Samsung’s HW-Q990C was the most effective total soundbar I examined final 12 months, largely as a consequence of its stellar audio and the truth that a subwoofer and rear audio system got here with it. The corporate didn’t change a lot for the 2024 model, the HW-Q990D, however one tweak delivers a characteristic final 12 months’s mannequin ought to’ve had: HDMI 2.1. There are some new audio modes too, however you will discover these on different Samsung soundbars. The Q990D is as highly effective as ever, nevertheless it’s nonetheless expensive at $2,000. In the event you already purchased a Q990C, the corporate hasn’t given you a purpose to improve simply but.
Samsung
The most important addition to the Q990D is a characteristic Samsung’s flagship soundbar ought to’ve already had.
- HDMI 2.1
- All-in-one encompass setup
- Glorious, immersive audio
- Useful options
- Expensive
- Not an enormous replace over final 12 months’s mannequin
What’s new on the Samsung Q990D?
The most important addition on the Q990D is HDMI 2.1. With this, Samsung addressed my most important criticism of the Q990C, which debuted final 12 months at a time when a lot of the competitors had already adopted the usual. HDMI 2.1 delivers 4K passthrough at 120 frames per second, which is able to enhance the visuals for those who join your PlayStation 5 or Xbox Collection X on to the soundbar.
The Q990D additionally arrives with new audio modes. Personal Listening turns off the entire front-firing drivers and makes use of solely the rear satellite tv for pc audio system. It’s principally an expanded model of the evening mode a number of firms supply on soundbars, geared toward lowering boomy bass when household or roommates could be asleep. My home has an open ground plan and my TV faces in direction of the hallway to the bedrooms, which suggests any soundbar will beam noise in that path. Personal Listening sends the audio the alternative manner, and whereas you must sacrifice some total high quality, it’s adequate for all of the instances that you must be quieter.
There’s additionally a brand new Get together Play mode that gives extra balanced sound between the soundbar and rear audio system for a greater expertise while you’re internet hosting a rager. When that is energetic, you get the total audio vary relatively than simply the channels particularly programmed for the audio system behind you. I really turned the audio system round and confronted them out of the lounge to mission the re-tuned audio into different communal areas. This makes a much bigger distinction for films and TV as a result of music already performs from the rear audio system with extra balanced ranges.
These two modes aren’t distinctive to the Q990D; the remainder of the 2024 Q-series lineup will have the ability to use them too. That is the primary time I’ve examined them although, and it’s notable that they really work effectively on Samsung’s most costly soundbar.
What’s good
The mixture of a driver-packed soundbar, massive subwoofer and more-robust rear audio system produces immersive sound that envelops my lounge. Whether or not you’re listening to music or the soundscape of Dune, the Q990D retains the sonic prowess of its predecessor. Dolby Atmos content material from Disney+ is as immersive as ever. I may hear the finer particulars of Knowhere within the opening scenes of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, together with the life-like reverb of Radiohead’s “Creep” enjoying over a loudspeaker. The directional sounds of the city, together with the hustle and bustle of individuals shifting round, make it look like you’re standing proper there.
For music, there’s deep, boomy bass when a monitor requires it, and that crisp element that I heard in films is right here too. Justice’s Hyperdrama reveals off the Q990D’s vary, with driving low-end tone on songs like “Neverender” accompanied by textured synths. Quieter genres like jazz are a blanket of sound too, with albums like Miles Davis’ Sort of Blue providing subtleties that make you’re feeling such as you’re within the studio.
The factor I like most in regards to the Q990D is that all the things you want for a whole encompass sound setup is included within the field. The subwoofer and rear audio system include the soundbar and don’t require an extra buy. These satellite tv for pc audio system additionally home up-firing and side-firing drivers, which isn’t at all times the case on comparable equipment from the competitors. And the setup is as straightforward as plugging all the things in as a result of pairing with the remainder of the system occurs robotically.
What’s unhealthy
An all-in-one setup is nice, however that additionally means the Q990D is pricey. At $2,000, it is a appreciable funding even for those who’re getting all the things you want within the package deal. The Q990D is at the moment on sale for $1,750, however we don’t know the way lengthy that low cost will final. For comparability, Sony’s upcoming Bravia Bar 9 is $1,400. The most cost effective subwoofer and rear audio system you will get for it are $400 and $350 respectively, which places your complete price at $2,150. After all, with Sony you’ve got two choices for subs and rears, and also you don’t have to purchase all of them. LG affords some respite if you wish to go that route, with its S95TR coming in at $1,500 and together with the subwoofer and rear audio system with up-firing drivers.
The general dimension of the soundbar is one thing else you’ll want to think about. The Q990D homes 11 front-facing audio system, two up-firing drivers and a subwoofer. All of these elements want area, and accommodating them means this soundbar finally ends up being fairly massive at 48.5 inches large. Whereas that’s not a deal-breaker per se, it does require some planning, so simply know you’ll want ample room.
Like soundbars from different firms, the Q990D has some useful options which are reserved for Samsung TVs. For instance, Q-Symphony, which makes use of your TV audio system along with the soundbar to develop the audio capabilities, requires a suitable 2020-2024 Samsung TV. The Q990D sounds nice with out this, however simply know you’re not getting the total bag of tips until you even have a supported TV.
Wrap-up
Until you take care of the newest HDMI requirements, the Q990D doesn’t supply an enormous improve over final 12 months’s mannequin. Their design and options lists are almost similar, besides for 2 new sound modes and 4K/120 passthrough. And a few of these additions can be found on more-affordable Samsung soundbars. So for those who already sprang for final 12 months’s Q990C, there’s in all probability not sufficient purpose to make one other sizable funding. In the event you don’t already personal a Samsung flagship soundbar, the Q990D affords boomy, immersive sound in an all-in-one package deal that now has all the trendy conveniences it ought to.
