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  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Style - Bar
    2. Style - Subwoofer
    3. Style - Satellites
    4. Dimensions - Bar
    5. Dimensions - Subwoofer
    6. Dimensions - Satellites
    7. Mounting
    8. Build Quality
    9. In The Box
  5. Sound
    1. Stereo Frequency Response
    2. Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
    3. Stereo Soundstage
    4. Stereo Dynamics
    5. Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
    6. Center
    7. Surround 5.1
    8. Height (Atmos)
    9. Sound Enhancement Features
  6. Connectivity
    1. Inputs/Outputs - Bar
    2. Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
    3. Audio Format Support: HDMI In
    4. Audio Format Support: Optical
    5. Audio Latency: ARC
    6. Audio Latency: HDMI In
    7. Audio Latency: Optical
    8. Video Passthrough To TV
    9. Wireless Playback
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
  8. Comments

LG SP9YA vs Samsung HW-Q990B

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

LG SP9YA
Samsung HW-Q990B

Tested using Methodology v1.1

Updated Jan 12, 2024 07:43 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated May 15, 2024 01:29 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
LG SP9YA Picture
Samsung HW-Q990B Picture

Variants

  • SP9YA (Black)
  • HW-Q990B (Black)

Our Verdict

LG SP9YA

Samsung HW-Q990B

The Samsung HW-Q990B is better than the LG SP9YA. The Samsung comes with rear speakers, meaning its surround sound performance is more clear and real. Its Atmos performance is better, so sound effects reproduce more accurately in the mix. There's even a graphic EQ on hand, which makes it more customizable than the LG. However, if you don't have room for rear speakers in your room, the LG is still a versatile alternative.

0

Check Price

 
Black
HW-Q990B
SEE PRICE
B&H
 
Black
HW-Q990B
SEE PRICE
B&H
 
Black
HW-Q990B
SEE PRICE
B&H

Notice: Two or more of the products selected have been tested with different test methodologies, so some of the results below aren't directly comparable. Learn how our test benches and scoring system work, and read more about the latest changes to our soundbars test methodology.

Main Differences for

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

8.0
8.4

Surround 5.1 
 

4.8
8.1

Stereo Dynamics 
 

8.0
9.1

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

LG SP9YA Style photo - bar
Samsung HW-Q990B Style photo - bar

Show text

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

LG SP9YA Style photo - sub
Samsung HW-Q990B Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

Yes
Yes

Enclosure 
 

Ported
Ported

Show text

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

LG SP9YA Style photo - satellites
Samsung HW-Q990B Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
Yes

Show text

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

LG SP9YA Dimensions photo - bar
Samsung HW-Q990B Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

48.1" (122.2 cm)
48.6" (123.5 cm)

Height  

2.3" (5.8 cm)
2.8" (7.0 cm)

Depth  

5.8" (14.7 cm)
5.4" (13.8 cm)

Show text

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

LG SP9YA Dimensions photo - sub
Samsung HW-Q990B Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

8.7" (22.1 cm)
8.9" (22.6 cm)

Height  

15.4" (39.0 cm)
16.1" (40.8 cm)

Depth  

12.3" (31.2 cm)
16.2" (41.1 cm)

Show text

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

LG SP9YA Dimensions photo - satellites
Samsung HW-Q990B Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
5.1" (13.0 cm)

Height  

N/A
7.9" (20.0 cm)

Depth  

N/A
5.6" (14.2 cm)

Show text

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

LG SP9YA Bar Mounting Holes
Samsung HW-Q990B Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

LG SP9YA Satellite Mounting Holes
Samsung HW-Q990B Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

Yes
Yes

Mountable Satellites 
 

No
Yes

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
No

Build Quality 
 

8.0
8.5

Build quality photo  

LG SP9YA Build quality photo
Samsung HW-Q990B Build quality photo

Show text

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

LG SP9YA In The Box photo
Samsung HW-Q990B In The Box photo

Show text

Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

8.3
8.3

Stereo Setup  

LG SP9YA Stereo Setup
Samsung HW-Q990B Stereo Setup

Raw Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Frequency Response Small  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Channels 
 

5.1.2
11.1.4

Tested Preset 
 

Standard
Standard

Slope 
 

-0.26
-0.55

Standard Error 
 

2.22 dB
3.01 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

33.2 Hz
27.1 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
19.9 kHz

Show text

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

8.3
8.4

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Standard
Standard

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

-1
-3

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

1
0

Slope 
 

-0.06
-0.18

Standard Error 
 

2.18 dB
2.47 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

33.2 Hz
27.9 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
19.9 kHz

Show text

Stereo Soundstage 
 

7.5
7.5

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.14 dB
1.94 dB

Show text

Stereo Dynamics 
 

8.0
9.1

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

91.8 dB SPL
99.8 dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB 
 

0.17 dB

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

0.92 dB
0.84 dB

Show text

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

7.0

THD  

See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.65

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

3.19

Show text

Center 
 

7.7
8.6

Center Setup  

LG SP9YA Center Setup
Samsung HW-Q990B Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

-1.47
-0.50

Std. Err. 
 

3.95 dB
2.82 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

86.8 dB SPL
97.3 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

1.10
0.30

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

7.83
1.82

Show text

Surround 5.1 
 

4.8
8.1

Surround Setup  

LG SP9YA Surround Setup
Samsung HW-Q990B Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom (Side Firing, Bar)
Discrete

Slope 
 

1.67
-0.84

Std. Err. 
 

7.19 dB
3.61 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

92.5 dB SPL
92.4 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.85
0.70

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

7.18
2.71

7.1 Rears 
 

No
Yes

Show text

Height (Atmos) 
 

5.3
6.9

Height Setup  

LG SP9YA Height Setup
Samsung HW-Q990B Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom (Up Firing, Bar)
Phantom (Up Firing, Bar & Satellites)

Slope 
 

-0.12
-0.84

Std. Err. 
 

5.73 dB
3.74 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

79.4 dB SPL
92.7 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

2.00
0.42

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.29
1.23

Show text

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

9.2
9.5

Room Correction 
 

Yes
Yes

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Bass Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

EQ 
 

Presets
Graphic + Presets

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Height Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Virtual Surround 
 

Yes
Yes

Show text

Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

LG SP9YA Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Samsung HW-Q990B Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

LG SP9YA Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Samsung HW-Q990B Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI ARC 
 

1 (shared)

HDMI Out 
 

1 (shared)
eARC

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No

Full HDMI In 
 

1
2

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

No
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

1
No

Ethernet 
 

No
No

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
No

Show text

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

10
10

Dolby Atmos 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS:X 
 

Yes
Supported

eARC 
 

Yes

DTS-HD MA 
 

Yes
Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 7.1

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

Yes

Show text

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

10
10

Dolby Atmos 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS:X 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Yes
Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 7.1

5.1 PCM 
 

Yes

Show text

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

10
10

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS 
 

Yes
Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0

Show text

Audio Latency: ARC 
 

7.2

ARC Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

46 ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

46 ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

87 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

113 ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

119 ms

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

120 ms

Show text

Audio Latency: HDMI In 
 

7.5
7.3

HDMI Latency Video  

Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

49 ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

45 ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

91 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

126 ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

122 ms

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

122 ms

ARC 
 

82 ms

Optical 
 

66 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

75 ms

Show text

Audio Latency: Optical 
 

7.9

Optical Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

103 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

325 ms

Show text

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

0.0
8.5

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

120Hz

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

120Hz

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

30Hz

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

Yes
Yes

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

Yes

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

Yes

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

Yes

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

Yes

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

Yes

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

Yes

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

Yes

Show text

Wireless Playback 
 

10
9.0

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

Yes
Yes

Chromecast built-in 
 

Yes
No

Apple AirPlay 
 

Yes
Yes

Spotify Connect 
 

Yes
Yes

Show text

Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

LG SP9YA Interface photo
Samsung HW-Q990B Interface photo

Display 
 

Yes
Yes

Show text

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

LG SP9YA Controls photo
Samsung HW-Q990B Controls photo

Show text

Remote  

Remote photo  

LG SP9YA Remote photo
Samsung HW-Q990B Remote photo

Show text

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

No
Yes (Built-in)

Google Assistant 
 

No
No

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

No
Yes

Show text

Check Price

 
Black
HW-Q990B
SEE PRICE
B&H
 
Black
HW-Q990B
SEE PRICE
B&H
 
Black
HW-Q990B
SEE PRICE
B&H

LG SP9YA

Samsung HW-Q990B

Comments

  1. Comparison

LG SP9YA vs Samsung HW-Q990B: Main Discussion

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