Samsung's new flagship soundbars have improved designs and AI features I'd actually use

CES 2025 is still in its early days, but home audio giant Samsung has already announced two new soundbars to complement its new line of TVs. The soundbars debut with refreshed designs, the latest home audio technologies, and AI-powered dialogue enhancement features.

According to Samsung, the flagship Samsung HW-Q990F soundbar can render an 11.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos listening experience, complete with 11 front-facing speakers, one subwoofer, and four upfiring audio channels.

Also: CES 2025: What to expect and how to watch

The HW-Q990F has the same amount of audio channels as its predecessor, but Samsung asserts that the HW-990F’s subwoofer is half the size and produces more powerful audio output. The improved subwoofer should deliver clearer and more immersive sound.

Samsung also announced a midrange soundbar, the HW-QS700F. The company touts its ability to be mounted or placed flat, making it more flexible to fit your space.

The new soundbars are equipped with Eclipsa Audio, a new spatial audio format created through a partnership between Samsung and Google. This open-source audio format is expected to rival Dolby Atmos and will not require manufacturers to pay licensing fees. 

However, the feature is only available on compatible Samsung TVs and soundbars released in the company’s 2025 lineup. 

Also: Samsung and Google will unveil their open-source Dolby Atmos alternative at CES 2025

Additionally, Samsung announced Active Voice Amplifier Pro, the company’s latest AI-powered dialogue enhancement software. This software builds on Active Voice Amplifier, which automatically increases dialogue volume when it detects background noise. We can assume Samsung has improved the algorithm that powers this feature to make it more reliable.

Samsung also improved its surround sound feature Q-Symphony, which engages both your compatible Samsung TV and soundbar’s speakers to enhance your listening experience. According to the company, Q-Symphony Pro will use AI to analyze the audio through a compatible Samsung TV to provide even more detailed surround sound.