The Samsung HW-Q900A is a 7.1.2 setup released in 2021. It's the upgraded version of the Samsung HW-Q900T, and unlike its predecessor, it supports Apple AirPlay 2 and comes with an Auto EQ room correction feature. It offers some sound enhancement features that work with compatible Samsung TVs to create a more immersive sound, like Q-Symphony and SpaceFit Sound+, though we don't currently test for these. It offers a pretty neutral sound profile, so it's suitable for listening to different types of audio content. It also gets pretty loud, and it comes with lots of sound customization features.
Our Verdict
The Samsung HW-Q900A soundbar is impressive for mixed usage. With its Standard preset, this soundbar has a pretty neutral sound profile suitable for listening to most types of audio content. Though it lacks some low-bass, there are many sound customization features available to help you get a more balanced sound. That said, its surround performance isn't as impressive as a setup with discrete satellites, and its Atmos performance isn't very immersive-sounding.
- Graphic EQ and presets.
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay 2 support.
- Lacks some low-bass with 'Standard' preset.
The Samsung HW-Q900A soundbar is excellent for dialogue-centric content like TV shows. Thanks to its discrete center channel, voices are accurately localized to a pinpoint location within the sound image. Also, its balanced mid-range can reproduce dialogue clearly and accurately. There's even an Active Voice Amplifier feature and a Voice Enhancement feature that can make voices sound more clear and crisp. You can stream podcasts and audiobooks to the bar wirelessly via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay 2, but unfortunately, it doesn't support Chromecast built-in.
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay 2 support.
- Dialogue enhancement features.
- Doesn't support Chromecast built-in.
The Samsung HW-Q900A soundbar is impressive for music. With its Standard preset, this soundbar offers a pretty neutral sound profile suitable for most genres, though you may not feel the deep rumble in bass-heavy music like EDM. Fortunately, there are lots of sound customization features available to help you get a more balanced sound, including bass and treble adjustments as well as graphic EQ and presets. Also, this soundbar gets loud, and there isn't much compression when you play it at max volume.
- Gets loud.
- Graphic EQ and presets.
- Lacks some low-bass with 'Standard' preset.
The Samsung HW-Q900A is great for movies. It can reproduce dialogue clearly, and its extended low-bass helps you feel the deep thump and rumble in action-packed scenes. It also gets quite loud, and its sound customization features can help you adjust its sound to your liking. It uses side-firing speakers on the bar to simulate a surround performance, though unfortunately, this doesn't sound as clear or real as a discrete setup. Also, its Dolby Atmos performance isn't the most impressive.
- Gets loud.
- Graphic EQ and presets.
- Dialogue enhancement features.
- Lacks some low-bass with 'Standard' preset.
Changelog
- Updated Mar 27, 2023: Added cable lengths to In The Box.
- Updated Mar 22, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.1. With this update, we've added a Mounting test and added information aboutSubwoofer Output, Spotify Connect, and Microphone Mute.
- Updated Oct 17, 2022: Added information about Dolby Vision Passthrough support to 'Other Input Specifications'.
- Updated Mar 15, 2022: Added Rear Speaker Adjustment support.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Samsung HWQ900A comes in one color: Black; you can see the label for the model we tested here.
If you come across another version of this soundbar, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The Samsung HW-Q900A soundbar is the upgraded version of the Samsung HW-Q900T. This 2021 soundbar comes with some new sound enhancement features, including a room correction mode, as well as some features that we don't test for, like SpaceFit Sound+, which uses speakers from your compatible Samsung TV to calibrate the bar's sound. However, it doesn't come with dedicated satellite speakers for surround content, though you can purchase them separately.
See also our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, and the best soundbars for movies.
The Samsung HW-Q900A and the Samsung HW-Q900C are similar 7.1.2 setups. However, the newer Q900C has some small improvements over its predecessor—notably, it gets louder with less compression at max volume, and its sound quality is a bit more even out-of-the-box. It has a better build quality, too.
The Samsung HW-Q990B is better than the Samsung HW-Q900A. The Q990B has discrete satellites, so it has better surround sound and Atmos performances. It's better built, with more low-bass in the mix to help you feel the thump and rumble in action-packed scenes. The Q900A is a good alternative if you don't have space for rear speakers, though. Also, you can always add speakers separately if you want to improve its performance.
The Samsung HW-Q900A is a better soundbar than the Sonos Arc. The Samsung has a dedicated subwoofer that helps reproduce a more extended low-bass and a Full HDMI In port. It offers more wireless playback options, and you can customize its sound using its graphic EQ and presets. However, the Sonos is better built, with a better soundstage performance. You can also upgrade it to the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers for better performance.
The Samsung HW-Q900A is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q700A. The HW-Q900A reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it gets louder with less compression at max volume. It also has a better surround performance, as well as a room correction feature. That said, the HW-Q700A is better built.
Test Results
