Samsung HW-Q990D Review: Atmos Tested, Gamer Approved

Most other functions and settings are accessible with the remote and on-board display, but it’s usually easier to use the SmartThings app. The basic layout lets you choose the sound mode (I generally stick to Standard), adjust the EQ, engage enhancements like the active voice amplifier, and set channel levels.

I appreciate Samsung’s inclusion of channel levels for most of the bar’s audio channels, but getting the level locked was the most onerous part of my review. I had the surround speakers directly behind my couch due to space constraints, which meant I had to go all the way back and even raise the other channels to balance things out.

This task was much easier with Sonos’ Era 300 speakers (9/10, WIRED Recommends) connected to the Arc Ultra, because the Sonos TruePlay calibration adjusts the sound to your room (however Stand-alone Wi-Fi speakers can have their quirks). Automatic calibration is something I would expect in any system that costs almost $2,000, but every year Samsung fails to add it. The company’s Space Fit function is supposed to analyze the sound in real time, but I didn’t notice any significant changes.

My other beef is a persistent volume issue when using Spotify Connect. If you’re streaming directly from Spotify, adjusting the volume level strangely jumps in seven steps for every crazy tap, so it’s always too loud or too quiet. Add the lack of Chromecast, and Android users are forced to control streaming directly from SmartThings or grab the otherwise superfluous remote control. It’s a small fix, but that’s also why it’s so annoying.

Sound Swirl

Despite the streaming quirks, the Q990D has the goods where it counts. Every component in the four-piece system works in concert to deliver powerful, balanced and fantastically smooth sound in everything you play. You won’t get quite the premium detail found in bars like the Arc Ultra, but there’s enough tactile feedback to appreciate the little things, and plenty of bombast to elevate your cinematic moments to new heights, literally.

Dolby Atmos is unsurprisingly the star of the show. The “Amaze” scene from my Atmos demo disc was definitely a show-stopping moment. I could almost feel the humidity around me in the buzz of insects in the intro, while the rolling thunder cracked with a visceral surprise and the rain at the end actually came from above putting me deep in the flora of the jungle.