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Bose Smart Soundbar Ultra — $999
Bose

Bose Smart Soundbar Ultra

$999

89
/ 100
From $999
VS
Samsung HW-Q990D wins by 4
Samsung HW-Q990D — 11.1.4 · Wireless sub + rears · Q-Symphony
Samsung

Samsung HW-Q990D

11.1.4 · Wireless sub + rears · Q-Symphony

93
/ 100
From $1,799
Specdex verdict

Samsung HW-Q990D takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Bose Smart Soundbar Ultra lands at 89 and Samsung HW-Q990D at 93. That puts Samsung HW-Q990D ahead by 4 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Bose Smart Soundbar Ultra if…

  • ✓Dolby Atmos on most
  • ✓One-box simplicity
  • ✓eARC passthrough

Pick Samsung HW-Q990D if…

  • ✓11.1.4 with sub + rears included
  • ✓DTS:X and Atmos
  • ✓Best matched with Samsung TVs
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Sound

Samsung HW-Q990D

Compared on the sound sub-score

Samsung HW-Q990D leads on sound (95 vs 89).

Features

Samsung HW-Q990D

Compared on the features sub-score

Samsung HW-Q990D leads on features (94 vs 87).

Design

Bose Smart Soundbar Ultra

Compared on the design sub-score

Bose Smart Soundbar Ultra leads on design (84 vs 82).

Value for money

Bose Smart Soundbar Ultra

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Bose Smart Soundbar Ultra more score per dollar ($999 vs $1,799).

Bose Smart Soundbar Ultra 89
vs
93 Samsung HW-Q990D

Score breakdown

Bose Smart Soundbar Ultra
89
sound 89
features 87
design 84
ease 86
Samsung HW-Q990D
93
sound 95
features 94
design 82
ease 80

Specs side-by-side

Bose Smart Soundbar Ultra versus Samsung HW-Q990D — full spec comparison
Spec Bose Smart Soundbar Ultra Samsung HW-Q990D
Channels
—
11.1.4
Connectivity
—
HDMI 2.1 eARC, Wi-Fi, BT
Extras
—
Wireless sub + rears included

Bose Smart Soundbar Ultra

Pros
  • +Dolby Atmos on most
  • +One-box simplicity
  • +eARC passthrough
Cons
  • −Rear surrounds sold separately on some
  • −App quality varies
  • −Cabinet depth needs space

Samsung HW-Q990D

Pros
  • +11.1.4 with sub + rears included
  • +DTS:X and Atmos
  • +Best matched with Samsung TVs
Cons
  • −Bulky rear speakers
  • −EQ can be bright
  • −Complex setup

FAQ: Bose Smart Soundbar Ultra vs Samsung HW-Q990D

Which is better, Bose Smart Soundbar Ultra or Samsung HW-Q990D? +

Samsung HW-Q990D scores 93 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 4. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Bose Smart Soundbar Ultra worth the price? +

At $999, Bose Smart Soundbar Ultra delivers a Specdex score of 89 — strongest in sound.

Is Samsung HW-Q990D worth the price? +

At $1,799, Samsung HW-Q990D delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in sound.

Does Bose Smart Soundbar Ultra or Samsung HW-Q990D last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for sound, Bose Smart Soundbar Ultra or Samsung HW-Q990D? +

Samsung HW-Q990D — leads on sound (95 vs 89). Compared on the sound sub-score.

Which is better for features, Bose Smart Soundbar Ultra or Samsung HW-Q990D? +

Samsung HW-Q990D — leads on features (94 vs 87). Compared on the features sub-score.