48

Samsung HW-A450 Review

True Score

82
78
5

Experts

89
8,010

Consumers

Product Awards

GR Certified

Customer Favorite

Expert Rankings

With a remarkably neutral sound profile, the Samsung HW-A450 is great for music and TV shows, and it’s also okay for movies. However, the lack of a dedicated center channel and poor surround sound limits its performance with movies.

SAVE $42
$199.99
$157.95

We’re reader-supported. Commissions finance our mission. Our ‘True Score‘ system independently powers ratings. Learn more

Product Snapshot

Overview

The Samsung HW-A450 is an entry-level 2.1-channel soundbar released back in 2021, promising immersive sounds for televisions. This system comes with a dedicated subwoofer, although the bass is not deep enough for electronic music and movies.

You can find more feature-rich devices on our list of the finest speakers today. Equipped with Samsung signature features like a graphic EQ and presets, this device is easy to customize, and it’s good for music, thanks to a neutral-sounding sound profile.

It has only optical and USB ports, so it’s not as equipped as other systems with HDMI ports. However, this system gets remarkably loud, failing larger rooms.

Movie enthusiasts will be disappointed that it doesn’t support Dolby Atmos and has mediocre surround soundstage performance. This speaker connects wirelessly only through Bluetooth and lacks advanced features like a mobile app and a built-in voice assistant.

Continue reading our Samsung HW-A450 review and check out our list of the best 10 soundbars on the market today.

Consensus

our Verdict

Reviewers were delighted with the balanced sound profile of the Samsung HW-A450, approving it for music, TV dialogue, and basic movie watching. Experts from Which? were delighted by its natural sounding profile, which is great for all music genres.

Editors from Consumer Reports praise its built-in graphic EQ and presets, which enable fine-tuning the sound profile as needed. That said, the speaker doesn’t produce that extended low bass that adds the wow factor to action movies, although it has a dedicated subwoofer.

It gets remarkably loud, producing deep room-filling audio. Connectivity options are limited to optical and USB, and the system can connect wirelessly via Bluetooth only.

It has very low latency, so the audio and video feeds during dialogue sync perfectly. However, reviewers has bemoaned the lack of smart features like a mobile app and a built-in voice assistant.

This system downmixes surround sound to stereo and doesn’t support Dolby Atmos, so it’s not the best choice for movies.

See our Roku Streambar review for a unit that supports Wi-Fi and Airplay.

Reason to Buy

  • Excellent neutral profile is good for music and podcasts
  • Speaker gets remarkably loud, making it a good option for small parties.
  • Graphic equalizer and presets enable simple customization
  • Equipped with a USB port

Reason to Avoid

  • Doesn’t support surround sound or Dolby Atmos, so it’s not very immersive during movies
  • Lacks HDMI ports, limiting connectivity options
  • Doesn’t have Wi-Fi, Chromecast, or Airplay.
  • Poor extended low bass

Samsung HW-A450 Specs

Bluetooth EnabledBluetooth EnabledYes
DepthDepth2.9"
Dialogue Enhancement FeatureDialogue Enhancement FeatureYes
Energy Star CertifiedEnergy Star CertifiedYes
HDMI ARCHDMI ARCNo
HeightHeight2.1"
Number of Audio ChannelsNumber of Audio Channels2.1
SubwooferSubwooferIncluded
Surround Sound SupportedSurround Sound SupportedDolby Digital, Surround Sound
Voice AssistantVoice AssistantNo
Wall MountableWall MountableYes
WeightWeight12.8 lbs
WidthWidth33.9"
Wireless ConnectivityWireless ConnectivityBluetooth, Wireless
Wireless Subwoofer ConnectivityWireless Subwoofer ConnectivityYes
Works WithWorks WithBluetooth, Remote Control

All Specs

Test Results

Low End Roll Off (Hz)61.688
High End Roll Off (Hz)13,867.577
Max Volume Test (db)92.05
Latency (ms)
THD @ 80dB0.47

Get the Winner of the Day Direct to Your Inbox

Join 1+ million monthly users and become an instant expert with our daily download of reviews, tips and guides.

Trusted By

Product Comparison

Samsung HW-A450 Review

True Score

82
84
80
NR

Ranking

#

48

/

149

#

26

/

149

#

75

/

149

#

/

Market Context

The Samsung HW-A450 is an entry-level 2.1-channel soundbar released back in 2021, promising immersive sounds for televisions. This system comes with a dedicated subwoofer, although…

The Samsung HW-A450 is an entry-level 2.1-channel soundbar released back in 2021, promising immersive sounds for televisions. This system comes with a dedicated subwoofer, although the bass is not deep enough for electronic music and movies.

You can find more feature-rich devices on our list of the finest speakers today. Equipped with Samsung signature features like a graphic EQ and presets, this device is easy to customize, and it’s good for music, thanks to a neutral-sounding sound profile.

It has only optical and USB ports, so it’s not as equipped as other systems with HDMI ports. However, this system gets remarkably loud, failing larger rooms.

Movie enthusiasts will be disappointed that it doesn’t support Dolby Atmos and has mediocre surround soundstage performance. This speaker connects wirelessly only through Bluetooth and lacks advanced features like a mobile app and a built-in voice assistant.

Continue reading our Samsung HW-A450 review and check out our list of the best 10 soundbars on the market today.

Featuring a full HDMI input and an HDMI ARC connector, the Samsung HW-A550 is more versatile than the Samsung HW-A450, which doesn’t have these ports….

Featuring a full HDMI input and an HDMI ARC connector, the Samsung HW-A550 is more versatile than the Samsung HW-A450, which doesn’t have these ports. The HW-A550 also supports virtual surround sound, providing a more immersive experience than the Samsung HW-A450 which lacks this feature. Check out our Samsung A-550 Soundbar review to learn more.

Although the Samsung HW B-450 is the successor to the Samsung HW-A450, the Samsung HW-A450 is better in most departments. Unlike the newer Samsung HW-B450,…

Although the Samsung HW B-450 is the successor to the Samsung HW-A450, the Samsung HW-A450 is better in most departments. Unlike the newer Samsung HW-B450, the Samsung HW-A450 has a graphic EQ and a more neutral out-of-the-box sound profile. If you need a soundbar for TV, check out the best soundbar for Samsung TV in our detailed article.

Featuring a 3.1 setup, the Polk Audio SIGNA S4 provides a more immersive three-dimensional soundstage than the Samsung HW-A450, which has a 2.1 setup. It…

Featuring a 3.1 setup, the Polk Audio SIGNA S4 provides a more immersive three-dimensional soundstage than the Samsung HW-A450, which has a 2.1 setup. It also supports Dolby Atmos, unlike the Samsung device. However, the Samsung soundbar has a much lower 34 ms ARC latency compared to the 84 ms latency of the Polk Audio speaker. Be sure to check out our Polk Audio SIGNA S4 review if you need the SIGNA speaker.

Bluetooth Enabled

Yes

Yes

Yes

Depth

2.9"

3.3"

3"

Dialogue Enhancement Feature

Yes

Yes

Yes

Energy Star Certified

Yes

Yes

Yes

HDMI ARC

No

Yes

No

Height

2.1"

2.2"

33.8

Number of Audio Channels

2.1

2.1

2.1

Subwoofer

Included

Included

Included

Dig Deeper

Samsung A550 Soundbar Review →

Samsung HW-B450 Review →

All Stores

Updated every 24 hours

  • Save $42
    $199.99
    $157.95

    Availability

    In Stock

    Free Shipping

    No
  • Save $1
    $199.99
    $199.00

    Availability

    Not available

    Free Shipping

    Yes

Score Card

E

Expert Score

78

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

89

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

82

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

Expert Score Breakdown

  • Rtings
    103

    Category Trust Score

    70
    The Samsung HW-A450 is decent for mixed usage. It’s a 2.1 bar, so it’s designed… read more

    By:

    John Panoryios
  • Techgear Lab
    85.83

    Category Trust Score

    48
    In our soundbar testing experience, we’ve found that you can give your home theater a… read more

    By:

    Michelle Powell
  • Which?
    58.66

    Category Trust Score

    NR
    The Samsung HW-A450 soundbar sits firmly at the budget end of the price spectrum. But… read more

    By:

    Unknown
  • Consumer Reports
    40.86

    Category Trust Score

    NR
    The Samsung HW-A450/ZA is part of the Soundbars test program at Consumer Reports. In our… read more

    By:

    Unknown
  • Choice
    38.9

    Category Trust Score

    80
    I am happy with the final result. It is connected to a Samsing 65″ QLED… read more

    By:

    Unknown

Customer Score Breakdown

Learn More About Soundbar


Soundbar Reviews