True Score Methodology v1.0

Samsung Hw A650 Review

Name: Samsung Hw A650
Brand: Samsung

August 21, 2023

True Score

79

Mixed Reviews

74

2

Experts

92

168

Consumers

Expert Rankings

(

2

)

Featuring a dedicated center channel and remarkably neutral sound profile, the Samsung HW-A650 is great for TV shows and music, and casual movie watching. It doesn’t support Dolby Atmos or surround sound, so there are better options for movies.

SAMSUNG HW-A650 3.1 Channel Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer and Dolby 5.1 / DTS Virtual:X

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$399.99

$299.00

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Table of Contents

The Snapshot
What Is Not On the Box
Product Comparison
All Stores
Score Card
Expert Score Breakdown
Learn More About Soundbar

The Snapshot

our Verdict

Experts adore the neutral, balanced sound profile and dedicated center channel of the Samsung HW-A650, endorsing it for TV shows, music, and casual movie watching. Analysts from Choice love its dedicated center channel and dialogue enhancement functions, saying that it produces crisp audio for TV shows. Reviewers from Tech Hive love its neutral out-of-the-box sound profile, although it doesn’t accurately reproduce extended low bass (despite a dedicated subwoofer). The speaker has a graphic EQ for simple customization period. This system gets remarkably loud, providing room-filling sound in large spaces. However, it doesn’t support surround sound and lacks Dolby Atmos, so it has a…

Experts adore the neutral, balanced sound profile and dedicated center channel of the Samsung HW-A650, endorsing it for TV shows, music, and casual movie watching.

Analysts from Choice love its dedicated center channel and dialogue enhancement functions, saying that it produces crisp audio for TV shows.

Reviewers from Tech Hive love its neutral out-of-the-box sound profile, although it doesn’t accurately reproduce extended low bass (despite a dedicated subwoofer).

The speaker has a graphic EQ for simple customization period. This system gets remarkably loud, providing room-filling sound in large spaces. However, it doesn’t support surround sound and lacks Dolby Atmos, so it has a very narrow soundstage that might not impress movie fans.

Editors were also disappointed that it only streams wirelessly via Bluetooth and has high audio latency, and sensitive users might detect a discrepancy between the audio and video feed during dialogue. This model also lacks mobile apps or voice assistants.

If you need a device with lower latency, check out our Samsung HW-B450 review.

True Score

79

Reasons to Buy

Incredibly natural sounding sound profile
The discrete center channel offers excellent dialogue
Graphic EQ and presets for customizing audio
The system gets remarkably loud, filling large rooms easily
Bass and treble sliders for customization

Reasons to Avoid

Poor low bass despite the dedicated subwoofer
Doesn't support Dolby Atmos and downmixes surround sound to stereo, offering a poor soundstage performance
Doesn’t support Wi-Fi, Chromecast, or Airplay
Lacks smart features like voice assistants and a mobile app

Specifications

Bluetooth Enabled
–
Depth
–
Dialogue Enhancement Feature
–
Energy Star Certified
Yes
HDMI ARC
–
Height
–
Subwoofer
–
Surround Sound Supported
–
Wall Mountable
–
Weight
33 pounds
Width
–
Wireless Connectivity
Bluetooth
Wireless Subwoofer Connectivity
–
Works With
–

What Is Not On the Box

What the brand doesn’t always tell you…

The Samsung HW-A650 is a mid-range 3.1 channel sound bar that was released in 2021, intending to provide excellent virtual surround sound. This system has a dedicated center channel, standing out among the best-rated speakers on the market today.

It gets remarkably loud, featuring a maximum stereo SPL of 93 dB, and boasts an Adaptive Sound Lite feature, which enhances the clarity of voices. With a shared HDMI ARC+ Out port, full HDMI input, Optical port, and USB connector, this device offers a range of connectivity options and can act as a hub for connecting to other devices.

However, wireless streaming options are limited to Bluetooth only. With a neutral sound profile and graphic EQ, this device is great for music.

Movie performance is subpar because it downmixes surround sound to stereo and doesn’t support Dolby Atmos, so the soundstage is not very immersive. Continue reading our Samsung HW-A650 review and check out the most-popular soundbars on the market today.

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Product Comparison

	Samsung Hw A650 Review	Samsung A550 Soundbar Review	LG SN6Y Review	Sonos Arc With Sub One Sl Speakers Review
True Score	79	75	72	85
Market Context	–	With a discrete center channel, the 3.1 Samsung HW-A650 produces clearer dialogue than the 2.1 channel Samsung HW-A550 soundbar, which doesn’t have a dedicated center speaker. Apart from that, the two speakers are very similar, featuring a graphic equalizer and presets. Both devices also boast a full HDMI In and shared HDMI ARC+Out ports. You can learn more in our Samsung A550 Soundbar review today. Read more ↓	Featuring a more neutral sound profile out of the box, the Samsung HW-A650 is better for most usage scenarios than the LG SN6Y. It also comes with a graphic EQ, unlike the LG device. However, both are 3.1 systems with a similar dedicated center channel. Read more ↓	Equipped with a 5.0.2 configuration, the Sonos Arc produces better surround sound and supports Dolby Atmos, unlike the Samsung HW-A650. It also has built-in voice assistants, unlike the Samsung model. However, the Samsung device comes with a graphic equalizer and presets, unlike the Sonos soundbar. Read more ↓
Voice Assistant
Surround Sound Supported
Wireless Connectivity
Bluetooth Enabled
Wireless Subwoofer Connectivity
Dig Deeper	–	Read Review →	Read Review →	Read Review →

All Stores

Save $101
$399.99
$299.00
Availability
In Stock
Free Shipping
No
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Availability
Free Shipping
See Deal

Score Card

E

Expert Score

74

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

92

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

79

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

Expert Score Breakdown

Publications with higher Trust Scores are given more weight

A
Trust Score
74
The Samsung HW-A650 is satisfactory for mixed usage. Out-of-the-box, this soundbar has a pretty neutral… read more
D
Trust Score
NR
Does the Samsung HW-A650 soundbar’s cheaper price mean it doesn’t perform as well as its… read more