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The Samsung HW-R550’s seamless connection, clarity, graphic EQ and presets, and budget price make it suitable for dialogue-heavy content and various music genres. But action-movie enthusiasts, bass-heads, and those seeking immersive viewing will be unimpressed by the low bass, inaccurate surround, and lack of Atmos.
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Table of Contents
Product Snapshot
Overview
Released in 2019, the Samsung HW-R550 is a budget-level 2.1-channel soundbar that boasts exceptional audio clarity with a wide stereo soundstage for living room setups. Similar to some of the highest-ranked speakers out there, this soundbar features an extremely low frequency response slope that helps deliver a balanced and neutral sound profile with exceptional vocals and dialogue output.
However, unlike the best-rated soundbars, it lacks Dolby Atmos. If you need a soundbar that supports Dolby Atmos, make sure to visit our Samsung HW-Q990B review today. The soundbar also comes with a dedicated subwoofer for thumping low bass, but unfortunately, it isn’t wireless. In terms of wireless connectivity, this model features Bluetooth but lacks Wi-Fi, Chromecast, or Apple AirPlay.
Check out our Samsung HW-Q900T review in case you need Wi-Fi support. Its wired connectivity consists of one full-speed HDMI port, a 3.5 mm audio jack, an optical audio port, and a USB 2.0 port to play back audio files from a thumb drive. It also features an exceptionally low audio latency over HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel), which is incredibly useful to gamers and those sensitive to audio delay.
However, if you are okay with slightly higher audio latency, you can also take a look at our Samsung HW-R650 review.
Consensus
our Verdict
The Samsung HW-R550 has reliable wired and wireless connectivity, no crackling or disturbing speaker sounds, and excellent tested latency (41ms through ARC and 51ms through Optical). The sound profile is bass-heavy and slightly lacking treble, negatively impacting dialogue clarity, but the dialogue-enhancement feature helps. There’s no Atmos, surround sound is inaccurate, low bass is weak, and the soundstage is somewhat narrow, but the sound placement can be made more precise and not generalized if you tweak the bass.
The remote is simple (not universal), and the plastic build is rugged with a metal grille. The sound system is responsive to commands, and there’s graphic EQ, presets, and bass and treble adjustment, but no room correction feature or surround level adjustment. Though helpful, the smartphone app can’t fully control the system.
ReasonS to Buy
Reliable wired and wireless connection
Excellent latency
Precise soundstage (with some frequency adjustment)
Sturdy build
Graphic EQ and presets
Dialogue enhancement
Bass and treble adjustment
Smartphone app
Reason to Avoid
Bass heavy
Weak low-bass
Inaccurate surround sound
No Atmos
Slightly narrow soundstage
Remote not universal
No room correction feature
App doesn’t have full control over the system
Samsung HW R550 Specs
Bluetooth Enabled
Yes
Depth
38"
Dialogue Enhancement Feature
Yes
Energy Star Certified
Yes
HDMI ARC
Yes
Height
10.7"
Number of Audio Channels
2.1
Subwoofer
Included
Surround Sound Supported
Dolby Digital, DTS Digital Surround
Voice Assistant
–
Wall Mountable
Yes
Weight
21 lbs
Width
17.6"
Wireless Connectivity
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Wireless Subwoofer Connectivity
Yes
Works With
–
All Specs
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Product Comparison
Samsung HW R550 Review
True Score
76
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Ranking
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149
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Market Context
Released in 2019, the Samsung HW-R550 is a budget-level 2.1-channel soundbar that boasts exceptional audio clarity with a wide stereo soundstage for living room setups….
Released in 2019, the Samsung HW-R550 is a budget-level 2.1-channel soundbar that boasts exceptional audio clarity with a wide stereo soundstage for living room setups. Similar to some of the highest-ranked speakers out there, this soundbar features an extremely low frequency response slope that helps deliver a balanced and neutral sound profile with exceptional vocals and dialogue output.
However, unlike the best-rated soundbars, it lacks Dolby Atmos. If you need a soundbar that supports Dolby Atmos, make sure to visit our Samsung HW-Q990B review today. The soundbar also comes with a dedicated subwoofer for thumping low bass, but unfortunately, it isn’t wireless. In terms of wireless connectivity, this model features Bluetooth but lacks Wi-Fi, Chromecast, or Apple AirPlay.
Check out our Samsung HW-Q900T review in case you need Wi-Fi support. Its wired connectivity consists of one full-speed HDMI port, a 3.5 mm audio jack, an optical audio port, and a USB 2.0 port to play back audio files from a thumb drive. It also features an exceptionally low audio latency over HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel), which is incredibly useful to gamers and those sensitive to audio delay.
However, if you are okay with slightly higher audio latency, you can also take a look at our Samsung HW-R650 review.
The Samsung HW-T550 is basically a newer version of the Samsung HW-R550, and as a result, both 2.1 channel soundbars perform very similarly in all…
The Samsung HW-T550 is basically a newer version of the Samsung HW-R550, and as a result, both 2.1 channel soundbars perform very similarly in all regards. However, the older model does get slightly louder than the newer HW-T550, with fewer compression artifacts at the max volume, as the HW-T550 suffers from a slight distortion in its treble range. You can also control the older model wirelessly from a smartphone-based app which the Samsung HW-T550 lacks.
Thanks to its much tighter frequency response slope, the Samsung HW-R550 produces a lot clearer dialogues and vocals than the Sony HT-S350, with an overall…
Thanks to its much tighter frequency response slope, the Samsung HW-R550 produces a lot clearer dialogues and vocals than the Sony HT-S350, with an overall balanced and neutral sound profile. The Samsung soundbar also comes with a better subwoofer unit that produces more extended low bass than Sony’s model. In addition, the Samsung HW-R550 features a full-speed HDMI In port and supports the DTS audio codec, both of which the HT-S350 soundbar lacks.
As both the Samsung HW-R550 and the JBL Bar 2.1 soundbars feature a similar 2.1 channel speaker setup, both soundbars perform remarkably similarly in all…
As both the Samsung HW-R550 and the JBL Bar 2.1 soundbars feature a similar 2.1 channel speaker setup, both soundbars perform remarkably similarly in all regards. But the Samsung HW-R550 does have a slightly more powerful setup overall at 320 watts.
