TV speakers aren’t the best for getting the best audio experience due to the space and power constraints in a TV. But this little niggle can be easily solved with a set of external speakers, the easiest of which is a soundbar.
There are basic soundbars that feature just 2 channels and probably a subwoofer, and then, there are soundbars like the Samsung Q990C that come with a total of 16 channels to offer a Dolby Atmos surround sound experience.
Moreover, at the current discounted price, the Samsung Q990C is one of the cheapest ways to get Dolby Atmos surround sound at home.
Pump up the sound
Samsung’s Q990C soundbar system features an 11.1.4 speaker configuration that comes with a soundbar, two satellite speakers, and a subwoofer.
Enclosed in the soundbar are 11 speakers firing from the front, sides, and top. Rear channel duty is handled by the two satellite speakers, which also have top-firing speakers. Bass or low frequencies are covered by the subwoofer. The audio pumped through the pipes is more than adequate to fill up a medium-sized room and can get loud without distortion.
Another cool feature of the Q990C is that the whole system connects wirelessly. There are no cables linking the soundbar, satellite speakers, and subwoofer. The only cable you need to connect is the power cable. This reduces the number of cables running across your room.
The set-up is automatically done for you and once it is ready, play your favourite content in surround sound.
Get connected to everything, all at once
Not only the speakers are wireless to each other, but the soundbar itself can also be connected to the TV wirelessly via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi via the SmartThings app. Of course, to get the best audio, you can connect the soundbar to the TV via HDMI.
Using HDMI enables lossless surround sound audio such as Dolby Atmos from devices such as your gaming console, to be passed via the TV directly to the soundbar for pure sound during gaming.
Talking about connections, the Q990C supports Q Symphony, where the soundbar works together with the speakers on the TV to elevate the sound delivery. It works great with the Neo QLED series to serve the listeners the best audio experience around.
Optimised audio for all
Samsung has put the Q990C through its paces at the Samsung Audio Lab. Tuned by experienced engineers at the Samsung California Audio Lab, world-class audio engineers apply advanced acoustic technologies for a balanced, room-filling sound.
That sound is also optimized for the room using the Spacefit Sound Pro, where the audio output is automatically tuned to fit the room, making full use of the room space for better acoustic clarity and performance.
The optimization of the sound also includes Adaptive Sound, where the Q990C will adjust the audio automatically for specific scenes, delivering more detailed sounds – regardless of the content or volume. Active Noise Amplification meanwhile amplifies the voices on screen so you can hear clearly what the actors are saying.
For gamers, Game Mode Pro optimises sounds coming from games, including ones from the TV’s Gaming Hub.
Easy control and more
Undoubtedly, a question will be raised: How do you control the TV and the soundbar? Do you need two separate remotes? With the Q990C, you can do all with a single remote. Just use the Samsung TV remote to control both the TV and the soundbar functions without the need to switch remotes.
You can even control the soundbar with the SmartThings app on your smartphone and since it uses Wi-Fi, you don’t need to point your phone at the soundbar or be in the same room. Casting audio from your smartphone to the soundbar is as easy as tapping it on the soundbar.
A great feature of the Q990C is that it comes with Google Chromecast built-in, so you can control your soundbar via a connected device with Google Assistant. Want to increase the volume? Just say “Hey Google, increase the volume”. You can even connect your iOS devices to the Q990C thanks to Apple Airplay.
How much does it cost?
When the Samsung Q990C first hit the market, it was priced at RM6,499. However, Samsung offers this soundbar at a discount these days. At the time of writing, this soundbar is on sale for RM5,909 on Samsung Malaysia’s official online store.
But we’ve seen the price go lower than that. A month ago, the Q990C, with all its bells and whistles, was going for RM4,969. So if you’re interested in purchasing one, we suggest waiting for one of Samsung’s promo campaigns for a good deal.
