Facepalm: If you own a top-tier Samsung soundbar from 2024, you may have had a challenging week. The company has acknowledged that a poor software update has rendered “certain” models from last year’s soundbar range inoperable, effectively turning them into costly decorative items.
Samsung Electronics America’s audio chief, Jim Kiczek, confirmed the situation in a statement to The Verge, referring to the issue as a “software update error” that affected some 2024 soundbars. He mentioned that Samsung is now providing free repairs for all impacted units, regardless of their warranty status.
Last week, numerous reports emerged concerning Samsung’s flagship HW-Q990D soundbar malfunctioning after a firmware update. Users reported that while these high-end systems powered on, they became unresponsive on the TV eARC input, ultimately disconnecting from the Samsung SmartThings app. Attempts to reset or reboot the devices proved futile.
The problem extends beyond the Q990D. Many reports from Samsung’s community forums, Reddit, and AVSForum indicate that other models, like the HW-Q800D and HW-S801D, are experiencing similar issues.
Customer support reports indicate that Samsung was unable to provide a solution, stating that the problem had been escalated to the warranty team and they were waiting for further instructions.
What exacerbates this issue is that a simple software patch isn’t enough this time; it seems that the bricked soundbars require physical repairs to restore functionality.
The faulty firmware update, identified as version 1020.7, has impacted many of Samsung’s premium soundbars. Automatic installation of this update has contributed to the rapid dissemination of the issue across various countries, including the US, Austria, Malaysia, and others.
For those who still have functioning Samsung soundbars, it’s advisable to disable automatic updates temporarily.
While software issues can happen, this situation is particularly disappointing for customers who invested in Samsung’s acclaimed 2024 soundbar lineup, such as the highly-rated Q990D. Instead of enjoying cinematic sound, they’re faced with unwelcome quiet.
