Samsung - HW-Q65T

It seems like you may not need Atmos, may not need a subwoofer, so the sky and the floor is the limit. I have the 2021 Q65t (no eARC, no angled edge) and would recommend the new Q65c version that you can get at BJ's and Sam's Club for $400. https://www.reddit.com/r/Soundbars/s/zg01U2nEws I'm a budget-minded, sometime hobbyist, but this is also migrated to my second setup as I circled around the block with my old AVR when I realized I could have 2. It is great with dialogue. https://www.rtings.com/soundbar/reviews/samsung/hw-q65t Coming from TV speakers, adding the included rear surrounds that get you real 5.1 that are pretty easily placed (albeit wired to a powered transmitter that extends like 7 feet in each direction) and having creative engineering simulate more of an atmos bubble effect of 5.1.2 will be a huge jump over $100-$200 for a run of a mill 3.1 soundbar. I'd argue it's far more bang per buck than paying $1300-1500 for the 990 that is really just 5.1.2 with the same company's creative engineering to get you to 11.1.2 vs having 6 more speakers. I recently ran 5.1 and 5.1.2 Atmost tests with my 2021 version (surrounds are high up) and it was spectacular. If I was going to do a soundbar and wanted atmos, I'd find a q600f (3.1.2) for like $300 used and pair it with the HWA-9250s for I think $120 to get 5.1.2. Found that going through this sub, maybe there is some flaw but it's always 50% marked down from retail price. The more I've read about actual Dolby Atmos, the happier I am I opted to pursue Atmos with my primary AVR.

Definitely decide whether you need pseudo or genuine Atmos/5.1.x in considering these suggestions, as everyone is assuming you do. Q700c was recommended here, and I see a $300 model on ebay but that seems rare. Going down the Samsung line is one way to scale down to your budget. I've heard good things about Q600f here (latest in the model) that you can find on ebay for $300 more easily, and now or later pair with a SWA-9250S rear surrounds for an additional $120 from Samsung right now on sale. Has eARC. That might be right over the threshold with genuine Atmos with 5.1.2. I got a Q65t in 2021 open box at Best Buy for $220 with rear surround package so 5.1, but it's an older iteration with ARC. Definitely a steal at the price I didn't know much about the tech or use reddit then but that much was clear, though I DID notice a difference (sounds not quite as good) with hires music side by side with my AVR and entry level speakers (though I've since learned that TV has ARC passthrough issues). But even now I still get amazed by how rich and immersive the sound can be having gotten back into my budget audiophile era. I tested it with various sound files and it can take more advanced formats than basic 5.1 (when compressed as Dolby Digital and DTS) even if it is doing virtual magic tricks. The newest version is Q65c, has eARC and could be squarely in your budget open box or used but seems like it's sold out/hard to find outside of ebay.

The q symphony is hard to notice if I am being honest. Not because it isnt good, it seems decent, but I had a 5.1 Logitech PC system before. The THX was nice but 11 speakers of Atmos is so amazing that adding 4 is like putting chocolate fudge on a chocolate bar after just eating vanilla wafers for years. Its richer and you cant say no, but the chocolate bar would have already been more than enough at this point. And yeah, I pushed to 30 for a bit and it was a lot in most cases. Went to 50 for fun and started getting worried I may blow a speaker out haha.

Get the Sonos system. Samsung is terrible at support. Further you can buy the Sonos components from Costco. At least most of them. Return policy is quite generous as you probably know. Don’t be tempted by the Samsung pricing. It’s just not as good or reliable as the Sonos systems. He’ll even the JBL soundbar systems have better sound than the Q series.