Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Samsung - HW-Q990D | Sonos - Arc Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Subwoofer included | true | false |
| Total power | 656 W |
Between the HW-Q990D and Arc Ultra, the HW-Q990D comes out ahead in subwoofer included / total power, while the Arc Ultra wins on several specs. Overall, the HW-Q990D scores 88.6 and the Arc Ultra scores 85.9 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (88.6 vs 85.9). The decision is not about overall quality — both clear the bar — it is about which specific trade-offs fit your use.
Pick the HW-Q990D if you care most about subwoofer included / total power. The biggest gaps in its favor are subwoofer included, total power. The single most decisive one: Has Subwoofer included.
The Arc Ultra similarly does not carry a headline advantage on the popular specs — look at the full table for category-specific deltas.
Both ship with comparable dolby atmos, earc, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity says both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Which should you buy: Samsung - HW-Q990D or Sonos - Arc Ultra?
Samsung - HW-Q990D leads the current Mars Score by 2.7 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare total power, subwoofer included against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Samsung - HW-Q990D if…
Samsung - HW-Q990D has the measurable edge on subwoofer included, total w.
Choose Sonos - Arc Ultra if…
Sonos - Arc Ultra does not lead a decisive measured field here, so choose it for price, ecosystem, design, or availability when those matter more to you.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Samsung - HW-Q990D wins
- ▲Has Subwoofer included.
- ▲Total power: 656 W vs W.
Why Sonos - Arc Ultra wins
- No decisive advantages.
Spec comparison
Audio
| Spec | Samsung - HW-Q990D | Sonos - Arc Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | 11.1.4 | 9.1.4 |
| Total power | 656 Wlead | |
| Dolby Atmosⓘ | true | true |
| DTS:X | truelead | false |
Connectivity
| Spec | Samsung - HW-Q990D | Sonos - Arc Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| HDMI inputs | 2lead | 1 |
| eARCⓘ | true | true |
| Subwoofer included | truelead | false |