Samsung - Q600A

I just got the Samsung Q600F with the Sub and it sounds incredible to me

I'm still curious how much better a Q990F is over a Q800B + 9500S. Some people say and tell me it's barely any better. Not a night and day difference compared to when I had a Q600A with no rears and moved to the Q800B then later the 9500S was a night and day difference. So yeah some say it's insanely better and others say for my setup it won't be a big difference just some little upgrades. I don't need it, but I'm so curious and $967 on Woot has me like ahhh! Lol

My soundbar adventure started with a crappy $70 Samsung model I can't even remember, it was 2.1, then I went to the Q600A(3.1.2) and it was great or so I thought. Then I moved to the Q800B(5.1.2) and it was literally night and day, it almost sounded like true surround sound all from the front, it was at least a very wide sound for sure and I was amazed. Then I added the 9500S rears later on which made it 7.1.4 and yet again I was amazed because I never had true rears and it was awesome for a good while and honestly it is still great and friends and family were amazed when they would visit. But now the Q990F(11.1.4).... It's not exactly worlds beyond different but yet it kind of is at the same time. There is so much more dimension to the sound and the clarity is insane even with Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus content compared to the other soundbars. The overall surround field is also much wider then the Q800B+9500s, I can hear birds in the dining room for example when watching let's say Avatar. The Q800B with rears sounded good on the couch but the second I got up and walked forward, then the rears would just disappear, but now I can hear the Q990F rears even if I sit on the floor at the coffee table or standing closer to the TV. So honestly the Q600A which sounded so good at first is honestly disappointing compared to the Q990F for sure and it's quite a step down from the Q800B as well. You have to experience it to understand. You look back and think "I thought it couldn't get much better than that? Wow, how is this possible?" If you got the Q990 Series someday you would think your Q6CC(3.1) is trash compared to it, I can guarantee it, especially since it's a small step down from the Q600. The funny thing is that I have been to other people's house who have an AV receiver setup with big speakers and it doesn't even sound very good at all. But I feel they don't know what they're doing either and probably have everything just playing as Basic Stereo. So having the Q990F, also properly setup is unlike anything I've heard in a home before.

It definitely is possible to get some Atmos “feel” out of a standalone soundbar OP, the JBL is great for 5.1 but it down mixes Atmos into stereo - you’re looking for a 3 digit number like 3.1.2 to signify true Atmos. I’d recommend Samsung Q600F (or a D if it’s significantly cheaper, the D is last years model - only real difference is sub size) or if you want something different a [Polk Magnifi Max AX](https://www.polkaudio.com/en-us/product/outlet/refurbished/magnifi-max-ax/300542-refurbished.html) which you can pick up for under $400 with the discount code at top of the page.

Yup. The Samsung is 3.1.2 I believe, the Polk is 5.1.2. You’d need rear speakers for true 5.1 surround - but both of these will sound great in your apartment without them.

I bought a samsung Q-600 soundbar for more or less $200 as it was set to be replaced by the next year's version

Reject this. Buy Philips 8967 or Samsung Q600 Series. Far better 🙏 After meridian is gone, LG has screwed up big time.

I think Q700F onwards the subwoofer has got a rehaul. Q600F might have the same one as the previous version

I wonder if it's the same as this? https://www.rtings.com/soundbar/reviews/samsung/hw-q600f For that price, worth a try!

It is. The C is for Costco exclusive one

Yeah that is true for some products but I have never heard of that in the Samsung soundbars. Typically Rtings will show the Costco model as a comparable one

That's what I got, it sounds really good and clear. I believe it's basically the regular q600. Although I am upgrading to the q990f. But that is not in the price range OP wanted

Some say you should not go below Samsung Q800D, and I lisened. Turned out to be a good decision, so I recommend it as well. Q600 has high latency based on Rtings, Q700 lacks bass. Q800 has no rears, but you can buy them later as an addon if you want and have the budget. I don't know much about other brands.

Honestly under that budget, get a 2.1 system and call it a day. If you really need a soundbar, i got my parents a samsung q600( was around 24k) its pretty decent.