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  1. Home
  2. Soundbar
  3. Compare
  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

Samsung HW-Q950A vs Samsung HW-Q990C

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Samsung HW-Q950A
Samsung HW-Q990C

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Jan 12, 2024 07:39 PM

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Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated Jul 15, 2024 04:31 PM

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Amazon.com
Samsung HW-Q950A Picture
Samsung HW-Q990C Picture
Channels
11.1.4
Channels
11.1.4

Variants

  • HW-Q950A (Black)
  • HW-Q990C (Black)

Review

See Samsung HW-Q950A Review
See Samsung HW-Q990C Review
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Our Verdict

Samsung HW-Q950A

Samsung HW-Q990C

The Samsung HW-Q990C is an updated version of the Samsung HW-Q950A. The newer Q990C boasts an improved build quality, with metal grilles instead of the Q950A's fabric coverings. Both bars have a similar sound performance, but the Q990C outdoes its older competitor in several respects. It gets louder with less compression, and its bass is more controlled in the mix.

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Black
HW-Q950A
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HW-Q990C
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HW-Q990C
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HW-Q950A
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HW-Q990C
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HW-Q990C
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HW-Q990C
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

8.4
8.5
No major differences between these soundbars for mixed usage. See full list of tests below.

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Samsung HW-Q950A Style photo - bar
Samsung HW-Q990C Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Samsung HW-Q950A Style photo - sub
Samsung HW-Q990C Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

Yes
Yes

Enclosure 
 

Ported
Ported
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Samsung HW-Q950A Style photo - satellites
Samsung HW-Q990C Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Samsung HW-Q950A Dimensions photo - bar
Samsung HW-Q990C Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

48.4" (123.0 cm)
48.5" (123.2 cm)

Height  

2.8" (7.0 cm)
2.8" (7.0 cm)

Depth  

5.4" (13.8 cm)
5.4" (13.8 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Samsung HW-Q950A Dimensions photo - sub
Samsung HW-Q990C Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

8.2" (20.9 cm)
8.9" (22.6 cm)

Height  

15.8" (40.2 cm)
16.2" (41.2 cm)

Depth  

15.9" (40.3 cm)
16.1" (41.0 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Samsung HW-Q950A Dimensions photo - satellites
Samsung HW-Q990C Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

4.9" (12.4 cm)
5.1" (13.0 cm)

Height  

8.0" (20.2 cm)
7.9" (20.0 cm)

Depth  

5.5" (14.0 cm)
5.5" (14.0 cm)
Show Text 

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Samsung HW-Q950A Bar Mounting Holes
Samsung HW-Q990C Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Samsung HW-Q950A Satellite Mounting Holes
Samsung HW-Q990C Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

Yes
Yes

Mountable Satellites 
 

Yes
Yes

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

7.5
8.5

Build quality photo  

Samsung HW-Q950A Build quality photo
Samsung HW-Q990C Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Samsung HW-Q950A In The Box photo
Samsung HW-Q990C In The Box photo
Show Text 
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

8.2
8.4

Stereo Setup  

Samsung HW-Q950A Stereo Setup
Samsung HW-Q990C 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 
 

11.1.4
11.1.4

Tested Preset 
 

Standard
Standard

Slope 
 

0.30
-0.01

Standard Error 
 

2.65 dB
2.38 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

33.2 Hz
28.7 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.1 kHz
19.1 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

8.4
8.4

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Standard
Standard

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

2
0

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

0
0

Slope 
 

0.01
-0.01

Standard Error 
 

2.19 dB
2.38 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

30.4 Hz
28.7 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.6 kHz
19.1 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

7.5
7.5

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.24 dB
2.33 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

8.8
9.1

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

98.8 dB SPL
99.9 dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB 
 

0.46 dB

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

1.08 dB
0.84 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

8.4

THD  

See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.18

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.27
Show Text 

Center 
 

8.8
8.7

Center Setup  

Samsung HW-Q950A Center Setup
Samsung HW-Q990C Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

0.28
-0.33

Std. Err. 
 

2.19 dB
2.31 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

96.6 dB SPL
96.6 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.17
0.35

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.86
1.70
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

8.3
8.2

Surround Setup  

Samsung HW-Q950A Surround Setup
Samsung HW-Q990C Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

-0.36
-0.34

Std. Err. 
 

2.92 dB
3.16 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

89.8 dB SPL
91.8 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.52
0.60

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

2.31
2.82

7.1 Rears 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

6.6
6.7

Height Setup  

Samsung HW-Q950A Height Setup
Samsung HW-Q990C Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

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

Slope 
 

-0.28
-0.11

Std. Err. 
 

4.20 dB
4.11 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

90.5 dB SPL
90.9 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.54
0.61

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.03
1.61
Show Text 

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

9.5
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 
 

Graphic + 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  

Samsung HW-Q950A Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Samsung HW-Q990C Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Samsung HW-Q950A Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Samsung HW-Q990C Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI Out 
 

eARC
eARC

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No
No

Full HDMI In 
 

2
2

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

No
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

No
No

Ethernet 
 

No
No

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

10
10

Dolby Atmos 
 

Supported
Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Supported
Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Supported
Supported

DTS 
 

Supported
Supported

DTS:X 
 

Supported
Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Supported
Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 7.1
Up To 7.1
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

10
10

Dolby Atmos 
 

Supported
Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Supported
Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Supported
Supported

DTS 
 

Supported
Supported

DTS:X 
 

Supported
Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Supported
Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 7.1
Up To 7.1
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

10
10

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Supported

DTS 
 

Supported
Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
2.0
Show Text 

Audio Latency: ARC 
 

8.6

ARC Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

37 ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

37 ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

69 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

90 ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

94 ms

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

96 ms
Show Text 

Audio Latency: HDMI In 
 

7.7
8.8

HDMI Latency Video  

Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

41 ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

40 ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

73 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

104 ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

99 ms

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

99 ms

ARC 
 

80 ms

Optical 
 

60 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

59 ms
Show Text 

Audio Latency: Optical 
 

8.0

Optical Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

103 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

303 ms
Show Text 

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

8.5
8.5

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

120Hz
120Hz

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

120Hz
120Hz

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz
60Hz

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz
60Hz

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

30Hz
30Hz

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

Yes
Yes

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

Yes
Yes

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

Yes
Yes

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

Yes
Yes

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No
No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No
No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Wireless Playback 
 

9.0
9.0

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

Yes
Yes

Chromecast built-in 
 

No
No

Apple AirPlay 
 

Yes
Yes

Spotify Connect 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Samsung HW-Q950A Interface photo
Samsung HW-Q990C Interface photo

Display 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Samsung HW-Q950A Controls photo
Samsung HW-Q990C Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Samsung HW-Q950A Remote photo
Samsung HW-Q990C Remote photo
Show Text 

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

Yes (Built-in)
Yes (Built-in)

Google Assistant 
 

No
No

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

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HW-Q950A
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HW-Q990C
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Samsung HW-Q950A

Samsung HW-Q990C

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Samsung HW-Q950A vs Samsung HW-Q990C: Main Discussion

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