ELEVEN PLUS Samsung HW-Q990B

Samsung's premier soundbar delivers a 11.1.4 surround experience, making for total immersion. Is it the best soundbar released in 2022?

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SPECIFICATIONS

Channels 11.1.4

Drivers 22

Audio features Dolby Atmos, SpaceFit Sound

Connectivity 3 x HDMI (2 in, 1 out, eARC), optical in, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Voice assistant Alexa

Dimensions 1232x69.5x138mm (soundbar), 220x413x410mm (sub), 129.5x201x140mm (rear)

Weight 26.2kg combined

Samsung always finds an extra sound channel or two to distinguish its new soundbars from their predecessors. However, that pattern has been broken for the HW-Q990B. While its channel count might have got stuck, though, the quality Samsung gets from those channels has not.

The felt covers Samsung has placed over most of the drivers on its soundbars for the past couple of years have reverted back to the metallic, grille finish used before the felt came into fashion. This attracts much less dust and makes the speakers feel strangely more 'techy'. Which is just fine by us.

The Q990B's main soundbar also wins hearts and minds by moving its little LED window from the top edge (where it's been for the past couple of years) back to the front, so you can see it without having to get off your sofa.