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  3. Samsung HW-Q990H vs Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9
Samsung HW-Q990H vs Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9
Samsung HW-Q990H

11.1.4-channel | $1,998

Samsung HW-Q990H
Check price atAmazon›
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9

5.0.2-channel | $1,498

Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9
Check price atAmazon›
Samsung HW-Q990H vs Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9: the short answer

We can compare 14 features from the published specs. The Samsung HW-Q990H is ahead on 7, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 on 2, and 5 are ties. The biggest difference for movies is height: the Samsung HW-Q990H has 4 ceiling-firing channels and the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 has 2. Only the Samsung HW-Q990H comes with a subwoofer, which matters when comparing the prices.

Reasons to choose Samsung HW-Q990H over Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9
  • Channel layout: 11.1.4 vs 5.0.2
  • Height channels: 4 vs 2
  • HDMI inputs: 2 vs 1
  • 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
  • Voice assistant: Alexa built-in, Google Assistant optional vs No
Reasons to choose Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 over Samsung HW-Q990H
  • Video pass-through: 8K vs 4K
  • Height: 2.63 in vs 2.88 in
Side-by-Side Comparison
Samsung HW-Q990HSony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9
Channel layout
Counts speaker channels the bar actually has. More ear-level and height channels means a wider, taller sound field.		 11.1.4 5.0.2
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 1
Video pass-through 4K 8K
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 No
Dialogue enhancement Yes Yes
Height
Lower is less likely to block the bottom of the TV picture.		 2.88 in 2.63 in
Width / suits TVs from
Neither is better: match the bar to your TV. See the size simulator below.		 48.5 in / 65-inch 51.25 in / 65-inch
Drivers in the bar 15 13
Power (total, as published)
Makers rate soundbar power differently, so the totals are not a like-for-like comparison.		 — 585 W
Weight 16.1 lbs 12.3 lbs
List price $1,998 $1,498

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 Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9. 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.

Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 Specifications

Sound
Channels5.0.2
Dolby AtmosYes
DTS:XYes
DriversTweeters: Soft-Dome (5); Midrange: 1.8125"x2.25" Cone (4); Woofers: 1.8125"x3.625" Cone (4); Enclosure: Passive Radiator
Power (bar, total)585 watts
SubwooferOptional
Rear speakersOptional
Virtual surround360 Spatial Sound Mapping
Dialogue enhancementYes
Night modeYes
Room correctionYes
Connections
HDMI to TVeARC
HDMI inputs1
Video pass-through8K
HDMI version2.1
Optical inputsNo
Analogue inputNo
USBNo
Subwoofer outputWireless
HDMI CECYes
Streaming and Control
Wi-Fi802.11ac
BluetoothYes
StreamingAirPlay 2, Spotify Connect
Voice controlNo
AppApple iOS, Android
Remote includedYes
Learns TV remoteNo
Physical
Dimensions (W x H x D)51.25 x 2.63 x 4.44 in / 1302 x 67 x 113 mm
Weight12.3 lbs / 5.58 kg
Wall mountingYes (bracket included)
Warranty1 Year parts, 1 Year labour
List price$1,498

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

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