Samsung Q990B soundbar - Performance issues. Appreciate any advice.

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I bought a Samsung Q990B soundbar after reading / watching, all the positive reviews. But when I tried to play some Dolby Atmos test videos and some other youtube content, the dolby atmos feature and the subwoofer bass feels very entry level. The sound appears to come from all the speakers all the time. I tried both Adaptive and Surround modes. Subwoofer is set to 6. The bar is placed on top of the TV stand. The subwoofer is placed behind the tv. Played with the Samsung Smart Things app, but no luck. Also tried Auto EQ setup. The rear speakers are mounted on to a 107 cm speaker stand, both facing each other, at positions 2 and 5 shown in the attached picture.

Please see the attached pics and video on how is my speaker placement layout. Any tips to get Dolby Atmos feature working well and also more BASS from the subwoofer?



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VID_20221231_200956.mp4

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The rears look too high, should be ear level when you’re sat.

That room layout is really bad as well, the sides on the bar are going straight into the wall.

Has it not got a mode outside of adaptive or surround? Standard should be what’s used for Atmos content. Their older models wouldn’t even let you change the sound mode if Atmos was detected.
 
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Move TV along wall 1. Then move speakers. Basically rotate the TV, rear speakers 45 degrees anti clockwise

That Subwoofer is only a 8" driver. It's probably suited to around 45hz. Rtings have insider testing but I can't see it.
 
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If the sound is coming from all speakers all the time, as you say, it would suggest to me that it’s not running in surround sound - I.e. it is a 2.0 being up mixed.


I would use an Atmos test file. Try here: https://thedigitaltheater.com/dolby-trailers/


Edit: rear speakers are also too high. You want the top of the speaker to be roughly ear high (as that’s where the tweeter is within the speaker).
 
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The Q990b is an incredible system, so much so that I'm selling my epic 7.2 setup. Mine is run in a 5x5m room with 9ft ceilings. Something is wrong with your setup.

Press the 'i' button the the remote and see what the screen reads for audio format.

Ensure your TV has E-ARC enabled, confirm it's in passthrough mode and is not in PCM output.

You might be having issues with it cramped in the corner also. That will effect side firing drivers.

The sub runs quite hot, so you should be running it around -4 to -2. Increase the height channel and rear levels as you see fit.
 
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Look at each speaker unit and see where the speakers inside are directing the sound...

The soundbar has edge speakers which are aiming into the wall
The rears have outward firing speakers which you've got firing into the wall
The sub has 2 walls either side of it because it's in the corner behind the TV

You gotta see what the system is doing because it actually does it very well, unfortunately though you've blocked most of the speakers which give the surround and atmos effect. It's going to take re-arranging the whole room to fix it
 
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