Soundbars · owner-verdict comparison

Samsung HW-Q990D vs Samsung HW-Q990F: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 65% of 190 Samsung HW-Q990D owners recommend it, vs 68% of 141 for the Samsung HW-Q990F.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Samsung HW-Q990D

65%of 190 owners recommend
65% recommend · 10% neutral · 25% don't
Owners praise
  • Immersive, theater-like Dolby Atmos surround that fills the room
  • Outstanding value for the price versus competitors
  • Powerful, room-shaking bass from the subwoofer
Owners complain about
  • Firmware updates brick the soundbar or break eARC/audio
  • Weak, lackluster rear surround speakers
  • Underwhelming for music fidelity compared to a real stereo/hi-fi system
Full owner report →

Samsung HW-Q990F

68%of 141 owners recommend
68% recommend · 16% neutral · 16% don't
Owners praise
  • Immersive surround and Atmos sound stage
  • Cleaner, more refined, balanced bass than prior gens
  • Excellent value, beats pricier systems
Owners complain about
  • New sub is underwhelming versus previous generations; weak bass that needs cranking
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Samsung HW-Q990D if
  • ✓Movie and gaming fans wanting immersive Atmos surround
  • ✓Apartment and condo dwellers (with a sub isolation pad)
  • ✓Buyers wanting near-system performance at a lower price
  • ✓Owners pairing it with LG or Samsung OLEDs
Skip it if
  • Audiophiles prioritizing stereo music fidelity
  • Buyers wanting a separated-speaker soundstage
Get the Samsung HW-Q990F if
  • ✓Movie and gaming fans wanting immersive Atmos surround
  • ✓Viewers who value crisp, clear dialogue
  • ✓Buyers wanting Sonos-level sound for far less
  • ✓Small-room owners needing a compact, easy-hide sub
Skip it if
  • Bass-heads wanting deep, floor-shaking rumble
  • People who mostly watch at low volumes

What Samsung HW-Q990D owners say

“I was impressed. I stopped the movie and played some music, the bass was shaking my walls”
— @MRITOLDYOUSO on YouTube
“I swear I had like 4 subwoofers in the room. It was amazing!!!”
— @gdarionb on YouTube
“Me pasó esto con la HW-Q990D”
— @cipsch on YouTube

What Samsung HW-Q990F owners say

“I bought the Q990F refurbished on prime for 1K. Fantastic.”
— @rockyroad6000 on YouTube
“I just Purchased the Q990f yesterday and maaan let me tell you. My whole house vibrates when I watch movies in Dolby Atmos!”
— @john7587 on YouTube
“Last update bricked a lot of soundbars.”
— @fredm4197 on YouTube

Samsung HW-Q990D vs Samsung HW-Q990F: frequently asked questions

Is the Samsung HW-Q990D or the Samsung HW-Q990F better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 65% of 190 Samsung HW-Q990D owners recommend it, vs 68% of 141 for the Samsung HW-Q990F.

Who should get the Samsung HW-Q990D?

Owners point the Samsung HW-Q990D at movie and gaming fans wanting immersive Atmos surround, and apartment and condo dwellers (with a sub isolation pad).

Who should get the Samsung HW-Q990F?

Owners point the Samsung HW-Q990F at movie and gaming fans wanting immersive Atmos surround, and viewers who value crisp, clear dialogue.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Samsung HW-Q990D is firmware updates brick the soundbar or break eARC/audio. For the Samsung HW-Q990F, it's new sub is underwhelming versus previous generations; weak bass that needs cranking.