Image: Dinkun Chen / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
In short: If you want a top soundbar in 2026, two models stand out. The Samsung HW-Q995GH is a complete set with soundbar, subwoofer and two rear speakers, offering 11.1.4 channels for a list price of €1,699. German site hifi.de rates it as its new number one. The Sonos Arc Ultra is a single 9.1.4 soundbar for €999. What Hi-Fi? praises its precise, spacious sound, but it has no DTS support and only one HDMI eARC port.
The two models at a glance
| Feature | Samsung HW-Q995GH | Sonos Arc Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Bar, subwoofer, 2 rears | Single bar |
| Channels | 11.1.4 | 9.1.4 |
| Formats | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and more | Dolby Atmos only |
| Connections | HDMI eARC, HDMI, optical, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | HDMI eARC, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| List price | €1,699 | €999 |
Data from hifi.de and What Hi-Fi?.
Samsung: everything in one box
The 2026 model ends in H; the HW-Q995GF is last year's version. Four up-firing drivers, two in the bar and two in the rears, create sound from above. hifi.de praises seamless surround sound, clear and natural dialogue and powerful but controlled bass from a subwoofer with two opposing drivers. The weak points are a nearly useless display and an inconsistent design. SpaceFit Sound Pro in the SmartThings app recalibrates the sound to your room every day.
Sonos: start small, add later
Inside the Arc Ultra, 15 amplifiers drive 14 drivers, including a new Sound Motion woofer with four small motors that moves more air. What Hi-Fi? calls the sound clean, precise and three-dimensional with deep bass. Downsides: no HDMI passthrough and no DTS. Bluetooth is new, and Trueplay tuning now works on Android in a quick mode.
With a Sub 4 the list price rises to €1,898, and with a Sub 4 and two Era 300 to €2,896. According to hifi.de the full set hits harder but still does not quite match Samsung's set. Thanks to Sonos 27, portable Sonos speakers can also act as surrounds, as explained in our Sonos speaker comparison.
Buying tips
Check that your TV has an HDMI eARC port. Leave free space above the bar so the up-firing drivers work. Rear speakers need power sockets behind the sofa.
Who should buy what
Choose Samsung if you want full home-cinema sound right away or watch films with DTS. Choose Sonos if you want to start with one bar, value design or already use Sonos speakers in other rooms. More reviews are in our soundbars category, and headphone fans can read our guide to the best over-ear ANC headphones.
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