In a turn of events that has left Samsung soundbar owners fuming, a recent firmware update has rendered the flagship HW-Q990D model nearly unusable for many users.

This calamity unfolded shortly after the update was rolled out this week, triggering a flood of complaints on various online platforms including Samsung's community forums, Reddit, and AVSForum.

Customers from countries like the United States, Austria, the Philippines, and Malaysia have reported similar frustrations, underlining the global reach of the issue.

Affected owners are facing a nightmarish scenario where their soundbars become entirely unresponsive.

Although the devices power on, they freeze on the TV eARC input with no sound output.

Adding to the misery, the usual factory reset methods have failed to bring relief, and many users find that their devices are inaccessible via Samsung's SmartThings app.

The problematic firmware version 1020.7 seems to be at the heart of this debacle.

Many Q990D units are set to automatically receive updates, which has led to widespread havoc.

Users have voiced their concerns over the last few days, and those who own other Samsung models like the HW-Q800D and HW-S801D are reporting similar glitches, though the majority of complaints are about the Q990D.

This soundbar had been celebrated as one of the best on the market, making this glitch an unfortunate blemish on Samsung's reputation.

In a proactive measure, The Verge reached out to Samsung for comments on the situation, and it appears some customers have already been told to send their units in for repair— a drastic solution that many hope can be avoided.

As the tech giant grapples with this unforeseen setback, customers are left contemplating the future of their beloved sound systems.

Will a new firmware update be on the horizon to resolve these issues?

For now, it might be prudent for soundbar owners to disable automatic updates until a solution is provided.

Stay tuned as we follow this developing story and seek clarity on a potential fix from Samsung.

Will the Q990D return to its former glory, or is this the beginning of a long battle with tech troubles? Only time will tell!