Samsung HW-Q990F vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Samsung HW-Q990F (#1, best overall) vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2) (#4): in our Soundbars scoring the Samsung HW-Q990F totals 8.9/10 and the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) 8/10, the Samsung HW-Q990F leading on Surround/Atmos Performance and Sound Quality and the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) on Ease of Setup and Value.
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TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| Samsung HW-Q990F | Sonos Beam (Gen 2) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1597.99 | $479.99 |
| Channels | 11.1.4ch (soundbar + wireless subwoofer + 2 wireless rear speakers) | 5.0ch (virtualized Dolby Atmos, no discrete height channels) |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes (native, hardware height channels) | Virtualized only (software-processed, no upward-firing drivers) |
| Subwoofer | Included (wireless) | Not included (Sub Mini / Sub sold separately) |
| HDMI eARC | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless Streaming | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect | Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 (no Bluetooth) |
| Voice Assistant | Amazon Alexa built-in; Bixby/Google Assistant compatible | Amazon Alexa and Sonos Voice Control built-in |
| Width | 48.4 inches | 25.6 inches |
How they differ in real use
Built from our best soundbars scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the Samsung HW-Q990F and the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) made our Top 5 Soundbars, at #1 (best overall) and #4. The most complete system here: a genuine 11.1.4-channel discrete surround setup with wireless rear speakers and a wireless subwoofer included in the box, plus hardware Dolby Atmos and DTS:X decoding rather than software virtualization. It's the reference point every other soundbar on this list is measured against, and the price reflects that. RTINGS' pick among Sonos options for smaller rooms: a compact 25.6-inch bar with virtualized Atmos and Trueplay room correction that sounds spacious for its size. It falls behind the MagniFi Mini AX here mainly on bass — there's no included subwoofer and no discrete height drivers, so overhead effects are entirely software-processed.
We score soundbars on Sound Quality (35%), Surround/Atmos Performance (25%), Connectivity & Smart Features (15%), Ease of Setup (10%) and Value (15%). On that basis the Samsung HW-Q990F totals 8.9 out of 10 and the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) 8. The widest gap is Surround/Atmos Performance, where the Samsung HW-Q990F scores 10 against 7 for the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) — height channels and spatial audio. Sound Quality also separates them: 9.5 for the Samsung HW-Q990F versus 8.5 for the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) claws back ground on Ease of Setup and Value.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Channels — 11.1.4ch (soundbar + wireless subwoofer + 2 wireless rear speakers) on the Samsung HW-Q990F versus 5.0ch (virtualized Dolby Atmos, no discrete height channels) on the Sonos Beam (Gen 2); Dolby Atmos — Yes (native, hardware height channels) on the Samsung HW-Q990F versus Virtualized only (software-processed, no upward-firing drivers) on the Sonos Beam (Gen 2); Subwoofer — Included (wireless) on the Samsung HW-Q990F versus Not included (Sub Mini / Sub sold separately) on the Sonos Beam (Gen 2); Wireless Streaming — Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect on the Samsung HW-Q990F versus Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 (no Bluetooth) on the Sonos Beam (Gen 2); Voice Assistant — Amazon Alexa built-in; Bixby/Google Assistant compatible on the Samsung HW-Q990F versus Amazon Alexa and Sonos Voice Control built-in on the Sonos Beam (Gen 2); Width — 48.4 inches on the Samsung HW-Q990F versus 25.6 inches on the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). They match on HDMI eARC.
Pricing as of July 10, 2026: $1,597.99 for the Samsung HW-Q990F and $479.99 for the Sonos Beam (Gen 2), a $1,118 difference in the Sonos Beam (Gen 2)'s favor. Owners praise the Samsung HW-Q990F for true 11.1.4 discrete surround system with wireless rear speakers and subwoofer included in the box and q-Symphony syncs with compatible Samsung TV speakers for a wider soundstage; the most common complaint is the most expensive soundbar in this lineup at roughly $1,600. Owners praise the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) for compact 25.6-inch width fits smaller TVs and shelves where larger bars won't and virtualized Dolby Atmos and Trueplay room-correction tuning sound impressively spacious for its size; the most common complaint is no discrete height channels — Atmos is entirely software-virtualized, so overhead effects are less precise than the Samsung or Arc Ultra.
Samsung HW-Q990F
- True 11.1.4 discrete surround system with wireless rear speakers and subwoofer included in the box
- Q-Symphony syncs with compatible Samsung TV speakers for a wider soundstage
- Redesigned wireless subwoofer and bass tuning improve low-end depth and control over the prior Q990D
- Hardware Dolby Atmos and DTS:X decoding, not just software virtualization
- The most expensive soundbar in this lineup at roughly $1,600
- Q-Symphony and some Adaptive Sound features require a compatible Samsung TV to unlock
- Setup involves placing and powering three separate wireless units (subwoofer plus two rear speakers)
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
- Compact 25.6-inch width fits smaller TVs and shelves where larger bars won't
- Virtualized Dolby Atmos and Trueplay room-correction tuning sound impressively spacious for its size
- Shares the same simple Sonos app setup and multi-room ecosystem as the Arc Ultra at a fraction of the price
- Doubles as a capable stand-alone speaker for music streaming
- No discrete height channels — Atmos is entirely software-virtualized, so overhead effects are less precise than the Samsung or Arc Ultra
- No subwoofer included, and bass output is the weakest of the three Atmos-capable bars on this list
- Wi-Fi only, no Bluetooth — the same connectivity limitation as the rest of the Sonos lineup
Which should you buy?
The Samsung HW-Q990F is the better fit for home theater rooms wanting discrete rear surround speakers and samsung TV owners who can use Q-Symphony — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Surround/Atmos Performance and Sound Quality. The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is the better fit for small to mid-size rooms and secondary TVs and sonos multi-room households on a tighter budget, and the stronger choice if Ease of Setup and Value matter more to you than the overall score. If the $1,118 saving matters more than Surround/Atmos Performance, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is the better value. The Samsung HW-Q990F is a poor fit for apartments without room for rear speakers; the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is a poor fit for large living rooms needing to fill space with bass.
Choose the Samsung HW-Q990F if
- Home theater rooms wanting discrete rear surround speakers
- Samsung TV owners who can use Q-Symphony
- Buyers who want the full 11.1.4 package in one box
Skip it if
- Apartments without room for rear speakers
- Non-Samsung TV households (loses some features)
Choose the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) if
- Small to mid-size rooms and secondary TVs
- Sonos multi-room households on a tighter budget
- Buyers who also want a good-sounding music speaker
Skip it if
- Large living rooms needing to fill space with bass
- Buyers wanting discrete height channels
Common questions
Is the Samsung HW-Q990F better than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2)?
In our Soundbars ranking the Samsung HW-Q990F scores higher overall, 8.9 to 8, with the biggest advantage in Surround/Atmos Performance. The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is stronger on Ease of Setup and Value, so it is the better pick if those matter most to you.
How much more does the Samsung HW-Q990F cost than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2)?
$1,118 more as of July 10, 2026: $1,597.99 for the Samsung HW-Q990F against $479.99 for the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure. What the extra buys is mostly Surround/Atmos Performance — 10 versus 7 in our scoring.
What is the main difference between the Samsung HW-Q990F and the Sonos Beam (Gen 2)?
The headline spec difference is Channels: 11.1.4ch (soundbar + wireless subwoofer + 2 wireless rear speakers) on the Samsung HW-Q990F versus 5.0ch (virtualized Dolby Atmos, no discrete height channels) on the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). In use, the gap that matters most is Surround/Atmos Performance (10 vs 7 in our scoring): height channels and spatial audio.