Samsung has recently introduced a new flagship variant, the HW-Q900T, in selected markets. It costs around $1299.99, which sets a high-quality expectation with such high pricing compared to others. It has a special 7.1.2Ch configuration and supports a huge selection of audio codecs, making it one of the better choices for users looking for mixed-usage.
Samsung’s flagship HW-QxxT series aims to cater to the needs of users searching for significant upgrades over their current TV setups and are not afraid of purchasing something worth the price. With that in mind, is this soundbar ideal for those who require great audio, or is it just another overpriced device that does the same thing as any other soundbars that can be obtained at a cheaper rate? Let’s find out.
Buy Samsung HW-Q900T from Bestbuy.com now.
List of Specifications
Table Of Content
| Channel Configuration | 7.1.2 |
| Product Dimensions | 48.4 x 2.8 x 5.4 inches(soundbar)
8.2 x 1.8 x 15.9 inches (subwoofer) |
| Weight | 37.3 pounds (soundbar) |
| Wireless Audio Protocol | Bluetooth
Wi-Fi |
| Audio Decoding Codecs | eARC
Dolby Atmos Dolby Digital Dolby Digital Plus DTS DTS:X (eARC only) Dolby TrueHD (eARC only) DTS-HD MA (eARC only) 5.1 PCM |
| Subwoofer Type | Wireless |
| Connectivity | 1 x HDMI
1 x Optical TOSLINK |
Pros
- Dialogue enhancement feature
- Dedicated centre channel
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi compatible
Cons
- No auto-volume mode
- Poor surrounds performance
- Unimpressive Atmos performance
What’s in the Box?
- 2x AA batteries
- HDMI cable
- Remote
- 2x Power cord
- Wall-mount template with bar brackets and screws
- User manual
- 1x HDMI cable (1.5m)
Design and Build
The Samsung HW-Q900T soundbar is a mix of plastic and tightly-wrapped fabric. The subwoofer is a combination of wood and fabric. The front of the soundbar and its top is covered in tightly-wrapped fabric, and the rest of the body is covered in plastic. The sides of the soundbar are slightly angled with vent-like openings for the side surround speakers.
The build feels solid and durable, with the entire soundbar made mostly out of plastic, but the fabric feels a little fragile that it could be torn or collect dust easily.
The entire shell of the subwoofer is made of wood, with the right side covered in fabric. Similar to the soundbar’s fabric, it is viable to dust and can be damaged easily.
The bar dimensions are 48.4 x 2.8 x 5.4 inches, which is really wide and large compared to others. It isn’t easy to fit it in between the legs of 55-inch TVs because of its length. The soundbar will not block your view with a reasonable height unless the TV sits in contact with the table directly. This soundbar comes with mounting accessories if you would like to mount it on the wall instead of placing it on tables. The underside of the soundbar is built with universal holes to prevent any difficulties in mounting it.
The subwoofer stretches 8.2 x 15.8 x 15.9 inches, similar to a large desktop PC size. Since it is quite big, you will have to find a suitable location not to affect your room placement. Its back has a plastic port which houses the power cable and a pairing button.
Controls
The interface of the Samsung HW-Q900T is smaller compared to other soundbars in this price segment. Located at the top-middle of the bar is a small display, which is near the controls. This display presents current volume levels, speaker settings, and all the inputs. You will also be able to spot three small lights that appear, flash, or disappear depending on the commands inputted.
You will find four touch-sensitive buttons at the top-middle of the main bar that enhances the overall look. You will find a multi-function button that controls the input, two-volume controls, and a toggle to mute the microphone.
The Samsung HW-Q900T soundbar also comes with a remote that comes with the same style as the latest high-end Samsung TVs. Although this remote isn’t universal, it lets you take control of all the bar settings without having too many options to make it overwhelming.
With its high-end functions, the Samsung HW-Q900T also supports the Samsung SmartThings app. It is available on both iOS and Android app stores and allows users to change inputs, control the volume, select sound modes, and access the EQ. An addition to that is the ability to cast music from your device to the bar. However, it is not a complete replacement for the remote as it is still needed to control levels of the bar’s left, centre, right, side, and top speakers.
Samsung’s bar also has support for HDMI CEC and Power Saving. HDMI CEC allows users to make use of their TV remotes to access certain features. The latter switches off the bar automatically after around 18 minutes of inactivity or no audio signal.
Connectivity
The Samsung HW-Q900T is a high-end soundbar, which can support most of the audio inputs and outputs of current generation devices. The back of the bar houses most of the standard inputs you are likely to use, such as the HDMI, Optical Audio In, and the Full HDMI In slot. It also has a USB port for servicing and firmware updates. However, it does not come with a 3.5mm AUX port, so some older devices might not be supported.
The subwoofer connects wirelessly to the soundbar, with an only port that houses the power cable.
It has Bluetooth and WiFi built-in wireless connectivity, but the device does not support Chromecast or AirPlay. Using the available connections, you can stream content from your smartphone or tablet wirelessly.
If we speak of audio codecs support, it is one of the most outstanding devices we have ever seen. It has one of the wider support ranges, including Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS, Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD-MA.
There are eARC and Atmos support, too, for lossless support formats. Also present are 2 Full HDMI In slots for higher quality streaming. It, like ARC, has support for all the major codecs and runs them with ease.
The Samsung HW-Q900T soundbar also has support for 4K and HDR10 Passthrough to let you connect your 4K panels and stream the highest quality content with crystal clear audio and text.
Performance
The Samsung HW-Q900T soundbar is a 7.1.2Ch configuration bar with a dedicated subwoofer. It has a very neutral default sound profile, a wide and focused soundstage, and many sound customization and connectivity options.
The soundbar lacks satellite speakers, so users might not have an immense listening experience for the audio. It can sound really loud, and on point, and with its overall performance that provides versatility, it should fit the requirements of different users.
It provides a deep thump and punches alongside its audio to please users into heavy bass genres with extended bass. The sound is also customizable according to different user preferences.
The Samsung HW-Q900T has an excellent stereo soundstage. With the bar being designed widely, the soundstage feels like it is well-focused instead of having audio being dispersed to different locations. This grants users a more focused area of sound, so it doesn’t feel like it’s running about.
The Samsung HW-Q900T also has great stereo dynamics. This soundbar can reach loud volumes, which is ideal for those who plan to utilise it in parties or crowded areas to bring up the mood. There is a slight compression when brought up to max volume, but it isn’t too significant that people will notice it immediately.
This soundbar has an impressive total harmonic distortion performance. It has the ability to filter out distortions at normal volumes, giving users a clean and pure audio result. This is suitable for users who are interested in maxing out the audio qualities.
The Samsung HW-Q900T has an excellent centre channel performance. This 7.1.2 setup has a dedicated centre speaker, which results in a more accurate and clearer reproduction of dialogue.
On the other hand, Samsung HW-Q900T has poor surround performance. It doesn’t come with satellite speakers giving you an all-surround sound experience; instead, it uses side-firing speakers to bounce sound off the walls. As a result, objects in the soundstage don’t sound as clear and accurate as they would in a setup with dedicated surround speakers.
This soundbar also has a poor height performance. It uses up-firing speakers on the bar to reflect sound off the ceiling and back to the listener, giving you the height impression. However, the localization of objects is diffused, and the sound profile is quite bright and lacking detail.
Competition
The Samsung HW-Q900T soundbar is one of the higher-end devices available in the market. The company managed to produce a user-friendly soundbar that suits intermediate users. Still, some inexcusable omissions can be deal-breakers for those who are spending so much money. Let us see how it stacks up against the competition –
Samsung HW-Q800T
The Samsung HW-Q800T and the Samsung HW-Q900T are both very versatile soundbars with different configurations. The 7.1.2 HW-Q900T provides a more immersive listening experience for surround content, as it doesn’t downmix it into stereo like the 3.1.2 HW-Q800T. The HW-Q900T also has a larger soundstage and less distortion when it’s played at max volume. That said, the HW-Q800T is better-built.
Samsung HW-Q90R
The Samsung HW-Q90R is a better soundbar for watching movies than the Samsung HW-Q900T. The 7.1.4 HW-Q90R comes with two satellite speakers, unlike the HW-Q900T, which helps provide a more immersive listening experience. The HW-Q90R is also better-built, and its surround and height channels have more neutral better-balanced sound profiles. That said, both soundbars have very versatile performances overall.
Conclusion
If you are looking to consume various media and looking for an upgrade for your current setup, the Samsung HW-Q9900T is an excellent offering looking at high-quality audio and additional features. With high-performance rates that match the price point, this soundbar is great for users who need a focused audio direction.
Even with the lack of a 3.5 mm AUX port and satellite speakers, the soundbar still does a great job in most situations, and the sound enhancement features help find the right balance for the users.
