A soundbar can be the most noticeable upgrade you make to a modern television. Thin TVs leave little room for speakers, and dialogue is often the first casualty. The mistake is assuming that the soundbar with the largest channel number is automatically the best one for your room.

For 2026, Samsung's HW-Q990H is a strong complete-system option. Sonos Arc Ultra remains a good all-in-one starting point, especially for someone already using Sonos. They solve different versions of the same problem. [1][2]

Samsung HW-Q990H if you want the whole surround package

Samsung's flagship system includes the main bar, a subwoofer and rear speakers. RTINGS describes it as an 11.1.4-channel setup with strong mixed-use performance, Dolby Atmos support and HDMI passthrough. [1]

The important part is not the 11.1.4 label by itself. The important part is that the package gives you real speakers behind the seating position and a separate subwoofer from the start.

That makes it appropriate for a room where movies and games matter and where you are willing to place rear speakers. It makes less sense if you want one unobtrusive bar under the TV with no additional boxes.

Sonos Arc Ultra if you want to start with one bar

Arc Ultra is a standalone soundbar that can later be expanded with Sonos surrounds and a subwoofer. RTINGS found it particularly strong for dialogue and noted a wide soundstage, while also pointing out that a standalone bar cannot reproduce the same deep bass as a dedicated subwoofer. [2]

The case gets stronger if you already own Sonos speakers. Multi-room music and ecosystem integration are part of what you are paying for.

The case gets weaker if you are starting from zero and only care about maximum home-theater performance per dollar. A packaged system can give you more hardware for the same or less money.

HDMI eARC is the connection to check first

Enhanced Audio Return Channel, or eARC, lets a compatible TV send high-bandwidth audio back to a soundbar over HDMI. It is the simplest path for Dolby Atmos and modern consoles when the TV and soundbar both support the formats you need.

Check which HDMI port on your television is labeled ARC or eARC. If that port is already needed for another device, look at the soundbar's HDMI inputs and passthrough support before buying.

This is one reason Samsung's extra connectivity can matter to gamers. A feature can be excellent on paper and useless if your TV cannot route the signal the way your setup requires.

A small room may need less hardware

Rear speakers and a large subwoofer can be great in a dedicated living room. In an apartment bedroom, they can be more equipment than the room needs.

If dialogue is your main problem, a good standalone bar with a clear center channel can be enough. If you want convincing surround effects in movies, real rear speakers are harder to replace with processing.

Measure the space under the television, too. Some premium bars are wide and tall enough to block the lower part of the screen or an infrared receiver on a low stand.

Previous-year flagships can be the better buy

Soundbar improvements are often incremental. RTINGS notes that Samsung's Q990H performs similarly in many respects to the previous Q990F. [1]

That makes discounts important. If the previous flagship is hundreds less and supports the formats and ports you need, the older model can be the rational purchase.

Spend the difference on the part of the system you can hear: better speaker placement, a subwoofer, or simply keeping the money.

Sources

[1] RTINGS, Samsung HW-Q990H review.

[2] RTINGS, Sonos Arc Ultra review.

[3] RTINGS, Sonos immersive set vs. Samsung HW-Q990H comparison.