I have a Samsung UHD TV DU7200, which is compatible with Q-Symphony. I recently added a HW-Q99D soundbar. Upon initial set-up, the TV and soundbar immediately connected and offered the Q-Symphony option (and it worked!). However, since then there have been issues - a lot of them.
1) Q-Symphony randomly becomes unavailable in the TV menu, suggesting the TV and soundbar do not communicate correctly about this feature. I think this is related to the eArc connection because:
2) The soundbar likes to switch to HDMI-2 for some reason (a game console is connected there, but it is off), I can manually switch it back but the soundbar is stubborn and I wonder why it would even do that.
3) Beyond just Q-Symphony, I have also experienced absolute failure to play Dolby content correctly with the MoviesAnywhere streaming app. The sound is just the center channel and badly off sync. This also seem related to the communication between TV and soundbar as it happened only after the Q-symphony setting decided to go off.
I am using the most recent firmware versions (as of today) and the HDMI cable that came with the soundbar (to connect soundbar and TV). I am at a loss of what to try. I have seen other posts about Samsung TVs and the Q990D not communicating properly via eArc, and I think this may be my issue too but am not sure.
Responding to my own issue here. My soundbar 990D was NOT running the latest version, despite the SmartThings app claiming it was. Samsung seemingly has disabled over the air updates to the Q990D. Your only choice now is to do a manual update via USB drive. I went from version 1016 (shipped version) to 1024 (latest on Samsung website today). The update has helped me so far - fingers crossed it will stay that way.
Here is the method that worked for me—pay attention as Samsung’s website isn’t entirely accurate. Their support page tells you to start the update with the soundbar turned off and then plug in the USB drive. That’s misleading and doesn’t trigger the update.
Instead, here’s the correct sequence, based on both Samsung’s PDF instructions and my own experience:
First, turn on the soundbar manually—don't leave it in standby.
Plug the USB drive (formatted FAT32) into the SERVICE port underneath the unit.
Within a minute, you’ll see the display cycle through: "UPDATE" → "BYE" → "ON" three times, and then return to your last used source (e.g., "TV eARC"). The whole update takes about 6–10 minutes.
Wait for messages like "Latest Version" and then briefly "WiFi Connected".
Remove the USB drive only after the unit has restarted and is back to your last used input (mine did not turn off, it just stayed on).
After updating, hold down the DOWN button on the remote for 5–10 seconds. This seems to trigger a firmware push to all wireless modules. Your display will show "S" (Subwoofer?), "RL" (Rear Left), "RR" (Rear Right), "W" (Woofer?), and "WW" (Wireless Woofer?)—each counting up for ~130 seconds and ending with "Ready" before moving to the next module (my count stopped at 99, but it took 130 seconds roughly).
When it’s done, you’ll see "END" on the display, followed by your last source, and then the soundbar will power off. After this process, when you turn on the soundbar all wireless speakers should connect and have solid blue LEDs.
That DOWN button step seems to ensure your sub and rear speakers receive the same firmware update as the main unit. For some reason, Samsung doesn’t document this.
Hope this helps others and keeps my system running now. After the update, my Q-Symphony and random switches away from eARC were gone.
Responding to my own issue here. My soundbar 990D was NOT running the latest version, despite the SmartThings app claiming it was. Samsung seemingly has disabled over the air updates to the Q990D. Your only choice now is to do a manual update via USB drive. I went from version 1016 (shipped version) to 1024 (latest on Samsung website today). The update has helped me so far - fingers crossed it will stay that way.
Here is the method that worked for me—pay attention as Samsung’s website isn’t entirely accurate. Their support page tells you to start the update with the soundbar turned off and then plug in the USB drive. That’s misleading and doesn’t trigger the update.
Instead, here’s the correct sequence, based on both Samsung’s PDF instructions and my own experience:
First, turn on the soundbar manually—don't leave it in standby.
Plug the USB drive (formatted FAT32) into the SERVICE port underneath the unit.
Within a minute, you’ll see the display cycle through: "UPDATE" → "BYE" → "ON" three times, and then return to your last used source (e.g., "TV eARC"). The whole update takes about 6–10 minutes.
Wait for messages like "Latest Version" and then briefly "WiFi Connected".
Remove the USB drive only after the unit has restarted and is back to your last used input (mine did not turn off, it just stayed on).
After updating, hold down the DOWN button on the remote for 5–10 seconds. This seems to trigger a firmware push to all wireless modules. Your display will show "S" (Subwoofer?), "RL" (Rear Left), "RR" (Rear Right), "W" (Woofer?), and "WW" (Wireless Woofer?)—each counting up for ~130 seconds and ending with "Ready" before moving to the next module (my count stopped at 99, but it took 130 seconds roughly).
When it’s done, you’ll see "END" on the display, followed by your last source, and then the soundbar will power off. After this process, when you turn on the soundbar all wireless speakers should connect and have solid blue LEDs.
That DOWN button step seems to ensure your sub and rear speakers receive the same firmware update as the main unit. For some reason, Samsung doesn’t document this.
Hope this helps others and keeps my system running now. After the update, my Q-Symphony and random switches away from eARC were gone.
Amazing and thank you! I was ready to toss my 990D after having sent it back due to the firmware update bricking my unit. All seemed fine once it was repaired, until the whole eARC and HDMI issues popped up. I do get why Samsung decided to disable over the air updates, but I had given up visiting the support site since the firmware never seemed to change. All is well is soundbar land once again.
I should also add that our Samsung TV (and other models likely too) goes to the last used input WHEN ACCESSING THE ALL SETTINGS menu. That sounds innocuous, BUT if the last used input is something that does not support all sound modes - like not supporting Q-Symphony - then you will not see that option available in the TV settings. Put differently, the TV and soundbar work and have Q-Symphony, but the user can't see that because of the selected input. I think one needs a degree in engineering to figure out these TV and soundbar settings. Samsung, please make it easier and clearer.
