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.
- 7.1 Mixed Usage
- 7.6 Dialogue/TV Shows
- 7.6 Music
- 6.5 Movies
- Updated Oct 17, 2022: Added information about Dolby Vision Passthrough support to 'Other Input Specifications'.
- Updated May 25, 2021: Review published.
- Updated May 19, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated May 14, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated May 13, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Apr 18, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
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.
Compared To Other Soundbars
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 5.0.2 Sonos Arc is a better soundbar than the 2.1 Samsung HW-A550. The Sonos is better built and has a discrete center channel and two up-firing speakers that support Atmos. It has a better soundstage performance and offers room correction and built-in voice assistant support. You can also upgrade it to the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers. However, the Samsung has a graphic EQ and a Full HDMI In port and supports Bluetooth. You can also upgrade the Samsung with satellite speakers.
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 and the Samsung HW-B450 are very similarly-performing 2.1 soundbars, meaning you may prefer one over the other. The HW-A550 comes with HDMI connections, and it gets louder. The frequency response for the center and surround channels on the HW-B450 are more neutral and balanced, so voices are clearer in the mix with multichannel content.
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is better than the Samsung HW-A550. The Sonos is a small, compact soundbar with a standalone design. Unlike the Samsung, it supports Dolby Atmos content. It also has better soundstage, center, and surround performances. That said, the Samsung's dedicated subwoofer can reproduce a slightly more extended low-bass.
The 3.1 Samsung HW-A650 is a better soundbar than the 2.1 Samsung HW-A550. The HW-A650 offers a discrete center channel that can reproduce dialogue more clearly and accurately in movies and TV shows. Also, it's better-built.
The Samsung HW-A550 is better than the Yamaha YAS-109. The Samsung comes with a dedicated sub that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It's better built, and it has a better soundstage performance. It even comes with more sound enhancement features, like a graphic EQ. However, the Yamaha's standalone design may be more suitable for some listeners. It also has better center and surround performances.
The Samsung HW-A550 is better than the Bose TV Speaker. The Samsung is a 2.1 setup with a dedicated subwoofer that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It has a better soundstage and gets louder with less compression at max volume. It also has more sound enhancement features, including a graphic EQ. However, some users may prefer the Bose's better-built, standalone design. It even has a better center channel performance.
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 Sony HT-G700 and the Samsung HW-A550 both have different strengths. The Sony is a 3.1 setup with better center and surround performances. Unlike the Samsung, it has Dolby Atmos support. However, the Samsung has a better soundstage, and it can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It has a graphic EQ for sound customization, unlike the Sony.
The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is better than the Samsung HW-A550. The Vizio is a 5.1 setup that has discrete satellite speakers. It has better center and surround performances. That said, the 2.1 Samsung is better built. It also has a graphic EQ, which some listeners may prefer for sound customization.
The Samsung HW-Q700A is a 3.1.2 setup that's better than the 2.1 Samsung HW-A550. The HW-Q700A is better-built, and unlike the HW-A550, it supports Dolby Atmos content. It also has better soundstage, center, and surround performances. There are even more wireless playback options to choose from.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround or the Samsung HW-A550. The JBL is a 5.1 setup that's better built. It has better center and surround performances, and it can reproduce a slightly more extended low-bass. That said, the 2.1 Samsung has a better soundstage.
The Samsung HW-Q70T is better than the Samsung HW-A550. The HW-Q70T is a 3.1.2 setup that's better-built and supports Dolby Atmos content. It also has better center and surround performances, and it offers more wireless playback options.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Samsung HW-A550. The HW-Q800A is a better built 3.1.2 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content. It has better soundstage, center, and surround performances. Also, it can reproduce a more extended low-bass.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Yamaha YAS-207 or the Samsung HW-A550. They're both 2.1 setups, but the Samsung is better built. It also comes with more sound enhancement features, like a graphic EQ and presets. That said, the Yamaha has better center and surround performances.
The Samsung HW-A550 is better than the Hisense HS218. The Samsung has a better stereo soundstage, and it comes with more sound enhancement features like a graphic EQ and auto-volume mode. Unlike the Hisense, it has a Full HDMI In port. That said, the Hisense has better center and surround performances.
The Samsung HW-Q59CT is marginally better for mixed usage than the Samsung HW-A550. Both soundbars offer very similar performances overall. However, the 5.1 HW-Q59CT has a discrete center channel, which helps anchor voices to a more accurate location in the soundstage compared to the 2.1 HW-A550's phantom localization.
The Vizio M Series M51ax-J6 is better than the Samsung HW-A550. The Vizio is a 5.1 setup that comes with discrete satellites. Unlike the Samsung, it supports Dolby Atmos content. It has a better surround performance and can reproduce a more extended low bass. That said, the 2.1 Samsung is still a good choice for vocal-centric content like TV shows and music.
The Samsung HW-A550 is a better soundbar than the Vizio V Series V21x-J8. The Samsung is better-built and has a more neutral default sound profile, which some listeners may prefer. Unlike the Vizio, it also comes with a graphic EQ for sound customization and a Full HDMI In port. That said, the Vizio offers a better surround performance.
The Samsung HW-Q65T is better than the Samsung HW-A550. The HW-Q65T is a 5.1 setup with discrete satellites. It has better center and surround performances than the 2.1 HW-A550.
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.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Samsung HW-S60A or the Samsung HW-A550. The HW-A550 is a 2.1 setup that comes with a dedicated sub, so it reproduces a more extended low-bass. It also comes with a Full HDMI In port. That said, the 5.0 HW-S60A is better built with a more compact design. It has better center and surround performances as well as built-in voice assistant support.
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 Samsung HW-Q60T is a slightly better soundbar than the Samsung HW-A550. The HW-Q60T is a 5.1 setup that's better-built. It also offers better center and surround performances than the 2.1 HW-A550.
The Samsung HW-A550 is a bit better for mixed usage than the Yamaha YAS-209. The Samsung is better-built, and it gets louder. It also comes with some more sound enhancement features like a graphic EQ and auto-volume mode. However, the Yamaha has a better center channel performance. Unlike the Samsung, it also has built-in support for Wi-Fi and voice assistants.
The Samsung HW-A550 is better than the Samsung HW-T450. The HW-A550 is better-built, and it comes with more sound enhancement features like a graphic EQ and dialogue enhancement. Also, it has ARC and Full HDMI In ports, so you have more physical inputs to choose from.
The Vizio M Series M51a-H6 is better than the Samsung HW-A550. The Vizio is a 5.1 setup with discrete satellites that offers better center and surround performances. Unlike the Samsung, it supports Dolby Atmos content, too. It can even reproduce a more extended low bass. That said, the 2.1 Samsung is better built.
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-T650 is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-A550. The HW-T650 is a 3.1 soundbar that offers a better soundstage performance to help immerse you in your audio. Also, unlike the 2.1 HW-A550, it comes with a discrete center channel, so dialogue is more accurately localized to a pinpoint location.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer the Samsung HW-A550 or the LG SN6Y. The LG is better for dialogue-centric content like TV shows since it has a discrete center channel. That said, the Samsung is better for music. It comes with a graphic EQ for sound customization, and some users may prefer that it has a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the LG SL6Y or the Samsung HW-A550. The LG is a 3.1 setup that's better suited for dialogue-centric content thanks to its discrete center channel. It also has a better surrounds performance. That said, the 2.1 Samsung is better for music. It reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it comes with a graphic EQ to help you customize its sound.
The Samsung HW-A550 is a better soundbar than the Vizio V Series V21-H8. The Samsung is better-built with a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, which some users may prefer. Also, it comes with a graphic EQ for sound customization and a Full HDMI In port, unlike the Vizio.
The Samsung HW-A550 is a bit better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The Samsung is a 2.1 setup with a dedicated sub that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It supports DTS content, unlike the Bose, and it also has more sound enhancement features such as a graphic EQ. That said, the 3.0 Bose is better-built. It has better soundstage and center performances, and it's still a solid choice for vocal-centric content like TV shows.
The Samsung HW-A550 is better than the Sony HT-S200F. The Samsung comes with a dedicated sub that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It's better built, and it has a better soundstage. Also, it comes with more sound enhancement features like a graphic EQ.
The Samsung HW-A550 is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-S350. The Samsung has a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, which some users may prefer. It also comes with a graphic EQ and bass and treble adjustments for sound customization and a Full HDMI In port.
The Samsung HW-A550 is a newer version of the Samsung HW-R550. They're both 2.1 soundbars with similar overall performances, however, the HW-A550 is slightly better. It's able to reproduce a slightly more extended low-bass out-of-the-box, and it has a better soundstage. Neither bar supports Dolby Atmos, though.
Test Results
The bar has a simple design. It's mostly made of plastic, and there's a metal grille around the front of the bar.
The sub is mostly made of melamine. There's fabric covering the front side.
This setup doesn't come with satellites. However, you can purchase the Wireless Rear Speaker kit from Samsung separately.
The Samsung HW-A550 isn't very wide, so it may be able to fit between the legs of some 55" TVs. Also, it isn't very tall, so it shouldn't block your TV screen unless your TV sits flush on your table.
The sub is about the size of an average desktop computer. It connects to the bar wirelessly, so you have a lot of flexibility when placing it in your room.
The back of the bar has two openings for the power cable and the inputs. There are also universal holes on the underside, so you can wall-mount it.
The back of the sub has a plastic port, as well as the input for the power cable and a pairing button.
The Samsung HW-A550 has a good build quality. The bar itself is mostly plastic, which feels solid and durable, and the metal grille on the front helps protect its drivers. The sub is mostly melamine. Unfortunately, the fabric on the sub seems like it could easily rip or get dirty.
- Manual
- Remote with batteries (2xAA)
- Mounting brackets with screws and template
- Optical cable
- 2x power cable
- Power adapter for soundbar
The Samsung HW-A550 has a very good stereo frequency response. It performs similarly to the Samsung HW-B550, with a pretty neutral sound profile out-of-the-box. There's a little extra punch in the bass range that can please fans of bass-heavy music like EDM. However, it lacks a bit of low-bass, so you may not feel the deep rumble in action-packed movie scenes. It comes with a graphic EQ and presets as well as bass and treble adjustments to help you customize its sound to your liking.
The Samsung HW-A550 has a great stereo frequency response with calibration. With its bass set to '-3' and its treble set to '3', it has a very neutral, balanced sound profile that's suitable for listening to lots of different types of audio content. However, it still lacks some low-bass, which can be disappointing if you like to feel low thump and rumble.
The Samsung HW-A550 has a decent stereo soundstage performance. Its soundstage is perceived to be about as wide as the bar itself, but it doesn't have any tricks to make it seem wider than that. It also has good focus for a 2.1 soundbar. Objects like voices and footsteps seem to come from an accurate region, though it isn't always easy to pinpoint their exact location.
The Samsung HW-A550 has a great dynamics performance. It can get loud without a lot of compression at max volume, making it suitable for listening to audio during parties and in large rooms.
The Samsung HW-A550 has a mediocre THD performance. At normal listening volumes, there's a bit of distortion in the mid and bass ranges. When you push the bar to max volume, there's a jump in THD across the range. While it can be hard to hear with real-life content, you may still notice it.
The Samsung HW-A550 has a disappointing center channel performance. It's a 2.1 setup, so it has to use its left and right channels to simulate a sound in the center, which doesn't sound as clear or real compared to a discrete center channel. However, voices still sound fairly accurate since there isn't much bass reproduced on center channel tracks.
The Samsung HW-A550 has poor surrounds performance. This 2.1 bar has to downmix surround content into stereo to play it. As a result, surround objects like voices and footsteps aren't as accurately or clearly represented in the soundstage. Sound seems like it's coming from in front of you rather than from speakers placed all around you. For a soundbar with a better surrounds performance, check out the Vizio V Series V21x-J8 or the Hisense HS218.
The Samsung HW-A550 has a lot of sound enhancement features. Unlike the Samsung HW-T550, it comes with a graphic EQ for sound customization. It also comes with many EQ presets, including 'Standard', 'Surround Sound', 'Bass Boost', 'Game', 'Adaptive Sound', and 'DTS Virtual X'. The 'Adaptive Sound' feature doubles as a dialogue enhancement mode, which helps make voices sound more clear and crisp. You can also press and hold the 'SOUND MODE' button on the remote when the bar is off to turn Dynamic Range Control on and off, which helps balance the volume level across different programs.
The Samsung HW-A550 comes with some physical inputs. There's a Full HDMI In port, so you can use the bar as a hub between different devices. However, there isn't an AUX port, so you can't wire older devices to the bar to playback audio.
The Samsung HW-A550 has decent audio format support via ARC. It supports both Dolby Digital and DTS, commonly found on Blu-ray discs and streaming platforms. However, it can't decode lossless or object-based surround formats like Dolby Atmos.
The Samsung HW-A550 supports Dolby Digital content via Full HDMI In. Dolby Digital is the most common surround sound format, and you can often find it on Blu-ray discs and streaming platforms. However, you can't playback lossless or object-based surround formats over this input.
The Samsung HW-A550 supports both Dolby Digital and DTS content over Optical, which is useful for those who like to watch Blu-ray discs and content from streaming platforms.
The Samsung HW-A550 has a decent latency performance. Its latency is a bit high over its ARC, Full HDMI In, and Optical ports, so you may notice a bit of a delay between your audio and your video. As a result, it may not be very suitable for watching videos over these connections. That said, some apps and some TVs compensate for latency differently, so your real-world experience can vary.
The Samsung HW-A550 lets you wirelessly stream audio from your mobile device to the bar via Bluetooth. However, you aren't able to stream audio over other wireless connections.
The bar can't passthrough some of the highest-quality bandwidth signals, so you can't use it for Dolby Vision Passthrough. At most, it can passthrough 4k @ 4:4:4 30Hz.
The sub connects to the bar wirelessly. You just need to plug it into an outlet to use it.
In the middle of the bar, there's a small three-character display. It displays the volume mode and the sound mode when you adjust these settings. However, it isn't visible when you aren't adjusting a setting. Since it's only three characters, you may need to wait for it to scroll through longer messages.
On top of the bar, there are some controls. You can power the bar on/off, adjust the volume, and change the input source.
The remote is simple and lets you control the bar's functions. It's advertised to support Samsung OneRemote, which lets you use your TV remote to control the bar, but we don't test for this.