The Samsung HW-T550 is a good overall entry-level soundbar from 2020. It features a 2.1 speaker configuration with a wireless subwoofer that delivers powerful and deep bass. It has a nice and well-balanced sound profile, with a bit of extra kick to the bass. It's a very well-built soundbar that looks a bit more similar to the high-end models from 2019 from Samsung but doesn't look quite as sleek and premium. It has a few sound enhancement features, including a 7-band EQ, which is great to customize the sound to your liking. Unfortunately, it doesn't support 4k passthrough for latest-gen console or PC gaming. Nevertheless, it's still a good option for people on a budget that want a good upgrade over their TV speakers.
Our Verdict
The Samsung HW-T550 is a decent overall soundbar. This 2.1 setup has a well-balanced sound profile with a bit of extra bass kick. The wireless subwoofer is powerful and delivers decently deep bass too, which is nice at this price point. Unfortunately, due to its speaker configuration, it can't support Atmos content, which isn't ideal for movies, but it does a pretty good job with music and is suitable for a lot of different music genres. It also packs a few sound enhancement features, including a dialogue enhancement that's great for TV shows or the news.
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Well-balanced sound profile.
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Good build quality.
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7-band EQ for customization options.
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Doesn't support Atmos content.
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Downmixes surround sound content.
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No app.
The Samsung HW-T550 is great for dialogue-centric content like podcasts, audiobooks, and TV shows. It has a well-balanced sound profile that is suitable for most content and reproduces accurate and clear vocals. It also offers the Dynamic Range Compression (DRC) feature from Samsung to automatically optimize the level of different content. You can also easily stream content to the bar via Bluetooth, which is useful.
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Well-balanced sound profile.
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Good build quality.
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7-band EQ for customization options.
The Samsung HW-T550 is decent for music. It has a well-balanced sound profile and comes with a wireless subwoofer that packs a good amount of bass. The stereo soundstage is also decent and slightly larger than the bar itself, which is nice especially for its price point. You also have access to a 7-band EQ via the remote that is great to customize the sound signature to your preferences.
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Well-balanced sound profile.
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Good build quality.
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7-band EQ for customization options.
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No app.
The Samsung HW-T550 is mediocre for movies. It's a simple 2.1 setup that doesn't support Atmos content, so you don't have the impression of height when watching some movies. On the upside, it supports surround sound audio formats, although it has to downmix it to stereo to be able to play it, which doesn't result in the most immersive listening experience. On the upside, its stereo soundstage is quite decent and larger than the bar itself.
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Well-balanced sound profile.
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Good build quality.
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7-band EQ for customization options.
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Doesn't support Atmos content.
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Downmixes surround sound content.
- 7.1 Mixed Usage
- 7.6 Dialogue/TV Shows
- 7.6 Music
- 6.5 Movies
- Updated May 19, 2021: Updated DTS support via Full HDMI In to 'No'.
- Updated Mar 03, 2021: Updated latency measurements with new testing method.
- Updated Feb 09, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Sep 21, 2020: The Dynamics tests have been reconducted due to a value input bug.
- Updated Jun 19, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Jun 15, 2020: Early access published.
- Updated Jun 01, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated May 29, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated May 20, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Samsung HW-T550 comes in one color variant: 'Black'. There's also a variant of this soundbar called the Samsung HW-T50M that's sold at Walmart. However, this variant appears to be the same product but with a different name, and we expect this variant to perform similarly to our test unit.
If someone comes across a different variant of the Samsung HW-T550, let us know in the discussions and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Soundbars
The HW-T550 is a good entry-level soundbar from Samsung's 2020 lineup, and it stands out from the rest for its well-balanced sound profile and surprisingly deep bass. It offers good overall performance if you're limited on budget, but it won't offer the same surround performance as higher-end models. It also lacks Atmos support, which movie fans might prefer having. Overall, it's an affordable option that offers good stereo sound and is a sure upgrade over your TV speakers. If you want more options, take a look at our recommendations for the best budget soundbars, the best soundbars, or if you watch a lot of movies, check out the best Dolby Atmos soundbars we've reviewed.
The Sonos Arc is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-T550. The Sonos is a 5.0.2 setup that's better built and offers better soundstage, center, and surround performances. Unlike the Samsung soundbar, it supports Atmos content and has a room correction feature. However, the 2.1 Samsung has a graphic EQ and a Full HDMI In port.
The Samsung HW-Q60T is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-T550. The HW-Q60T is a 5.1 setup that's better built and supports 4k passthrough. Also, it comes with a discrete center channel and offers a better surrounds performance.
The Samsung HW-T550 is a better overall 2.1 setup than the Samsung HW-T450. The HW-T550 is better built, and it has both an HDMI ARC input as well as a Full HDMI In input, which allows it to support Dolby Digital content. It has a slightly more neutral sound profile, and it also has a dialogue enhancement feature as well as a graphic EQ.
The 3.1.2 Samsung HW-Q600A is better than the 2.1 Samsung HW-T550. The HW-Q600A is better-built, and it has a better center channel performance. Unlike the HW-T500, it also supports Dolby Atmos content and comes with a height level adjustment feature.
The Samsung HW-A550 is the next generation of the Samsung HW-T550. Overall, these soundbars offer similar performances, offering a neutral sound profile with a little extra punch in the bass out-of-the-box, which some users may prefer. However, the A550 gets louder, and it comes with more EQ presets.
The Samsung HW-T550 from 2020 is a slightly better option than the 2019 Samsung HW-R550. While they perform quite similarly, the overall sound signature of the HW-T550 is a bit more neutral throughout the range and its stereo soundstage sounds a little bit wider. On the other hand, our unit has some slight distortion issues in the treble range, which we didn't encounter with the HW-R550. The 2019 model also has access to an app, which the 2020 HW-T550 doesn't, although all settings are still available through the remote.
The 2019 Samsung HW-R650 3.1 setup is a better performing soundbar than the 2020 Samsung HW-T550 2.1 soundbar. Thanks to its dedicated center channel, the HW-T550 has a much clearer reproduction of vocals and dialogue in movies. It also has access to an app, although everything is still accessible with the remote on the HW-T550. On the other hand, the 2020 model's subwoofer seems to perform a bit better and provides a deeper thump than the HW-R650.
The 3.1 Samsung HW-T650 is a better soundbar than the 2.1 Samsung HW-T550. Thanks to its discrete center channel, the HW-T650 offers a better-balanced center channel performance that sounds more clear and more real than the HW-T550's phantom center. The HW-T650 also has a much wider sounding soundstage, and it gets a bit louder.
The Samsung HW-A650 is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-T550. The HW-A650 is a 3.1 setup, so it comes with a discrete center channel that can reproduce clearer and more accurate dialogue in TV shows than the 2.1 HW-T550. It's also better-built, and it can get louder.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Samsung HW-T550. The HW-Q800A is a better built 3.1.2 setup with better soundstage, center, and surround performances. Unlike the HW-T550, it supports Dolby Atmos content and has built-in voice assistant capabilities. Also, it supports more wireless playback options.
The Samsung HW-T550 and the Samsung HW-A450 are similarly performing soundbars but the HW-T550 has a slight edge. While both soundbars have a very neutral default sound profile and have very comparable overall performances, the HW-T550 is better built and has a virtual surround feature. It also has more inputs including a Full HDMI In port. However, the HW-A450 can get a bit louder.
The Samsung HW-T550 is a better soundbar than the Klipsch Cinema 400. The Samsung is better-built, it gets louder, and it has more sound enhancement features, including a graphic EQ. It also has a better soundstage performance. However, the Klipsch has a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box.
The Samsung HW-T550 is a better 2.1 soundbar than the Vizio V Series V21-H8. The Samsung is better-built, and it has a more neutral, less boomy sound profile. It also comes with a graphic EQ so you can customize its sound and a Full HDMI In port so you can use it as a hub between your devices. That said, the Vizio has less distortion when it's played at max volume, so it may be a better option for use at loud parties.
The Samsung HW-Q70T is better than the Samsung HW-T550. The HW-Q70T is a 3.1.2 setup that's better-built and supports Dolby Atmos content. It has better center and surround performances, and it supports more wireless playback options. That said, only the 2.1 HW-T550 has an auto-volume mode.
The Samsung HW-T550 is better than the Sony HT-S350. The Samsung has a better surrounds performance, and it reproduces a more extended low-bass. Some listeners may prefer its more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, and there's even a graphic EQ to help you customize its sound. However, the Sony has a better center channel performance.
The Samsung HW-Q60R is a slightly better soundbar setup than the Samsung HW-T550. The Q60R has a dedicated center channel and features Samsung's Acoustic Beam that acts like up-firing speakers. Both of these result in a more accurate dialogue reproduction and a more immersive surround experience. The HW-T550 also feels a bit cheaper-made than the 2019 HW-Q60R.
The Yamaha YAS-209 is a better 2.1 soundbar than the Samsung HW-T550 if you're looking for deep bass and want to listen to 5.1 lossless PCM content. However, if you're looking for style and a more neutral sound, the Samsung might be a better option. The Samsung also has sound enhancement features that can further enhance your general listening experience. The Yamaha, in contrast, has an ethernet port and supports Wi-Fi wireless playback, which the Samsung lacks.
Test Results
This soundbar looks a bit different than last year's Samsung HW-R550. It doesn't have angled edges and looks a lot more like Samsung's higher-end models from 2019 like the HW-Q90R. The front of the bar is covered by a metal grille while the rest of it is covered by good quality plastic.
The subwoofer is pretty much identical to the previous model. There's a fabric panel at the front and the rest is made from pressed wood. The port is found on the back.
The Samsung HW-T550 is shorter than the 2019 model and may be able to fit between the legs of some 55" TV stands. It's also not too high so it shouldn't cover the bottom of your screen unless your TV sits flush on the table.
As usual, this Samsung subwoofer is about the same size at a desktop computer. You can place it wherever you want in your room as it connects wirelessly to the bar.
There are no satellites in this setup.
Like most soundbars, the back of the Samsung HW-T550 is very plain. You have two openings for the different inputs and the power cable. If you want to wall-mount the soundbar, you'll find the universal hole on the underside, and the brackets are included in the box.
The sub's back is very straightforward. The port is situated at the top and the power cable is at the bottom, making it quite easy to hide if you need to do some cable management.
The build quality of the Samsung HW-T550 is good. The plastic material used feels solid, and the speakers are covered by a metal grille to protect them. The subwoofer feels a bit cheaply made and has fabric covering its front face, which can easily become dirty or damaged.
- Optical cable
- Remote with batteries
- 2x Power cables with power brick for the bar
- Mounting templates with brackets and screws
- Manual
The Samsung HW-T550 has a good stereo frequency response. Its subwoofer delivers powerful and deep bass for such an affordable setup, which is nice. The overall sound profile is well-balanced, with a bit of extra kick in the bass.
The stereo soundstage of the Samsung HW-T550 is decent. It feels a bit wider than the bar itself, which is good. However, the bar doesn't do anything to make it seem even wider. On the upside, the focus of objects in the soundstage is very focused and you can easily pinpoint their location rather than hearing them coming from a general location.
Update 09/21/2020: We've discovered a value input bug that would cause the Dynamics box results to be slightly off. All soundbars reviewed since January 30th, 2020 have been updated.
This soundbar can get pretty loud, which is great if you're having a party or have a very large room. Also, it can be pushed to its max volume without too much audible compression, which is great. If you're looking for a soundbar that can get a bit louder, check out the Vizio V Series V21-H8.
The Samsung HW-T550's stereo THD performance is just okay. There isn't much audible distortion at a normal listening volume, but there's a noticeable jump when pushing the bar to its limit. However, there's more distortion in the treble at a lower volume in our testing, but we aren't completely sure why. This shouldn't be audible to most listeners anyway.
The center channel performance of the Samsung HW-T550 is sub-par because it doesn't have a dedicated center channel. This stereo 2.1 setup uses the left and right speakers to create sounds in the middle, which doesn't sound as clear as a dedicated one. However, voices still sound fairly accurate since there isn't much bass on the center channel track.
The Samsung HW-T550 has very bad surround performance. This soundbar has to downmix the surround signal to stereo to be able to play it. It can only use its left and right drivers to play, so it doesn't result in an accurate and clear representation of surround objects in the soundstage. This isn't very immersive and the sound seems to be coming from in front of you rather than all around you. The output level is also a lot quieter than when playing stereo content.
This soundbar doesn't have height channels and doesn't support Atmos content.
The Samsung HW-T550 has a lot of sound enhancement features, although it lacks room correction, which means it may sound a bit differently depending on the acoustics of your room. On the upside, it has four additional presets: Surround Sound, Game, Smart, and DTS Virtual:X. The Smart preset uses DRC (dynamic range compression) and acts as a dialogue enhancement feature. You also have access to a 7-band EQ with a few commands on the remote. Check out the Samsung HW-A550 if you want a bar with more EQ presets.
The Samsung HW-T550 has a few inputs, but unfortunately, the manufacturer decided to take away the analog 3.5mm jack that was found on last year's 2019 Samsung HW-R550, which is unfortunate.
The Samsung HW-T550 has decent support over its ARC port. It can play both Dolby Digital and DTS files which are often found on streaming platforms like Netflix and Blu-ray discs. Unfortunately, due to its speaker configuration, it needs to downmix the tracks to stereo to be able to play the content.
Update 05/19/2021: We retested this soundbar and found that it doesn't support DTS content. The DTS file doesn't play any sound.
The Samsung HW-T550 has a full HDMI port that can be used for your external devices. It supports Dolby Digital, but can't play lossless 5.1 audio formats.
Like most soundbars, both DTS and Dolby Digital are supported via the optical cable.
Note: We updated our methodology for testing latency. After retesting this soundbar, we've updated our results.
You can easily stream content to the Samsung HW-T550 via Bluetooth. It also allows for multi-device pairing up to two devices like mobile phones. You can easily pause one playlist and start another on another device.
This soundbar doesn't support 4k passthrough.
The subwoofer connects wirelessly to the bar. The only wired connection it has is its power cable.
The interface of the Samsung HW-T550 is just a small screen that is now centered in the middle of the bar compared to last year's model. It shows you all the settings you're changing but sometimes has to scroll to show the entire message.
The controls situated on top of the bar are pretty straightforward. You can power on/off the bar, change the volume and change inputs.
The remote is very similar to last year's model as well. It allows you to control all the settings of the soundbar, but can't be used as a universal remote.
Unfortunately, this soundbar isn't compatible with any Samsung app, which is disappointing since last year's model was. All the customization needs to be done via the remote now.