Soundbars · owner-verdict comparison

Samsung HW-Q990F vs Sonos Arc Ultra: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 68% of 141 Samsung HW-Q990F owners recommend it, vs 64% of 251 for the Sonos Arc Ultra.

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

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 →

Sonos Arc Ultra

64%of 251 owners recommend
64% recommend · 9% neutral · 27% don't
Owners praise
  • Incredible, room-filling sound that blows owners away
  • Stunning immersive setup paired with Era 300 surrounds and a sub
  • Clear, improved dialogue and center channel
Owners complain about
  • Underwhelming for the price, some returned it
Full owner report →

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

What Sonos Arc Ultra owners say

“I have the sonos arc ultra, Sub 4, and 2 era 300s. No regrets, just pure awesomeness. Adding the 300s was such an improvement. But the ultra itself was no slacker.”
— @ZumbaMaister on YouTube
“the Sonos Arc does not need a subwoofer”
— @MakeSomething on YouTube
“So glad you called out the Sonos 'Progress Bars'. Pet peeve of mine too! 100% they aren't progress bars.”
— @AmazingOrange87 on YouTube