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  1. Home
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  3. Samsung HW-Q990H vs Sonos Arc Ultra
Samsung HW-Q990H vs Sonos Arc Ultra
Samsung HW-Q990H

11.1.4-channel | $1,998

Samsung HW-Q990H
Check price atAmazon›
Sonos Arc Ultra

9.1.2-channel | $1,099

Sonos Arc Ultra
Check price atAmazon›
Samsung HW-Q990H vs Sonos Arc Ultra: the short answer

Across 13 features we can compare from the published specs, the Samsung HW-Q990H comes out ahead on 8 and the Sonos Arc Ultra on 0. The biggest difference for movies is height: the Samsung HW-Q990H has 4 ceiling-firing channels and the Sonos Arc Ultra has 2. Only the Samsung HW-Q990H comes with a subwoofer, which matters when comparing the prices.

Reasons to choose Samsung HW-Q990H over Sonos Arc Ultra
  • Channel layout: 11.1.4 vs 9.1.2
  • Height channels: 4 vs 2
  • DTS:X: Yes vs No
  • HDMI inputs: 2 vs 0
  • Subwoofer: Included vs Optional
  • Rear speakers: Included vs Optional
  • Streaming: Wi-Fi + AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect vs Wi-Fi + AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect
  • Height: 2.88 in vs 3.13 in
Side-by-Side Comparison
Samsung HW-Q990HSonos Arc Ultra
Channel layout
Counts speaker channels the bar actually has. More ear-level and height channels means a wider, taller sound field.		 11.1.4 9.1.2
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 No
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 Optional
Room correction Yes Yes
Streaming Wi-Fi + AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect Wi-Fi + AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect
Voice assistant
Built in, rather than through a separate smart speaker.		 Alexa built-in, Google Assistant optional Alexa built-in
Dialogue enhancement Yes Yes
Height
Lower is less likely to block the bottom of the TV picture.		 2.88 in 3.13 in
Width / suits TVs from
Neither is better: match the bar to your TV. See the size simulator below.		 48.5 in / 65-inch 46.44 in / 55-inch
Drivers in the bar 15 14
Weight 16.1 lbs 13 lbs
List price $1,998 $1,099

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 Sonos Arc Ultra. 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.

Sonos Arc Ultra Specifications

Sound
Channels9.1.2
Dolby AtmosYes
DTS:XNo
DriversTweeters: Soft-Dome (7); Midrange: Cone (6); Woofers: Cone (1); Enclosure: Sealed
SubwooferOptional
Rear speakersOptional
Virtual surroundSurround mode
Dialogue enhancementYes
Night modeYes
Room correctionYes
Connections
HDMI to TVeARC
HDMI inputs0
Optical inputsNo
Analogue inputNo
USBNo
Subwoofer outputWireless
HDMI CECYes
Streaming and Control
Wi-Fi802.11ax
BluetoothYes
StreamingAirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, TIDAL, Amazon Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, TuneIn, Apple Music
Voice controlAlexa built-in
AppMobile, Web, Computer
Learns TV remoteYes
Physical
Dimensions (W x H x D)46.44 x 3.13 x 4.31 in / 1180 x 80 x 110 mm
Weight13 lbs / 5.9 kg
Wall mountingYes (bracket sold separately)
Warranty1 Year parts, 1 Year labour
List price$1,099

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
  • Samsung HW-Q990H vs Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9
  • Samsung HW-Q990H vs Samsung HW-Q900H
  • Samsung HW-Q990H vs KEF XIO
  • Samsung HW-Q990H vs Marshall Heston 120
  • Samsung HW-Q990H vs Klipsch Flexus CORE 300

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