topic Re: Q-Symphony not worth it with premium soundbars? in Audio & Video

Q-Symphony not worth it with premium soundbars?

David_27 — Mon, 01 May 2023 03:52:18 GMT

I have a Q80A 55" TV and a Q990B soundbar. I've tested some Atmos scenes with Q-Symphony both Off and On. Usually there's no real difference aside from a slight volume increase. There was a scene in which, without Q-Symphony I could hear sound effects right behind my head, really close to my ears. With Q-Symphony enabled, those sounds appear to be coming from the TV, ruining the 3D experience.

Music sounds a bit louder but less deep.

I guess Q-Symphony can improve the sound of budget/mid-range soundbars, that don't have rear speakers and up-firing speakers like the Q990B, adding some height to the sound, but when a soundbar already has all those speakers and more, it seems to be doing more harm than good. What is the general consensus about this?

Re: Q-Symphony not worth it with premium soundbars?

Ironside_97 — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 09:18:53 GMT

I've gotten a little smarter on YouTube - but of course I know. not sure if that's 100% true...

According to what I found out, Q-Symphony is more likely to upgrade cheaper soundbars that don't have REAR SPEAKER.
With Q-Symphony, audio tracks - which should actually only be played back via the rears - are also played back via the TV.
This creates the hall, because the system no longer "knows" exactly which sound the TV should play and which sound the rest should play.

Re: Q-Symphony not worth it with premium soundbars?

David_27 — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 13:58:29 GMT

Yes. I've been experimenting a bit more, that is exactly what happens. Don't use Q-Symphony if you have rear speakers.

I don't understand why they advertise the feature in soundbars like the Q990B.

Re: Q-Symphony not worth it with premium soundbars?

Adam B — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 02:57:22 GMT

I've experimenting. I have the 910b sounbar that comes with rear speakers. I think it sounds better when not using qsymphony. After messing with it, I think I agree with you.

Re: Q-Symphony not worth it with premium soundbars?

Rika5417 — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 06:06:38 GMT

Hi , I have s95c and q990c after several tests I haven't decided which is better or worse , what can you tell me about it, without q symphony I realized that my rears speakers were used more often or with more strength and I really like the 3d effects or the use of the rears to get a more immersive experience but when I activated q symphony I realized that is an increase on the sound and the music on the movies sound more immersive but only the music not the effects, I cannot figure out what mode do I prefer, what you guys think?

Re: Q-Symphony not worth it with premium soundbars?

David_27 — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 01:50:02 GMT

@Rika5417 wrote:

Hi , I have s95c and q990c after several tests I haven't decided which is better or worse , what can you tell me about it, without q symphony I realized that my rears speakers were used more often or with more strength and I really like the 3d effects or the use of the rears to get a more immersive experience but when I activated q symphony I realized that is an increase on the sound and the music on the movies sound more immersive but only the music not the effects, I cannot figure out what mode do I prefer, what you guys think?

Louder doesn't necessarily mean better. Q-Symphony can be louder on some situations, but it's hollower, especially in music. And like you said, it ruins the rears and the 3D sound experience. Definitely must be off.

Re: Q-Symphony not worth it with premium soundbars?

Simon140905 — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 16:16:19 GMT

I bought a 65" s90 yesterday and turned q symphony on with my 990c soundbar system.....oh dear,the sound coming from the front was garbage as i think it reduces the control of the soundbar and puts it through the tv speakers.

i turned it off immediately and will never turn it on again.

a useless gimmuck

Re: Q-Symphony not worth it with premium soundbars?

dadnish — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:55:13 GMT

Would be nice if Samsung would comment, and also say if the software update did anything to improve it. I recently got this set up for my QN85C...

- HW-Q60CC 3.1.2 channel soundbar

- Wireless Rear Speaker Kit 9200S

- Updated the firmware to HMS-Q600CWWO-1011.0.BIN

Dolby Atmos demos on YouTube sound great. Need to play with Q-Symphony on and off more. Thanks.

Re: Q-Symphony not worth it with premium soundbars?

Mlotsp — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 21:20:17 GMT

Hi all, I have a 2023 Neo QLED and a 990D 2024 soundbar. Through testing, I run the HDMI source through the soundbar. With the source to HDMI in to the TV, I noticed lip sync issues. However, I discovered that it is not really a lip sync issue. It was the way that the sound was processed with my rear speakers and soundbar. Not an echo effect, it just didn't seem natural when watching the TV. Changed the connections back to the source directly into soundbar and everything is processed better. In both scenarios I am using Earc between the TV and soundbar. The only reason I first decided to try the source directly to TV was because of Q Symphony. But with Q Symphony off I still had the virtual lip sync issue. My soundbar processes the audio much better when the source is directly connected to the soundbar and then Earc to TV.

Re: Q-Symphony not worth it with premium soundbars?

Dobrev — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 15:01:26 GMT

I agree 100% i have samsung TV Q80 65 zoll and soundbar q990d wihtout q symphonie is the audio quality better 100%

Re: Q-Symphony not worth it with premium soundbars?

jpmcm — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 14:25:10 GMT

currently have a 85" q70c and q930c sound system set up. I've had it long enough to know the ups and downs of each product together and individually. My question relates to q symphony (both soundbar and tv emitting audio). Would it be possible in future updates for a way to control the level of volume from the tv speakers manually when using the quality symphony option? The sound from my tv is barely audible. No matter how far the soundbar is from the tv...I'd like to basically be able to fill any noticeable gaps in sound (if that makes sense) caused by a irregular set up. Meaning I can't get my soundbar close enough to the tv for it to sound natural. Even with spacefit and other software changes.

Re: Q-Symphony not worth it with premium soundbars?

Meowwws — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 16:45:58 GMT

I am using 990f with a 65inch qled tv via earc on q symphony. Dialogs is awesome with it. Huge Downfall when you are watching movie with cars hitting each other. The hit scenes is lacking in detail punch. Rewatching the scene with q symphony off also show the whole system dynamics range limitations. Is like very good = bad verses good = average scenario. All comes down the source. Since is impossible to blast at high volume for a prolonged of time, q symphony shines at low or average volumes.