Samsung HW-Q990D soundbar review: Slight upgrades for a superb system

Last year, I reviewed Samsung’s standalone HW-Q900C soundbar. I was very impressed, so I had high hopes for its follow-up, the HW-Q990D. After several weeks of testing this system with everything from death metal to Pixar movies, I can safely say that Samsung has kept the good and added some handy features as a proverbial cherry on top. 

Specs

• Included speakers: Soundbar, two rear satellites, subwoofer
• Surround sound: Dolby ATMOS, Dolby TrueHD, DTS:X, DTS-HD HRA, DTS-HD MA, DTS Express, DTS 5.1ch
• HDMI Pass-through: HDMI 2.1 for 4K at 120Hz
• HDMI ports: 2 inputs, 1 output
• Bluetooth: Version 5.2
• Voice control: Google Assistant, Alexa, and Bixby
• Total number of speakers: 22
• Total power: 656W

Pros

• Excellent overall sound quality for music and video content
• AI-powered voice emphasis makes dialog clear and crisp
• Powerful subwoofer provides oomph without getting boomy
• Personal listening mode moves sound to the rear channels for less intrusive audio
• Wireless connection with Dolby Atmos support is nice if you have a newer Samsung TV
• HDMI 2.1 pass-through will be useful for some gamers and PC users
• Understated design offsets the large size
• Works with Google Home, Alexa, Apple AirPlay, and Chromecast
• Solid on-device controls for when you can’t find or reach the remote

Cons

• Some advanced features like wireless connectivity and room analysis require a recent Samsung TV
• Rear channel speaker power cables can always be longer

Verdict

While it’s definitely not cheap, this system provides true 11.1.4 performance with very little setup and elegant hardware. If you have a Samsung TV, you’ll get access to extra features, but it’s not a dealbreaker…