Thursday, May 20, 2021

What is the Best Soundbar for Samsung TV 5 With & Without Subwoofers Options

soundbars for samsung tv

While Samsung TVs are leading devices in the industry, the built-in speakers of a typical model are no match for a soundbar. It’s highly likely you’ll get low-quality sound. So to give you the perfect pairing, here’s the list of the best soundbars for Samsung TVs on the market.

Best Overall
SAMSUNG HW-Q950T
Editor’s Choice
SAMSUNG HW-Q70T
Best Budget
SAMSUNG 2.1 Soundbar HW-R450
SAMSUNG HW-Q950T
SAMSUNG HW-Q70T
 SAMSUNG 2.1 Soundbar HW-R450
The Samsung HW-Q950T is our team’s top choice. It’s a full home theater experience that goes above and beyond the basic 5.1 threshold for true surround sound. The HW-Q950T features 9.1.4 channels with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
If price is a big consideration but you still want Dolby Atmos and DTS:X advanced technologies, then the Samsung HW-Q70T is the right choice. The soundbar subwoofer combo offers advanced audio technologies and Alexa compatibility.
We can’t have a list without a budget choice, and the HW-R450 gives you all the perks a more expensive system does without the price tag. The soundbar subwoofer package has Bluetooth and Smart Sound Technology.
Best Overall
SAMSUNG HW-Q950T
SAMSUNG HW-Q950T
The Samsung HW-Q950T is our team’s top choice. It’s a full home theater experience that goes above and beyond the basic 5.1 threshold for true surround sound. The HW-Q950T features 9.1.4 channels with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
Editor’s Choice
SAMSUNG HW-Q70T
SAMSUNG HW-Q70T
If price is a big consideration but you still want Dolby Atmos and DTS:X advanced technologies, then the Samsung HW-Q70T is the right choice. The soundbar subwoofer combo offers advanced audio technologies and Alexa compatibility.
Best Budget
SAMSUNG 2.1 Soundbar HW-R450
 SAMSUNG 2.1 Soundbar HW-R450
We can’t have a list without a budget choice, and the HW-R450 gives you all the perks a more expensive system does without the price tag. The soundbar subwoofer package has Bluetooth and Smart Sound Technology.

Best Soundbars for Samsung TV Reviews

1. Samsung HW-Q950T - Best Samsung Soundbar (Overall)

SAMSUNG HW-Q950T

You can’t really get much better than the HW-950T in terms of a home theater soundbar system. The 9.1.4-channel system includes 9 channels on the soundbar, one sub and 4 other up-firing channels to fill the room with high quality audio.

Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are also present to bring you true 3D surround sound. Samsung is famed for their Q-Symphony, which is a technology that syncs the soundbar to your Samsung QLED TV seamlessly.

Lastly, the Samsung HW-Q950T features Alexa compatibility and Adaptive Sound, and has been thoroughly tested in Samsung labs.

Pros

Cons

2. Samsung HW-Q70T

SAMSUNG HW-Q70T

The Samsung HW-Q70T is a much more affordable model that is equipped with advanced technologies such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. The soundbar subwoofer combo also connects seamlessly to your Samsung QLED TV for a flawless experience.

As for the channels, the 3.1.2 soundbar has left and right channels with a dedicated center one that focuses on speech. It is also accompanied by one heavy-hitting subwoofer and two up-firing channels.

The HW-Q70T soundbar also features Samsung Acoustic Beam and Adaptive Sound Technologies that optimizes the audio deliverance.

Pros

Cons

3. Samsung 2.1 Channel Soundbar HW-R450

Samsung 2.1 Soundbar HW-R450

For those looking for a heavy-duty system for their TVs, we have another Samsung soundbar for Samsung TV that comes with its own wireless subwoofer. Though a soundbar unit is great for your smart TV, it’s still best to have a wireless subwoofer for that punchy bass.

While soundbars that come with subwoofers can lead to unsightly wires, wireless Bluetooth support solves that in no time. The Samsung HW-R450 has wireless Bluetooth connectivity features, so you can stay clean while improving your TV sound.

On the other hand, one of the best parts about this 2.1 channel Samsung HW-R450 soundbar is its smart sound technology. This will automatically check the sound of your TV shows, movies, and music, and optimizes the sound setting to ensure you get the best sound quality.

And for the gamers at home, the HW-R450 even features game mode. In our tests, it elevated the quality of gaming and the atmospheric vibe was more immersive.

If this is not something you’re looking for, another comparable model from the brand would be the HW-J355 soundbar. But whichever you choose, Samsung soundbars would pair easily with your Samsung TV.

Pros

Cons

4. Samsung HW-J450 2.1 Channel Soundbar

The Samsung HW-J450 looks like a basic soundbar with an understated design. However, what’s underneath the all-black construction lies Surround Sound Expansion technology that will optimize all audio.

Adding power and depth to the movies, the 2.1 channel soundbar not only includes advanced technology, but enlists the help of a wireless subwoofer to handle the lower frequencies.

The soundbar and subwoofer combo features HDMI connection to support all 4K and higher quality content. Bluetooth can also be utilized for wireless connection to external devices and Sound Connect pairs seamlessly with Samsung Tvs. For an added audio quality, you can connect it to wireless speakers like Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 3 and 2

Pros

Cons

5. Sonos Beam - Smart TV Soundbar with Amazon Alexa Built-in

Sonos Beam

It might not be a product of Samsung, but the Sonos Beam is one of the most popular soundbars you can get for your Samsung TV.

It combines sound quality and design in a more compact build, which makes it easy to play around with placement. If you want to mount it on the wall for a cleaner setup, you can do so with ease.

Aside from the usual onscreen media on TVs, you can also use the Sonos Beam to play music, podcasts, or video games. The sound quality this soundbar provides is great, but still far from the true surround sound you get from Atmos.

The Sonos Beam also boasts one of the simplest soundbar setups we’ve done because of the HDMI arc. Aside from that, the Sonos Beam features voice control and an included remote. If you don’t want the remote, you can always use the Sonos app right on your phone.

The Sonos Playbar is another choice model from the brand. Compared to the Sonos Beam, Sonos Playbar has a higher price.

Overall, the Sonos Beam is a great addition to your living area at home and it snags one of the top spots in our list of best soundbars for Samsung TVs.

Pros

Cons

Buying Guide for Samsung TV-compatible Soundbars

A Samsung Smart TV will work well with a soundbar from the same brand like the Samsung HW-Q90R, but there are a lot of other deals from reliable brands (such as Sonos and Sony) that work great too.

Before you decide, you need to narrow down your needs to find a good soundbar for a good price. There are cheap price tags and expensive price tags in the market, you don’t want to spend too high or too low just to improve your TV sound.

After all, finding the ideal soundbar is not about the brand, but the powerful features and listening experience. Listed below are the things you need to look out for in finding the best soundbar for a Samsung TV.

man facing flat screen TV

Channels

The channel refers to the point of sound emission in your soundbar. Here’s how the channel numbers work: if you have a 2.1 channel soundbar, you have 2 channels and 1 subwoofer. The former number is the number of channels and the latter is the number of subwoofers.

2 channel and 3 channel soundbars (like on this one) are standard in a budget product, and are available on the market at a cheaper price. If you are going for surround sound, you need at least 5 channels, which include rear speakers.

Aside from the channel, some models such as the Samsung HW-Q90R even support Dolby Atmos and DTS:X technology. This offers a much better immersive experience. Depending on the sound quality you want, the number of channels will vary, especially if your soundbar includes Atmos and DTS technology. However, these units may have a higher price.

In a nutshell, the higher the channel numbers, the more expansive the sound and the higher the price. For more details, you can read our comparison of 2 and 3 channels here.

Placement

Aside from the channel, think about where to place your new soundbar [1]. This might not seem like something you need, but setup actually affects the sound performance. You also want to have enough room on the wall or the entertainment unit without obstructing your view of your Samsung TV.

Our experts recommend installing the soundbar a few inches in front of or below your TV (if you wall mount it, like the HW-J450 that comes with a mount kit). Make sure it’s not next to any heat sources and has a direct line of sight to you to provide clear audio.

Size

As a general rule, the ideal soundbar for you (whether it’s Sony or other brands) should be narrower in size than your Samsung TV and should be large enough to fill the room with bass. 

The speaker placement will also limit the actual size of your soundbar. Whether you place the speaker right on the entertainment unit or on the wall, you need to make sure you have enough area and that it’s free from obstructions.

If you have an entire system, the choice in placement is also yours to make. There are also vertical soundbars that allow for flexibility.

HDMI

Check the number of HDMI inputs as well.  They’re important in a system design because they allow you to switch between video source components. Many HDMI input/output connections support HDMI arc and allow for one connection to TVs, so it’s easier compared to the old-school system.

If your TV system has an HDMI port, it makes connecting other devices with similar ports easier. Once you connect the devices via HDMI, audio will come out through the soundbar rather than the TV.

woman eating popcorn while holding remote

Bluetooth

Bluetooth support allows audio streaming from any device. It also saves you the clutter you would have with HDMI inputs and other output sources. Many brands like Sony have this option.

With Bluetooth connectivity, you also get to send music to the speaker. Overall, Bluetooth is a really convenient way to connect your system together.

Wi-Fi

For voice control lovers, the best soundbar for Samsung TVs features Wi-Fi connectivity. Models like Sony and Sonos have Wi-Fi, allowing access to music apps like Spotify and Pandora. It also lets you change speaker settings from anywhere in your house.

Unlike Bluetooth, Wi-Fi isn’t always available in Samsung soundbars, so if you prefer this wireless option, check the price because it might be more expensive.

Expansive/Immersive Audio (Dolby Atmos)

A good soundbar for your Samsung TV also offers surround sound without placing multiple speakers around the room. Other than the number of channels, check if there are top features like Dolby Atmos technology in your soundbar.

Dolby Atmos and DTS are designed to bring sound to a three-dimensional space, adding to the immersive sound that your system can potentially bring to the room.  So if you want realistic sound quality, check if your soundbar has Dolby Atmos features.

Inputs

Look for good bars with at least one digital input and one analog connectivity. The analog allows you to connect your soundbar to a TV, stereo, CD player, and other devices.

Meanwhile, the digital one can connect Blu Ray players via HDMI cable. Usually, soundbars have HDMI, optical, coaxial, and stereo input/output connectivity options. Still, using the HDMI arc is the best choice for high-quality sound. Just like in soundbar, it is also a good option even when you are setting up a Samsung TV using the HDMI Arc

remote control placed on chair

Subwoofer

If you want a soundbar choice with deep bass, you need to check if it has a subwoofer. Built-in subwoofers are incomparable to a wireless sub with larger speakers. Some soundbars even allow you to customize the bass and treble for a fully customized experience.

If you have limited area, some devices such as Samsung HW-S40T are designed with good subwoofers built-in. But if you have the room and are looking for the best soundbars with bass, then a large sub is the better choice.

Voice Control

Voice control and compatibility with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant make things easier if you like using smart technology. Powerful hands-free devices are always favored among top tech-users because they’re free to multitask with one device.

With a clear voice, feel free to say what you want to be done. Alexa is the perfect invisible assistant that will make your soundbar easy to use every time.

Soundbars that come with a universal remote will also make things much easier. Though you can use the remote, a lot of options of a soundbar for Samsung TVs are designed with a free app that can be used to control your speaker. The app is good for those who don’t want the hassle of having multiple remotes.

Sound Modes

To make sure you get the best sound quality, check if the soundbar for your Samsung TV provides support for sound modes. Affordable soundbars like TCL Alto 7 have three sound modes that you can also switch based on preferencs.  

Smart sound technology in a soundbar will analyze what’s being played on Samsung TVs to determine the optimal settings for the best experience every time. Whether it’s movies or music, the soundbar will automatically adapt its settings to the content so you can get the best sound right at home.

Popular sound modes for the best soundbars include movie mode, news mode, game mode, music mode, and more. Even with great presets, audio modes still allow you to manually choose the settings you prefer. 

Customization

With some soundbars, you’re free to connect an entire system together to simulate a theater vibe right at home. You can hook up new speakers in different rooms via HDMI support or just choose Bluetooth connectivity options.

The option to build your Samsung system is important for those looking for a cinematic experience. Most of the Samsung soundbars particularly the Samsung HW-Q900T are engineered with the latest acoustic technologies for an excellent surround sound experience. Dolby Digital on top of multiple speakers will fill your house with the content being played so you can enjoy it in every room.

man watching tv with bowl of food

What Soundbar is Compatible with Samsung TV?

Though having a Samsung soundbar guarantees compatibility with your Samsung TV, you should check out other brands (like Sonos and Sony) because they can work well too. It’s all about the connection instead of the choice of brand. If your devices both feature an HDMI arc, then they will work well with a Samsung TV.

So before you buy yourself a soundbar, check your connections first. 

Check out our Samsung HW-Q67CT review for more soundbar options. 

What is the Best TV Soundbar to Buy?

Going with larger brands that always produce good products like Bose, Yamaha, Samsung, Sony, and Sonos, are the safest options to buy. However, with a bigger brand name comes a more expensive price tag.

As mentioned, it’s about the right features of the soundbar and not the product brand. So, check the specs you want to see in a new product in terms of great sound quality.

We recommend a good soundbar that features Dolby Atmos, DTS: X technology, a sleek design, and 5 or more channels with at least 1 sub. This is on the high end of the spectrum though, but it does the job well upon pairing, making it an excellent soundbar for Samsung TVs.

Voice controls and sound modes are good for convenience, but if you are simply looking for better sound for your Samsung TV, then the channels and sub are what really matter. Many people might fall for all the fancy frills and pay extra for things they won’t use every time.

Check and make sure you find a soundbar that has everything you need and not a bunch of features you won’t use.

Read more about soundbar for your TV here. 

What is the Best Connection for a Soundbar?

There are a few methods to connect your soundbar to your Samsung TV, but which is the best one?

HDMI is the number 1 suggestion and the one most recommended by our audio experts. These cables can carry large amounts of uncompressed data and can handle the more heavy-duty soundbars, even if they have 5 channels and more than 1 sub.

New cinematic sound technology such as DTSx and Dolby Atmos may require HDMI connection support and only work with it. So if that’s what you’re after, HDMI connection is a must.

Another connectivity option is the digital optical or coaxial cable. The optical or coaxial works well for soundbars of up to 5.1 channels and subwoofers. The difference between the two (optical, coaxial) is just the shape of the connector – optical digital being square and coaxial being round.

A less popular connectivity option is the line out or RCA (3.5mm stereo). This 3.5mm stereo connection is the lowest quality. Although it works well with analog devices, it doesn’t deliver the full audio capability. Still, if the first two options aren’t available, using a stereo connection would be just fine.

For the wireless route, we have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. While this saves you from clutter, wireless connections to your Samsung TV can be unreliable at times.

Where Should I Place my Soundbar?

We recommend placing it below your Samsung TV, whether it’s on the wall or on the entertainment stand. Make sure the speakers don’t block the screen and nothing obstructs the speakers. Placing the bar inside the cabinet is not ideal, especially if your device can support Dolby Atmos surround sound.

The sounding bar should be as close to TVs as possible for stable connections and audio performance. The audio from the device should be in a direct line to you, so the sound produced is optimal from your perspective.

Furthermore, keep in mind that the placement of the sounding bar should be direct so you can easily control the soundbar. Whether you’re using the remote or app, pointing it at a sounding bar that’s mounted too high could be difficult for the sensor to detect.

Our Pick for The Best Samsung Soundbar For Samsung TV: Samsung HW-Q950T

SAMSUNG HW-Q950T

The obvious pick for the best soundbar for a Samsung TV is the HW-Q950T. The soundbar home theater system has an astounding 9.1.4 channels and all the advanced technologies audiophiles would want. You can control everything hands-free in the Samsung HW-Q950T with Alexa built-in and enjoy its Adaptive Sound technology that does all the tuning for you. 

If you’ve ever thought about which popular Sonos soundbar prevails above the rest, then wonder no more! We compared the Sonos Beam and the Playbar, which you can read about next!

The post What is the Best Soundbar for Samsung TV <br> 5 With & Without Subwoofers Options appeared first on The Product Analyst.



from The Product Analyst https://theproductanalyst.com/soundbar/best-for-samsung-tv/

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