I compared my Sonos Arc Ultra with Samsung's flagship soundbar, and it's pretty dang close

ZDNET's key takeaways

• The Samsung HW-Q990F home entertainment system is available for $2,000, including a soundbar, external subwoofer, and two rear speakers.
• The Q990F is packed with software features, plenty of audio modes, and delivers big, room-filling sound.
• There aren't many substantial upgrades over last year's model, leaving no urgency to upgrade.

For a limited time, Samsung is selling the HW-Q990F soundbar for $400 (or 20%) off, making it a fantastic deal.

Adding a soundbar to your TV can greatly improve your watching experience, providing fuller, louder, and more immersive sound to complement your shiny, new TV. However, adding rear speakers and a subwoofer can turn your soundbar and TV combo into an immersive home theater.

Also: This Yamaha soundbar delivered me the audio quality of speakers twice the price

Samsung's flagship soundbar, the HW-Q990F, comes with two rear speakers and a subwoofer, and includes a stellar lineup of home entertainment's most star-studded features. I gave up my beloved Sonos Arc Ultra system for two weeks to spend some time with Samsung's newest soundbar, and here's what you should know before making a purchase.

Coming from last year's model, the Q990F soundbar's exterior received a slight redesign, as the coloring is a softer black-grey color instead of pure black. The Q990F's external subwoofer is also more compact, with Samsung opting for a cubed design instead of a taller rectangular shape.

The Q990F is a large and imposing soundbar; it's recommended for TVs 60 inches or larger, and its large stature does equate to big, room-filling sound. Despite its larger size, the Q990F has a sleek and modern design, sure to fit in with your home decor.

I paired the Q990F system with Samsung's 2025 QN90F Neo QLED 4K TV, and the two make a wonderful pair. Although you don't need one of Samsung's latest TVs to get the most out of the Q990F, some features, like Q-Symphony, can be unlocked only with a compatible Samsung TV.

Also: This is the soundbar I recommend if you want the most immersive sound - even though it's a 2024 model

Even without a Samsung TV, the soundbar is still a powerhouse. With 23 total speakers and an 11.1.4-channel setup, the Q990F is as flagship as it gets. As long as your TV has an eARC port, you can access a list of high-quality audio formats, like Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, DTS Digital Surround, Multichannel PCM, and more. The Q990F supports HDMI eARC 2.1, Optical, and Bluetooth connectivity.

The Q990F gets exceptionally loud, and my choice of Dolby Atmos content consisted of "Avengers: Age of Ultron" on Disney+ and "WeCrashed" on Apple TV+. The former was a mix of heavy action scenes and dialogue, while the former consisted of heavy dialogue. 

Samsung HW-Q990F external subwoofer.

Jada Jones/ZDNET

During fighting scenes packed with collisions and explosions, the exterior soundbar handled the low-frequency rumble and grumbles well, but I noticed it wasn't as tight as my Sonos Sub 4. The Q990F's subwoofer is much smaller, which is an important factor.

Also: This space-saving soundbar delivers clarity and power in every note

The Q990F's rear speakers are a welcomed addition, adding more depth and immersion to your viewing experience. Although the rear speakers may be small, they make their presence known. While watching in Dolby Atmos, you can succinctly place objects and sounds in the content's setting; they perform exactly how they're supposed to. 

Samsung HW-Q990F rear speaker.

Jada Jones/ZDNET

Even in content not mixed for Atmos and instead encoded in PCM Multichannel, the rear speakers add a layer of immersion in the absence of height channels.

The Q990F sounds just as great playing TV shows and movies as it does playing music. It has deep bass, clear mids, and present highs. The Q990F has slightly less shine and crispiness in the highs compared to the Sonos Arc Ultra, but it's not a deal-breaker.

Also: Why I'm ditching Bluetooth speakers in favor of this outdoor wired system - and don't regret it

You can stream music directly from your TV, but the Q990F offers connectivity for an array of streaming services, platforms, device ecosystems, and voice assistants. This soundbar is compatible with Google Home, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Roon, AirPlay, Tidal Connect, Alexa, and Bixby.

ZDNET's buying advice

Compared to Sonos' sound systems, the Samsung HW-Q990F offers more customization features and sound modes. However, Sonos offers modular systems you can build over time, while Samsung's flagship home theater systems are boxed and sold altogether. 

Finally, the Q990F is easier on the wallet than Sonos' flagship soundbar, external subwoofer, and Era 300 rear speakers. It helps that the soundbar is currently discounted by 20% ($400 off) on Samsung's website.

Still, the Q990F is a high-performing soundbar, reproducing full-bodied, energetic sound fit for watching your favorite TV shows and movies. It's packed with software features and pairs wonderfully with a large TV. But if you have last year's HW-Q990D, don't feel rushed to upgrade; there aren't enough improvements in this year's model to justify it.