Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

New Products

Samsung’s New HW-Q990F Soundbar Has Something No One Else Has

The first soundbar with Eclipsa Audio decoding, Samsung’s new flagship Q990F may be the one to beat in 2025.

Samsung HW-Q990D.

When we saw and heard Samsung’s new 2025 model year soundbars at CES earlier this year, they impressed us with their design and impactful immersive sound. But it’s hard to really judge a product on a trade show floor, with just a few minutes of experience. Fortunately we got to spend some quality time with the flagship HW-Q990F and its little brother the HW-QS700F more recently, and while I can’t get into detail about that (pesky embargos), I will confirm that these two bars are the first on the market to include something new and potentially game-changing: Eclipsa Audio.

As of today, I can tell you that the flagship HW-Q990F soundbar system will be priced at $1,799 (MSRP) and the HW-Q800F will be priced at $999 (MSRP) and both are now available to order with shipping to begin imminently. The Q990F flagship is already available to order on Amazon at a discount. The price of the HW-QS700F has not been announced yet but should be coming soon.

So the good news is that the list price of the new flagship soundbar (Q990F) is actually about $200 lower than the previous flagship (Q990D) but the new one includes Eclipsa Audio decoding. More for less!

What is Eclipsa Audio?

Eclipsa Audio is a new immersive surround sound format developed by a partnership of companies called the “Alliance for Open Media (AOM),” which includes Google, THX and Samsung, among others. Like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, Eclipsa Audio includes height channels in addition to traditional surround speakers in order to create a more enveloping dome of sound around the listeners. But unlike Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, Eclipsa Audio is being offered as an open standard. This means content creators, movie studios, streaming services and hardware manufacturers don’t need to pay a royalty to use it and include decoders in their products. And Samsung’s 2025 TVs and soundbars will be among the first products to include Eclipsa Audio support.

While you may ask, “Do we really need a new surround sound format?” (and it is a valid question), competition is generally good for consumers – it’s nice to have options. Of course, a format is useless without content, but with Google behind this one, and Google being the owner of a little video streaming platform called YouTube, we may start to see Eclipsa content rolling out sooner than expected. At the moment, there are a few YouTube channels that feature Eclipsa Audio content. But remember, you won’t be able to really hear what it can do without an Eclipsa Audio decoder, so you might have to wait a little while for that.

YouTube Channels with Eclipsa Audio Content:

We watched and listened to a few of these videos on the Q990F and the QS700F and can confirm that they were able to decode Eclipsa Audio content in all its immersive glory. Although, interestingly enough, the display on the Q990F read “IAMF” instead of “Eclipsa Audio” during decoding. IAMF (Immersive Audio Model and Formats), is the framework upon which Eclipsa Audio is based. We expect when these soundbars make it into production, the display will show the new name (Eclipsa Audio) instead.

Samsung-Soundbar-HW-Q990F-900px
With Q-Symphony, the Samsung HW-Q990F soundbar can integrate Samsung TV speakers with soundbar speakers for a more immersive surround sound experience.

More Features of the HW-Q990F

As the company’s flagship soundbar, the Q990F has more than just Eclipsa Audio on-board. It decodes Dolby Atmos and DTS:X too, and can generate a fully immersive dome of sound using its built-in front-firing and up-firing speakers. Rear wireless speakers and a wireless powered subwoofer are included in the package.

Speaking of subs, the HW-Q900F features a newly engineered wireless subwoofer with dual active drivers in a compact and elegant cube designed to be heard but not necessarily seen. The sub is roughly half the size of the one that came with the Q990D soundbar for more discrete and flexible installation options.

The HW-Q990F also uses AI to optimize sound with features such as:

  • Dynamic Bass Control: Enhances clarity in low-frequency ranges by utilizing non-linear bass management for balanced and distortion-free sound.
  • Enhanced Q-Symphony: Integrates Samsung TV speakers with soundbar speakers to create more immersive surround sound and better dialog placement. Improvements to Q-Symphony in 2025 include the ability to detect the position of wireless speakers like the Samsung Music Frame to optimize audio effects based on distance and angle.
  • Active Voice Amplifier Pro: Provides real-time content analysis that reduces background noise and emphasizes dialog for an enhanced listening experience.

Additionally, the HW-Q990F can take advantage of compatible Samsung TVs’ Neural Processing Unit (NPU) in Q-Symphony mode for additional improvements to dialog clarity and immersiveness.

The other new model, the HW-Q800F, is similar in design to the Q990F flagship and includes the wireless powered subwoofer but not the rear speakers. Rear wireless speakers or Samsung Music Frame speakers can be added to the QS800F system for fully immersive surround sound.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Samsung HW-Q990F Soundbar Speaker System 2025 model
Samsung HW-Q990F Soundbar Speaker System (2025 model)

The Bottom Line

Samsung isn’t content to rest on their laurels or go with the status quo. While the Q990D soundbar system earned enthusiastic reviews last year, the Q990F appears to be poised to do everything its predecessor did, and more. While Eclipsa Audio is as yet an unproven quantity, having it available on board the new soundbars gives customers peace of mind that their soundbar won’t be rendered obsolete a few years down the road. Stay tuned for more detailed observations on the new soundbars coming next month.

Available Now to Order on Amazon:

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

Latest Products

Astell&Kern PS10 DAP

DAPs

With support for 32-bit PCM, DSD, Roon, LDAC, aptX HD, and a brand new docking cradle, the Astell&Kern PS10 DAP might replace your streamer.

2025 TCL X11K Premium QD-MiniLED TV Lifestyle 2025 TCL X11K Premium QD-MiniLED TV Lifestyle

HDTV 4K & 8K TV

At 85 or 98-inches, the top-of-the-line 2025 TCL X11K 4K TVs boast 6,500 nits, 14,000 dimming zones and HALO Control Technology.

Epson QS100 UST Projector Front Lifestyle Epson QS100 UST Projector Front Lifestyle

New Products

Epson just expanded their high brightness Q Series projector line to include a UST projector for those looking for a discrete large screen viewing...

New Products

XGIMI is marketing its portable projection screen as a complement to its MoGo 3 Pro video projector for outdoor movie watching.

LG G5 OLED TV Lifestyle LG G5 OLED TV Lifestyle

HDTV 4K & 8K TV

Will LG's new quad stack Primary RGB Tandem OLED panel make the G5 the best TV of 2025? And what should we expect from...

HOUCHMAND M1 System Lifestyle Image HOUCHMAND M1 System Lifestyle Image

Floorstanding Speakers

The Houchmand M1 is an ultra high-end all-in-one two-channel digital music system with optional subwoofer for a sky high price.

Gift Ideas?

Cost-no-object Audiophile Gear

Floorstanding Speakers

When money is no-object in building a high-end audio system, this is the audiophile gear you'll want to check out first.

You May Also Like

New Products

Epson just expanded their high brightness Q Series projector line to include a UST projector for those looking for a discrete large screen viewing...

HDTV 4K & 8K TV

Will LG's new quad stack Primary RGB Tandem OLED panel make the G5 the best TV of 2025? And what should we expect from...

HDTV 4K & 8K TV

TCL's latest flagship miniLED TV offers high-end performance at a wallet-friendly price.

News

Apple is adding Lossless Audio and Ultra-Low Latency to the AirPods Max Headphones, but only when wired.

DACs

K2HD Technology, DSD Remastering, 5,700mW peak output, lossless Bluetooth, and 18-hour battery life are just some of the features of the iFi iDSD Valkyrie.

Floorstanding Speakers

With improved drivers and the addition of an active crossover option, the Klipschorn AK7 and La Scala AL6 are ready to take on all...

News

Owners of Samsung's 2024 HW-Q990D, HW-Q800D, and HW-S801D models have a big and annoying problem... Here's what to do if your soundbar is affected.

News

The traveling headphone show, CanJam came to New York City last month and we were there. Here are a few highlights.

Advertisement

ecoustics is a hi-fi and music magazine offering product reviews, podcasts, news and advice for aspiring audiophiles, home theater enthusiasts and headphone hipsters. Read more

Copyright © 1999-2024 ecoustics | Disclaimer: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.



SVS Bluesound PSB Speakers NAD Cambridge Audio Q Acoustics Denon Marantz Focal Naim Audio RSL Speakers