These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar ranks #12 of 27 all-in-one soundbars by sound quality at $649; the Samsung HW-Q990F ranks #2 of 10 surround sound soundbar systems by sound quality at $998.
What the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar does well: The Smart Ultra keeps voices front and center, and its AI Dialogue mode helps with mumbled lines. The catch: Bass is thin for a bar this size until you add a Bose bass module.
Why pick the Samsung HW-Q990F: This 11.1.4 system includes a wireless sub and two wireless rear speakers with up-firing drivers, giving movies a wide, enveloping sound field with real overhead effects. The catch: In a direct comparison, a Sonos Arc Ultra system sounded more natural and its sub played deeper.
Buy the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar at $649 if you want an all-in-one soundbar. Buy the Samsung HW-Q990F at $998 if you want a surround sound soundbar system instead.
Want more options? Browse the full TV Soundbars rankings.
The Smart Ultra keeps voices front and center, and its AI Dialogue mode helps with mumbled lines.
This 11.1.4 system includes a wireless sub and two wireless rear speakers with up-firing drivers, giving movies a wide, enveloping sound field with real overhead effects.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar | Samsung HW-Q990F | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $649.00 | $998.00 |
| Ranked | #12 of 27 in All-in-One Soundbars | #2 of 10 in Surround Sound Soundbar Systems |
| App | Yes (Bose) | Yes (SmartThings) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Channels | 5.0.2 | 11.1.4 |
| DTS:X | No | Yes |
| Dimensions | 2.3”H x 41.1”W x 4.2”D (58 x 1045 x 107 mm) | 2.8”H x 48.5”W x 5.4”D (71 x 1232 x 138 mm) |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes (up-firing drivers) | Yes (up-firing drivers) |
| Drivers | Bar: 9 drivers (2 up-firing dipole transducers, 1 center tweeter, 6 racetrack transducers) | Bar, sub and rears with up-firing height drivers; Sub: dual 8” opposed woofers |
| HDMI Input | No | 2 |
| HDMI eARC | Yes | Yes |
| Included Subwoofer | None (optional Bose Bass Module 500 or 700) | Wireless, dual 8” drivers |
| Optical Input | Yes | Yes |
| Rear Speakers | Optional (Bose Surround Speakers or Surround Speakers 700) | Included (wireless) |
| Room Correction | Yes (ADAPTiQ) | Yes (SpaceFit Sound Pro) |
| Voice Assistants | Alexa | Alexa, Google Assistant |
| Weight | 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) | 16.1 lbs (7.3 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect) | Yes (AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect) |
| Aux Input | - | No |
| Subwoofer Dimensions | - | 252H x 249W x 249D mm |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
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