A soundbar can make a world of difference in upgrading TV audio into an immersive home theater experience. As leaders in premium consumer electronics and hi-fi audio, both Samsung and Bowers & Wilkins make compelling, high-performance soundbars to suit different needs and budgets. But which brand is right for your personal home theater setup?
This in-depth guide compares Samsung and Bowers & Wilkins‘ latest flagship soundbar models across all the key factors – from audio technologies to smart connectivity, design to value. Read on for a breakdown of how they stack up, along with clear advice on which brand better fits your usage needs and expectations.
Introducing Samsung and Bowers & Wilkins
Samsung needs no introduction as a global leader in cutting-edge televisions, smartphones and home appliances. Their audio division leverages the company‘s expertise in acoustic engineering and post-processing technologies to create premium Dolby Atmos soundbars. With powerful audio performance and smart integration, Samsung aims to create the ultimate audio accessories for their industry-leading QLED TVs.
Bowers & Wilkins have an illustrious history in high-end British loudspeakers since their founding in 1966. Known for innovative technologies like Kevlar speaker drivers and tweeters found in famous recording studios like Abbey Road, B&W brings audiophile sensibilities into their Formation lineup of wireless music systems and sleek, lifestyle-focused soundbars for premium consumer markets.
Audio Performance and Technologies
Let‘s dig into how Samsung‘s 2022 flagship HW-Q990B model compares versus Bowers & Wilkins‘ high-end Formation Bar in terms of core sound performance and supporting audio formats.
Dolby Atmos & DTS:X
Object-based Dolby Atmos and DTS:X deliver the most immersive, 360-degree surround sound for home theaters by employing additional height/elevation channels compared to older 5.1/7.1 systems.
The Samsung HW-Q990B supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X via its 11.1.4-channel speaker configuration with added up-firing drivers. With two wireless rear speakers kitted with up-firing drivers plus additional ones built into the soundbar itself, the Q990B successfully emulates overhead effects for a hemispheric bubble of sound around the viewer.
Comparatively, the Bowers & Wilkins Formation Bar is limited to standard front-firing stereo in a 3.0 L/R speaker setup. Without dedicated height or surround channels, Formation Bar owners will have to live without the latest immersive audio FORMATS that require special speaker placements and processing.
Channels & Frequency Response
With 11 discrete channels (7 built into the soundbar plus wireless subwoofer and rears), the Samsung Q990B also wins on sheer surround speaker power even without factoring in Atmos/DTS:X.
The Formation Bar‘s 3 front-facing drivers still promise excellent stereo imaging and clarity within that frontal soundstage.
In terms of frequency response – the range of bass lows to crystal-clear highs each system can reproduce – the Q990B reaches an incredibly deep 34 Hz to 17 kHz. The Formation Bar trails behind at 40 Hz to 28 Hz – still highly serviceable, but lacking the teeth-rattling, chest-pounding bass depths of the Samsung.
Sound Formats & Post-Processing
This is an area where B&W‘s audiophile heritage shines through. The Formation Bar processes up to 96 kHz/24-bit depth resolution audio, promising to extract nuances and details even from compressed streams. Selectable sound modes optimize music or vocal clarity.
The Q990B also includes Adaptive Sound processing to custom-tune its output to your room‘s acoustics using built-in mics. Other proprietary tech enhances dialogue, spatial detailing, bass accuracy, and loudness coherence across volumes. Users can tweak Equalizer presets or Bass/Treble levels manually too.
Both flagship models represent pinnacles of audio post-processing power from their storied brands. But the Formation Bar should edge out audibly pristine fidelity – albeit still limited by its actual stereo speaker setup.
Connectivity & Features
Next we examine how well each system connects to modern TVs and other home theater devices. Their respective suites of convenience features also differentiate the Samsung and Bowers & Wilkins user experience.
Physical & Wireless Connectivity
With rich HDMI 2.1 eARC input plus additional optical digital and USB audio ports, the Samsung HW-Q990B plays perfectly with the latest TVs while remaining backwards compatible. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity open mobile device pairing and wireless rear speaker connections.
The Formation Bar is comparatively limited with just a single optical input and Bluetooth/Wi-Fi streaming as wireless options. Without HDMI, hooking up to TVs is trickier and prevents high-resolution audio passthrough via video cables. Modern TV optical outputs are also being phased out increasingly.
Multi-Room & Voice Assistants
Thanks to deep Samsung ecosystem integration, Q990B owners can group their soundbar with other brand speakers like rear surrounds or wireless Radiant 360 models for whole-home audio streaming from one app. Multi-room grouping with other Formation series B&W speakers is likewise possible on their more proprietary platform.
For smart assistants and voice control, the Q990B packs direct-access Amazon Alexa and Bixby support – useful for hands-free media playback, information lookups and smart home device control. Formation Bar provides touch controls and access to Google Assistant/Siri from linked devices only.
Design & Usability
With looks and ergonomics being vital for home theater gear you‘ll interact with daily, let‘s examine how premium these flagship releases feel in practice.
Build Quality & Materials
True to B&W‘s audiophile heritage, the Formation Bar oozes refined elegance with its sleek metal grille wrapping beautifully around Kevlar speaker drivers – the very same durable, lightweight material found across Bowers & Wilkins reference monitors used in famous recording studios worldwide. The clever angled facets help project sound clearly even when furniture-mounted.
The wider profile Samsung HW-Q990B likewise makes a visual statement with its metal grille and exterior. The substantial weight and build quality provide reassurance that this is no lightweight all-plastic affair. Bonded leather detailing on the top helps it integrate classily into living rooms alongside high-end TVs. Nonetheless, Bowers & Wilkins still takes design bragging rights here.
Setup & Usage
With wireless satellites and capable automatic sound tuning, setting up a surround system has never been easier for the Samsungs. The brand‘s excellent smartphone app guides you through placing and connecting the rear speakers, subwoofer and running room calibration tests. Day-to-day controls remain simple with remote or app-based operation.
As a compact, self-contained bar, the Formation Bar should fit more easily atop small media cabinets. Simple optical cable hookup makes setup straightforward, though manually tuning the output to your room‘s needs will take old-fashioned ear power sans special calibration mics. Usability remains iPad app-based with no remote access.
Pricing & Value
Lastly, let‘s tally up the final costs of acquiring each brand‘s flagship to determine overall value. MSRPs at launch are listed, though you may find retailers selling them cheaper:
- Samsung HW-Q990B: Launched at $1,700 USD
- Bowers & Wilkins Formation Bar: Launched at $1,199 USD
Based on the Samsung HW-Q990B‘s greater number of speakers, wireless satellites for Dolby Atmos/DTS:X, deeper bass, better connectivity and smart features – its higher pricing seems well justified. Yes, the complex setup doesn‘t quite match B&W‘s stylish compactness and audiophile allure at a similar price bracket. But immersive movie buffs benefit more from Samsung‘s full home theatre experience.
That said, for pure music listeners wanting uncompromised stereo fidelity from a lifestyle-centric brand, the B&W Formation Bar makes perfect sense too. You‘ll just have to temper surround sound expectations reliant on extra physical speakers.
Bottom Line
Samsung Q990B for Home Theaters, B&W Formation Bar for Music
Ultimately, this Samsung vs Bowers & Wilkins soundbar showdown reveals two stellar offerings catering to slightly different needs:
The Samsung HW-Q990B is the surround soundbar to beat for home theater buffs, with 11 channels delivering immersive Dolby Atmos/DTS:X thanks to dedicated up-firing and wireless rear speakers. Deep bass, extensive connectivity and smart features further seal its flagship status.
Alternatively, the Bowers & Wilkins Formation Bar makes for an outstanding, simple music upgrade for discerning stereo listeners wanting beautiful industrial design and faithful sonicreplication powered by legendary British engineering. Compact sizing and lifestyle-centric features make integration beautifully elegant too.
Weigh your personal priorities around movie surround sound versus lifestyle music when choosing between these two audiophile leaders. Hopefully breaking down their soundbars by core performance, functionality and design gives clarity on which better suits your needs. Both Samsung and Bowers & Wilkins impart formidable pedigree into their flagship all-in-one sound solutions.
