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  1. Home
  2. Soundbars
  3. Samsung HW-Q990H vs KEF XIO
Samsung HW-Q990H vs KEF XIO
Samsung HW-Q990H

11.1.4-channel | $1,998

Samsung HW-Q990H
Check price atAmazon›
KEF XIO

5.1.2-channel | $2,500

KEF XIO
Check price atAmazon›
Samsung HW-Q990H vs KEF XIO: the short answer

Across 13 features we can compare from the published specs, the Samsung HW-Q990H comes out ahead on 6 and the KEF XIO on 0. The biggest difference for movies is height: the Samsung HW-Q990H has 4 ceiling-firing channels and the KEF XIO has 2. Only the Samsung HW-Q990H comes with a subwoofer, which matters when comparing the prices.

Reasons to choose Samsung HW-Q990H over KEF XIO
  • Channel layout: 11.1.4 vs 5.1.2
  • Height channels: 4 vs 2
  • HDMI inputs: 2 vs 0
  • Subwoofer: Included vs Optional
  • Rear speakers: Included vs None
  • Voice assistant: Alexa built-in, Google Assistant optional vs No
Side-by-Side Comparison
Samsung HW-Q990HKEF XIO
Channel layout
Counts speaker channels the bar actually has. More ear-level and height channels means a wider, taller sound field.		 11.1.4 5.1.2
Height channels
Drivers aimed at the ceiling, which is what makes Dolby Atmos sound overhead rather than just wide.		 4 2
Dolby Atmos Yes Yes
DTS:X Yes Yes
HDMI to the TV
eARC carries lossless Dolby TrueHD and Atmos from the TV; plain ARC compresses them.		 eARC eARC
HDMI inputs
A spare HDMI port for a games console or disc player.		 2 0
Video pass-through 4K —
Subwoofer
Included beats optional beats none: a separate subwoofer is where deep bass comes from.		 Included Optional
Rear speakers
Real rear speakers put effects behind you; without them surround is simulated from the front.		 Included None
Room correction Yes Yes
Streaming Wi-Fi + AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect Wi-Fi + AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect
Voice assistant
Built in, rather than through a separate smart speaker.		 Alexa built-in, Google Assistant optional No
Dialogue enhancement Yes Yes
Height
Lower is less likely to block the bottom of the TV picture.		 2.88 in 2.88 in
Width / suits TVs from
Neither is better: match the bar to your TV. See the size simulator below.		 48.5 in / 65-inch 47.63 in / 55-inch
Drivers in the bar 15 12
Weight 16.1 lbs 23.1 lbs
List price $1,998 $2,500

Green marks the better figure where one is better. Dashes are specs the maker does not publish.

Size: Both Soundbars in Front of a TV

Drawn to scale. The solid bar is the Samsung HW-Q990H, the dashed outline the KEF XIO. Pick your TV size and how it stands to see whether either would cover the picture.

Full Specifications

Samsung HW-Q990H Specifications

Sound
Channels11.1.4
Dolby AtmosYes
DTS:XYes
DriversTweeters: Dome (3); Woofers: Cones (12); Subwoofer: 8" Cone; Enclosure: Sealed(Bar),Radiator(Sub)
SubwooferIncluded
Rear speakersIncluded
Virtual surroundSurround Sound Expansion
Dialogue enhancementYes
Night modeYes
Room correctionYes
Connections
HDMI to TVeARC
HDMI inputs2
Video pass-through4K
HDMI version2.1
Optical inputsYes
Analogue inputNo
USBNo
Subwoofer outputWireless
HDMI CECYes
Streaming and Control
Wi-Fi802.11ac
BluetoothYes
StreamingAirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL, Amazon Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, TuneIn, YouTube Music
Voice controlAlexa built-in, Google Assistant optional
AppApple iOS, Android
Remote includedYes
Learns TV remoteNo
Physical
Dimensions (W x H x D)48.5 x 2.88 x 5.5 in / 1232 x 73 x 140 mm
Weight16.1 lbs / 7.3 kg
Subwoofer size9.75 x 9.88 x 10.44 in (W x H x D), 18.3 lbs
Wall mountingYes (bracket included)
Warranty1 Year parts, 1 Year labour
List price$1,998

Power is the maker's total across all drivers and is not comparable to an amplifier's per-channel rating.

KEF XIO Specifications

Sound
Channels5.1.2
Dolby AtmosYes
DTS:XYes
DriversTweeters: 2" Uni-Q MX (6); Midrange: 2" Full-Range (2); Woofers: 2"x 6" Bass (4); Enclosure: Sealed
Frequency response34-20K Hz
SubwooferOptional
Rear speakersNone
Virtual surroundMusic Integrity Engine (MIE)
Dialogue enhancementYes
Night modeYes
Room correctionYes
Connections
HDMI to TVeARC
HDMI inputs0
HDMI version2.1
Optical inputsYes
Analogue inputNo
USBUSB-C
Subwoofer outputMono-RCA, Wireless
HDMI CECYes
Streaming and Control
Wi-Fi802.11ax
BluetoothYes
StreamingAirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL, Amazon Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, TuneIn
Voice controlNo
AppApple iOS, Android
Remote includedYes
Learns TV remoteNo
Physical
Dimensions (W x H x D)47.63 x 2.88 x 6.5 in / 1210 x 73 x 165 mm
Weight23.1 lbs / 10.48 kg
Wall mountingYes (bracket included)
Warranty5 Years parts, 5 Years labour
List price$2,500

Power is the maker's total across all drivers and is not comparable to an amplifier's per-channel rating.

More Soundbar Comparisons
  • Samsung HW-Q990H vs JBL Bar 1300XMK2
  • Samsung HW-Q990H vs Devialet Dione
  • Samsung HW-Q990H vs Bluesound PULSE CINEMA
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  • Samsung HW-Q990H vs Samsung HW-Q900H
  • Samsung HW-Q990H vs Marshall Heston 120
  • Samsung HW-Q990H vs JBL Bar 1000MK2
  • Samsung HW-Q990H vs Klipsch Flexus CORE 300

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