Compare Samsung HW-Q990F Soundbar vs JBL Bar 1300X Soundbar

Gaming HDMI passthrough receives positive evidence from PS5 testing, where reviewers reported no lag or video-quality drop.

Gaming passthrough was a weakness where discussed, with reviewers flagging missing HDMI 2.1 or 4K/120Hz support.

HDMI 2.1 gaming support is praised for 4K/120-style passthrough and no lag or video-quality loss in gaming tests.

HDMI 2.1 gaming support was limited, with reviewers routing consoles directly to the TV for better high-refresh gaming.

Status indicators are a recurring weak spot because the dot-matrix/front display can be hard to read or tedious for adjustments.

Status displays and indicators were well liked, with reviewers calling the front display helpful, easy to read, and useful for battery/status feedback.

Reviewers broadly praise the tonal balance, clarity, bass-to-midrange integration, and detailed highs, with only isolated complaints around music quality.

Frequency balance was mixed, ranging from balanced and non-fatiguing to shouty, flappy, muffled, or uneven with music.

Most reviewers report clean performance at high levels, though one notes cabinet strain/rattle from the redesigned subwoofer when pushed very hard.

High-volume control is mostly good, with two reviewers praising resistance to distortion, though one heard dialogue clarity soften when pushed louder.

Cohesion is excellent in the strongest reviews, with subwoofer, bar, and surrounds described as seamless and tonally matched.

Cohesion was usually praised, especially the seamless bubble of sound, though one reviewer found the stage somewhat constrained.

Remote usability is mixed: some reviewers like the simple, well-laid-out design, while others find deeper remote/display navigation tedious.

Remote reactions varied from easy and well-labeled to unbacklit, mediocre, or frustratingly enigmatic.

Cabinet construction is mostly fine, but one reviewer reports audible creak/rattle from the subwoofer cabinet under very high-volume strain.

One reviewer criticized the subwoofer cabinet, tying plastic construction to audible rattle at very low frequencies.

Vocal clarity is mostly praised for clean, present voices, though some reviewers found voice processing unnatural or dialogue/vocals muffled.

Voice reproduction was generally strong, with reviewers praising vocal clarity, natural presentation, and PureVoice performance despite limited adjustment.

Dynamic headroom is praised for punch, scale, and powerful transient impact.

One reviewer strongly praised dynamic range, especially smooth transitions between quiet and loud moments.

The system’s size and weight are a tradeoff: reviewers accept the heft for performance but warn it may not fit easily under some TVs.

Size and placement convenience were mixed to poor: the wider bar can overhang a stand, and the large subwoofer is hard to hide.

Room calibration is generally useful and effective, though several reviewers characterize the improvements as subtle or requiring small manual corrections.

Room calibration was usually seen as helpful and effective, but one reviewer felt it did not make meaningful tonal changes.

Home theater integration is a core strength, especially with Samsung TVs/Q-Symphony, but the four-piece system can feel like clutter and Q-Symphony results vary.

Home theater integration was a core strength, with reviewers calling it a strong all-in-one setup and a good easy alternative to separates.

Detail retrieval is a major strength, with reviewers praising fine effects, quiet details, and textural information in movies and music.

Detail retrieval was a strength, with reviewers hearing subtle effects, crisp textures, and distinct elements in busy scenes.

Dolby Atmos height and 3D effects are widely praised as convincing, well placed, and among the best reviewers have heard from soundbars.

Dolby Atmos effects were widely praised as spectacular, astounding, and immersive, though a few reviews wanted clearer or stronger height projection.

Reviewers consistently describe the system as loud and room-filling, with enough output for large rooms; no review frames maximum volume as a major weakness.

Reviewers consistently found the bar loud and room-filling, with enough output for cinematic impact; one noted it could play at full volume without becoming unbearable.

Dialogue clarity is usually considered strong, helped by Samsung’s voice features, but one review sharply criticized speech as muffled and underwhelming.

Dialogue was often clear against busy soundtracks, but several reviewers found occasional difficulty, muffling, or a need for more adjustment.

HDMI eARC is praised for letting the TV remote handle everyday volume and mute control.

Reviewers who evaluated TV audio connection favored HDMI ARC/eARC, calling it the best path for Dolby Atmos playback.

Inter-speaker wireless communication is praised for retaining connections without manual input.

The strongest inter-speaker connectivity evidence was positive, with one reviewer saying the surrounds worked reliably even at distance.

The optical input receives a positive latency assessment in the available evidence.

Optical input was treated as a fallback, with reviewers warning that it gives a lesser surround experience than eARC.

Video passthrough support is strong, with praise for 4K/120, HDR format passthrough, and gaming-friendly HDMI behavior.

Video passthrough was useful thanks to multiple HDMI inputs and HDR/Dolby Vision support, but limited by 4K/120Hz shortcomings.

Setup is one of the strongest positives, repeatedly described as easy, plug-and-play, or novice-friendly, though one review wanted some manual intervention.

Setup was mostly considered simple, quick, or plug-and-play, with one reviewer finding the first controls and guide tricky.

Value is split by price sensitivity: many reviewers say performance justifies the cost, while others say the expensive system is not clearly excellent enough.

Value opinions were positive for movie-focused users and the all-in-one package, but some reviewers questioned the cost against strong competitors.

Spotify Connect is included in a wireless streaming bundle reviewers call stellar, though reviews do not deeply isolate Spotify-specific behavior.

Spotify support was generally useful, especially for streaming, though one reviewer noted Spotify was not built into the JBL app.

The system’s bass and spatial presentation are described as non-directional or room-filling enough to feel omnidirectional.

Off-axis or omnidirectional coverage was limited in one review, which described the experience outside the central seat as lopsided.

TV/lip-sync latency is rated strongly, with reviewers reporting no delay, no lag, or low-latency playback across wired and wireless setups.

One reviewer noted a short one-second restart delay after pausing video, making TV latency a minor annoyance rather than a dealbreaker.

Stereo and music imaging are generally praised for focus, width, and staging, but one dissenting review found music performance especially weak.

Stereo performance split reviewers: one found separation present, but several heard music as a step down, constrained, or simply not right.

Height staging receives standout praise, including claims it is better produced than on other soundbar systems.

Height performance was impressive in several tests, but some reviewers found vertical projection less pronounced than rival Atmos bars.

Audio format support is broad and positively framed, covering mainstream immersive formats and newer support without major reviewer concern.

Audio format support was strong where evaluated, with reviewers highlighting Dolby Atmos and DTS:X coverage and broad decoding support.

The smaller dual-driver subwoofer is widely praised for deep, controlled, room-filling bass, but a few reviewers note placement sensitivity, looser timing, or strain at high output.

The subwoofer drew heavy praise for huge impact and deep bass, but some reviewers found its levels hard to control or less precise with music.

Wired connectivity is repeatedly described as excellent or sufficient, especially for HDMI/eARC and optical use.

Wired connectivity was consistently praised for generous HDMI and input coverage, with multiple reviewers calling the ports ample or generous.

Low-volume performance is unusually strong, with reviewers praising quiet-detail audibility and private/low-level listening usefulness.

Low-volume and quiet-scene handling was praised in one review for keeping loud and quiet sounds delicately balanced.

Surround presentation is the product’s strongest consensus area, with reviewers praising immersion, positioning, and a convincing sound bubble; one review found rear speakers weaker under stress.

Surround performance was a major strength, repeatedly described as immersive, precise, and competitive with strong soundbar rivals.

EQ and channel customization are broadly useful, though some reviewers note limits and prefer the app for detailed adjustments.

EQ customization was one of the clearest weaknesses, with repeated complaints about limited bands, few levels, and weak preset control.

On-device controls are useful and accessible, though the strongest control praise tends to shift toward the app.

On-device controls were split: basic buttons were liked in one review, while another criticized missing direct controls for key modes.

Bluetooth/AirPlay/Tidal connection speed receives a positive reviewer note, but Bluetooth-specific stability evidence is limited.

Bluetooth stability was mixed: one reviewer could not pair a smartphone, while others had smooth streaming or no sync concerns.

Wireless streaming is mixed: several reviewers praise wireless connectivity, while others flag dropouts or fussy phone handoff behavior.

One reviewer reported the app connected the bar to the home network without fuss, supporting a positive Wi-Fi reliability score.

Alexa-style assistant integration is present and useful, but one reviewer found the always-listening behavior annoying enough to mute.

Smart assistant integration was limited in the one opinionated assessment, with the reviewer saying there was not much in the way of smarts.

Smart features are generally useful and well integrated, especially app control and streaming options.

Smart and extra features were useful but uneven: reviewers liked streaming and portable-speaker tricks, while some wanted more modes and controls.

The wireless rear/sub pairing process is repeatedly described as seamless, instant, or nearly effortless.

Wireless speaker pairing was praised in the two tests that addressed it, with stable surround operation and a strong stereo Bluetooth setup.

The SmartThings app is generally praised as helpful and easier than the display/remote, with only minor complaints about using it for deeper adjustments.

The JBL One app was usually praised as easy and useful, though one reviewer called it only good, not great.

Design is polarizing: many like the cleaner subwoofer and modern industrial look, while others find the soundbar dated, bulky, or not home-friendly.

Design reactions were mostly positive for innovation and minimalism, though several comments framed the look as practical rather than striking.

Build quality is mostly positive, with sturdy metal and high-end feel, but one reviewer calls the overall construction merely adequate for the class.

Build quality was generally regarded as solid or excellent, with reviewers praising sturdy construction and premium-feeling materials.

AirPlay is supported with positive reviewer comments around fast, reliable, or Atmos-compatible wireless playback.

Compatibility beyond Samsung is positive in limited evidence, with one reviewer saying it works fine with non-Samsung TV products.

Google Cast/Chromecast-style streaming is included in a wireless feature set reviewers describe positively.

Google integration is mixed: Google Cast support is praised as part of the wireless set, while one reviewer could not connect Google Home.

Magnetic attachment was mostly secure and robust, though one reviewer said the detachable speakers sometimes required force to remove.

Physical control buttons are praised for being clicky rather than touch-sensitive.

The physical microphone mute is considered an important privacy/control feature.

Rear-speaker cable flexibility receives one positive note because Samsung includes different lead lengths for easier placement.

Battery-powered surrounds enable flexibility, but several reviewers called regular recharging a hassle or a faff.

USB-C charging was repeatedly praised as a useful backup or major improvement for keeping the detachable speakers powered.

Voice assistant responsiveness appears high enough to trigger annoyance in one review, but the evidence is limited.