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Samsung HW-S60A Review

True Score

73
76
4

Experts

89
2,200

Consumers

Expert Rankings

The Samsung HW-S60A offers good sound customization, low-latency performance, and clear sound for dialogue. It falls short in delivering deep bass and lacks some premium features. But despite this, overall, it delivers great performance for the price.

Overview

The Samsung HW-S60A is a high-end 5.0 channel soundbar that was first released in 2021, targeting movie and music lovers who need smart features and 3D Surround performance.

This system uses Samsung’s proprietary Acoustic Beam technology and side-horn speakers to create an immersive 3D soundstage that’s good for movies and games.

Unfortunately, this system doesn’t support Dolby Atmos, so it is not as immersive with directional content as the best-rated speakers. It also lacks a dedicated subwoofer and can’t reproduce deep extended low bass.

A graphic equalizer and EQ presets enable adjusting the settings easily. You can connect to this device wirelessly through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple Airplay.

Wired connectivity options include optical, a combined HDMI ARC+Out, and full HDMI inputs. This system also gets fairly loud, so it’s good for big home theaters.

Built-in Amazon Alexa and the Samsung SmartThings app offer effortless control. Browse to learn more about the Samsung HW-S60A, and see how it compares with the most popular soundbars on the market today.

What Is Not on the Box

What the brand doesn’t always tell you…

our Verdict

The Samsung HW-S60A has good stable connectivity with low latency over ARC and Optical. And it also supports plenty of wireless connections, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay 2.

It has clear vocals and neutral sound, suitable for most audio content. However, it struggles to produce deep-thumping bass in movies and music. Despite this, it offers a wide array of sound customization features, including graphic EQ and presets

In terms of build quality, it has a durable plastic construction, though the fabric covering wears over time. The controls work well, but the lack of volume indicators on the soundbar is another minor inconvenience.

However, the soundbar lacks support for Chromecast built-in and Atmos, which limits immersion. While the soundstage is relatively wide, the bar lacks tricks to expand it further.

True Score

73

Reasons to Buy

  • Built-in Acoustic Beam technology for immersive sound
  • Alexa voice assistant for convenient control
  • Dialogue enhancement feature for clear TV show dialogues
  • Auto-volume mode to balance volume levels across programs
  • Wireless streaming via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay 2
  • Lots of sound customization with graphic EQ and presets
  • Low latency via ARC and Optical for synced audio and video
  • Great build quality with durable plastic construction
  • Good stereo soundstage with accurate audio placement
  • Reasonable price for the features offered

Reasons to Avoid

  • Lacks low-bass for impactful music and action movies
  • No support for Chromecast built-in
  • Not as punchy as some other soundbars
  • Missing a dedicated balancing mode for dialogue
  • Volume indicator absent on the soundbar itself
  • Some difficulty setting up the built-in Alexa
  • Fabric covering may be prone to ripping or getting dirty
  • Soundbar may not pick up remote signals from low positions
  • No Atmos support for an immersive audio experience

Specifications

Bluetooth EnabledYes
Built-In Voice AssistantAmazon Alexa
Depth4.9"
Dialogue Enhancement FeatureYes
Energy Star CertifiedNo
HDMI ARCYes
Height2.7"
Number of Channels5
SubwooferOptional (sold separately)
Surround Sound SupportedDolby Digital, DTS
Voice AssistantAmazon Alexa
Wall MountableYes
Weight6.6 lbs
Width30.1"
Wireless ConnectivityBluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi
Wireless Subwoofer ConnectivityYes
Works WithAmazon Alexa

All Specs

Test Results

Minimum Freq Response (Hz)33.6
Maximum Freq Response (Hz)19,900
Max Volume Test (db)94.4
Latency (ms)56

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Product Comparison

True Score

73
72
86
75
73

Ranking

#

55

/

153

#

59

/

153

#

6

/

153

#

40

/

153

#

52

/

153

Market Context

The Samsung HW-S60A is a high-end 5.0 channel soundbar that was first released in 2021, targeting movie and music lovers who need smart features and…

The Samsung HW-S60A is a high-end 5.0 channel soundbar that was first released in 2021, targeting movie and music lovers who need smart features and 3D Surround performance.

This system uses Samsung’s proprietary Acoustic Beam technology and side-horn speakers to create an immersive 3D soundstage that’s good for movies and games.

Unfortunately, this system doesn’t support Dolby Atmos, so it is not as immersive with directional content as the best-rated speakers. It also lacks a dedicated subwoofer and can’t reproduce deep extended low bass.

A graphic equalizer and EQ presets enable adjusting the settings easily. You can connect to this device wirelessly through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple Airplay.

Wired connectivity options include optical, a combined HDMI ARC+Out, and full HDMI inputs. This system also gets fairly loud, so it’s good for big home theaters.

Built-in Amazon Alexa and the Samsung SmartThings app offer effortless control. Browse to learn more about the Samsung HW-S60A, and see how it compares with the most popular soundbars on the market today.

The Samsung HW-Q600A comes with a dedicated subwoofer, producing deeper extended low bass than the Samsung HW-S60A, which doesn’t come with a sub. It also…

The Samsung HW-Q600A comes with a dedicated subwoofer, producing deeper extended low bass than the Samsung HW-S60A, which doesn’t come with a sub. It also supports Dolby Atmos, unlike the Samsung HW-S60A. That said, the Samsung HW-S60A has a full HDMI input.

With a 5.0 configuration, the Samsung HW-S60A has a more engaging surround soundstage than the Sonos Beam, which has a 3.1 setup. It also has…

With a 5.0 configuration, the Samsung HW-S60A has a more engaging surround soundstage than the Sonos Beam, which has a 3.1 setup. It also has a graphic equalizer and supports Bluetooth, unlike the Sonos Beam. However, the Sonos Beam has a room correction feature, unlike the Samsung HW-S60A.

The Samsung HW-S60A offers a more neutral sound profile out of the box than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. It also has a graphic equalizer,…

The Samsung HW-S60A offers a more neutral sound profile out of the box than the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. It also has a graphic equalizer, unlike the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. That said, the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam supports Dolby Atmos and has a room correction feature, which the Samsung HW-S60A lacks.

Featuring a discrete center channel, the Samsung HW-S60A produces a clearer dialogue than the Samsung HW-S60T, which doesn’t have a discreet center channel. It also…

Featuring a discrete center channel, the Samsung HW-S60A produces a clearer dialogue than the Samsung HW-S60T, which doesn’t have a discreet center channel. It also has an auto volume and supports Apple Airplay too, unlike the Samsung HW-S60T. Check out our Samsung HW-S60T review for details.

Bluetooth Enabled

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Built-In Voice Assistant

Amazon Alexa

Amazon Alexa

Depth

4.9"

4.1"

3.9"

3.9"

4.9"

Dialogue Enhancement Feature

Yes

na

Yes

na

Yes

Energy Star Certified

No

Yes

No

n/a

Yes

HDMI ARC

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Dig Deeper

Read review →: Samsung HW Q600A Review Read review →: Sonos Beam Review Read review →: JBL Bar 5.0 Multibeam Review Read review →: Samsung HW-S60T Review

All Stores

  • $247.95

    Availability

    In Stock

    Free Shipping

    No
  • Save $55
    $329.99
    $274.91

    Availability

    Not available

    Free Shipping

    Yes

Score Card

E

Expert Score

76

*.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

73

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

Expert Score Breakdown

  • Rtings
    A

    Trust Score

    71
    The Samsung HW-S60A is decent for mixed usage. Out-of-the-box, it has a pretty neutral sound… read more

    By:

    John Panoryios
  • Which?
    D

    Trust Score

    NR
    Looking to boost your TV’s sound and gain a few smart features to boot? Samsung’s… read more

    By:

    Unknown
  • Consumer Reports
    F

    Trust Score

    NR
    “No bottom line found for this product” read more

    By:

    Unknown
  • Techhive
    F

    Trust Score

    80
    Not that many budget soundbars come equipped with both built-in Alexa and AirPlay 2, but… read more

    By:

    Ben Patterson

Customer Score Breakdown

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