JBL Bar 1300 vs Samsung HW-Q990D
102 facts in comparison
Based on 5,470 Reddit opinions. Close race—Samsung HW-Q990DSamsung HW-Q990D edges ahead.
5.5K opinions
Samsung HW-Q990D leads by 2pts
VS
79%
B
Based on
1,378 Redditors
JBL Bar 1300
~$1,149.95
713 opinions
tldr; Slightly older than 1300X. Same detachable rear concept. Find on sale for excellent value JBL sound.
Check pricesVS
Reddit's Pick
81%
B+
Based on
9,848 Redditors
Winner
Samsung HW-Q990D
~$997.99
4,757 opinions
tldr; The king of soundbars. 11.1.4 true Atmos with wireless Dolby rears. Bass hits hard, dialogue crystal clear. Worth every penny at sale prices.
Check prices🎵SOU
🔇BAS
⭐SUR
⭐CON
🔧BUI
70
Points
69
Points
Score by Category
Sound Quality
63%82%
Bass & Subwoofer
90%69%
Surround Sound
63%84%
Connectivity
59%50%
Build Quality
63%37%
Why is Samsung HW-Q990D better than JBL Bar 1300?
- Higher Reddit score (81% vs 79%)
- Better sound quality (82% vs 63%)
- Better value (92% vs 80%)
- Better surround (84% vs 63%)
- 11.1.4 true Dolby Atmos
- Wireless rear speakers included
- Q-Symphony with Samsung TVs
Based on 11,226 Reddit opinions
Too Close to Call
Reddit prefers the Samsung HW-Q990DSamsung HW-Q990D
Winning by 2 points (81% vs 79%)
Better sound quality
Better value
Better surround
High confidence (11,226 mentions)
💬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 11,226 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
Bar 1300
7.9/10
1,378 mentions
Samsung HW-Q990D
8.1/10
9,848 mentions
BUILD QUALITY
Bar 13006.3/10
Samsung HW-Q990D3.7/10
SOUND QUALITY
Bar 13006.3/10
Samsung HW-Q990D8.2/10
BASS
Bar 13009.0/10
Samsung HW-Q990D6.9/10
SURROUND
Bar 13006.3/10
Samsung HW-Q990D8.4/10
VALUE
Bar 13008.0/10
Samsung HW-Q990D9.2/10
CONNECTIVITY
Bar 13005.9/10
Samsung HW-Q990D5.0/10
⚔️
Head to Head
| Topic | Bar 1300 | Samsung HW-Q990D |
|---|---|---|
Build Quality | 63% | 37% |
Sound Quality | 63% | 82% |
Bass | 90% | 69% |
Surround | 63% | 84% |
Value | 80% | 92% |
Connectivity | 59% | 50% |
Category Wins
Bar 1300: 3|Samsung HW-Q990D: 3
Head to Head
Bar 1300: 3|Samsung HW-Q990D: 3
Build QualityBar 1300
Bar 130063%
Samsung HW-Q990D37%
Sound QualitySamsung HW-Q990D
Bar 130063%
Samsung HW-Q990D82%
BassBar 1300
Bar 130090%
Samsung HW-Q990D69%
SurroundSamsung HW-Q990D
Bar 130063%
Samsung HW-Q990D84%
ValueSamsung HW-Q990D
Bar 130080%
Samsung HW-Q990D92%
ConnectivityBar 1300
Bar 130059%
Samsung HW-Q990D50%
Bar 1300
79%
81%
Samsung HW-Q990D
Bar 130079%
Samsung HW-Q990D81%
Close race - Samsung HW-Q990D edges ahead by 2 points
Key Specs
| Spec | JBL Bar 1300 | Samsung HW-Q990D |
|---|---|---|
| Sound System | 11.1.4 channel | — |
| Total Speaker Power Output | 1170W | — |
| Subwoofer Size | 10 inch wireless | — |
| Frequency Response | 33Hz - 20kHz | — |
| Surround Sound | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, MultiBeam | — |
Key Highlights
JBL Bar 1300
Detachable wireless rears
11.1.4 Atmos channels
Battery-powered surrounds
Massive bass output
Legacy flagship
Samsung HW-Q990DWinner
11.1.4 true Dolby Atmos
Wireless rear speakers included
Q-Symphony with Samsung TVs
Thunderous 8" subwoofer
SpaceFit Sound auto-calibration
Topic Battles
Bar 1300: 3|Tied: 0|Samsung HW-Q990D: 2
🎵Sound Quality
Samsung HW-Q990D winsBar 1300
63%
Samsung HW-Q990D
82%
🔇Bass & Subwoofer
Bar 1300 winsBar 1300
90%
Samsung HW-Q990D
69%
⭐Surround Sound
Samsung HW-Q990D winsBar 1300
63%
Samsung HW-Q990D
84%
⭐Connectivity
Bar 1300 winsBar 1300
59%
Samsung HW-Q990D
50%
🔧Build Quality
Bar 1300 winsBar 1300
63%
Samsung HW-Q990D
37%
Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories
📈Where They Rank
💬What Redditors Actually Say
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Samsung HW-Q990D
Best Praise
+74 pts“Did I ever tell you how good Q990D is... bro trust me it's really good, you should definitely buy it.”
r/Soundbars
ViewTop Criticism
+21 pts“My Q990D bricked after the update. After contacted Sumsung (Thailand) they sent to guys for the repair. They already knew what was going on with the update and brought a box with a new pcb inside. No questions, they didn't try anything, they opened the soundbar and replaced the pcb! I was told to wait at least a month before trying to update and to turn off automatic updates. Took them 10 minutes, and the soundbar was properly working again.”
r/Soundbars
View3 more quotes available below
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for JBL Bar 1300
Best Praise
+21 pts“If you want full bass and your ears popped choose JBL with your eyes closed. If you want more sorround effects and a bigger soundstage choose Samsung. I own 2 JBL soundbars. 1000 and 1300. I like the rumble and the bass”
r/Soundbars
ViewTop Criticism
+5 pts“Indeed JBL is a good option. We have 2 at home and are very happy with it. Incredibly better than our previous Sonos setup we got rid off because of the app issues which are still not solved despite what influencers are telling everywhere. Be aware that the JBL Bar 1300 (the first one not the Mark II) has a center channel issue, making the voices not very clear. This model seems to be avoided. That’s whe we got the Bar 1000 instead.”
r/Soundbars
View3 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
JBL Bar 1300
Samsung HW-Q990D
📈Historical Price Data
JBL Bar 1300
Samsung HW-Q990D
JBL Bar 1300
All-time low: $899.95(2024-11)
$142 below 90-day avg
Samsung HW-Q990D
All-time low: $877.99(2025-12)
$2 below 90-day avg
Which is Better?
Samsung HW-Q990D Wins
81%
HW-Q990D
vs
79%
1300
Close race, but Samsung HW-Q990D edges ahead by 2 points based on 11,226 Reddit opinions.
Why Samsung HW-Q990DWinner
- Better Value for Money (92% vs 80%)
- More discussed (9,848 vs 1,378)
Why Bar 1300
- Detachable wireless rears
- 11.1.4 Atmos channels
❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
39%Positive
Positive
39%Neutral
52%Negative
9%Based on 9,848 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
41%Positive
Positive
41%Neutral
48%Negative
11%Based on 1,378 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Samsung HW-Q990D or JBL Bar 1300?
Based on 11,226 Reddit comments, Samsung HW-Q990D has a slight edge with 81% positive sentiment vs JBL Bar 1300's 79%. The difference is small, so both are solid choices.
Should I buy Samsung HW-Q990D or JBL Bar 1300?
Both have similar approval ratings (81% vs 79%), so focus on specific features, pricing, and what matters most to you.
What do Redditors love about Samsung HW-Q990D?
Reddit users highlight: 11.1.4 true Dolby Atmos. Wireless rear speakers included. Q-Symphony with Samsung TVs. With 9,848 mentions and 81% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about JBL Bar 1300?
Reddit users highlight: Detachable wireless rears. 11.1.4 Atmos channels. Battery-powered surrounds. With 1,378 mentions and 79% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 11,226 Reddit comments: 9,848 about Samsung HW-Q990D and 1,378 about JBL Bar 1300. Data was sourced from Soundbars community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.
5,470 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 7/26/2026