Samsung HW-Q990F vs JBL Bar 1000MK2: Which Soundbar Is Better?

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated Nov 12, 2025 08:40 PM

This review is in Early access

See Samsung HW-Q990F Review

Channels 11.1.4

Channels Locked

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Soundbars
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Our Verdict

Samsung HW-Q990F

JBL Bar 1000MK2

Full comparison details regarding individual product score sets can be found in the section below

Variants

HW-Q990F (Black)

Bar 1000MK2 (Black)

Review

See JBL Bar 1000MK2 Review

Check Price

Black

HW-Q990F

Black

Bar 1000MK2

Black

HW-Q990F

Black

Bar 1000MK2

Black

HW-Q990F

Samsung.com

Black

Bar 1000MK2

Black

HW-Q990F

Black

Bar 1000MK2

Black

HW-Q990F

Main Differences for

Mixed Usage

Threshold

0.10

Mixed Usage

8.5

0.0

No major differences between these soundbars for mixed usage. See full list of tests below.

Full Comparison

Mixed Usage

8.5

0.0

Dialogue/TV Shows

8.8

0.0

Music

8.5

0.0

Movies

8.4

0.0

Design

Style - Bar

Style photo - bar

SAMPLE

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Style - Subwoofer

Style photo - sub

SAMPLE

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Sub Wireless

Yes

Locked

Enclosure

Sealed

Locked

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Style - Satellites

Style photo - satellites

SAMPLE

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Satellite Wireless

Yes

Locked

Show Text

Dimensions - Bar

Dimensions photo - bar

SAMPLE

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Width

48.5" (123.1 cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Height

2.8" (7.0 cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Depth

5.4" (13.8 cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

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Dimensions - Subwoofer

Dimensions photo - sub

SAMPLE

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Width

9.8" (24.9 cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Height

9.8" (24.9 cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Depth

9.8" (24.9 cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

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Dimensions - Satellites

Dimensions photo - satellites

SAMPLE

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Width

5.1" (13.0 cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Height

7.9" (20.0 cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Depth

5.6" (14.1 cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

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Mounting

Bar Mounting Holes

SAMPLE

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Satellite Mounting Holes

SAMPLE

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Mountable Bar

Yes

Locked

Bar Brackets Included

Yes

Locked

Mountable Satellites

Yes

Locked

Satellite Brackets Included

Locked

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Build Quality

8.5

N/A

Build quality photo

SAMPLE

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In The Box

In The Box photo

SAMPLE

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Sound

Stereo Frequency Response

8.5

N/A

Stereo Setup

SAMPLE

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Raw Frequency Response

SAMPLE

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Frequency Response Small

SAMPLE

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Channels

11.1.4

Locked

Tested Preset

Standard

Locked

Slope

-0.04

Lock

Standard Error

2.30 dB

Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension

27.5 Hz

Lock Hz

High-Frequency Extension

19.9 kHz

Lock kHz

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Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration

8.5

N/A

Frequency Response Calibrated

SAMPLE

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Suggested Preset

Standard

Locked

Suggested Bass Setting

Lock

Suggested Treble Setting

N/A

Slope

-0.04

Lock

Standard Error

2.30 dB

Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension

27.5 Hz

Lock Hz

High-Frequency Extension

19.9 kHz

Lock kHz

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Stereo Soundstage

7.5

N/A

Crosstalk

SAMPLE

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Crosstalk Error

2.20 dB

Lock dB

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Stereo Dynamics

8.7

N/A

Dynamic Range Compression

SAMPLE

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SPL @ Max Volume

99.3 dB SPL

Lock dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB

0.20 dB

Lock dB

DRC @ Max Volume

2.23 dB

Lock dB

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Center

8.7

N/A

Center Setup

SAMPLE

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Frequency Response

SAMPLE

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Localization

Discrete

Locked

Slope

0.00

Lock

Std. Err.

2.36 dB

Lock dB

SPL @ Max Volume

96.3 dB SPL

Lock dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB

0.25

Lock

Weighted THD @ Max Volume

1.56

Lock

Show Text

Surround 5.1

8.2

N/A

Surround Setup

SAMPLE

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Frequency Response

SAMPLE

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Localization

Discrete

Locked

Slope

0.18

Lock

Std. Err.

3.25 dB

Lock dB

SPL @ Max Volume

93.2 dB SPL

Lock dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB

0.51

Lock

Weighted THD @ Max Volume

6.24

Lock

7.1 Rears

Yes

Locked

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Height (Atmos)

6.8

N/A

Height Setup

SAMPLE

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H Frequency Response

SAMPLE

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Localization

Phantom (Up Firing, Bar & Satellites)

Locked

Slope

0.18

Lock

Std. Err.

3.72 dB

Lock dB

SPL @ Max Volume

91.9 dB SPL

Lock dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB

0.54

Lock

Weighted THD @ Max Volume

1.82

Lock

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Sound Enhancement Features

9.5

N/A

Room Correction

Yes

Locked

Dialogue Enhancement

Yes

Locked

Auto-Volume/Night Mode

Yes

Locked

Subwoofer Level Adjustment

Yes

Locked

Bass Adjustment

Yes

Locked

Treble Adjustment

Yes

Locked

EQ

Graphic + Presets

Locked

Surround Level Adjustment

Yes

Locked

Rear Level Adjustment

Yes

Locked

Height Level Adjustment

Yes

Locked

Virtual Surround

Yes

Locked

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Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

SAMPLE

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Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

SAMPLE

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Optical Audio In

Locked

HDMI Out

eARC

Locked

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth

Yes

Locked

Full HDMI In

Locked

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux)

Locked

RCA In

Locked

USB for Files

Locked

Ethernet

Locked

Subwoofer Output

Locked

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Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC

N/A

Dolby Atmos

Supported

Locked

Dolby Digital

Supported

Locked

Dolby Digital Plus

Supported

Locked

Dolby TrueHD

Supported

Locked

DTS

Supported

Locked

DTS:X

Supported

Locked

DTS-HD MA

Supported

Locked

PCM Channels

Up To 7.1

Locked

Show Text

Audio Format Support: HDMI In

N/A

Dolby Atmos

Supported

Locked

Dolby Digital

Supported

Locked

Dolby Digital Plus

Supported

Locked

Dolby TrueHD

Supported

Locked

DTS

Supported

Locked

DTS:X

Supported

Locked

DTS-HD MA

Supported

Locked

PCM Channels

Up To 7.1

Locked

Show Text

Audio Format Support: Optical

N/A

Dolby Digital

Supported

Locked

DTS

Supported

Locked

PCM Channels

2.0

Locked

Show Text

Audio Latency: ARC

9.3

N/A

ARC Latency Video

SAMPLE

To see product videos

PCM-2.0 ch

34 ms

Lock ms

PCM-5.1 ch

40 ms

Lock ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos

59 ms

Lock ms

Dolby Digital

79 ms

Lock ms

Dolby Digital Plus

85 ms

Lock ms

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos

91 ms

Lock ms

Show Text

Audio Latency: HDMI In

9.3

N/A

HDMI Latency Video

SAMPLE

To see product videos

PCM-2.0 ch

38 ms

Lock ms

PCM-5.1 ch

41 ms

Lock ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos

65 ms

Lock ms

Dolby Digital

99 ms

Lock ms

Dolby Digital Plus

91 ms

Lock ms

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos

98 ms

Lock ms

Show Text

Audio Latency: Optical

8.4

N/A

Optical Latency Video

SAMPLE

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PCM-2.0 ch

107 ms

Lock ms

Dolby Digital

150 ms

Lock ms

Show Text

Video Passthrough To TV

N/A

1080p Max Refresh Rate

120Hz

Locked

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate

120Hz

Locked

4k Max Refresh Rate

120Hz

Locked

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit

Supported

Locked

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate

120Hz

Locked

8k Max Refresh Rate

60Hz

Locked

HDR10 Passthrough

Yes

Locked

HDR10+ Passthrough

Yes

Locked

Dolby Vision Passthrough

Yes

Locked

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough

Yes

Locked

FreeSync Passthrough

Yes

Locked

G-SYNC Passthrough

Yes

Locked

ALLM Passthrough

Yes

Locked

Show Text

Wireless Playback

N/A

Bluetooth

Yes

Locked

Wi-Fi Playback

Yes

Locked

Chromecast built-in

Yes

Locked

Apple AirPlay

Yes

Locked

Spotify Connect

Yes

Locked

Show Text

Additional Features

Interface

Interface photo

SAMPLE

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Display

Yes

Locked

Show Text

Bar Controls

Controls photo

SAMPLE

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Show Text

Remote

Remote photo

SAMPLE

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Show Text

Voice Assistants Support

Amazon Alexa

Yes (Built-in)

Locked

Google Assistant

Locked

Apple Siri

Locked

Microphone Mute

Yes

Locked

Show Text

Check Price

Black

HW-Q990F

Black

Bar 1000MK2

Black

HW-Q990F

Black

Bar 1000MK2

Black

HW-Q990F

Samsung.com

Black

Bar 1000MK2

Black

HW-Q990F

Black

Bar 1000MK2

Black

HW-Q990F