Samsung HW-Q600C vs Sonos Arc Ultra: Which Soundbar Is Better?

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated Oct 24, 2025 06:17 PM

See Samsung HW-Q600C Review

Channels 3.1.2

Channels 5.1.2

Recommended in 2 articles:
All-In-One
Dialogue

Our Verdict

Samsung HW-Q600C

Sonos Arc Ultra

The Samsung HW-Q600C and the Sonos Arc Ultra are soundbars that trade blows in several categories. The 3.1.2-channel Samsung comes with an external subwoofer, enabling the system to envelop you in rumble and thump. They're also more flexible with your setup thanks to their support for HDMI In and optical connections, and EQ functions unavailable on the Sonos. That said, the Sonos soundbar is expandable if you own compatible Sonos products, which can turn the standalone bar into the centerpiece of a surround sound setup. It also supports more wireless playback options and has side-firing drivers that can widen the perceived soundscape in supported content.

Variants

HW-Q600C (Black)

Arc Ultra (Black)
Arc Ultra (White)

Review

See Sonos Arc Ultra Review

Check Price

Black

HW-Q600C

Black

Arc Ultra

Black

HW-Q600C

Samsung.com

White

Arc Ultra

Black

HW-Q600C

Walmart.com

Black

HW-Q600C

B&H

Black

HW-Q600C

BestBuy.com

Main Differences for

Mixed Usage

Threshold

0.10

Mixed Usage

7.6

7.7

Audio Format Support: Optical

0.0

Audio Format Support: HDMI In

9.6

0.0

Surround 5.1

4.3

6.4

Stereo Soundstage

7.0

8.0

Full Comparison

Mixed Usage

7.6

7.7

Dialogue/TV Shows

8.0

8.1

Music

7.6

8.0

Movies

7.4

7.3

Design

Style - Bar

Style photo - bar

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Style - Subwoofer

Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless

Yes

Enclosure

Ported

Integrated

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Style - Satellites

Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless

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Dimensions - Bar

Dimensions photo - bar

Width

40.6" (103.0 cm)

46.5" (118.0 cm)

Height

2.3" (5.8 cm)

3.0" (7.5 cm)

Depth

4.1" (10.5 cm)

4.3" (11.0 cm)

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Dimensions - Subwoofer

Dimensions photo - sub

Width

7.3" (18.5 cm)

N/A

Height

13.4" (34.0 cm)

N/A

Depth

11.6" (29.5 cm)

N/A

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Dimensions - Satellites

Dimensions photo - satellites

Width

N/A

Height

N/A

Depth

N/A

Mounting

Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar

Yes

Bar Brackets Included

Yes

Mountable Satellites

Satellite Brackets Included

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Build Quality

7.5

8.0

Build quality photo

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In The Box

In The Box photo

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Sound

Stereo Frequency Response

7.7

7.6

Stereo Setup

Raw Frequency Response

Frequency Response Small

Channels

3.1.2

5.1.2

Tested Preset

Standard

No Preset

Slope

-0.90

0.06

Standard Error

3.56 dB

2.50 dB

Low-Frequency Extension

36.2 Hz

46.9 Hz

High-Frequency Extension

19.9 kHz

18.8 kHz

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Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration

7.8

7.6

Frequency Response Calibrated

Suggested Preset

Standard

No Preset

Suggested Bass Setting

-2

Suggested Treble Setting

Slope

-0.07

0.01

Standard Error

2.23 dB

2.53 dB

Low-Frequency Extension

43.0 Hz

46.9 Hz

High-Frequency Extension

19.9 kHz

18.8 kHz

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Stereo Soundstage

7.0

8.0

Crosstalk

Crosstalk Error

2.26 dB

2.71 dB

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Stereo Dynamics

8.4

Dynamic Range Compression

SPL @ Max Volume

95.3 dB SPL

93.0 dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB

0.31 dB

0.23 dB

DRC @ Max Volume

1.57 dB

0.57 dB

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Center

8.3

8.5

Center Setup

Frequency Response

Localization

Discrete

Slope

-0.67

0.59

Std. Err.

2.91 dB

2.67 dB

SPL @ Max Volume

89.3 dB SPL

95.3 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB

0.39

0.63

Weighted THD @ Max Volume

2.49

1.90

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Surround 5.1

4.3

6.4

Surround Setup

Frequency Response

Localization

Stereo (Downmix)

Phantom (Side Firing, Bar)

Slope

-0.52

0.35

Std. Err.

2.98 dB

3.45 dB

SPL @ Max Volume

91.7 dB SPL

97.6 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB

0.31

3.73

Weighted THD @ Max Volume

3.74

4.31

7.1 Rears

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Height (Atmos)

5.5

5.7

Height Setup

H Frequency Response

Localization

Phantom (Up Firing, Bar)

Phantom (Front Firing, Bar)

Slope

-0.09

0.25

Std. Err.

5.48 dB

4.49 dB

SPL @ Max Volume

85.4 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB

0.73

0.48

Weighted THD @ Max Volume

1.14

0.89

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Sound Enhancement Features

7.7

5.7

Room Correction

Yes

Dialogue Enhancement

Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode

Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment

Yes

Bass Adjustment

Yes

Treble Adjustment

Yes

EQ

Graphic + Presets

Surround Level Adjustment

Rear Level Adjustment

Yes

Height Level Adjustment

Yes

Virtual Surround

Yes

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Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In

HDMI Out

eARC

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth

Full HDMI In

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux)

RCA In

USB for Files

Ethernet

Subwoofer Output

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Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC

9.6

Dolby Atmos

Supported

Dolby Digital

Supported

Dolby Digital Plus

Supported

Dolby TrueHD

Supported

DTS

Supported

DTS:X

Not Supported

DTS-HD MA

Not Supported

PCM Channels

Up To 7.1

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Audio Format Support: HDMI In

9.6

0.0

Dolby Atmos

Supported

Not Supported

Dolby Digital

Supported

Not Supported

Dolby Digital Plus

Supported

Not Supported

Dolby TrueHD

Supported

Not Supported

DTS

Supported

Not Supported

DTS:X

Not Supported

DTS-HD MA

Not Supported

PCM Channels

Up To 7.1

Not Supported

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Audio Format Support: Optical

0.0

Dolby Digital

Supported

Not Supported

DTS

Supported

Not Supported

PCM Channels

2.0

Not Supported

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Audio Latency: ARC

6.4

8.1

ARC Latency Video

PCM-2.0 ch

133 ms

49 ms

PCM-5.1 ch

133 ms

45 ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos

106 ms

64 ms

Dolby Digital

123 ms

98 ms

Dolby Digital Plus

119 ms

107 ms

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos

131 ms

107 ms

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Audio Latency: HDMI In

5.9

0.0

HDMI Latency Video

PCM-2.0 ch

118 ms

N/A

PCM-5.1 ch

118 ms

N/A

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos

107 ms

N/A

Dolby Digital

143 ms

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus

132 ms

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos

140 ms

N/A

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Audio Latency: Optical

9.7

0.0

Optical Latency Video

PCM-2.0 ch

89 ms

N/A

Dolby Digital

108 ms

N/A

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Video Passthrough To TV

8.1

0.0

1080p Max Refresh Rate

120Hz

Not Supported

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate

120Hz

Not Supported

4k Max Refresh Rate

60Hz

Not Supported

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit

Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate

60Hz

Not Supported

8k Max Refresh Rate

Not Supported

HDR10 Passthrough

Yes

HDR10+ Passthrough

Yes

Dolby Vision Passthrough

Yes

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough

Yes

FreeSync Passthrough

G-SYNC Passthrough

ALLM Passthrough

Yes

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Wireless Playback

6.0

9.0

Bluetooth

Yes

Wi-Fi Playback

Yes

Chromecast built-in

Apple AirPlay

Yes

Spotify Connect

Yes

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Additional Features

Interface

Interface photo

Display

Yes

Show Text

Bar Controls

Controls photo

Show Text

Remote

Remote photo

Show Text

Voice Assistants Support

Amazon Alexa

Yes (Built-in)

Google Assistant

Yes (Built-in)

Apple Siri

Microphone Mute

Yes

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Check Price

Black

HW-Q600C

Black

Arc Ultra

Black

HW-Q600C

Samsung.com

White

Arc Ultra

Black

HW-Q600C