Small but important update

The Samsung HW-Q990C was the best all-round soundbar I tested last year, mainly because of its excellent sound and the fact that it comes with a subwoofer and rear speakers. The company hasn’t changed much for its 2024 release, the HW-Q990D, but one tweak delivers a feature that should have been on last year’s model: HDMI 2.1. There are also some new sound modes, but you’ll find them on other Samsung audio devices. The Q990D is still as powerful as ever, but still expensive 2000 dollars. If you’ve already bought the Q990C, the company hasn’t given you a reason to upgrade yet.

What’s New in Samsung Q990D?

The Q990D’s biggest innovation is HDMI 2.1. Samsung thus expresses my main criticism of the Q990C, which arrived last year at a time when most of the competition had already adopted the standard. HDMI 2.1 offers 4K passthrough at 120 frames per second, improving graphics when you connect a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X.

The Q990D comes with new audio modes. Personal Listening turns off all front drivers and uses only the satellite rear speakers It’s basically an improved version of the night mode that many companies offer on their soundbars, aimed at reducing bass when family or roommates are sleeping. My house has an open floor plan and my TV faces the hallway towards the bedroom, which means each speaker emits sound in that direction. Personal listening sends sound in the opposite direction, and although you sacrifice some overall quality, it’s more than enough for any situation where you need a bit of quiet.

There’s also a new Party Play mode that delivers a more balanced sound between your tweeter and rear speakers for a better experience when you’re hosting a rave. When activated, you’ll get the full range of audio, not just channels programmed specifically for the speakers behind you. I actually rotated the speakers and placed them outside the living room to project the reproduced sound to other common spaces. This makes an even bigger difference with movies and TV, as music is actually played at a more balanced level through the rear speakers.

These two modes are not unique to the Q990D; The rest of the 2024 Q series will also be able to use it. This is the first time I’ve tested it, and it’s worth noting that it actually works well with Samsung’s most expensive speakers.

which one is better

The combination of driver-equipped speakers, a large subwoofer, and more powerful rear speakers creates immersive sound around my living room. Whether you are listening to music or audio clips SandThe Q990D maintains the sonic performance of its predecessor. Disney+ Dolby Atmos content is more immersive than ever I could hear the complexities of Nowhere in the opening scenes of the film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, playing over the speakers with a realistic echo of Radiohead’s “Creep”. The directional sounds of the city with the bustle of people make you feel like you’re standing there.

When it comes to music, the deep, booming bass is there when needed, and the crisp detail you hear in movies is also present. trial Excessive drama It showcases the Q990D’s range with driving low-end sound on songs like “Neverender,” which is accompanied by textured synths. Softer genres like jazz also work as acoustic covers, albums like Miles Davis kind of blue They provide fine details that make you feel like you are in the studio.

What I love about the Q990D is that everything you need for a full surround sound setup is included in the box. Subwoofer and rear speakers come with the speakers and require no additional purchase. Satellite speakers also have side drivers, which is not always the case with comparable products from competitors. And setup is as simple as connecting all your devices, pairing with the rest of the system is automatic.

what is bad

The all-in-one setup is great, but it means the Q990D is expensive. At $2,000, it’s a big investment, even if you get everything you need in the package. The Q990D is currently on sale for $1,750, but we don’t know how long this discount will last. For comparison, Sony’s upcoming Bravia Bar 9 costs $1,400. The cheapest subwoofer and rear speakers you can get are $400 and $350, respectively, bringing the total price to $2,150. Of course, with Sony you have several options for subs and wallpapers, and you don’t have to buy them all. If you want to go that route, LG offers some relief, as the S95TR costs $1,500 and includes a subwoofer and rear speakers with high-volume drivers.

You should also consider the overall size of the speakers. The Q990D has 11 front-firing speakers, two drivers and a subwoofer. All of these components take up space and when you accommodate them, this speaker becomes quite large at 48.5 inches wide. While this isn’t a deal-breaker by itself, it does require some planning. So you should be aware that you need enough space.

Like soundbars from other companies, the Q990D has some useful features reserved for Samsung TVs. For example, Q-Symphony, which uses TV speakers in addition to a subwoofer to extend audio capabilities, requires a compatible 2020-2024 Samsung TV. The Q990D looks great without it, but be aware that you won’t be able to take advantage of all the tricks unless you have a supported TV.

It includes

Unless you’re interested in the latest HDMI standards,… Q990D It doesn’t offer any significant improvements over last year’s model. The design and function menus are almost identical except for two new audio modes and 4K/120 passthrough. Some of these extras are available in cheaper Samsung speakers. So if you already splurged on the Q990C last year, there’s probably no reason to make another big investment. If you don’t already own a flagship Samsung soundbar, the Q990D delivers stunning, immersive sound in an all-in-one package with all the modern conveniences you now have.