I had a chance to test and compare two models: Yamaha YAS-109 vs Samsung HW-Q90R and this review should help people who are looking for a good soundbar. The Yamaha YAS-109 was rated 6.8, while the Samsung HW-Q90R has a rating 8.2. The soundbars are equipped with a different number of buttons, power, volume down, volume up, input, microphone for the YAS-109 and power, volume down, volume up, source for the HW-Q90R.
Each of the models under consideration has active amplification type. A noticeable difference is the number of channels that YAS-109 has 2.0 and HW-Q90R has 7.1.4. These rivals can be compared in terms of power, 120 versus 512 (overall) according to devices. A built-in subwoofer is available only in the Yamaha YAS-109. An external subwoofer connects to the YAS-109 via wired and wireless, but HW-Q90R has wireless connection type. Rate 6 out of 10 received the Yamaha YAS-109 for audio features and specs, but the Samsung HW-Q90R received 9 out of 10.
Soundbars do not have AirPlay support. Each of the competitors can play content from Spotify.
Both models have a wireless Wi-Fi interface. Soundbars from this comparison have Bluetooth support. There are 1/1 HDMI inputs/outputs in the Yamaha YAS-109 versus 2/1 HDMIs in the Samsung HW-Q90R. As in the YAS-109, so in the HW-Q90R there is the HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC). Connecting devices via USB is possible in both models. We rated the connectivity of the YAS-109 at 8 out of 10, while the HW-Q90R was rated 7/10.
Both devices have integrated voice control via Amazon Alexa. 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.
Dolby Atmos audio decoder is onboard the HW-Q90R. The HW-Q90R can work with surround sound due to DTS:X support. The YAS-109 was rated 6/10, while the HW-Q90R received a mark of 10/10 for multichannel surround.