Samsung launches QS700F soundbar and updates Q990 at CES 2025

Samsung has new soundbars and updates to an existing model to show off at CES 2025. First, the HW-QS700F is a brand new speaker designed to sit on a shelf or TV stand, but it can also be mounted 90 degrees flat. on a wall under a TV. The QS700F can optimize the sound depending on how you placed it to get the best performance. This adjustment is carried out automatically thanks to an integrated gyroscopic sensor. The QS700F will come with Samsung’s redesigned subwoofer, the same one that comes with the new Q990F.

In a quick demo, the QS700F sounded as crisp and clear as the Q990F. However, I only spent a few seconds in a noisy room, so I’ll have to wait for a full review to see if this is true. Still, Samsung’s trademark clarity is probably a main aspect of the sound profile, and the included sub provides ample thump. This deep tone was apparent even in the noisy demonstration area.

The company’s flagship soundbar returns for 2025 with a significant change. The HW-Q990F will remain an all-in-one package with wireless subwoofer and rear satellite speakers included and will retain the same angular look. But the company says it has reduced the size of the submarine to less than half of the previous version. What’s more, Samsung says it’s done this while delivering even more powerful audio performance from the unit. As someone who has reviewed the Q990D and Q990C, I can tell you that the previous subwoofer was huge, so this is a great upgrade.

The Q990F remains an 11.1.4-channel speaker with “clearer, richer, easier sound” and supports Dolby Atmos. The included rear surround speakers also contain upward-firing drivers, which enhances the overall effect of immersive audio. And as I’ve already noted, having everything in one package is convenient and saves you from having to make additional purchases on top of an expensive soundbar. I was able to hear the Q990F in Samsung’s CES demo area, and it’s still going strong, with the crisp, clear details I experienced on the previous two models. As I’ve already noted, this smaller sub packs a punch, and it should serve as a good replacement for the larger unit that the flagship soundbars were previously packed with.

Samsung will use AI to improve the sound quality of its soundbars in 2025. Two features, Active Voice Amplifier Pro and Q-Symphony Pro, use artificial intelligence to improve dialog over background noise and analyze sound with the processor of a Samsung TV, respectively. The company says Q-Symphony Pro will also be available on two new B-series soundbars, the HW-B750F and HW-B650F, arriving in 2025.

Another point Samsung wants to discuss at CES is its Eclipsa Audio platform which it is developing in collaboration with Google. Details are scarce on the new 3D audio standard at the moment, but Samsung has already announced that its 2025 TVs and soundbars will support it. According to the press release, Eclipsa Audio allows content creators to adjust sound data and location of spatial audio. It seems that Samsung and Google are developing their own version of Dolby Atmos. Additionally, Samsung says creators will be able to upload videos with Eclipsa Audio to YouTube later this year, but there’s no word yet on support for other platforms.

Samsung first announced plans to develop 3D spatial audio in 2023 when it collaborated with Google on the Immersive Audio Model and Formats (IAMF). The IAMF was adopted by the Alliance for Open Media (AOM), which counts Amazon, Apple and Netflix among its members. This is also not the first time that Samsung has avoided Dolby since it opted for HDR10+ rather than Dolby Vision for its televisions.

There’s no word yet on pricing and availability for the new soundbar models. This information will likely arrive closer to launch. For reference, the Q990D costs $2,000, but again, it includes a subwoofer and rear speakers. The Sony Bar 9 costs $1,400 just for the soundbar itself.