards if they have carpet, or even rugs. If there is an interior wall and your couch sits against it you can be a little more creative; sometimes you can simply but a hole in the wall, add a faceplate on it and run wires up the wall. You can also hire an electrician to "run" power to it and put in outlets next to the locations you choose. For me, I use speaker stands and hide my wiring under my couches. Not ideal I know, but it works for those times when I want to watch something cinematic upstairs.
@@HelpCloud Thanks for the prompt reply. My living room is the open concept type. I live in a condo, the living room and dry kitchen are all in a big square. So i'll have dry kitchen on the right side of the square. TV cabinet on the left side and sofa is sort of like almost at the middle of the square. Behind the sofa is the dining table and then only a piece of wall behind the dining area. I am currently using Bose Cinemate 520 and when I renovated the house, I ran the rear speakers cable inside the plaster ceiling, and I mounted the speakers near the top of my ceiling. Now with the Q90R, since the rear speakers have upfiring drivers, I shouldn't have them mounted near the ceiling should I? I am thinking the only option I have is to mount them at the mid point of the wall, and run the power cables inside the wall. I fortunately have power sources right at the bottom of both left and right side of the wall. But a considerable wall hacking job needs to be done. The brackets that come with the soundbar is for rear speakers mounting yes?
Nope, the brackets are for the soundbar itself. Sucks I know. I'm assuming you're correct about not wanting to mount them SUPER close to the cieling. Kind of sounds like you've got to get a little bit creative to make it work - but in the end it's really worth it.
@@HelpCloud Ah bummer. Not only I have to fix the power source issue, I'll have to see how I can mount them speakers :-( I am now seriously considering the Sony HTST5000. The latest firmware release has the soundbar supporting DTS-X and eARC. Do you see a big difference in quality between the two?
Bought Second Hand as it is now Super-ceded by the HW Q950 A but only Paid AUD 929.07 instead of AUD 1500.00 , Better than my old Yamaha RX 671 7.1 System Love it , Very well made. My friend has one and it Blew me Away with Dolby Atmos the HWQ90R is the last really great Sound Bar before the Cloth covered Dust collecting Versions now on offer ? Thank you for the Great Review keep them Cumming.
I bought the LG SN9YG, the surround and sub are not very loud. As for the Atmos sound from the ceiling, it’s non existent. I wouldn’t bother with the LG soundbars if this is any example of what they are generally like. The OLED TVs are phenomenal, the soundbars are a hard pass.
eARC firmware update is FINALLY live. There is no official press release from Samsung yet, but they released a firmware update 1010.5 on May 3rd for the Samsung Series 9 HW - Q90r, Q80r and Q70r, and users are confirming that it enables eARC and performs as expected. Check out the buzz on Samsung's forums here:
eu.community.samsung.com/t5/Audio-Video/1010-5-Firmware-Update-for-hw-Q70R-hw-Q80R-hw-Q90R-Soundbars/td-p/1716942
Reddit users have started chattering as well:
www.reddit.com/r/Soundbars/comments/gd2t8y/looks_like_the_samsung_hwq90r_soundbar_got/
Cool! Thx for info
No mention of HDMI 2.1 connection though? That's what will truly make it future proof. Surprised a soundbar of this price range coming out in 2020 doesn't have HDMI 2.1 technology....
I was near to buy this. h2.0 put me off. i will wait for any 2.1 Tech. not any in market here in UK
@@masifkhan. Same! HDR 2.1 (and all the cool features it brings) is the next major tech advancement in home audio. (and Not 8k) I'm not sure what manufactures like Samsung are thinking, especially if they are focusing so much of their efforts on trying to push 8k bandwidth (which no one asked for btw!)
@@masifkhan. It has Earc now which works great. Just plug your device into your TV and you can still use HDMI 2.1 features. I have my xbox one x plugged into my LG C9 which has HDMI 2.1 and supports ALLM and send Dolby Atmos to the sound bar over Earc. Works perfect.
Sumsung's latest Firmware update was in July of 2019, and DIDN'T include eARC support. The HDMI ARC port is still available, but there is no scheduled date for the eARC support. We made a mistake in this review and said that they had already rolled that improvement out. Sorry for the mistake.
Worth a read here mate! Update regarding this:
twitter.com/StephenWithers/status/1236041929873375233?s=20
Thanks for the link. As soon as we have confirmation from Samsung (official release date) we will post it here as well!
A lot of upset people about Samsung not keeping their promise.
eu.community.samsung.com/t5/Audio-Video/What-is-going-on-with-eARC-update-for-the-soundbar-HW-Q90R/td-p/1368639
Amazing video! You really got into ALL the details about the soundbar, so a big thumbs up for that!
Thanks a ton!
You really did a great job. I liked your presentation more than some of the more well known tech review sites.
What is your experience with this soundbar? Does the atmos sound convincing??
I have had this for just over a year now and it’s all about the speaker placements. The woofer needs to sit closer to the sound bar otherwise it will “pop” which will annoy you in no time. It took me 6 months to figure this problem out - and the satellites sound best when they are a foot away from your background setup. They don’t work well as “back of the room” surround. Because Atmos is so subtle at times, to pick up the nuances, get the speakers as close to your head as possible. Right behind the couch and no further away. I finally got what feels like true theater sound when I got them in their proper place. This system is finally worth every penny.
Thank you for the info, small tweaks can make a big difference.
I purchased this sound bar to go with my Samsung Q90R 65" 4K TV and it's on it's way to me. I loved your instructions. I feel like I know how to hook it up already. Thanks.
Glad I could help!!
@Joseph Regallis any updates mate?
@@roninesce8362 It's working great!
Good video ... Do the rear speakers need a power supply from a wall socket ? Kindest regards
Rear speakers are a wireless connection, but require an outlet to power them.
Excellent, thorough review! Do you have a recommended sound mode across the board? I watch cable tv, stream movies, and game on my ps4. Would you recommend adaptive, standard, or surround? Any idea if the game pro sound mode is worth switching to when gaming?
It all is user preference and how you want the audio to sound.
Would like to use it with an 8k tv and with an Xbox Series X. But does it have HDMI 2.1 Output to television to transfer the best possible Signal for 8k TVs?
It is the only model right now to support HDMI 2.1
Thanks for the great review! My living room is about 15 square meters. Does not it make the sound unbearable? Or it's also appropriate for such sized room? I know I can't take advantage of Dolby atmos and I am fine with that.
It should work nicely in larger rooms like yours, even if the ceiling doesn't mesh with Atmos or DTS:X.
Just purchased this soundbar with a big thanks to your review for the insight!
Question for you, does the soundbar have to be turned on to watch tv?
I have an Apple TV 4K connected to the soundbar and the soundbar connected to a Samsung Q70R tv via HDMI ARC. I don’t want to use surround sound when I just want to watch the news or a tv show. Does this soundbar pass through audio/video when it’s turned off? As of right now, I can’t watch TV without the soundbar being turned on. Hope you can help. Thanks!
Man that's a good question. I'm currently reviewing another soundbar and don't have it hooked up to my TV anymore or I'd go test that out tonight. What I can say is you can change the sound mode back to standard, and it will create a stereo sound (not surround), when you want to watch regular old TV. Sound will still come through all the channels though, but at least it won't be dynamic. Hope that helps.
Thanks for the review. Now I'm really leaning towards buying this. Do you need a TV with ARC that can playback Dolby Atmos? I do have an XBOX ONE S which I think should be able to play Dolby Atmos, am I right?
"While Dolby Atmos can be passed over regular ARC today (via Dolby Digital Plus) eARC offers improved bandwidth for higher-quality Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio streams, including Atmos. The new format also has lip-sync compensation built-in. This feature was optional in ARC, but is now required."
Sub woofer gets interference from my wifi freq. Any idea how i can change / fix this? (Xfinity won't allow me to change to lower freq. channel...)
I have this system, and love it, especially with 4k blu rays and Atmos, but I was getting real ASMR vibes from this video.. lol.
Thanks for the feedback Haha!
So no issues pairing a Samsung sound bar with an LG tv? Also did you raise your tv so the sound bar doesn’t block it? Great video nonetheless, very informative.
I used an LG C9 OLED TV to demo the Q90r and it paired perfectly. They are obviously engineered to pair seamlessly with the Samusng QLED series TVs, but they've also made them very TV agnostic to capture a greater market share. It should work very well with whatever TV you chose.
With some TVs it might make sense to place a base/stand underneath the TV to get it a little higher, which might help with the signals from the remote control. But I ended up just placing the Q90r in front of my TV and it only clipped a small portion of my screen and the remote worked fine.
Do you have an additional stand under your LG TV stand to raise it up a little higher? If you do would you be so kind as to tell me where you purchased it and what name/brand it is? Thank you in advance for your help!
Yes, it was the Sonos Playbar.
People says they have cut out issues all the time, so many bugs and problems, You didn't mention this kind of staff at all. Did you get any cut out problems with the rears and sub?
Thanks for the feedback, Fortunately I did not get any of these issues.
Awesome! Recently got a 65” 80r QLED tv. Just bought a house and I’m looking into this. The living room has vaulted ceilings (floor to the ceiling of the second story, basically) so I’m unsure if I could benefit from the sound bar? 🤔
It would still be an amazing soundbar for your situation. It's built for large rooms, the Atmos affects might be a little bit lost with such a high ceiling - but it definitely was built for large sized rooms. If you don't get this soundbar, or something Atmos Enabled, get the Bose 700. It's built for large rooms, has great surround and doesn't have Atmos upward firing speakers. Just my 2 cents. Good luck!
HelpCloud Wow I’ll definitely look into Bose as well. Thank you!!
Great video, just purchased 75" OLED Q8. Do you recommend the Samsung Q800T priced at $750?
If it fits your price/needs go for it.
I currently have the N950 it kicks ass for dolby atmos. I am definitely a movie watcher an it hasn't disappointed me at all. Haven't notice much late tendency I am one happy camper..
That's great news! There really isn't a significant difference between the two!
Which bluray player u use?
Does the "Virtual Surround" mode make any difference at all since you have the rear speakers anyway?
Not really a noticeable feature....
Sorry if this has been answered, but if my TV only has ARC (not eARC) will I get the Atmos playback still?
Check ths out
www.cnet.com/news/hdmi-audio-return-channel-and-earc-for-beginners/
This is probably not related to the video, but, what size is your LG c9? I had the LG c9 65 inch and I'm wondering if it can sit on the Sonos playbase.
It's the 77" version. I think the two share the same pedestal design though...
I am looking to buy the QA85Q80 85" Qled and matching with the HW-Q90 sound bar.
My question is can you add more wireless speaker to this soundbar?
I was thinking of getting the SWA-9000S/XY as side atmos speakers.
What is your suggestion please?
Also I have an old SAMSUNG system with wireless rear speakers SWA-5000 would these connect to the Q90 soundbar ? And utilise them.
Thanks
Todd
I'm fairly certain that you cannot pair additional speakers to this system. It would be really nice to move from a "virtual" 7.1.4 to an actual 7.1.4 system, from the sideways firing speakers on the bar to actual components beside you. But really, if you're willing to go to that work, maybe look into designing your own component system....?
FANTABLOUS video... 👍
Which TV you're have? Please share detail and should I go for or you recommended other.. Thanks 😊
Thanks for the positive comment. The TV in the background is an LG C9 OLED. It's a 77" so it's a bit of a monster, but I love it. The smaller 55" and 65" perform as well and are a bit less expensive. Good luck!
Is the sound bar better at surround sound ,than having speakers
Soundbars are great for getting better sound then a TV can provide but without the hassle of a full receiver setup.
Does it have airplay?
What brand is the base that you have under the TV? I need a matching one for my LG. Thanks
I have had it for years, so I am unsure what the exact setup is.
Great video. I'd like to see you review the JBL 9.1, LG SN11RG, or the Klipsch Bar 54a when they finally come out.
Man, all of those bars are going to rock! I'm really excited about the JBL 9.1 to be released this spring. The LG is rated up to 770W, so it should SCREAM! But I don't know when Klipsch will have the 54a out, it's rumored sometime this fall....? We will for sure try and get reviews for each of those as they become available.
Hi, does the TV need to have some sort of dolby atmos capability or will this system work on any smart TV?
Check this article, it may help you understand www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/dolby-atmos-sound/
@@HelpCloud Thanks for taking time to do this.
Thanks for the video, i came to your channel via the Bose 700 Review, now my question to you is which of the two is better? Is there A Sonos offering also? I'm considering getting a system for movies, music and general use. I dont trust samsung for sound quality, so i'm abit sceptical given alot of people have rated this 90R highly! I just sold my Samsung HTS-J5500W system and want to go to Bose 700 (+ the Bass Module).. you advice will come in handy.
Aik Jones would like to know the exact same. I want to buy the Bose 700 with base module and rear speakers but the reviews for this Samsung bar are really good. Now I want to know what’s better 👀
Stevooone in my opinion I’d go with the Q90R. I have the Bose soundbar 700 with subwoofer and rear speakers, and I love it... but it doesn’t offer atmos support AND (this is the big one) it only has an hdmi out and optical port. No HDMI in. That’s a pretty big deal considering this has two that support full HD. Hope this helped swing you towards this. I just ordered the Q90R so I’m hoping to enjoy it when I get back from this deployment.
Would there be any issues(like latency) with connecting the soundbar to a projector that has no eARC in the below configuration
BluRay player ->Q90R->projector
A projector wouldn't necessarily need eARC, because it's not pushing sound back into the soundbar. The configuration that you've outlined is your best bet. Plug your BluRay directly into the soundbar, and then run an HDMI cable to the projector (just pay attention to the ports you plug them into, BluRay should go into HDMI 1 or 2, and the HDMI going to your projector should be plugged into the ARC/eARC port regardless of whether or not it's an eARC projector). That's your best bet and should give you the best performance (no latency). Good luck and let me know how it works out.
What do you have your tv on? Interested in raising my tv up like you have yours on the video.
This video, the TV was sitting on top of the Sonos Playbar
Been trying to get my hands on the Q90R but they're rare to come across these days apparently. My buddy who's the salesman said he would give me the 950T for the price of the previous version. Have you compared the 2 and if so which one would you rather go with? Design for the 950T I'm not a huge fan of but if the sound is better then I might still go for it
I have not been able to test the 950T so I can't give you an opinion. Sorry!
some people were complaining that, during the streaming movies there are some sound cuts of with surround speakers. do you have that issue?
I haven't ran into that. That could be dependent on their area and the amount of wireless interference.
Did you calibrate the soundbar? If so how did you do it.
You can't calibrate this soundbar. You can only make adjustments through the equalizer.
Hey Buddy, Nice detailed review. Your voice was very clear. Detailed and precise as well. Huge Thumbs up, Hope you are enjoying your movie time with Q90r.
Thanks a ton!
It looks like your tv is an LG C9...and I noticed you needed to raise the tv for the bar to fit. Which stand are you using.
Yep, that's what the TV is. In a couple of the shots it's actually siting on a previously reviewed Sonos PlayBase. But if you put a 2" spacer under it that should do the trick.
Is this compatible with all smart tv?
Should be, you can check the support or compatibility here
www.samsung.com/us/televisions-home-theater/home-theater/sound-bars/hw-q90r-samsung-harman-kardon-7-1-4ch-soundbar-with-dolby-atmos-hw-q90r-za/
Samsung hasn't released a new firmware with eARC support. Not sure where you got that info or chart from. The last firmware was in July '19.
Oh no! We did make a mistake - apparently the rumor was the update in the fall of '19 was going to have eARC support, but they haven't actually released it yet. Thanks for catching that. We will post a note to identify the error in the review. We did see a few threads online at the Samsung Website talking about when the eARC update will happen, so if you'd like to follow along with the discussion here is a link to forum:
eu.community.samsung.com/t5/Audio-Video/What-is-going-on-with-eARC-update-for-the-soundbar-HW-Q90R/td-p/1368639/page/18
So thankful you went over the setup. Love this review, thank you!
You are so welcome!!
Nice review am thinking of the Q80R which is a bit cheaper and same features as the Q90R.
Definitely! If you don't need the rear speakers than by all means get that soundbar!
i know this was made a while ago but could you please make a video on how to connect to wi-fi
I will see what I can do!
Great video ! In the picture that shows MAY CAUSE LATENCY VS ELIMINATES LATEncy .. I’m looking to hook it up via the elimination route, would that mean that playing Netflix off the tv app would not be able to produce the Atmos effect ?
Also if the game console is going into the sound bar , where’s the image coming from since the HDMI is now going to the sound bar and not the tv ?
1. Playing NetFlix from your TV's application will STILL ALLOW you to have Atmos sound, if you can find something that is encoded in Atmos. More and more streaming services are encoding Atmos, so you'll see more and more streaming options and should love it!
2. Your Soundbar will act as a pass through device; meaning, it recognizes a TV/VIDEO/GAMING signal, knows that it can't do anything with it, and simply passes it through to your TV/AV unit. It's pretty rad but it's the best set up for sound quality.
Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions.
HelpCloud thank you, much appreciated :)
How does this work with HD TV channels that only have 2.0 audio
Does it have something that can work much like Dolby prologic in a receiver ?
Yes it upmixers the sound to 5.1
bought it second hand for 280 euros, happy happy. Will follow your tutorial but looks pretty easy. Thanks!
You bet!
@@HelpCloud is there any way how i can test whether the subwoofer is working? I did the testing by pressing the surround mode button and there is sound coming from the woofer, it just doesn't have alot of bass. Settings woofer in the smart things app are set to high. Thanks.
@@pieter-6385 I would reset to factory setting. If the bass settings are high and it has little bass. It could be blown or starting to seize from overworking.
@@HelpCloud thanks for your reply, i guess the only way to test is it to put some loud music on?
I replugged it and it's working perfectly now. A good buy after all. Thanks alot.
I own a Q70R, what best rear speakers you advice to add? Thx
samsung SWA-9000S
I love my Q90R soundbar!!! I never had latency issues. Money well spent!!!
Glad you like it, it is an awesome soundbar!
I own this Q90R for over six months, the sound quality is beyond Awesome, I only wish that it has a finer tune control like an EQ than just simple Center, Front, Rear volume controls.
The Smart Things App has a fairly decent EQ. It offers 150Hz, 300Hz, 600Hz, 1.2kHz 2.5kHz, 5kHz and 10kHz frequency levels to adjust in the advanced settings. The trick is that whatever levels you choose will be played through all channels, so you can't adjust each speaker in your room to your TOTAL liking. But it is a start - I hope that helps a little!
i owned it for over a month and after a few bugs (rear speakers not working, then Woofer turning on and off randomly) i sent it back and bought a Canon Smart 10 with subwooefer and 2 rears...its day and night the sound is so much better and crystal clear. The atmos quality despite not having rear upfiring speakers is so much more intense. i would never go back to those buggy Samsung crap. To be honest the sound quality ont he samsung is ok....but nothing special i had the LG Sk10y and it had a better surround feeling than the samsung, althought he Q90R had better voices overall. Coming from the LG i wasnt impressed at all with the almost double the price Samsung.
I haven't listened to the Canton 10 Smart system yet. I may have to check it out now....
Ive had mine longer I wish you could pair more than one subwoofer to a sound bar...unfortunately samsung said no...i need more bass as the high end is really loud and clear
@@HelpCloud you definetly have to! if you do not get sponsored and just want to have a comparison to anything just try it out, it will blow your mind... yes its a bit costy, but @Canton you can add anything you want up to 6 speakers. you can buy for example the soundbar then wait a bit and buy the rears and then later the sub or or or. It has an onscreen menue display, it measures your speakers where they are axaclty placed and so many featuers i would have loved @samsung Q90R..and yes it has a really decent equalizer i have it now for a while and they add more and more features i really like it.....
Does the room needs to be symmetric for the Virtual Atmos/DTS X to work properly?
It makes it perform better. You can have it in an asymmetrical room with the understanding that it won't perform QUITE as well.
Brilliant review thanks proper helpful, just a quick question when listening to music through RUclips or Spotify what sound setting is best because obviously films and tv shows all sound different to music, preferably id like the sound to be surrounding
It all depends on how you like your sound.
@@HelpCloud i prefer it as expansive and space filling as possible but not really very base more treble.
Definitely lost the remote for this sucker! Now I'm struggling connecting the satellite speakers both left and right. How can I access settings and update if I dont have the remote anymore >_
You will need a remote, as part of the pair process you need to press the volume up button on the remote. "Luckily, pairing the wireless speakers with the soundbar is easy: Just press the “ID Set” button on the back of each speaker for five seconds, and then press “Up” on the included remote. Once I did that, the speakers connected to the soundbar, and the problem never recurred"
By the way, great informative video! Does Samsung include wall mounts for the rear speakers? If not, do we know the size of the screw thread on the back of the rears?
They do not, looks like the they use imperial 1/4-20 screws
thanks!
Hello, is the HW-Q90R exactly the same as the HW-Q80r with the rear speakers added?
Yup! Pretty much.
"The Samsung HW-Q90R is basically the Samsung HW-Q80R, but with rear satellites that have up firing speakers. They both perform quite similarly, but the Q90R has a small edge over the Q80R. The 7.1. 4 setup has better overall surrounds performance thanks to the rear speakers, which is the main difference."
Would this be able to be connected to my PC via USB? In that setup would it be able to output sound in Atmos?
Thanks...
It look like it was done with the previous model. I would assume you can with this one as long as your PC supports Atmos.
@@HelpCloud thank you for the reply. Wonderful review, and have a great day 😊
Would you recommend the q950t or q90r?
All depends on what you are looking for. This website may help out!
www.rtings.com/soundbar/tools/compare/samsung-hw-q90r-vs-samsung-hw-q950t/866/15423?usage=8767&threshold=0.10
@@HelpCloudthanks for answering. Hard choice, since the q950t is newer but seems slightly worse. Do I have to use an app on my phone for the q90r?
@@HelpCloud let me rephrase: which one of the two would you buy for dolby atmos movies/shows and gaming? Both are 900 euros where I live.
I've never owned a sound bar, so this may seem like a dumb question. If I plug my PS4 into the Sound Bar using an HDMI cable, then how do I get the video signal to the TV???
Some sound bars have an "HDMI in" label and the arc is the out. So it's basically one HDMI to the sound bar and then another from sound bar to tv. Hope that helps.
It's not a dumb question, essentially they build the processor inside the soundbar to "pass-through" certain data, in this instance all the video will pass through the device into your TV or Projector. So as @Giuseppe Pellegrini said, you would plug your PS4 into the HDMI 1 or 2, and then plug your TV/Projector into the ARC port.
which subwoofer hits better, Subwoofer Q90r or swa-w700?
Depends, what are you looking for?
@@HelpCloud For movies
should i get this soundbar or the sony htz9f?ty
Depends on your budget & needs/wants.
How does this compare to the Sonos ARC + SUB or the Bose 700 soundbar + bose 700 bass module?
Stay tuned. We're reviewing them right now!
My Plan is to use the LG C9 77" Version with this Soundbar.
When i use the onboard Tv Tuner and connect the soundbar with ARC (hopefully soon eArc), is the Video / Audio in Sync or do i have to buy an extra TV receiver ?
There is no need to buy an extra AV Unit with the LG C9 TV and this soundbar. That's the exact set up I used to demo the system. No latency issues at all.
@@HelpCloud That's what i wanted to hear :)
Not the cheapest setup but hey :D
(Do you know when the eArc update is planned)
Nice greetings from Austria
All the way form AUSTRIA! That's awesome, I'm glad you found the video. Unfortunately, Samsung doesn't have a concrete release date for eARC support yet.... Kind of lame I know....
@@HelpCloud I got my C9 77 yesterday, and the soundbar is coming today or tomorrow :D
I hope for the best, but I think it's a good setup anyway :)
You're going to LOVE IT!
Nice review, well detailed compared to other tech reviewers. Thumbs ups
Much appreciated!!
Bought this today. Started using it and I feel like it runs good. Tried updating through smartthings app, it says "no new updates". Should I still update it through the USB stick or not?
Got it for 600 dollars brand new from the store. Limited sale.
Also how do I know if the Soundbar is playing atmos. I usually watch 4k on Netflix with hdr, but not all 4k has Dolby atmos right? I usually just search for "Dolby atmos" on Netflix to find that content. But I don't get a message on my soundbar saying it's playing Dolby atmos like you did.
If someone knows, please help.
Where is/was the sale?
@@glbuls probably not in your country, this was in Norway.
That's a great deal! If it says you're up to date you should be good. No need to update through the USB.
@@HelpCloud alright, thank you ❤️😊
How do these compare to the full Sonos system?
It depends on what you are looking for.
You can explain how to update this product samsung hw-q60t harman kardon
How is it on PC and dolby acces i have q70r with a lot of issues
Looks to me like it is awesome. "I managed to get it working by connecting HDMI from the GPU to the HDMI in and the audio is amazing."
Source:us.community.samsung.com/t5/Home-Theater/HW-Q90R-Soundbar-and-desktop-PC-connectivity/td-p/1333886
Best reveiw, en detailed. Thank you
Do you know if they will support google assistant anytime soon?
Looks like support is already there. Just add it to Smarthings app then make sure Google Assistant has the Smarthings skill enabled.
How would you compare this to the HW-Q70R dolby atmos?
We haven't tested the Q70r, So I don't feel I could give a educated opinion.
How long are the power cables for the surrounds?
Roughly 5-6 feet.
Great review I just ordered mine yesterday can't wait.
Hope you enjoy it!!
@@HelpCloudHelpCloud Thanks unfortunately the one I got was damaged in freight by UPS sending it back to eBay lister really disappointed.
Great soundbar overall, BUT the ARC function keeps dropping out and Samsung have no fix for this (they keep pleading ignorance, but several reviewers have commented on this issue). Anyone know of a fix, please? Cheers!
Not as of yet, sounds like we will have to wait for them to release a firmware fix for it!
Very nice video you explained everything what a potential buyer needs to know, thank you. Hope to see many more videos
Glad it was helpful!
Great review! Really helpful & super informative. Looking forward to mine arriving!
Hope you enjoy it!
Is it compatible with LG 3D Smart tv,2015 model 5.1 compatible.
Should work fine!
Hello - how does it compare to the JBL 9.1?
Since I don't have one to test, I can't give a legit opinion, looking at specs, I would imagine they are similar.
@@HelpCloud - Thank you sir.
Hopefully you'll do a review on it soon. Great channel bud!
hello i have the same since december i haven't used it much but you are so good that you made me want to watch a movie right away! bravo for this video, I also added vebos column for the rear satellites and it's great, I can send you photos if you want, thank you
How do you control the Hw-Q90r on the LG tv. I got a lg b9 tv and i wanted to know if the soundbar turns on with the tv and if the sound can be controlled with the tv remote control.
Thank you
if you are using your HDMI ARC port, then yes, when you turn your TV on it will also turn the soundbar on, and you will be able to control the vol up/down, mute, etc. Depending on how you set up your AV components (running them through the soundbar first) you'll also be able to do some other really cool stuff - like control your Apple TV through your LG B9 remote. You should figure it all out as you go but that TV/Soundbar combo would be great!
@@HelpCloud Thank you.
I got another question, you tested the Bose 700 with sub and rears, is it better then the Samsung Q90r?
Stay tuned for a head to head between those two!
@@HelpCloud That sounds interesting😄
Hi thank you for your dettailed
review. I know that samsung is going to release soon q950t soundbar that allows 9.1.4 channel with Q Simphony feature related with 2020 Qled. Do you have any news about date of release of this new model? Do u suggest to wait for this new model before to buy q90?
Man I wish I had more information about their release dates, but I don't. I also wonder if the price is going to be considerably more with the 9 channels verse the 7. Maybe once they release it I can do a head to head between the two.
@@HelpCloud yes should be great!
Here in Canada, the Q90R can be had for about $1298, the Q900T will release at about $1699, and the Q950T will be priced at about $2199 or so. The Q90R for all intents and purposes will slot in as the “middle ground” between the two devices IMO as the Q900T won’t come with dedicated rear speakers. At those prices, you can make your own assessment on if it’s worth an extra $900 or so for the 2020 model.
Unfortunately, this soundbar isn't available in India. Samsung bringing another model called HW-Q950R as 9.1.4. Not sure if it will be the same with different label or new version altogether..
Let us know!
I bought this today. Cost me about AUD$1200 in Bunbury, Western Australia. That's only US$800!
Considering we generally pay more than converted US prices for stuff, you should do a lot better than the quoted prices there...
DARTH VADER TO THE RESCUE!!!! HA HA HA! Good for you man! Super stoked you got such a great deal on that soundbar!
Thats a really good price, may i ask where did you get this deal from. I am in sydney.
@@asingh4136 Harvey Norman.
I have a samsung q90r soundbar .... Is there any other way to get full dolby atmos without amplifier.... amplifier is too pricey....
The soundbar doesn't require an amplifier, so you're good to go with just the Q90r.
How can I get some in my country Ghana?
I have the 2016 version and the Q90R The one issue with the newer Q90R is one of the back speakers will not shut off. When you turn off the system it stays on. I have to unplug it to turn it off. Other than that I love them both.
Henry Ford...... i can dig it. Not many people will get the refrence.
Yup!
Why is there separate power ports on the rear speakers here in the UK the rear speakers connect to the sub via wires no power ports for the speakers just 2 separate power leads one for sound at and one for sub which also provide the speakers with there power
They must have designed the UK version a bit different.
Was planning on waiting for the new Klipsch Atmos soundbar... But they are taking their sweet time.
Ya, hopefully sooner, rather then later!
Well explained and it is very clear!.. Thank you for the review!...
Glad it was helpful!
Apple TV 4K to HDMI input1 to Q90R, then from Q90R to (Arc HDMI) Samsung Q60R-TV(Doesn't has Atmos/DTS) but HDR. Does this produce Dolby Atmos and HDR/Dolby Vision together? Heard Q90R won't reproduce DV/HDR10 from the soundbar to TV. Is it true? Now I decided to get LG C9; if so Q90R able to reproduce DV/HDR to the TV from the soundbar?
This way wanted to prevent latency and getting DV/HDR at the same time. Simply put, Q90r able to reproduce DV/hdr to TV(any DV/HDR support)?
If you wire your Apple TV into the HDMI 1 (in) input, and then run an HDMI cable from the HDMI ARC port to your television you will get Atmos (or DTS:X) sound into the soundbar and still push DD, HDR10 or HDR10+ into whichever TV you'd like (whether you stick with the Samsung Q60r QLED TV or go with the LG C9 - which happens to be the demo TV I used in this setup). The Q90r has 4K pass through, and will DEFINITELY support HDR10 or HDR10+ on your television. And because you're running your HDMI cables into the soundbar FIRST, it will act as a pass through device and you shouldn't have any latency issues.
@@HelpCloud Hi thank you so much for your reply. How about Dolby Vision? eARC required? as update of firmware possible to pass through DV to Oled C9? or ARC alone able to pass thru DV. Forums are saying this isn't available. is true on your setups?
@@HelpCloud i couldnt get this way to work. very frustrating. had image dropouts/ no image at all. ended up connecting device to hdmi n tv . and soundbar to tv directly.. not sure if still can get dolby etc
That's frustrating you couldn't get it to work. Sometimes you have to rig the system to your needs. It gets really hard when each TV manufacturer has different processors; they all handle signals differently so there really is no magic set up. As long as you're running good HDMI cables, and using your TVs HDMI ARC you should be good to go. Sometimes though you have to comprimise on what works for your TV (Like reverting back to Digital Optical Audio Cables).
@ 06:09 on the video you talked about Samsung re-engineering the subwoofer to, hopefully, enable or enhance the transition into those mid frequencies. Was Samsung able to address that?
Nothing yet, that I know of.
@@HelpCloud Samsung's latest firmware, 1012.6 released in November, seems to have made an improvement on the mid frequencies. Dialogues from the soundbar sounds "fuller" now.
Attention people interested in getting his: my room is 13ft x 14 ft ( not open space), and I've the Q80R ( bought late May2020). It's too much system for this size room, overpowers the room. You'll never be able to turn it up much at all without getting a noise complaint. This system is IMO designed for a room twice or more the size of mine.
You might be right - especially if you're renting. The system can really produce a lot of clear volume. Thanks for the information.
What's for next year from sammy atmos?
Can you make a video of the Klipsch home theater collection. Klipsch 11.2 atmos
I will keep that in mind and see what I can do!
Thanks for the great review. I do have one very big question, though a very silly one. The rear wireless speakers obviously need power sources near them. And if I were to mount these rear speakers, a great deal of work needs to be done to conceal those power cables isn't it? And if I place these speakers in the middle of the living room (right behind my sofas), it's even more impossible to have power sources near these speakers without having to pull a great amount of cables?
Yes they do need power sources next to them. There are a lot of solutions depending on what your room looks like. Is your sofa against a wall or does it create it's own boundary with nothing behind it but another room? Some people tuck power cables under their base boards if they have carpet, or even rugs. If there is an interior wall and your couch sits against it you can be a little more creative; sometimes you can simply but a hole in the wall, add a faceplate on it and run wires up the wall. You can also hire an electrician to "run" power to it and put in outlets next to the locations you choose. For me, I use speaker stands and hide my wiring under my couches. Not ideal I know, but it works for those times when I want to watch something cinematic upstairs.
@@HelpCloud Thanks for the prompt reply. My living room is the open concept type. I live in a condo, the living room and dry kitchen are all in a big square. So i'll have dry kitchen on the right side of the square. TV cabinet on the left side and sofa is sort of like almost at the middle of the square. Behind the sofa is the dining table and then only a piece of wall behind the dining area. I am currently using Bose Cinemate 520 and when I renovated the house, I ran the rear speakers cable inside the plaster ceiling, and I mounted the speakers near the top of my ceiling.
Now with the Q90R, since the rear speakers have upfiring drivers, I shouldn't have them mounted near the ceiling should I? I am thinking the only option I have is to mount them at the mid point of the wall, and run the power cables inside the wall. I fortunately have power sources right at the bottom of both left and right side of the wall. But a considerable wall hacking job needs to be done.
The brackets that come with the soundbar is for rear speakers mounting yes?
Nope, the brackets are for the soundbar itself. Sucks I know.
I'm assuming you're correct about not wanting to mount them SUPER close to the cieling. Kind of sounds like you've got to get a little bit creative to make it work - but in the end it's really worth it.
@@HelpCloud Ah bummer. Not only I have to fix the power source issue, I'll have to see how I can mount them speakers :-( I am now seriously considering the Sony HTST5000. The latest firmware release has the soundbar supporting DTS-X and eARC. Do you see a big difference in quality between the two?
That soundbar is on my list of reviews I need to complete. As I have yet to listen to it I can't compare the two yet. Sorry
Bought Second Hand as it is now Super-ceded by the HW Q950 A but only Paid AUD 929.07 instead of AUD 1500.00 , Better than my old Yamaha RX 671 7.1 System Love it , Very well made.
My friend has one and it Blew me Away with Dolby Atmos the HWQ90R is the last really great Sound Bar before the Cloth covered Dust collecting Versions now on offer ?
Thank you for the Great Review keep them Cumming.
Glad you like it!
great video nice Intel on it , would love to see the comparison video between this sound bar against the nakamichi 9.2.4 if u would thanks
Coming soon!
What app on the Google play store do I look 4. Thanks.
SmartThings
Very nice and informative review. Many thanks. Boy, you're good, your style is pleasant, captivating interest. Use your talent!
Thank you very much!
What movie is playing in the background while you're talking!?
If I remember, it was a drone shots channel on YT.
@@HelpCloud cool thanks!
Gotta hear you review the Samsung Q95 vs Q90. Will you soon?
I certainly will keep this in mind!
Nice review. This was before the LG SN 11RG came out how about a comparison?
I will see what I can do!
I bought the LG SN9YG, the surround and sub are not very loud. As for the Atmos sound from the ceiling, it’s non existent. I wouldn’t bother with the LG soundbars if this is any example of what they are generally like. The OLED TVs are phenomenal, the soundbars are a hard pass.