Get insider access
Preferred store
Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
We've recently launched Soundbars 1.3! Read the R&D Article to learn more.

Samsung HW-T550 Soundbar Review

Tested using Methodology v1.0
Reviewed Jun 19, 2020 at 08:36 am
Latest change: Retest May 19, 2021 at 12:22 pm
Samsung HW-T550 Picture
7.1
Mixed Usage
7.6
Dialogue/TV Shows
7.6
Music
6.5
Movies
This soundbar was replaced by the Samsung HW-A550

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

7.1 Mixed Usage

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.

Pros
  • Well-balanced sound profile.
  • Good build quality.
  • 7-band EQ for customization options.
Cons
  • Doesn't support Atmos content.
  • Downmixes surround sound content.
  • No app.
7.6 Dialogue/TV Shows

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.

Pros
  • Well-balanced sound profile.
  • Good build quality.
  • 7-band EQ for customization options.
Cons
7.6 Music

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.

Pros
  • Well-balanced sound profile.
  • Good build quality.
  • 7-band EQ for customization options.
Cons
  • No app.
6.5 Movies

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.

Pros
  • Well-balanced sound profile.
  • Good build quality.
  • 7-band EQ for customization options.
Cons
  • Doesn't support Atmos content.
  • Downmixes surround sound content.
  • 7.1 Mixed Usage
  • 7.6 Dialogue/TV Shows
  • 7.6 Music
  • 6.5 Movies
  1. Updated May 19, 2021: Updated DTS support via Full HDMI In to 'No'.
  2. Updated Mar 03, 2021: Updated latency measurements with new testing method.
  3. Updated Feb 09, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
  4. Updated Sep 21, 2020: The Dynamics tests have been reconducted due to a value input bug.
  5. Updated Jun 19, 2020: Review published.
  6. Updated Jun 15, 2020: Early access published.
  7. Updated Jun 01, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
  8. Updated May 29, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  9. 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.

Samsung HW-Q60R

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.

Samsung HW-A650

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.

Samsung HW-Q600A

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.

Sonos Arc

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.

Samsung HW-Q70T

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.

Samsung HW-Q60T

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.

Vizio V Series V21-H8

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.

Samsung HW-A550

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.

Samsung HW-R650

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.

Samsung HW-T650

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.

Samsung HW-T450

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. 

Samsung HW-Q800A

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.

Samsung HW-A450

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.

Klipsch Cinema 400

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.

Samsung HW-R550

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.

Sony HT-S350

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.

Yamaha YAS-209

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.

+ Show more

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style - Bar

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.

Design
Style - Subwoofer

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.

Design
Style - Satellites

This 2.1 setup doesn't come with satellites.

Design
Dimensions - Bar
Width 33.9" (86.1 cm)
Height 2.2" (5.5 cm)
Depth 3.4" (8.7 cm)

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.

Design
Dimensions - Subwoofer
Width 7.9" (20.0 cm)
Height 13.8" (35.0 cm)
Depth 11.4" (29.0 cm)

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.

Design
Dimensions - Satellites
Width N/A
Height N/A
Depth N/A

There are no satellites in this setup.

Design
Back - Bar
Bar Mounting
Universal (holes on underside)

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.

Design
Back - Subwoofer
Enclosure
Ported

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.

Design
Back - Satellites
Mounting
No

There are no satellites in this setup.

7.5
Design
Build Quality

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.

Design
In The Box
HDMI Cable Length
N/A
Digital Optical Cable Length
1.5 m (4.9 ft)

  • Optical cable
  • Remote with batteries
  • 2x Power cables with power brick for the bar
  • Mounting templates with brackets and screws
  • Manual

Sound
7.9
Sound
Stereo Frequency Response
Tested Preset
Standard
Slope
-0.54
Std. Err.
2.49 dB
Channels
2.1
Low-Frequency Extension
40.0 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
19.9 kHz

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.

8.1
Sound
Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
Suggested Preset
Standard
Suggested Bass Setting
-4
Suggested Treble Setting
4
Slope
-0.12
Std. Err.
2.03 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
38.9 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
19.9 kHz
7.0
Sound
Stereo Soundstage
Crosstalk Error
2.96 dB

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.

7.8
Sound
Stereo Dynamics
SPL @ Max Volume
91.0 dB SPL
DRC @ Max Volume
0.96 dB

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.

6.5
Sound
Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.95
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
3.66

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.

5.8
Sound
Center
Localization
Phantom
Slope
-1.60
Std. Err.
4.89 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
86.7 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
1.97
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.50

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.

3.2
Sound
Surround 5.1
Localization
Stereo (Downmix)
Slope
-1.68
Std. Err.
5.05 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
83.8 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
2.02
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.14
7.1 Rears
No

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.

0
Sound
Height (Atmos)
Localization
Not Supported
Slope
N/A
Std. Err.
N/A
SPL @ Max Volume
N/A
Weighted THD @ 80dB
N/A
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
N/A

This soundbar doesn't have height channels and doesn't support Atmos content.

6.7
Sound
Sound Enhancement Features
Room Correction
No
Dialogue Enhancement
Yes
Auto-Volume/Night Mode
Yes
Subwoofer Level Adjustment
Yes
Bass Adjustment
Yes
Treble Adjustment
Yes
EQ
Graphic + Presets
Surround Level Adjustment
No
Rear Level Adjustment
No
Height Level Adjustment
No
Virtual Surround
Yes

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.

Connectivity
Connectivity
Physical Inputs - Bar
Optical Audio In
1
HDMI ARC
1 (shared)
HDMI Out
1 (shared)
Full HDMI In
1
Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux)
No
RCA In
No
USB for Files
1
Ethernet
No

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.

7.1
Connectivity
Audio Format Support - ARC
eARC
No
Dolby Atmos
No
Dolby Digital
Yes
Dolby Digital Plus
No
DTS
Yes
DTS:X (eARC only)
No
Dolby TrueHD (eARC only)
No
DTS-HD MA (eARC only)
No
5.1 PCM (eARC only)
No

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.

6.4
Connectivity
Audio Format Support - Full HDMI In
Dolby Atmos
No
DTS:X
No
Dolby Digital
Yes
Dolby Digital Plus
No
DTS
No
Dolby TrueHD
No
DTS-HD MA
No
5.1 PCM
No

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.

10
Connectivity
Audio Format Support - Optical
Dolby Digital
Yes
DTS
Yes

Like most soundbars, both DTS and Dolby Digital are supported via the optical cable.

8.8
Connectivity
Latency
ARC
27 ms
Optical
29 ms
Full HDMI In
-47 ms

Note: We updated our methodology for testing latency. After retesting this soundbar, we've updated our results.

6.0
Connectivity
Wireless Playback
Bluetooth
Yes
Wi-Fi
No
Chromecast built-in
No
Apple AirPlay
No

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.

Connectivity
Other Input Specifications
4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough
No
4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough
No
4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough
No
HDR10 Passthrough
No

This soundbar doesn't support 4k passthrough.

Connectivity
Connectivity - Subwoofer
Sub Wireless
Yes

The subwoofer connects wirelessly to the bar. The only wired connection it has is its power cable.

Connectivity
Connectivity - Satellites
Sat Wireless
No

There are no satellites on this setup.

Additional Features
Additional Features
Interface
Display
Yes

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.

Additional Features
Bar Controls

The controls situated on top of the bar are pretty straightforward. You can power on/off the bar, change the volume and change inputs.

Additional Features
Remote
Universal Remote
No

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.

Additional Features
Voice Assistants Support
Amazon Alexa
No
Google Assistant
No
Apple Siri
No
Additional Features
App
App Name No App
iOS No
Android No
Acts As A Remote
No
Controls Soundbar's Settings
No
Casts Device Files
No

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.

Additional Features
Other Features
Power Saving
Standby
HDMI CEC (TV Remote Control)
Yes

The Samsung HW-T550 goes into a power-saving mode after being idle for 20 minutes. It also supports HDMI CEC so you can use your TV's remote to control some basic functions of the bar.