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Samsung HW-Q990H Soundbar vs Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9

The Samsung Q990H is the complete package: an 11.1.4 system with a dual 8-inch wireless subwoofer and wireless rear speakers included, so you get real surround without buying anything else. The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 is a single 13-driver bar with 360 Spatial Sound Mapping that fills a room from the front, but it ships without a subwoofer or rears. Buy the Samsung for a dedicated movie room and true rear-channel effects; buy the Sony for a clean one-bar setup in a smaller or shared space, especially with a Sony TV.

  • Choose the Samsung Q990H if you want full 11.1.4 surround with rear speakers and a dual 8-inch subwoofer in the box, and you have room behind the couch.
  • Choose the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 if you want one slim bar with no rear speakers or sub box, and you value Sony's room calibration and 360 Spatial Sound Mapping.

Prices

  • Samsung HW-Q990H Soundbar: $957.67 at Greentoe (last seen Nov 12)
  • Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9: $720.00 at Walmart (last seen Nov 10)
  • Difference: the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 is $237.67 cheaper than the Samsung HW-Q990H Soundbar at the latest prices (Nov 10 and Nov 12)
Samsung
Samsung Q-Series Soundbar HW Q990H/ZA 11.1.4 ch Subwoofer with Rear Speaker (2026)

Samsung HW-Q990H Soundbar

Samsung Q-Series Soundbar HW Q990H/ZA 11.1.4 ch Subwoofer with Rear Speaker (2026)

$957.67at GreentoeChecked Nov 12
See all prices and details
Visit Greentoe
Pros
  • Rear speakers and subwoofer included, so surround works out of the box
  • Dual 8-inch subwoofer gives strong, deep bass
  • Two HDMI inputs plus eARC output for consoles and a streaming box
  • Wide streaming support: AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Roon Ready
Cons
  • You must place and power two rear speakers and a subwoofer
  • Large box and heavy package; needs space behind the seating
  • No DTS:X or IMAX Enhanced support listed
Sony
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 (HT-A9000)

Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9

Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 (HT-A9000)

$720.00at WalmartChecked Nov 10
See all prices and details
Visit Walmart
Pros
  • One slim bar, 2.5 inches tall, with wall-mount hardware included
  • 13 drivers and 360 Spatial Sound Mapping fill the room from the front
  • Supports Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and IMAX Enhanced
  • Auto room calibration with Sound Field Optimization
Cons
  • No subwoofer or rear speakers in the box; both cost extra
  • Only one HDMI port, so fewer devices connect through the bar
  • No optical input and no Chromecast built-in

What separates them

Samsung HW-Q990H SoundbarSony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9
What's in the boxSoundbar, wireless dual 8-inch subwoofer and wireless rear speakersSoundbar only; subwoofer and rear speakers sold separately
Channel layout11.1.4 with dedicated rear and up-firing drivers13 drivers in a single front bar, no discrete rears
BassDedicated wireless subwoofer with two 8-inch drivers and Dynamic Bass ControlSealed bar with two passive radiators; deep bass needs the optional sub
Room calibrationSpaceFit Sound calibrates to the roomSound Field Optimization auto-calibrates and maps sound around the room
Height and format supportDolby Atmos with up-firing driversDolby Atmos, DTS:X and IMAX Enhanced
Connectivity2 HDMI in, 1 HDMI eARC out, optical, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3, AirPlay, Chromecast, Roon Ready1 HDMI 2.1 eARC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect; no optical
Footprint and installBar plus sub and two rear speakers to place and powerOne 51-inch bar, 2.5 inches tall, wall-mount hardware included
TV and gaming fitHDMI 2.1 passthrough on two inputs, recommended for 55-inch and upHDMI 2.1 eARC with HDR10, Dolby Vision and HLG passthrough

Price history

$1,498.00$720.00
Nov 2Nov 15
  • Samsung HW-Q990H Soundbar: lowest $957.67 on Nov 13 at Greentoe; $1,497.99 on Nov 15.
  • Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9: lowest $720.00 on Nov 11 at Walmart.

Prices at every store

Samsung HW-Q990H Soundbar

  • GreentoeNew

    In stockSold by TV's & Home Theater

    $957.67Free shippingChecked Nov 12
    Visit Greentoe
  • WalmartNew

    In stockSold by Hyper Microsystems, Inc.

    $1,129.00Free shippingChecked Nov 12
    Visit Walmart
  • The Home DepotNew

    In stock

    $1,499.99Free shippingChecked 18 h ago
    Visit The Home Depot
  • AmazonNew

    Availability unknown

    As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.

    $1,497.99Free shippingChecked 18 h ago
    Visit Amazon

Store links may earn us a commission.

All 9 stores and price history →

Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9

  • GreentoeNew

    In stock

    $1,423.10Free shippingChecked Nov 9
    Visit Greentoe
  • SilariusNew

    In stock

    $1,494.99Free shippingChecked Nov 10
    Visit Silarius
  • WalmartNew

    Availability unknownSold by Beach Camera

    $720.00Checked Nov 10
    Visit Walmart
  • Zaytoun SolutionsNew

    Availability unknown

    $1,148.85Checked Nov 10
    Visit Zaytoun Solutions

Also available at

  • WalmartCheck price at Walmart
All 21 stores and price history →

Specs compared

SpecSamsung HW-Q990H SoundbarSony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9
Channel Configuration11.1.4-Channel13-Channel
Input Power120 VAC, 60 Hz120 VAC, 60 Hz
Wall MountableYes (with Included Hardware)Yes, with Included Hardware
Inputs2x HDMI - Audio/Video1x Optical TOSLINK - Audio1x HDMI 2.1 - ARC/Audio/Video/eARC
WirelessWi-Fi / Bluetooth 5.3Yes
HDMI ComplianceARC, CEC, eARCARC, CEC, eARC
Wireless Audio ProtocolsAirPlay, Bluetooth, Chromecast built-in, Roon R…AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, Wi-Fi
Ethernet I/ONoNo
USB I/O1x USB-A (Unspecified Interface) (Service)No
Subwoofer Inputs/OutputsWireless—
Drivers2x 8" / 20.3 cm—
Full-Range Drivers3x Front-Firing4x Side-Firing2x Up-Firing—
Show all 40 specsShow fewer specs
SpecSamsung HW-Q990H SoundbarSony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9
Placement & Mounting OptionsTabletop/Bookshelf, Wall-Mount—
Speaker PositioningRear, Up-Firing—
Speaker Configuration2-Way—
Satellite Inputs/OutputsWireless—
Recommended Screen Size55" and Up—
Environmental ResistanceNo—
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)51.25 x 16.25 x 11.5"—
Package Weight52 lb—
Satellite Speaker Configuration2-Way

What reviewers say

Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9

Owners rate the Bar 9 highly for spacious, detailed movie sound and easy setup with Sony TVs. Most criticism centers on price and on bass that needs the optional subwoofer to satisfy.

What people mention
  • SoundstagePraisedOwners say 360 Spatial Sound Mapping makes the bar sound wider than its size.
  • BassMixedReviewers find bass decent alone but want the optional subwoofer for real impact.
  • PriceCriticisedBuyers call it expensive, and the subwoofer and rears add a lot more.
  • SetupMixedPairing with Sony TVs is easy, but the app and calibration take patience.

Questions and answers

Which is better for movies with real surround sound?
The Samsung Q990H. Its included rear speakers and subwoofer produce actual sound behind and beside you. The Sony bar creates a wide virtual field from the front but cannot place sound behind the couch.
Do I need to buy extra speakers with the Sony?
Not to use it, but the bar alone has no dedicated subwoofer. For deep bass and rear effects you add Sony's optional subwoofer and rear speakers, which brings the total setup close to the Samsung's out-of-box package.
Which is easier to fit in a small room?
The Sony. It is a single 51-inch bar just 2.5 inches tall with wall-mount hardware included. The Samsung needs floor or shelf space for a subwoofer and two rear speakers plus power outlets for each.
Which handles gaming consoles better?
The Samsung, because it has two HDMI inputs plus an eARC output, so a console and a streamer can both pass through. The Sony has a single HDMI 2.1 eARC port.
Is the Sony worth stepping up to over the Samsung?
Only if you want a one-bar setup and watch a lot of DTS:X or IMAX Enhanced content. For outright surround immersion and bass, the Samsung gives more without add-ons.
Which works better with a Sony TV?
The Sony bar integrates more tightly with BRAVIA TVs, including sound field and menu integration. The Samsung works with any TV over HDMI eARC but pairs best with Samsung sets.

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More comparisons

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  • Samsung Q990F 11.1.4-Ch Soundbar W/Subwoofer & Rear Speakers vs Samsung Q-Series Soundbar HW Q990H/ZA 11.1.4 ch Subwoofer with Rear Speaker (2026)
  • Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9 vs Samsung Q-Series Soundbar HW Q990H/ZA 11.1.4 ch Subwoofer with Rear Speaker (2026)

Buying guides that pick them

  • Best soundbars for gaming
—
Subwoofer Driver2x 8" / 20.3 cm—
Outputs1x HDMI - eARC—
Mobile App CompatibleYes: Android & iOS—
Configuration—2 Channel
Color—Black
Style—Wall Mount
Dolby Atmos Enabled—Yes
Connectivity—Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB, HDMI, Ethernet
Max Wattage—585 W
Battery Life—10 hr battery life
Connections—HDMI
Channel Separation—2.0
Surround Sound Formats—Dolby Atmos
Passive Radiators—2
Amplifier Output—585 W
Enclosure Type—Sealed
Weight—12.1 lb / 5.5 kg
Bluetooth—5.2
NFC—No