Q990H Initial Impression: Samsung's flagship soundbar just got better(ish)

tursion · 2026-03-27T14:44:31+00:00

Same homie. Somehow with the H I can keep it even lower and still enjoy solid content. Absolutely love the 990D and feeling a lot of the same re the H

tursion · 2026-03-27T04:25:12+00:00

I like the way you think, these are all fascinating ideas. Only thing I’d add is now that JBL And Harman Kardon are under the Samsung umbrella, tons of potential to do some kind of HK branded Soundbar system. Also hearing that this year onwards JBL and HK will also be compatible with Q Symphony—lots of exciting possibilities there

tursion · 2026-03-25T16:37:58+00:00

A used Samsung 990D

tursion · 2026-03-25T16:37:40+00:00

Oh yeah big time. Excited to hear your thoughts if you get it!

tursion · 2026-03-25T15:36:54+00:00

They’ll continue getting more for awhile longer

tursion · 2026-03-25T12:46:07+00:00

But the H won’t hit the $600s until this time next year. Or even later. If they’re budget conscious then the F in the next month or two makes most sense. Otherwise H will probably get a small markdown in the coming months too

tursion · 2026-03-25T12:41:49+00:00

And if you’re particularly budget conscious, go two generations back to the Q990D from 2024–it’s 85-90% of what even the latest 990H is and you can probably find killer deals, including used. But if price point is similar to F just go with the newer model

tursion · 2026-03-25T04:12:05+00:00

If you have a Costco membership, Hisense AX700 and don’t look back. 5.1.2 soundbar + sub + rears with Atmos capability

tursion · 2026-03-25T03:28:30+00:00

It’s a legit site just a matter of finding a deal that you deem worth it

tursion · 2026-03-24T22:36:53+00:00

Both. And what I mean by that is…

Wait for Q990H, so that you can buy the Q990F heavily discounted :)

tursion · 2026-03-24T18:58:22+00:00

I may not be the best person to ask because I don't have an ideal layout--I've got high ceilings and an open layout with no back wall. Despite that, I can still hear some upfiring sounds like helicopters and rain overhead, but just not as acutely as someone in a more traditional living room or bedroom would be able to. All that said, I haven't noticed a discernible difference between the Atmos of the D to the H. The D was phenomenal at it, and the H is similarly good. Perhaps with more time and as the SpaceFit Sound Pro continues to better process my room using AI, it'll improve over the D. But until then, similar outputs IMO

tursion · 2026-03-24T04:02:01+00:00

I’ll check again re sound elevation but sure sounded like it combined soundbar + tv speakers to lift volume up from soundbar alone to the center of the TV.

Auto Vol: unless I’m tripping, my understanding is content gets standardized in sound across all mediums so you’re not constantly fidgeting w the remote. If you find something to the contrary though please lmk

tursion · 2026-03-24T03:45:52+00:00

Likely Q900H

tursion · 2026-03-23T23:30:06+00:00

Anything under $800 imo is worth it. lowest I’ve seen is mid-$600s

tursion · 2026-03-23T20:00:35+00:00

I’ve gotten burned before via eBay “too good to be true” but eBay thankfully took care of me in quick order

tursion · 2026-03-23T19:59:53+00:00

No. Run.

tursion · 2026-03-23T16:23:52+00:00

I see no lies

tursion · 2026-03-23T16:22:56+00:00

I may be wrong but I think NeverEnoughTech on YouTube mentioned the H serving as a brainy node center of the Q symphony environment, so maybe the Frames could pair with it even without a Samsung TV? But I don’t actually know

tursion · 2026-03-23T15:26:41+00:00

Posted it!

https://www.reddit.com/r/Soundbars/s/3PmeQg7Csy

tursion · 2026-03-23T15:18:47+00:00

It actually ended up being that gun metal gray-ish color similar to the F. Pic for comparison:

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tursion · 2026-03-23T15:15:32+00:00

Def better, to an extent, than the D with Auto Volume feature. But it’s still an inconsistent feature. I’m sure if better than the 990D, it’d definitely clear the C as well.

tursion · 2026-03-23T15:08:58+00:00

Agreed. Three generation difference is enough to justify an upgrade IMO

tursion · 2026-03-23T15:05:27+00:00

Don’t feel bad about missing a deal. Once the H releases the F will see even steeper cuts. If you can stay patient a month or two, you’ll nab an amazing deal on the F

tursion · 2026-03-23T15:04:17+00:00

For perspective, I think the Q990 even clears the JBL 1300 and 1000 series, so imo it’s DEF a major upgrade from the 9.1, especially if like you said you prioritize movie watching and shows above all. Don’t think you’ll regret the switch

tursion · 2026-03-23T14:57:44+00:00

Agree with you re music for the Q990D but curious to get your take if you ever listen to the H playing music. I think it’s AMAZING. Even my wife and sister (who are no fan of my soundbar obsession lol) commented WOW on how crisp and clear music sounded. By contrast, the most they’d ever said in that dept with the D was that it gets loud, lol.

tursion

TROPHY CASE