Samsung’s two new soundbars, the HW-Q990F and the HW-QS700F can now be snapped up in U.K. stores. They feature more compact designs than the two models from last year that they replace, and they’re the first of Samsung’s audio products to support the all-new Eclipsa Audio surround sound format.
The Samsung HW-Q990F is the successor to last year’s troubled flagship soundbar, the Samsung Q990D. The package includes a meaty soundbar that comes with a wireless subwoofer and two wireless surround speakers, which combine to create an immersive 11.1.4-channel sound system.
The most notable upgrade appears to be the redesigned subwoofer, which is more compact yet also more powerful than last year’s version. It sports a nice cube shape that’s said to be half the size of its predecessor, and features a pair of 8-inch woofers that deliver a hefty 300-watts of sound.
There’s also a bevy of new AI features for sound optimisation. The Active Voice Amplifier Pro technology helps by analysing the TV’s content in real-time to eliminate background noise and improve the clarity of dialogue, while Dynamic Bass Control helps to expand the low-frequency bass range, reducing distortions.
Samsung’s Q-Symphony tech is also onboard, which makes it possible to combine the soundbar with the TV’s speakers or Samsung Music Frames to create a wider soundstage. In addition, it will also help users to position the Music Frame for the best effect.
Although the HW-Q990F is positioned as a Dolby Atmos soundbar, it also supports Samsung's new Eclipsa Audio surround sound format, in line with its 2025 televisions.
As good as it sounds, Samsung fans will be hoping it doesn’t suffer the same fate as the Q990D soundbar, which came a cropper earlier this year following a faulty firmware upgrade that left hundreds of the devices bricked, requiring a new motherboard to fix the problem that must be installed by the company’s technicians.
The other new soundbar is the Samsung HW-QS700F, which is the successor to last year’s S710D and comes with gyroscopic sensors that enable it to automatically switch between different sound modes through the use of sensors, depending on where in the room it's placed. So it can be positioned under the TV, or on a wall, and will adjust its audio output accordingly to create the best possible sound.
These models are the only new soundbars from Samsung this year, as the company has opted to carry over a number of last year’s models, such as the HW-Q800F, HW-S800D and the HW-Q600F, which all launched in summer 2024.
However, if you opt for one of last year’s models, you won’t be getting any support for Eclipsa Audio, which is unique to the HW-Q990F and HW-QS700F. That’s because Eclipsa Audio is an all-new open-source spatial sound format launched this year – created by Samsung and Google as an alternative to Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, which must be licensed.
For now, very little Eclipsa Audio-compatible content can be found outside of YouTube, and you’ll also need to invest in a new Samsung TV that also supports the format. So in all honesty, it’s not very useful yet – but given that it’s free, it may well emerge as strong competition for Dolby Atmos in future.
The HW-Q990F and HW-QS700F can be found at retailers including Crampton & Moore and Marks Electrical, as well as Samsung’s online store, priced at £1,570 and £699 respectively.
