The Samsung HW-B450 is a 2.1 model released in 2022. It's the next generation of the Samsung HW-A450, and it's a simple soundbar that's ideal for listening to stereo content like TV shows and music. You can always upgrade it with a Samsung Wireless Rear Speaker Kit if you want to improve its surrounds performance. However, you won't find support for the manufacturer's more premium features, like Q-Symphony, which pairs the bar with compatible Samsung TVs for an enhanced sound, or SpaceFit Sound, which optimizes audio based on your room's size and shape. It doesn't support Dolby Atmos content, either.
Our Verdict
The Samsung B450 is decent for mixed usage. It's a simple bar that's best suited for listening to dialogue-heavy content like TV shows or music. Its neutral sound profile reproduces dialogue with clarity and accuracy, and there's a little extra boom in the bass. You can customize its sound with its bass and treble adjustments. However, its surround sound performance is poor, and there's no Dolby Atmos support.
- Bass and treble adjustments.
- Gets loud.
- Dialogue enhancement mode.
- Lacks low-bass.
- No graphic EQ.
- No Dolby Atmos support.
The Samsung B450 is very good for dialogue-centric content like TV shows and podcasts. It offers balanced mids, so voices reproduce with clarity and detail. There's a dialogue enhancement feature called Adaptive Sound Lite available as well, and its night mode balances out the volume levels when you watch at night. However, since it's a 2.1 setup, it lacks a discrete center channel, so dialogue isn't quite as accurately localized within the soundstage.
- Gets loud.
- Dialogue enhancement mode.
- No graphic EQ.
The Samsung B450 is satisfactory for music. Out-of-the-box, it offers a neutral sound profile, especially in the mids, so vocals and lead instruments are clear and present in the mix. There's a little extra boom in the high-bass, too. If you prefer a different sound, you can customize it with its bass and treble adjustments. However, it can't reproduce a very extended low-bass, so you don't feel the deep rumble in bass-heavy music like hip-hop and EDM.
- Bass and treble adjustments.
- Gets loud.
- Lacks low-bass.
- No graphic EQ.
The Samsung B450 is okay for movies. It's a 2.1 setup, and while it supports surround sound formats like Dolby Digital, it has to downmix them into stereo to play them, which doesn't offer the same feeling of immersion in your favorite movies. There's no Dolby Atmos support, either. If you want to improve its surround performance, you can always add on separate satellites.
- Bass and treble adjustments.
- Gets loud.
- Lacks low-bass.
- No Dolby Atmos support.
Changelog
- Updated Jun 07, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.2. Updated the results for audio format support via ARC/eARC, HDMI In, and Optical. Added Video Passthrough to TV results as well.
- Updated Mar 13, 2023: Added cable lengths to In The Box.
- Updated Mar 10, 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 May 25, 2022: Review published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Samsung B450 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, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update the review.
Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The Samsung B450 is a fairly barebones setup that's the next generation of the Samsung HW-A450. Like its predecessor, it's ideal for stereo content like music and TV shows, but it lacks support for more premium audio formats like Dolby Atmos. There's no HDMI connection available, either. It lacks some of Samsung's more premium enhancement features, like a graphic EQ or room correction.
See also our recommendations for the best soundbars for dialogue, the best Samsung soundbars, and the best soundbars under $300.
The Samsung HW-B550 is better than the Samsung HW-B450. They're both 2.1 soundbars that offer similar stereo frequency responses, but the B550 comes with some extra features. It's better built and has a graphic EQ, so you have more ability to customize its sound. There are also HDMI connections, which the B450 lacks. If you aren't interested in these features, though, the B450 is pretty similar, and it's more affordable overall.
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is more versatile than the Samsung HW-B450. The Sonos is a premium setup with Dolby Atmos support, which the Samsung soundbar lacks. It's a small, standalone bar ideal for smaller living rooms, and it has better surround and soundstage performances than the Samsung. Still, if you want a more budget-friendly option for stereo content like music and TV shows, the Samsung is a solid pick.
The Sonos Arc is better than the Samsung HW-B450. The Sonos is a premium 5.0.2 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content. It has better soundstage and surround performances, too. However, if you want a simple setup for watching TV, the Samsung soundbar is still a solid pick at a more affordable price.
The Samsung HW-B450 is the next generation of the Samsung HW-A450. The bars are very similar, but the B450 is better built. That said, it doesn't come with a graphic EQ like the A450, and its out-of-the-box sound isn't quite as neutral.
Test Results
