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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) — Dolby Atmos · HDMI eARC · Compact
Sonos

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Dolby Atmos · HDMI eARC · Compact

86
/ 100
From $499
VS
Samsung HW-Q990D wins by 7
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, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) lands at 86 and Samsung HW-Q990D at 93. That puts Samsung HW-Q990D ahead by 7 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Sonos Beam (Gen 2) if…

  • ✓Atmos in a compact bar
  • ✓Trueplay room correction
  • ✓Expandable with Sub + rears

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

Features

Samsung HW-Q990D

Compared on the features sub-score

Samsung HW-Q990D leads on features (94 vs 88).

Sound

Samsung HW-Q990D

Compared on the sound sub-score

Samsung HW-Q990D leads on sound (95 vs 86).

Design

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Compared on the design sub-score

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) leads on design (92 vs 82).

Value for money

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) more score per dollar ($499 vs $1,799).

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) 86
vs
93 Samsung HW-Q990D

Score breakdown

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
86
sound 86
features 88
design 92
ease 90
Samsung HW-Q990D
93
sound 95
features 94
design 82
ease 80

Specs side-by-side

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) versus Samsung HW-Q990D — full spec comparison
Spec Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Samsung HW-Q990D
Channels
5.0 (virtual Atmos)
11.1.4
Connectivity
eARC HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, BT 5.0
HDMI 2.1 eARC, Wi-Fi, BT
Extras
—
Wireless sub + rears included

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Pros
  • +Atmos in a compact bar
  • +Trueplay room correction
  • +Expandable with Sub + rears
Cons
  • −No upward drivers (virtual Atmos)
  • −No DTS
  • −App glitches

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: Sonos Beam (Gen 2) vs Samsung HW-Q990D

Which is better, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) or Samsung HW-Q990D? +

Samsung HW-Q990D scores 93 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 7. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Sonos Beam (Gen 2) worth the price? +

At $499, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in design.

Is Samsung HW-Q990D worth the price? +

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

Does Sonos Beam (Gen 2) 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 features, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) or Samsung HW-Q990D? +

Samsung HW-Q990D — leads on features (94 vs 88). Compared on the features sub-score.

Which is better for sound, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) or Samsung HW-Q990D? +

Samsung HW-Q990D — leads on sound (95 vs 86). Compared on the sound sub-score.