The Samsung HW-A550 is a 2.1 soundbar that's the next generation of the Samsung HW-T550. Though it comes with a dedicated subwoofer, it struggles to reproduce some low-bass, so you may not feel the deep thump and rumble in action-packed scenes. Like many Samsung soundbars, however, it offers many sound customization features, like a graphic EQ and presets as well as bass and treble adjustments. Also, its default sound profile is still neutral enough to be suitable for lots of types of audio content.
Our Verdict
The Samsung HW-A550 is decent for mixed usage. Out-of-the-box, it has a pretty neutral sound profile suitable for listening to lots of different types of audio content, with a little extra punch in the bass range. However, it struggles to reproduce a thumpy low-bass for action-packed movies and bass-heavy music. It doesn't support Atmos, either, and its surrounds performance is disappointing. Fortunately, it offers lots of sound customization options.
- Graphic EQ and presets.
- Bass and treble adjustments.
- Dialogue enhancement feature.
- Lacks some low-bass.
- No Atmos support.
- Poor surrounds performance.
The Samsung HW-A550 is good for dialogue-centric content like TV shows. Though it lacks a discrete center channel, its balanced mid-range can still reproduce dialogue clearly and accurately. There's even an 'Adaptive Sound Lite' feature that enhances dialogue to make it clear and crisp, and a Dynamic Range Control to help balance the volume level across different programs. Since it's Bluetooth-compatible, you can also wirelessly stream podcasts and audiobooks from your phone to the bar.
- Dialogue enhancement feature.
- Auto-volume mode.
- Disappointing center channel performance.
The Samsung HW-A550 is good for music. Out-of-the-box, it has a pretty neutral sound profile with a little extra punch in the bass range that's still suitable for listening to lots of different types of audio content. However, it lacks some low-bass, so you may not feel the deep rumble in bass-heavy genres like EDM. There's a graphic EQ and presets as well as bass and treble adjustments available to help you customize its sound, and it gets pretty loud.
- Graphic EQ and presets.
- Bass and treble adjustments.
- Lacks some low-bass.
The Samsung HW-A550 is fair for movies. Thanks to its balanced mid-range, dialogue is reproduced clearly and accurately. However, it lacks some low-bass, so you may not feel the deep thump and rumble in action-packed scenes. Also, doesn't support Atmos content, and it has to downmix surround content into stereo, which isn't very immersive. Fortunately, there are some sound customization features available.
- Graphic EQ and presets.
- Bass and treble adjustments.
- No Atmos support.
- Poor surrounds performance.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Samsung HW-A550 is available in 'Black', and you can see the label for the model we tested here.
If you come across another version, please let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The Samsung HW-A550 is an entry-level 2.1 soundbar released in 2021. It's the next generation of the Samsung HW-T550, and it comes with more presets like 'Bass Boost' and 'Game Mode'. Unlike Samsung's more premium models, like the Samsung HW-Q600A and the Samsung HW-Q800A, it doesn't come with built-in Acoustic Beam technology or Q-Symphony, which are advertised to help create a more immersive sound.
See also our recommendations for the best Samsung soundbars, the best soundbars under $300, and the best soundbars under $500.
The Samsung HW-B550 is the next generation of the Samsung HW-A550. That said, they offer almost identical performances. They're both 2.1 bars with lots of customization tools, including a 7-band graphic EQ. With neutral frequency responses out-of-the-box, they're suitable for listening to most types of audio content, though they lack a little punch in the bass that's noticeable with bass-heavy music and movies. Neither support Atmos content.
The Samsung HW-A550 is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-A450. The HW-A550 is better built and comes with more physical inputs, including a Full HDMI In port and an HDMI ARC port. It also comes with a virtual surround feature, unlike the HW-A450.
The Samsung HW-Q600A is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-A550. Thanks to its 3.1.2 setup, the HW-Q600A has a better center channel performance. It's also better-built, and unlike the HW-A550, it supports Dolby Atmos content.
The Sonos Beam is marginally better for mixed usage than the Samsung HW-A550. The Sonos is better built with better center and soundstage performances. Unlike the Samsung, it has room correction and built-in voice assistant. However, the 2.1 Samsung has a dedicated sub that reproduces a more extended low-bass. Unlike the Sonos, it has a graphic EQ, presets, and a Full HDMI In port.
Test Results
