Samsung HW-Q990D Review: Atmos Tested, Gamer Approved

Most other features and settings can be accessed via the bar’s remote and on-board displays, but it’s often easier to use the SmartThings app. The basic layout lets you select a sound mode (I usually stick with standard), adjust the equalizer, use enhancements like the active voice amplifier, and set channel levels.

I appreciate the channel levels Samsung provides for most of the bar’s audio channels, but the lock level was the most taxing part of my evaluation. Due to space constraints, I placed the surround speakers directly behind the couch, which meant I had to turn them all the way down and even turn up the other channels to balance them out.

That task becomes even easier with Sonos’ Era 300 speakers (9/10, recommended by Wired) connected to the Arc Ultra because Sonos TruePlay calibration adjusts the sound in your room (although Standalone Wi-Fi speakers can have their own quirks). Auto-calibration is a feature I’d expect in any system costing nearly $2,000, but Samsung fails to add it every year. The company’s Space Fit feature is said to analyze sounds on the fly, but I didn’t notice any meaningful changes.

My other complaint is the persistent volume issues when using Spotify Connect. If you’re streaming directly from Spotify, every maddening click to adjust the volume will strangely jump up or down seven levels, so it’s always too loud or too quiet. Coupled with the lack of Chromecast, Android users are forced to control streaming media directly from SmartThings or use a redundant remote. It’s a small fix, but that’s why it’s so annoying.

sound vortex

Despite some issues with streaming, the Q990D’s performance is excellent. Each component in the four-piece system works together to deliver a powerful, balanced, and extremely smooth soundstage for everything you play. You don’t quite get the premium detail found in bars like the Arc Ultra, but there’s enough tactile touch to appreciate the little things, and enough bombast to elevate your movie moments to new heights.

Dolby Atmos is undoubtedly the star of the show. The “Amaze” scene on my Atmos demo disc is an absolute standout moment. I could almost feel the humidity around me during the opening buzz of insects, while the rolling thunder sounded with visceral surprise, and finally the rain literally fell overhead, sending me deep into the jungle vegetation.