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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. Latency
    6. Video Passthrough To TV
    7. Wireless Playback
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
  8. Comments

Sony HT-Z9F vs Samsung HW-Q950A

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Sony HT-Z9F
Samsung HW-Q950A

Tested using Methodology v1.1

Updated Jan 12, 2024 08:20 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Jan 12, 2024 07:39 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Sony HT-Z9F Picture
Samsung HW-Q950A Picture
Channels
3.1
Channels
11.1.4

Variants

  • HT-Z9F (Black)
  • HW-Q950A (Black)

Review

See Sony HT-Z9F Review
See Samsung HW-Q950A Review
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0 

Our Verdict

Sony HT-Z9F

Samsung HW-Q950A

The Samsung HW-Q950A is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-Z9F. The Samsung is an 11.1.4 setup with dedicated satellite speakers and offers better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performance. It reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it gets louder than the Sony. It comes with more sound enhancement features, including room correction and a graphic EQ, as well as built-in Alexa voice assistant support. That said, the 3.1 Sony is better built.

0 

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Black
HT-Z9F
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HW-Q950A
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HT-Z9F
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HW-Q950A
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HT-Z9F
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HW-Q950A
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HW-Q950A
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

7.2
8.4

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.3
8.2

Surround 5.1 
 

2.4
8.3

Height (Atmos) 
 

2.0
6.6

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Sony HT-Z9F Style photo - bar
Samsung HW-Q950A Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Sony HT-Z9F Style photo - sub
Samsung HW-Q950A Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

Yes
Yes

Enclosure 
 

Ported
Ported
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Sony HT-Z9F Style photo - satellites
Samsung HW-Q950A Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Sony HT-Z9F Dimensions photo - bar
Samsung HW-Q950A Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

39.4" (100.0 cm)
48.4" (123.0 cm)

Height  

2.6" (6.5 cm)
2.8" (7.0 cm)

Depth  

3.9" (10.0 cm)
5.4" (13.8 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Sony HT-Z9F Dimensions photo - sub
Samsung HW-Q950A Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

7.4" (18.9 cm)
8.2" (20.9 cm)

Height  

15.0" (38.0 cm)
15.8" (40.2 cm)

Depth  

15.2" (38.6 cm)
15.9" (40.3 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Sony HT-Z9F Dimensions photo - satellites
Samsung HW-Q950A Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
4.9" (12.4 cm)

Height  

N/A
8.0" (20.2 cm)

Depth  

N/A
5.5" (14.0 cm)
Show Text 

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Sony HT-Z9F Bar Mounting Holes
Samsung HW-Q950A Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Sony HT-Z9F Satellite Mounting Holes
Samsung HW-Q950A 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
7.5

Build quality photo  

Sony HT-Z9F Build quality photo
Samsung HW-Q950A Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Sony HT-Z9F In The Box photo
Samsung HW-Q950A In The Box photo
Show Text 
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.3
8.2

Stereo Setup  

Sony HT-Z9F Stereo Setup
Samsung HW-Q950A 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

Tested Preset 
 

Standard
Standard

Slope 
 

-0.41
0.30

Std. Err. 
 

2.53 dB
2.65 dB

Channels 
 

3.1
11.1.4

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

44.3 Hz
33.2 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

7.9 kHz
19.1 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.3
8.4

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Standard
Standard

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

6
2

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

N/A
0

Slope 
 

-0.41
0.01

Std. Err. 
 

2.53 dB
2.19 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

44.3 Hz
30.4 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

7.9 kHz
19.6 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

7.0
7.5

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.20 dB
2.24 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

8.1
8.8

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

93.6 dB SPL
98.8 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

1.08 dB
1.08 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

7.4
8.4

THD  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.47
0.18

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

3.19
1.27
Show Text 

Center 
 

8.0
8.8

Center Setup  

Sony HT-Z9F Center Setup
Samsung HW-Q950A Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

0.40
0.28

Std. Err. 
 

3.63 dB
2.19 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

90.6 dB SPL
96.6 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.57
0.17

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

2.34
0.86
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

2.4
8.3

Surround Setup  

Sony HT-Z9F Surround Setup
Samsung HW-Q950A Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Discrete

Slope 
 

-1.75
-0.36

Std. Err. 
 

8.29 dB
2.92 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

93.1 dB SPL
89.8 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.51
0.52

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

3.31
2.31

7.1 Rears 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

2.0
6.6

Height Setup  

Sony HT-Z9F Height Setup
Samsung HW-Q950A Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

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

Slope 
 

0.75
-0.28

Std. Err. 
 

8.11 dB
4.20 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

82.9 dB SPL
90.5 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

2.73
0.54

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.90
1.03
Show Text 

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

5.6
9.5

Room Correction 
 

No
Yes

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Bass Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

EQ 
 

Presets
Graphic + Presets

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Virtual Surround 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Sony HT-Z9F Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Samsung HW-Q950A Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Sony HT-Z9F Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Samsung HW-Q950A 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 
 

2
2

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

1
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

1
No

Ethernet 
 

1
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 

Latency 
 

8.1
7.7

Latency Video  

ARC 
 

56 ms
80 ms

Optical 
 

51 ms
60 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

-47 ms
59 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 
 

9.0
9.0

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

Yes
Yes

Chromecast built-in 
 

Yes
No

Apple AirPlay 
 

No
Yes

Spotify Connect 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Sony HT-Z9F Interface photo
Samsung HW-Q950A Interface photo

Display 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Sony HT-Z9F Controls photo
Samsung HW-Q950A Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Sony HT-Z9F Remote photo
Samsung HW-Q950A 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 

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HW-Q950A
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Sony HT-Z9F

Samsung HW-Q950A

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Sony HT-Z9F vs Samsung HW-Q950A: Main Discussion

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