In 2022, Samsung had taken its soundbar offering a real step forward with a new design and a more muscular acoustic architecture that promised to recreate the cinematic experience in its living room. As a successor to the highly acclaimed HW-Q990B, the HW-Q990C therefore takes its predecessor’s recipe for success by bringing with it some tiny new features, such as a new version of the Q-Symphony feature, the ability to take on the role of home automation hub and the Integration of the chamber into the calibration process.
The HW-Q990C is the top-of-the-line model offered by the Korean manufacturer for 2023. It comes with a subwoofer and two satellites to recreate a sound environment with up to 11.1.4 channels.
Price & Availability
The HW-Q990C has been available since April 2023 at a price of 1499 euros.
test conditions
Testing was performed using firmware version HW-Q990CWWB-1002.0 and SmartThings app version 1.6.98.21.
manufacturing
Physically, the HW-Q990C is identical to its predecessor, the HW-Q990B. It therefore has a simple design, with a beveled angle on the front and is almost entirely covered with anthracite gray metal grilles that have the advantage of not reflecting the images transmitted by the TV. Even if its appearance may seem quite austere, it benefits from an exemplary finish.
The bar placed in front of a 75 inch TV.
The HW-Q990C is not really a model of discretion. Its imposing size requires a choice of space near the TV in front of which it will be placed. Luckily, its height of less than 7 cm shouldn’t obscure the screen too much. Also note that it is possible to hang it on a wall thanks to a system provided upon purchase.
The wireless subwoofer, also particularly impressive, measures 22 x 41.3 x 41 cm and weighs 11.7 kg. The chest is made of chipboard painted black for a sober and well-finished result. The speaker positioned on the right is protected by a pane, the bass reflex port is on the back.
Satellite dimensions: 13 x 20.1 x 14 cm.
The satellites take on a similar appearance to the bar. They wear gray metal meshes on three of their faces, the rest are made of plastic shells. Not surprisingly, the workmanship is also very good. They communicate wirelessly with the bar, but must be connected to the mains to operate.
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connections
The various connections of the bar are located on the back. We are entitled to two HDMI inputs, an eARC-compatible HDMI output and an optical S/PDIF connection. There is no sign of an auxiliary port, while the USB-A port is for updates only and does not allow reading files stored on a key.
The bar does not come with an HDMI cable, which is a shame for such an expensive product!
The bar can read almost all common cinema audio formats: Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS Digital Surround, DTS-HD, DTS:X, multi-channel LPCM… nothing is missing. As with the previous generation, it’s possible to send a Dolby Atmos stream wirelessly from a compatible Samsung TV. The bar can also pass 4K HDR video streams, but not in 120Hz or VRR.
user experience
Samsung soundbar regulars won’t be disoriented by this HW-Q990C. This is controlled via four physical buttons, arranged in the middle of the bar, which are used to turn on, change the source, adjust the volume and control activation of the internal microphone. The included remote control is simple and easy to use, expanding the possibilities by allowing access to different settings and listening modes without having to leave the sofa.
Bluetooth is also on board, with a latency of around 160 ms.
To go even further, the bar can be controlled via the SmartThings app, available on iOS and Android, but requires an account to use. It doesn’t offer many more options than the remote control, but gives access to a much more pleasant and meaningful visual interface than the tiny screen placed in front of the bar.
One of the novelties of this HW-Q990C is the possibility of using it as a home automation hub for connected objects compatible with SmartThings.
Connected Features
The HW-Q990C features WiFi connectivity and supports AirPlay 2, Chromecast, AlexaCast and Spotify Connect protocols. Thanks to this large panel, the bar can be integrated into different multi-room systems and is compatible with most music streaming services.
Samsung has opted not to integrate a voice assistant natively into its bar, as Google appears to block access to the Chromecast protocol and to Google Assistant when Alexa is natively integrated, as is the case with the American version of the HW-Q990C. The French version therefore does not need an assistant, but on the other hand it can be perfectly integrated into a system controlled by Alexa or Google Assistant, for example if you have an Amazon Echo or a Nest Audio.
Audio
The HW-Q990C doesn’t go overboard, with no less than 22 speakers distributed between the bar, subwoofer and satellites for a final configuration in 7.1.4 channels. This flood of speakers offers a particularly powerful, controlled and absolutely immersive sound reproduction.
As the measurement above shows, SpaceFit calibration adds nothing to hearing.
Before we talk about spatialization, let’s take a closer look at the sheer sound performance of this HW-Q990C. The reproduction is perfectly homogeneous, very balanced and completely transparent, no frequency range dominates the other. It is still necessary to lower the level of the box by two or three notches to limit some slight overflows. After that, the subwoofer demonstrates remarkable precision, responsiveness and depth and unleashes an absolutely overwhelming power. The bar itself also uses considerable energy to fill rooms of several tens of square meters with sound without flinching. It goes without saying that the bar also has some pretty explosive dynamics.
The HW-Q990C shows excellent precision in the placement of the various instruments. The central scene is particularly accurate, the dialogues are clear without having to use the mode, which improves their intelligibility, even with a simple stereo signal. The mids and highs also benefit from good precision, despite a slight lack of detail and naturalness. Be careful not to control the volume too much, as the sound reproduction can become aggressive, especially with musical content.
Now let’s talk about spatialization, because this is where the HW-Q990C excels. It is able to create an amazingly realistic bubble of sound with effects that swirl in all directions and really give the impression of being the center of attention. The surround effects go far beyond the spatial limits of the bar and the transition to the satellites has been done beautifully. The set is also particularly good at transcribing the treble effects of Atmos or DTS:X tracks. However, these high-altitude effects tend to lack homogeneity, especially with point sources, which are quite blurry and difficult to position. Other than that, it’s great art!
The HW-Q990C has four listening modes: Standard, Surround, Game and Adaptive. The former does not apply post-processing and is preferable under all circumstances. However, Surround mode can come in handy when watching movies, as it applies sound virtualization in 11.1.4 channels, further expanding the surround effects at the expense of slightly distorted timbres. It is therefore to escape to musical listening.
Let’s close with a word on the Q-Symphony 3.0 that is part of the new features of this batch of 2023. As a reminder, Q-Symphony technology allows the soundbar’s speakers to be sequentially synced with those of the TV to enhance the sense of immersion. We found this new version to be much more skilful than the older generations: the effects are more subtle and contribute to the immersion where previously this technique tended to distort the sound reproduction too much.
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strong points
Controlled, balanced and homogeneous sound reproduction.
Accuracy of surround effects, creating a true immersive bubble of sound.
Amazing sound performance.
Precise central scene, clarity of dialogue.
Responsiveness, precision and power of the subwoofer.
Neat design.
weak points
Tiny screen.
Does not support 4K/120Hz and VRR streams.
Diploma
Global brand
How does the classification work?
The HW-Q990C is undoubtedly a must-have in the high-end Dolby Atmos/DTS:X soundbar market. Samsung gives birth to a true monster of power and explosiveness that lets you immerse yourself in the middle of action scenes thanks to controlled sound reproduction and amazingly realistic surround effects. The immersion associated with this is therefore remarkable and makes the cinema experience at home within reach.