Samsung Hw B550 Review
True Score
Experts
Consumers
Expert Rankings
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With a neutral out-of-the-box sound profile, the Samsung HW-B550 is a good option for music, TV shows, and occasional movie-watching. However, it has poor bass and lacks Dolby Atmos and surround sound, so it’s not very immersive for movies.
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What Is Not on the Box
What the brand doesn’t always tell you…
our Verdict
Product testers were pleased by the neutral sound profile and loud output of the Samsung HW-B550, recommending it for music, TV shows, and basic movie watching. Reviewers from What Hifi were impressed by the pleasant sound profile, endorsing it for most music genres and podcasts.
Testers from CNET love the loud sound output of this model, saying that it is good for entertaining. However, it doesn’t reproduce that deep rumbling bass that enlivens action moves, despite having a dedicated subwoofer.
It has a huge selection of audio customization features that include a graphic equalizer, equalizer presets, and bass and treble sliders. However, this system doesn’t support Dolby Atmos, contrary to the manufacturer’s claims, and it also downmixes surround sound to stereo, so it is not very immersive for movies.
Voice assistant and mobile app features are missing on this system, but it has a great build quality that should stay useful in the living room or home theater for a long time.
Reasons to Buy
- Incredibly loud output is good for small indoor gatherings
- Huge collection of sound customization options that include a graphic equalizer, EQ presets, and bass and treble sliders
- Dialogue enhancement feature is great for TV shows
Reasons to Avoid
- Subpar extended low-bass is not great for movies
- Lacks Apple Airplay, Wi-Fi, and Chromecast
- Doesn't have mobile apps
- System doesn’t work with voice assistants
- Lacks a dedicated center channel for dialogue
Specifications
- Bluetooth Enabled–
- Depth–
- Dialogue Enhancement Feature–
- Energy Star CertifiedYes
- HDMI ARC–
- Height–
- Subwoofer–
- Surround Sound Supported–
- Voice Assistant–
- Wall Mountable–
- Weight–
- Width–
- Wireless Connectivity–
- Wireless Subwoofer Connectivity–
- Works With–
Overview
The Samsung HW-B550 is an entry-level 2.1-channel soundbar released in 2020, promising immersive sounds for TVs. It’s a great choice for users seeking to upgrade the built-in TV speakers.
Still, you can find higher-end systems on our list of the highest-rated speakers. A dialogue enhancement feature fine-tunes TV audio, although it lacks a dedicated center channel. This model has a graphic EQ and presets for fine-tuning the sound profile.
Despite having a dedicated subwoofer, this system produces subpar low bass. That said, it gets really loud, achieving a top SPL of 92.5 dB. Ports on this system include optical, combined HDMI ARC+Out, full HDMI in, and USB.
Unfortunately, wireless streaming options are limited to Bluetooth, and it has no app or voice assistant. Additionally, it doesn’t support Dolby Atmos and lacks a 3D surround soundstage, so it’s not the best model for movies.
Browse to the end of this Samsung HW-B550 soundbar and check out our list of the most popular soundbars today.
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Product Comparison
 |  |  | ||
| True Score | 77 | 77 | 75 | |
| Market Context | – | Being a 3.1-channel system with a dedicated center channel, the Samsung HW-B650 produces better-sounding dialogue than the Samsung HW-B550, which is a 2.1-channel speaker without a dedicated center speaker. However, both systems have an incredible range of wired connectivity options that include a full HDMI input. And both models stream wirelessly via Bluetooth only. You can learn more about the 3.1-channel system in our Samsung HW-B650 review today. | Featuring a graphic EQ, the Samsung HW-B550 is easier to customize than the Samsung HW-B450 which doesn’t have such a customization option. It also has HDMI connectors, unlike the Samsung HW-B450. Otherwise, the speakers are a similar 2.1-channel soundbar with a similarly neutral sound profile. Check out our Samsung HW-B450 review for details. | Both the Samsung HW-B550 And the Polk Audio SIGNA S2 are budget 2.1 soundbars that support Bluetooth wireless streaming. However, the Samsung device is better thanks to a graphic equalizer that is absent on the Polk Audio device. It also has a more neutral out-of-the-box sound profile than the SIGNA 2. |
| Voice Assistant | ||||
| Surround Sound Supported | ||||
| Wireless Connectivity | ||||
| Bluetooth Enabled | ||||
| Wireless Subwoofer Connectivity | ||||
| Dig Deeper | – | Read Review → | Read Review → |
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Score Card
E
Expert Score
*.75
We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores
C
Customer Score
*.25
We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores
True Score
Any product with a True Score above 70 is a Mixed Reviews
Expert Score Breakdown
Publications with higher Trust Scores are given more weight
ATrust Score
72The Samsung B550 is decent for mixed usage. As a 2.1 soundbar, it’s ideal for… read more- D
Trust Score
NRThe Samsung HW-B550 soundbar is a basic model that doesn’t support Dolby Atmos, the surround… read more - F
Trust Score
NRThe Samsung HW-B550/ZA is part of the Soundbars test program at Consumer Reports. In our… read more
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