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Samsung A550 Soundbar Review

Kenn Muguna Avatar
Updated Dec 20, 2023 11:29 AM

True Score

83
81
3

Experts

90
249

Consumers

Product Awards

GR Certified

Customer Favorite

Expert Rankings

With generous audio profile customization tools and a huge variety of ports, the Samsung HW-A550 soundbar provides versatility and pleasant music performance. However, movie enthusiasts will be concerned that it doesn’t support surround sound and Dolby Atmos.

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Table of Contents

Product Snapshot

Overview

The Samsung HW-A550 is an entry-level 2.1 soundbar that made its debut in 2021, touting Dolby 5.1 and DTS virtual X for televisions. This soundbar joins our list of the highest-rated speakers on the market today.

It boasts incredible customization options, including bass and treble adjusters. Music lovers will be pleased with its natural-sounding sound profile, and settings can easily be adjusted through the integrated graphic equalizer and presets.

However, this system doesn’t support surround audio or Dolby Atmos, so it has a very narrow 3D soundstage, which is not ideal for movies. Although it comes with a dedicated subwoofer, it lacks a deep rumbling bass.

With a combined HDMI, ARC+Out port, and a full HDMI port, 3.5m connector, and USB port, this system provides quite a number of connectivity options, although its wireless streaming options are limited to Bluetooth only.

Read on to learn more about the Samsung HW-A550 below and see how it compares with the finest soundbars on the market today.

Consensus

our Verdict

Top product testers were pleased with the graphic EQ equalizer and the natural-sounding profile of the Samsung HW-A550 soundbar, recommending it for music and TV shows and saying that it is just adequate for movies.

Reviewers from Product Review adore its natural sound profile, making it ideal for music and podcasts. Editors at RTINGS are delighted with its seven-band graphic equalizer and presets, which simplify customizing this soundbar.

Reviewers were also pleased that it has Bluetooth tech, although it lacks wireless streaming technologies like Chromecast. However, this system has mediocre audio latency, and sensitive users may notice some delay between the audio and video feeds during TV dialogue.

Although it has a dedicated subwoofer, this device is able to reproduce that extended low bass that most movie enthusiasts love. It also downmixes surround sound to stereo and doesn’t support Dolby Atmos, so it doesn’t provide a wide movie soundstage.

Reviewers were disappointed that it doesn’t have a mobile app and doesn’t support any voice assistants.

ReasonS to Buy

  • Pleasant out-of-the-box sound profile
  • Built-in graphic equalizer and presets
  • Gets remarkably loud
  • Dialogue enhancement feature is great for TV shows
  • Has a huge selection of where the connectivity options

Reason to Avoid

  • Doesn’t support surround sound or Dolby Atmos, providing a narrow movie soundstage
  • Dedicated subwoofer produces sub-par bass
  • Doesn’t have a mobile app and doesn’t support voice assistance
  • Lacks Wi-Fi, Chromecast, or Apple airplay

Samsung A550 Soundbar Specs

Bluetooth EnabledBluetooth EnabledYes
DepthDepth3.3"
Dialogue Enhancement FeatureDialogue Enhancement FeatureYes
Energy Star CertifiedEnergy Star CertifiedYes
HDMI ARCHDMI ARCYes
HeightHeight2.2"
Number of Audio ChannelsNumber of Audio Channels2.1
SubwooferSubwooferIncluded
Surround Sound SupportedSurround Sound SupportedDolby Digital, DTS, DTS Virtual:X
Voice AssistantVoice AssistantNo
Wall MountableWall MountableYes
WeightWeight16.3 lbs
WidthWidth33.9"
Wireless ConnectivityWireless ConnectivityBluetooth
Wireless Subwoofer ConnectivityWireless Subwoofer ConnectivityYes
Works WithWorks WithBluetooth, Remote Control, SmartThings

All Specs

Test Results

Low End Roll Off (Hz)61.688
High End Roll Off (Hz)18,780.242
Max Volume Test (db)92.2
Latency (ms)104
THD @ 80dB1.08

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Product Comparison

Samsung A550 Soundbar Review

True Score

83
80
83
85

Ranking

#

32

/

149

#

57

/

149

#

31

/

149

#

12

/

149

Market Context

The Samsung HW-A550 is an entry-level 2.1 soundbar that made its debut in 2021, touting Dolby 5.1 and DTS virtual X for televisions. This soundbar…

The Samsung HW-A550 is an entry-level 2.1 soundbar that made its debut in 2021, touting Dolby 5.1 and DTS virtual X for televisions. This soundbar joins our list of the highest-rated speakers on the market today.

It boasts incredible customization options, including bass and treble adjusters. Music lovers will be pleased with its natural-sounding sound profile, and settings can easily be adjusted through the integrated graphic equalizer and presets.

However, this system doesn’t support surround audio or Dolby Atmos, so it has a very narrow 3D soundstage, which is not ideal for movies. Although it comes with a dedicated subwoofer, it lacks a deep rumbling bass.

With a combined HDMI, ARC+Out port, and a full HDMI port, 3.5m connector, and USB port, this system provides quite a number of connectivity options, although its wireless streaming options are limited to Bluetooth only.

Read on to learn more about the Samsung HW-A550 below and see how it compares with the finest soundbars on the market today.

The Samsung A-550 soundbar connects more easily to modern TVs than the Samsung HW-A450, which doesn’t have HDMI ports, featuring full HDMI IN and HDMI…

The Samsung A-550 soundbar connects more easily to modern TVs than the Samsung HW-A450, which doesn’t have HDMI ports, featuring full HDMI IN and HDMI ports. The A-550 also has a virtual surround feature, which is not present on the HW-A450. Check out our Samsung HW-A450 review for more details.

With the discrete center channel, the Samsung HW-A650 provides crisper audio than the Samsung HW-A550, which is a 2.1 surround system. However, both speakers have…

With the discrete center channel, the Samsung HW-A650 provides crisper audio than the Samsung HW-A550, which is a 2.1 surround system. However, both speakers have a graphic EQ and presets, and both lack support for Dolby Atmos. You can learn more about the Samsung HW-A650 in our Samsung HW-A650 review today.

Featuring a 5.0 point two configuration, the Sonos Arc provides a more immersive 3D soundstage than the Samsung HW-A550 soundbar, which has a 2.1 configuration….

Featuring a 5.0 point two configuration, the Sonos Arc provides a more immersive 3D soundstage than the Samsung HW-A550 soundbar, which has a 2.1 configuration. Additionally, the Sonos speaker supports Dolby Atmos and has a room correction feature and a built-in voice assistant, unlike the Sonos device. However, the Samsung device has a graphic EQ and full HDMI port and supports Bluetooth, unlike the Sonos device.

Bluetooth Enabled

Yes

Yes

Yes

Depth

3.3"

2.9"

Dialogue Enhancement Feature

Yes

Yes

Yes

Energy Star Certified

Yes

Yes

Yes

HDMI ARC

Yes

No

Height

2.2"

2.1"

2.3"

Number of Audio Channels

2.1

2.1

3.1

Subwoofer

Included

Included

Yes

Dig Deeper

Samsung HW-A450 Review →

Samsung HW-A650 Review →

Sonos Arc With Sub One Sl Speakers Review →

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Score Card

E

Expert Score

81

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

90

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

83

Any product with a True Score above 70 is a Mixed Reviews

Expert Scores

  • Rtings
    101.4

    Category Trust Rating

    71
    The Samsung HW-A550 is decent for mixed usage. Out-of-the-box, it has a pretty neutral sound… Read More

    By:

    Jake Thauvette
  • Which?
    59.2

    Category Trust Rating

    NR
    The Samsung HW-A550 soundbar is an affordable model that doesn’t support Dolby Atmos. Does this… Read More

    By:

    Unknown
  • Consumer Reports
    19.6

    Category Trust Rating

    NR
    The Samsung HW-A550/ZA is part of the Soundbars test program at Consumer Reports. In our… Read More

    By:

    Unknown