The Samsung HW-A650 is a 3.1 soundbar from the manufacturer's 2021 lineup. Out-of-the-box, this soundbar offers a very neutral sound profile that's suitable for listening to lots of different types of audio content, though it struggles to reproduce a thumpy low-bass. It comes with lots of sound enhancement features, including a graphic EQ and several presets like 'Adaptive Sound Lite', which can enhance dialogue, and 'Bass Boost', which can add more punch to your audio. It also supports surround content, but unfortunately, it has to downmix it into stereo to play it.
Our Verdict
The Samsung HW-A650 is satisfactory for mixed usage. Out-of-the-box, this soundbar has a pretty neutral sound profile suitable for listening to lots of different types of audio content, and it comes with lots of sound enhancement features. However, it still struggles to reproduce a thumpy low-bass, so you don't feel the rumble in bass-heavy music or action-packed movies. It also has to downmix surround content into stereo to play it, which doesn't sound as immersive.
- Graphic EQ and presets.
- Gets loud.
- Lacks low-bass.
- No Dolby Atmos support.
The Samsung HW-A650 is great for dialogue-centric content like TV shows. Thanks to its dedicated center channel and balanced mid-range, it can reproduce clear and accurate dialogue. There's also a feature called Adaptive Sound Lite, which can help make voices more clear and crisp. It gets pretty loud, too, and it's Bluetooth-compatible, so you can wirelessly stream podcasts and audiobooks from your phone to the bar.
- Gets loud.
- Bluetooth-compatible.
- Doesn't support Wi-Fi, Apple AirPlay, or Chromecast built-in.
The Samsung HW-A650 is good for music. Out-of-the-box, it has a pretty neutral sound profile that makes it suitable for listening to lots of different genres. It gets loud, and it comes with lots of sound enhancement features like a graphic EQ and several presets, including a 'Bass Boost' mode. However, it still struggles to reproduce a thumpy low-bass, so you don't really feel the deep rumble in bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop.
- Graphic EQ and presets.
- Bass and treble adjustment features.
- Gets loud.
- Lacks low-bass.
The Samsung HW-A650 is reasonable for movies. Its balanced mid-range can reproduce clear and accurate dialogue, but it lacks some low-bass, so you don't feel the deep thump and rumble in action-packed scenes. While it supports surround content, it has to downmix it to stereo to play it, which doesn't sound as immersive. It also doesn't support Dolby Atmos content. On the upside, it gets pretty loud, so it's suitable for watching movies in large rooms.
- Graphic EQ and presets.
- Gets loud.
- Lacks low-bass.
- No Dolby Atmos support.
Changelog
- Updated Apr 06, 2023: Added cable lengths to In The Box.
- Updated Apr 05, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.1. With this update, we've added a Mounting test and added information aboutSubwoofer Output, Spotify Connect, and Microphone Mute.
- Updated Nov 11, 2022: Changed the rear level adjustment from 'no' to 'yes' in Sound Enhancement Features as you are able to adjust the rears if you add them on from a separate purchase.
- Updated Oct 17, 2022: Added information about Dolby Vision Passthrough support to 'Other Input Specifications'.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Samsung HW-A650 is available in 'Black', and you can see the label for the model we tested here.
If you come across another version of this soundbar, please let us know in the discussions so we can update our review.
Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The Samsung HW-A650 is a 3.1 setup that can be upgraded with Wireless Surround Kit speakers, which are sold separately. It replaces the Samsung HW-T650 from 2020, and it comes with a few additional sound features, including Adaptive Sound Lite, Game Mode, and Bass Boost, though we don't test for these. Unlike some of Samsung's more premium soundbars, like the Samsung HW-Q700A, it doesn't support Dolby Atmos, and it doesn't come with Q-Symphony or Acoustic Beam technology built-in to the bar.
See also our recommendations for the best Samsung soundbars, the best soundbars under $500, and the best soundbars with a subwoofer.
The Samsung HW-Q600A is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-A650. The HW-Q600A is a 3.1.2 setup that supports Dolby Atmos, unlike the 3.1 HW-A650. It can also passthrough the highest bandwidth signals, and it comes with a few sound enhancement features that we don't test for, including Acoustic Beam and Q-Symphony.
The Samsung HW-B650 is the next generation of the Samsung HW-A650. They're both 3.1 bars with similar sounds right out of the box, and their customization tools make it easy to get a different sound. You don't notice much difference between their performances, so it's best to go with the cheaper option.
The Samsung HW-Q700A is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-A650. The HW-Q700A has a better soundstage performance, and it supports Dolby Atmos content thanks to its two up-firing speakers. It offers more wireless playback options, and it can passthrough the highest bandwidth signals.
The Samsung HW-B550 and the Samsung HW-A650 offer similar frequency responses, so you don't notice much of a difference between their sound. However, the A650 is a 3.1 setup with a discrete center, which improves vocal clarity in your audio. Given the price difference, though, this may not be worth the value for some listeners.
Test Results
