Sonos Arc Ultra vs Sony Quad vs Samsung Q990C vs Bose Smart Ultra vs Nakamichi Dragon

In this video I compare my favorite soundbars and ish systems in 2024 including:
1. Sony Bravia Theater Quad (+ SA-SW5 Sub Module)
2. Sonos Arc Ultra (+ two Era 300s & Sub 4)
3. Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar (+ Bose Surround Sound Speakers & Bose Sub Module 700)
4. Samsung Q990C (/D)
5. Nakamichi Dragon (+ two 12" Subs)

I rank cinema, music, dialogue, overall sound, best system, and best system considering price - find out who's the winners and losers

Dedicated Reviews

💸 BUY STUFF I REVIEW AND USE TO MAKE VIDEOS 💸

🔊 SOUNDBARS REVIEWED 🔊
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🖱️ COMPUTER PERIPHERALS ⌨️:
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📺 MY MONITORS (TVs) 🖥️:
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📸 MY CAMERAS and LENSES 📹
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📼 VIDEO CAPTURE 🎞️
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🎙️ MICROPHONE 🎙️
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📝 TELEPROMPTER 📝
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☀️ LIGHTS ☀️
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📽️ PROJECTOR AND SCREEN 📽️
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Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
00:48 - Video Outline
03:29 - System Introductions [Smart Ultra]
04:43 - System Introduction [Q990C/D]
06:36 - System Introduction [Dragon]
08:01 - System Introduction [Quad]
09:51 - System Introduction [Arc Ultra]
11:28 - Pro [Dragon]
12:31 - Con [Dragon]
14:00 - Pro [Q990C]
15:40 - Con [Q990C]
17:08 - Pro [Arc Ultra]
18:41 - Con [Arc Ultra]
20:13 - Pro [Smart Ultra]
21:31 - Con [Smart Ultra]
22:31 - Pro [Quad]
23:10 - Con [Quad]
24:14 - Sound Quality [Dragon]
28:18 - Sound Quality [Q990C]
33:02 - Sound Quality [Quad]
36:18 - Sound Quality [Arc Ultra]
41:21 - Sound Quality [Smart Ultra]
47:20 - Ranking [Cinema]
49:13 - Ranking [Music]
50:22 - Ranking [Dialogue]
50:36 - Ranking [Overall Sound]
50:59 - Ranking [System]
55:34 - Ranking [System Considering Money]

[GS]

Best content on YouTube. You are a great communicator and great writer. I think you SHOULD quit your day job and go straight to stand-up !

Always interesting, always informative, always entertaining and always a hilarious sense of humor and timing. Do some open mike stuff at your local comedy club (if you haven't already) and I'll fly in to see ya 😂 😂

[Synesth]

I have watched most of your videos I think and something felt different with the editing on this one, I really liked it it felt that either you did a huge amount of work with the editing cause its smooth as fk or your video editor stepped up his game. Great work!

[ercrex]

Been waiting for this video! As a Sony Quad owner (after having dropouts with the a9) I think you nailed everything perfectly!

[Danrarbc]

I’d love a budget ~$500 version of this.

I understand that at that price you’d have more diversity in HOW sound is delivered (speaker pairs, bar only or budget bar sets)

[halleberry]

Loving the last chapter, value per money spent!

[dnicoya]

That’s what I call some real technical shit right there. Thanks for all the reviews throughout the year.👍🏻

[jaytclark]

You’re the only tech reviewer that I’m subscribed to.. As always next level review! Appreciate the great videos, and hard work.

[remco]

Here is for a million views🥂, keep up the great work.

[AlexOnBass]

I did a firmware update on my Samsung and man! It’s night and day difference! Unfortunately it’s not an over the sort update so many won’t even realize it’s available

[grcerosa]

Always great content very👍🏻👏 technical and informative

[LHH]

Great video and perfect timing right before Christmas 🎉 I am curious though, no Sony Bar 9 system? I can take a guess, but any comment on why it wasn’t included?

[thanostimestone]

For anyone out there. I recommend the Samsung soundbar over the Bose or Sony any day. Bose has good subs and highs but the Samsung 990 c keeps the audio and voice quality better than most other devices. I listened to a new Sony soundbar and comparing both. Well i will take Samsung any day

[kevinkmhui]

Thank you Daniel for this great comparison video! My living room has a HT-A9 for watching movies, and 2 Era 300s paired with a Sub Gen 3 for music listening. I wonder if I should add a SW5 to make a fuller system, or add an Arc Ultra to make a newer home theatre?

[FlylenseQ]

i got the quad after spending an arm and a leg. although HOLY COW it is good!

[conradchung]

holy crap!! 1 hr soundbar shootout video from NET. Wait, let me drop my pants first. This is gonna be an orgasmic experience. 😊

[dennismarlowe]

This might come off as random, but would you even consider testing/comparing these HT soundbar systems to stereo 2.1 setups? I have the basic Sonos Arc surrounds with 2 Ones for rears and a Sub gen 3, but I'm super curious what the pros/cons would be compared to something like a KEF LS60 setup

[cyberneticorganism.]

I am on the point where i am looking to maybe upgrade my Samsung HW-Q90R from 2019. It's not bad, but it has it flaws. Like that music and sounds can overtake vocals in movies and such, where i constantly need to keep switching in volume. I think the Sony Quad and Sonos Arc Ultra systems are really a step up, after seen / reading reviews. Was also considering upgrading to the latest F Samsung soundbar set, but why not go 1 step higher if i spend that money anyways? It's only hard to choose between the Sony Quad or Sonos Arc Ultra, as both have there up- and downsides. Even my current Samsung HW-Q90R supports DTS-HD MA & DTS:X, are you reading this Sonos? ;-) Are there any people here in that same boat?

[stephenwhite]

Great review man! Hey what do you think about the 990C verses the Polk Magnifi Max Ax Sr? I do NOT have a Samsung tv for the Q feature and have an A frame living room that goes WAY up so Im guessing the top atmos speakers will be a waste. I have a big room and sofa is 22' from the tv and am basically just needing to be able to hear everything clearly lol....my tv speakers arent cutting if I can get decent effects and bass that would be great! I can get the Polk for $500 which is substantially less that the 990C.

[oz]

Thank you for great review.
What are the best settings of arc ulra with era 300 ultra and sub gen2 ?

[eliomarnahr]

We need an alternative to Sony's Theatre Quad