Sonos Beam vs Samsung HW-Q90R review

Votes 11 11
Rating 3.2 3.2

Sonos Beam vs Samsung HW-Q90R comparison chart

Sonos Beam vs Samsung HW-Q90R review

Sonos Beam
vs
Samsung HW-Q90R

I had a chance to test and compare two models: Sonos Beam vs Samsung HW-Q90R and this review should help people who are looking for a good soundbar. The Sonos Beam was rated 6, while the Samsung HW-Q90R has a rating 8.2. The soundbars are equipped with a different number of buttons, volume down, volume up, microphone, play/pause for the Beam and power, volume down, volume up, source for the HW-Q90R.

Audio features

Each of the models under consideration has active amplification type. A noticeable difference is the number of channels that Beam has 3.0 and HW-Q90R has 7.1.4. The built-in subwoofer is not implemented in any of these models. An external subwoofer can be connected to any of the units in this comparison. Rate 6 out of 10 received the Sonos Beam for audio features and specs, but the Samsung HW-Q90R received 9 out of 10. The HW-Q90R can play audio from Spotify.

Connectivity

Both models have a wireless Wi-Fi interface. Soundbars from this comparison have Bluetooth support. There are 1/0 HDMI inputs/outputs in the Sonos Beam versus 2/1 HDMIs in the Samsung HW-Q90R. The HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) is implemented only in the HW-Q90R. We rated the connectivity of the Beam at 6 out of 10, while the HW-Q90R was rated 7/10.

Features

Each of the soundbars can be controlled using the application. The soundbars in this review are equipped with a microphone. The Samsung HW-Q90R may become part of a multiroom system.

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos audio decoder is onboard the HW-Q90R. The HW-Q90R can work with surround sound due to DTS:X support. The Beam was rated 4/10, while the HW-Q90R received a mark of 10/10 for multichannel surround.

Advantages Samsung HW-Q90R over Sonos Beam

  • Separate subwoofer in package
  • Spotify support
  • Audio return channel (HDMI ARC) support
  • Multi-room support
  • Compatible with Dolby Atmos
  • Compatible with DTS:X
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Common

Product

Sonos Beam
Samsung HW-Q90R

Model

Beam
HW-Q90R

Brand

Sonos
Samsung

Reviews

3280
1662

General

Placement type

table-top, wall-mountable
table-top, wall-mountable

Connection to source

wired, wireless
wired, wireless

Soundbar buttons

volume down, volume up, microphone, play/pause
power, volume down, volume up, source

Audio features

Built-in channels

3.0
7.1.4

Amplification type

active
active

Output power, W

512 (overall)

Separate speaker (in package)

0
2

Separate speaker connections

wireless
wireless

Subwoofer

Built-in subwoofer

Separate subwoofer (in package)

Separate subwoofer connections

wireless
wireless

Streaming services

Apple Music (AirPlay)

AirPlay 2

Amazon Music

Spotify

Other streaming services

Pandora, Tuneln, Chromecast
has not

Connectivity

WI-FI

Bluetooth

Ethernet (RJ45)

1
0

NFC

HDMI input/output

1/0
2/1

HDMI ARC

HDMI eARC

HDMI CEC

Optical digital input/output

1/0
1/0

USB

1 (USB 2.0)

Coaxial digital input/output

0/0
0/0

Analog audio input/output (RCA)

0/0
0/0

Headphone output

0
0

Subwoofer output

0
0

Features

Voice control

Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
Amazon Alexa

App control

Microphone

Remote control

Multi-room

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos

Dolby (other)

Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital

DTS:X

DTS (other)

has not
DTS Digital Surround

User manual

Manual

Dimensions

Size (Wx H x D), cm/in

65 x 6.8x 10/25.6 x 2.7 x 3.9
122.4 x 8.1 x 13.4/48.2 x 3.2 x 5.3

Weight, kg/pounds

2.8/6.2
8.7/19.4

Other

Release year

2018
2019
Sonos Beam
Samsung HW-Q90R
Sonos Beam
Samsung HW-Q90R

Soundbars SoundStrokes Art comparison rating

  • better
  • worse
  • 6
  • 8.2
  • 6Sonos Beam
  • 8.2Samsung HW-Q90R