soundbars · Head-to-head
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) vs Samsung HW-Q990H/ZA
The short answer
At current verified prices, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) costs about $1,008.99 less.
- Choose the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) if: Narrow-cabinet TV audio
- Choose the Samsung HW-Q990H/ZA if: Surround nuance and scale
Specifications
| Spec | Sonos Beam (Gen 2) | Samsung HW-Q990H/ZA |
|---|---|---|
| Exact evaluated bar, subwoofer and surround configuration | Standalone Beam (Gen 2) soundbar only; no subwoofer or surround speakers included. | Complete Samsung HW-Q990H/ZA system: soundbar, wireless subwoofer, and supplied rear speakers. |
| Workflow type | Standalone Soundbar | Complete Surround |
| Exact US model and regional suffix | Sonos Beam (Gen 2), US product identifier BEAM2US1 (black: BEAM2US1BLK). | Samsung HW-Q990H/ZA |
| Soundbar width | 651 mm | 1,232 mm |
| Soundbar height | 68 mm | 71 mm |
| Soundbar depth | 100 mm | 138 mm |
| Meets editorial 800-mm width and 80-mm height filter | Yes | No |
| Rear-speaker audio connection, mains wiring and charging | — | Rear speakers connect wirelessly for audio but require mains power; they are not battery-charged/portable speakers. |
| Verified decoding and transport support | Stereo PCM; Dolby Digital; DTS; Dolby Digital Plus; Dolby Atmos (Dolby Digital Plus); Dolby Atmos; Dolby TrueHD; Dolby Atmos (TrueHD); Multichannel PCM; Dolby Multichannel PCM. Formats marked with * by Sonos require eARC. | Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital, DTS:X, DTS-HD, DTS-HD Master Audio, and multichannel PCM are supported; actual received format depends on source and connection. |
| Full HDMI source inputs excluding ARC/eARC return port | 0 ports | 2 ports |
| Verified resolution, refresh rate and HDR passthrough | — | Up to 4K at 120 Hz passthrough; HDR10 and HDR10+ supported. The HDMI inputs also support VRR/ALLM according to exact-model review/specification material. |
| ARC/eARC, optical, TV-specific and adapter requirements | Connect to the TV's HDMI eARC/ARC port with the included HDMI cable; eARC is required for specified lossless/advanced formats. If the TV has optical output only, use the included Sonos Optical Audio Adapter. | TV connection via HDMI eARC/ARC; optical input is available as an alternative. The soundbar also has two HDMI source inputs for external devices; HDMI eARC is the TV return connection. |
| Included calibration, device requirements and paid upgrades | Trueplay room calibration is included; setup and control use the Sonos app. Trueplay tuning requires a compatible iOS device; no paid calibration upgrade is stated. | SpaceFit Sound Pro room correction is included. Samsung describes AI-related sound features; no paid calibration license or paid calibration upgrade is identified in checked exact-model material. |
| Physical remote, TV remote, account and app requirements | On-bar touch controls; compatible TV remote can control the bar. Sonos app is required for setup and app-based control; Sonos account is required for setup. | Supplied remote and on-bar controls are available. SmartThings app and Samsung account login are required for Wi-Fi control/connection; basic soundbar operation does not require app control. |
| Compatible named optional subwoofer and surround configuration | Optional expansion: one Sonos Sub or Sub Mini, plus two compatible Sonos speakers as surrounds (for example, Era 100 or One SL); sold separately. | Optional expansion: Samsung Music Studio 5 or Music Studio 7 speakers can be added through compatible Q-Symphony TV configuration; sold separately. The supplied HW-Q990H system already includes its soundbar, subwoofer, and rear speakers. |
| Verified manufacturer list price, not assumed from a crossed-out reference | — | 1,999.99 USD |
| Listing, indexed listing, cart, delivery or conflicting-render status | Sonos US product listing for Beam (Gen 2) is indexed and lists the product; the displayed price varies by color (black listing showed $359; white listing showed $499). Listing display only; delivery/cart availability was not verified. | Samsung US exact-model listing is indexed and includes an Add to cart control, but the rendered page showed $0.00 and delivery/pickup unavailable without a ZIP; indexed offer showed $1,699.99 against $1,999.99. Live cart and delivery were not verified. |
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Pros
- Corroborated speech usefulness
- Narrow footprint for constrained furniture
- Reported wide soundstage
Cons
- No convincing overhead localization in the cited listening account
- TV-return connection and format constraints
- App dependence
Conditionally recommended for narrow-cabinet TV listening when your TV-return connection and audio formats are compatible and app dependence is acceptable. Corroborated listening evidence supports speech usefulness, but its wide presentation should not be mistaken for convincing overhead localization.
Full Sonos Beam (Gen 2) review →Samsung HW-Q990H/ZA
Pros
- Corroborated complete-system evidence
- Reported nuance and scale benefit in What Hi-Fi?'s listening
- A defined generation-specific fit within the shared surround path
Cons
- No consensus on the incremental generation benefit
- Listening findings depend on mode context
- Requires space and power for rear speakers and the subwoofer
Conditionally recommended within the same complete-surround choice as Q990F. What Hi-Fi?'s reported nuance and scale benefit provides a buyer-specific reason to examine Q990H, but RTINGS' differing assessment prevents treating that benefit as a consensus or selecting it simply because it is newer.
Full Samsung HW-Q990H/ZA review →Both products are part of our guide Best Soundbars for US Buyers: Choose by Setup and Listening Needs, where you can see every pick, how we score and current prices from each retailer.