As a worldwide electronics manufacturer, Samsung’s products are present in almost every home. That goes for its soundbars, too. Built to augment its line of high-quality 4K television sets, Samsung soundbars work great with other television brands as well as its own and, with Bluetooth capability, even connect to smartphones for music streaming.
Read this shopping guide to find the Samsung soundbar that’s just right for your entertainment setup. We’ve included our top recommendations, like the Samsung HW-Q910C Soundbar, which combines sleek design with top-notch audio output and controls.
Speaker configuration needs to be taken into account when selecting a Samsung soundbar. Your needs are different if you’re looking to fill a large home-theater space versus a small apartment living room — satellite speakers and a dominating subwoofer may be needed to get that immersive experience in the larger space, while a good onboard arrangement of direct and upfiring speakers may be ideal for smaller environments.
Knowing the speaker format of soundbar models also helps in the purchasing decision. For example, a soundbar with 2.1 audio has two speakers and a subwoofer, while a soundbar with 3.0 audio has three onboard speakers but no subwoofer (indicated by the “0” in 3.0). Surround sound format is typically 5.1 audio — three speakers, two rear satellite speakers, and a subwoofer.
A Samsung soundbar is similar in appearance to other soundbars on the market. Buyers can expect a long, rectangular soundbar cabinet that houses two or three speakers. An external subwoofer is offered with many soundbar models and provides deep, rich bass output. Two or more satellite speakers intended for rear-facing sound output may be included as well.
Each soundbar has a remote control that allows users to not only adjust volume but fine-tune the audio channels for the best mix of sound. Samsung’s Bluetooth-enabled soundbars may also work with Samsung TV remotes or even a remote-control app on a user’s smartphone.
For between $100 and $249, Samsung soundbars with 2.1 or 3.0 audio are an economical choice. Those wanting a more comprehensive setup will find options between $250 and $799, while sound mavens and those building the ultimate home theater will find feature-heavy soundbars between $800 and $1,500.
A. Don’t panic. All soundbars need to be calibrated when they’re set up in a new space so that they provide optimum sound. Open the soundbar’s menu on your TV (or smartphone app, if that’s the option) and look for a built-in or auto calibration setting. Run that first. If that doesn’t do it, or the soundbar doesn’t have built-in calibration, manually calibrate each channel by listening to different settings at different points in the room.
A. No, a subwoofer isn’t a requirement — soundbars can put out compelling sound through the onboard speakers alone. If you’re looking for deep, gut-shaking bass though, a subwoofer is an excellent addition.
What you need to know: This wireless soundbar speaker set is perfect if you want to set up your own home theater system.
What you’ll love: It comes with everything you need to make a surround sound system, including two subwoofers and a rear speaker kit. It also comes with a wall mounting kit.
What you should consider: The setup takes a long time.
What you need to know: This midrange soundbar is really easy to use.
What you’ll love: It’s easy to set up and use because it’s wireless. It’s thin, so it fits on most TV stands easily. It comes with a soundbar, subwoofer, HDMI cable and remote.
What you should consider: Some people were unimpressed with the bass quality.
What you need to know: If you’re looking for a simple, all-in-one speaker, this is the ideal choice.
What you’ll love: The single soundbar has everything you need inside it: two woofers, three tweeters and a central speaker. It’s compatible with Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS Virtual X sound.
What you should consider: The power cord is short, so you’ll have to install it closer to an outlet.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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