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Samsung HW-Q900C vs Sonos Arc

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Samsung HW-Q900C
Sonos Arc

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated May 21, 2024 01:04 PM

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Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated Nov 28, 2024 02:21 PM

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Amazon.com
Samsung HW-Q900C Picture
Sonos Arc Picture
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Music

Our Verdict

Samsung HW-Q900C

Sonos Arc

Since the Samsung HW-Q900C has a dedicated subwoofer, it can bring a more extended low-bass compared to the standalone Sonos Arc. You can always compare the Samsung with setups like the Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc and the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers to understand how the bar performs with a sub added on. Either way, it does well for a standalone bar, so it may be more suitable if you don't have space for a sub in your living room.

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Variants

  • HW-Q900C (Black)
  • Arc (Black)
  • Arc SL (Shadow Edition)
  • Arc (White)

Check Price

Black
HW-Q900C
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Amazon.com
Shadow Edition
Arc SL
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

8.5
7.4

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

8.4
7.2

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

10
0.0

Stereo Dynamics 
 

9.3
8.1

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Samsung HW-Q900C Style photo - bar
Sonos Arc Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Samsung HW-Q900C Style photo - sub
Sonos Arc Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

Yes
No

Enclosure 
 

Ported
No Subwoofer
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Samsung HW-Q900C Style photo - satellites
Sonos Arc Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Samsung HW-Q900C Dimensions photo - bar
Sonos Arc Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

48.5" (123.2 cm)
44.9" (114.1 cm)

Height  

2.8" (7.0 cm)
3.4" (8.7 cm)

Depth  

5.4" (13.8 cm)
4.7" (12.0 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Samsung HW-Q900C Dimensions photo - sub
Sonos Arc Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

8.9" (22.6 cm)
N/A

Height  

16.2" (41.2 cm)
N/A

Depth  

16.1" (41.0 cm)
N/A
Show Text 

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Samsung HW-Q900C Dimensions photo - satellites
Sonos Arc Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Samsung HW-Q900C Bar Mounting Holes
Sonos Arc Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Samsung HW-Q900C Satellite Mounting Holes
Sonos Arc Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

Yes
No

Mountable Satellites 
 

No
No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.5
8.0

Build quality photo  

Samsung HW-Q900C Build quality photo
Sonos Arc Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Samsung HW-Q900C In The Box photo
Sonos Arc In The Box photo
Show Text 
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

8.4
7.2

Stereo Setup  

Samsung HW-Q900C Stereo Setup
Sonos Arc Stereo Setup

Raw Frequency Response  

See details
See details

Frequency Response Small  

See details
See details

Channels 
 

7.1.2
5.0.2

Tested Preset 
 

Standard
No Preset

Slope 
 

-0.22
0.37

Standard Error 
 

2.48 dB
3.33 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

27.9 Hz
51.1 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

8.4
7.2

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details
See details

Suggested Preset 
 

Standard
No Preset

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

0
0

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

0
-3

Slope 
 

-0.22
-0.09

Standard Error 
 

2.48 dB
3.08 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

27.9 Hz
51.1 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

7.5
8.0

Crosstalk  

See details
See details

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.18 dB
2.28 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

9.3
8.1

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details
See details

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

100.9 dB SPL
91.6 dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB 
 

0.24 dB
0.28 dB

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

0.68 dB
0.75 dB
Show Text 

Center 
 

8.7
7.8

Center Setup  

Samsung HW-Q900C Center Setup
Sonos Arc Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details
See details

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

-0.07
-0.40

Std. Err. 
 

2.42 dB
2.94 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

97.2 dB SPL
76.5 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.33
0.32

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.86
1.56
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

6.3
5.7

Surround Setup  

Samsung HW-Q900C Surround Setup
Sonos Arc Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details
See details

Localization 
 

Phantom (Side Firing, Bar)
Phantom (Side Firing, Bar)

Slope 
 

-0.06
0.01

Std. Err. 
 

3.36 dB
3.27 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

92.7 dB SPL
75.1 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.46
0.39

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

2.11
0.98

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

6.1
6.1

Height Setup  

Samsung HW-Q900C Height Setup
Sonos Arc Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

See details
See details

Localization 
 

Phantom (Up Firing, Bar)
Phantom (Up Firing, Bar)

Slope 
 

0.05
0.55

Std. Err. 
 

4.22 dB
2.91 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

89.1 dB SPL
62.0 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.64
1.07

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.59
0.18
Show Text 

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

9.5
5.7

Room Correction 
 

Yes
Yes

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
No

Bass Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

EQ 
 

Graphic + Presets
No

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Virtual Surround 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Samsung HW-Q900C Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Sonos Arc Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Samsung HW-Q900C Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Sonos Arc Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
Adapter into HDMI ARC

HDMI Out 
 

eARC
eARC

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No
No

Full HDMI In 
 

2
No

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

No
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

No
No

Ethernet 
 

No
1

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

10
9.6

Dolby Atmos 
 

Supported
Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Supported
Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Supported
Supported

DTS 
 

Supported
Supported

DTS:X 
 

Supported
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Supported
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 7.1
Up To 7.1
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

10
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 
 

Supported
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Supported
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 7.1
Not Supported
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

10
10

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Supported

DTS 
 

Supported
Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
2.0
Show Text 

Audio Latency: ARC 
 

8.7
8.5

ARC Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

40 ms
42 ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

37 ms
41 ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

69 ms
59 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

89 ms
92 ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

95 ms
101 ms

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

97 ms
101 ms
Show Text 

Audio Latency: HDMI In 
 

8.9
0.0

HDMI Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

41 ms
N/A

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

40 ms
N/A

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

73 ms
N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

103 ms
N/A

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

99 ms
N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

98 ms
N/A
Show Text 

Audio Latency: Optical 
 

9.3
9.0

Optical Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

95 ms
99 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

157 ms
129 ms
Show Text 

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

8.5
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
Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz
Not Supported

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

30Hz
Not Supported

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

Yes
No

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

Yes
No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

Yes
No

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

Yes
No

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No
No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No
No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 

Wireless Playback 
 

9.0
3.0

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
No

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

Yes
Yes

Chromecast built-in 
 

No
No

Apple AirPlay 
 

Yes
Yes

Spotify Connect 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Samsung HW-Q900C Interface photo
Sonos Arc Interface photo

Display 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Samsung HW-Q900C Controls photo
Sonos Arc Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Samsung HW-Q900C Remote photo
Sonos Arc Remote photo
Show Text 

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

Yes (Built-in)
Yes (Built-in)

Google Assistant 
 

No
Yes (Built-in)

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Check Price

Black
HW-Q900C
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Shadow Edition
Arc SL
Searching
Finding store

Samsung HW-Q900C

Sonos Arc

Comments

  1. Comparison

Sonos Arc vs Samsung HW-Q900C: Main Discussion

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