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  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Style - Bar
    2. Style - Subwoofer
    3. Style - Satellites
    4. Dimensions - Bar
    5. Dimensions - Subwoofer
    6. Dimensions - Satellites
    7. Mounting
    8. Build Quality
    9. In The Box
    10. Back - Bar
    11. Back - Subwoofer
    12. Back - Satellites
  5. Sound
    1. Stereo Frequency Response
    2. Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
    3. Stereo Soundstage
    4. Stereo Dynamics
    5. Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
    6. Center
    7. Surround 5.1
    8. Height (Atmos)
    9. Sound Enhancement Features
  6. Connectivity
    1. Inputs/Outputs - Bar
    2. Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
    3. Audio Format Support: HDMI In
    4. Audio Format Support: Optical
    5. Audio Latency: ARC
    6. Audio Latency: HDMI In
    7. Audio Latency: Optical
    8. Video Passthrough To TV
    9. Wireless Playback
    10. Connectivity - Subwoofer
    11. Connectivity - Satellites
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
    5. App
    6. Other Features
  8. Comments

Bose TV Speaker vs Samsung HW-A550

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Bose TV Speaker
Samsung HW-A550

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated Nov 05, 2024 08:33 PM

SEE PRICE
Walmart.com

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Jan 12, 2024 03:49 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Bose TV Speaker Picture
Samsung HW-A550 Picture
  1. Recommended in 3 articles:
  2. Bose
  3. Under $200
  4. Under $300

Variants

  • TV Speakers (Black)
  • HW-A550 (Black)

Our Verdict

Bose TV Speaker

Samsung HW-A550

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.

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Check Price

Black
TV Speakers
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
TV Speakers
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
HW-A550
B&H
Black
TV Speakers
B&H
Black
HW-A550
BestBuy.com
Black
TV Speakers
BestBuy.com
Black
HW-A550
Walmart.com
Black
TV Speakers
Samsung.com
 
Read more

Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

6.2
7.1

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.2
7.9

Stereo Dynamics 
 

6.2
8.2

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

No
Yes

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Bose TV Speaker Style photo - bar
Samsung HW-A550 Style photo - bar
Show text

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Bose TV Speaker Style photo - sub
Samsung HW-A550 Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

No
Yes

Enclosure 
 

No Subwoofer
Ported
Show text

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Bose TV Speaker Style photo - satellites
Samsung HW-A550 Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No
Show text

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Bose TV Speaker Dimensions photo - bar
Samsung HW-A550 Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

23.5" (59.6 cm)
33.9" (86.1 cm)

Height  

2.2" (5.7 cm)
2.2" (5.5 cm)

Depth  

4.1" (10.4 cm)
3.4" (8.7 cm)
Show text

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Bose TV Speaker Dimensions photo - sub
Samsung HW-A550 Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

N/A
7.9" (20.0 cm)

Height  

N/A
13.8" (35.0 cm)

Depth  

N/A
11.4" (29.0 cm)
Show text

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Bose TV Speaker Dimensions photo - satellites
Samsung HW-A550 Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Bose TV Speaker Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Bose TV Speaker Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

No

Mountable Satellites 
 

No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
Show text

Build Quality 
 

8.0
7.5

Build quality photo  

Bose TV Speaker Build quality photo
Samsung HW-A550 Build quality photo
Show text

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Bose TV Speaker In The Box photo
Samsung HW-A550 In The Box photo

HDMI Cable Length 
 

N/A

Digital Optical Cable Length 
 

1.5 m (4.9 ft)
Show text

Back - Bar  

Back photo - bar  

Samsung HW-A550 Back photo - bar

Bar Mounting 
 

Universal (holes on underside)
Show text

Back - Subwoofer  

Back photo - sub  

Samsung HW-A550 Back photo - sub

Enclosure 
 

No Subwoofer
Ported
Show text

Back - Satellites  

Back photo - satellites  

Samsung HW-A550 Back photo - satellites

Mounting 
 

No
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.2
7.9

Stereo Setup  

Bose TV Speaker Stereo Setup
Samsung HW-A550 Stereo Setup

Raw Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Frequency Response Small  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Channels 
 

2.0
2.1

Tested Preset 
 

No Preset
Standard

Slope 
 

-0.10
-0.58

Standard Error 
 

2.82 dB
2.35 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

55.0 Hz
40.6 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show text

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.2
8.0

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

No Preset
Standard

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

0
-3

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

N/A
3

Slope 
 

-0.10
-0.12

Standard Error 
 

2.82 dB
1.96 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

55.0 Hz
40.6 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show text

Stereo Soundstage 
 

6.5
7.0

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.99 dB
2.65 dB
Show text

Stereo Dynamics 
 

6.2
8.2

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

84.6 dB SPL
92.2 dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB 
 

N/A

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

2.41 dB
0.55 dB
Show text

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

6.2

THD  

See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

1.08

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

6.15
Show text

Center 
 

6.8
5.9

Center Setup  

Bose TV Speaker Center Setup
Samsung HW-A550 Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom
Phantom

Slope 
 

0.08
-1.63

Std. Err. 
 

2.45 dB
4.66 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

88.1 dB SPL
87.8 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.50
0.50

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.08
3.08
Show text

Surround 5.1 
 

3.3
3.3

Surround Setup  

Bose TV Speaker Surround Setup
Samsung HW-A550 Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Stereo (Downmix)

Slope 
 

-1.17
-1.68

Std. Err. 
 

4.79 dB
4.87 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

84.7 dB SPL
85.1 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.55
0.51

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.11
2.22

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show text

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
0.0

Height Setup  

Bose TV Speaker Height Setup
Samsung HW-A550 Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

Bose TV Speaker H Frequency Response
Samsung HW-A550 H Frequency Response

Localization 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Slope 
 

N/A
N/A

Std. Err. 
 

N/A
N/A

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
N/A

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

N/A
N/A

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
N/A
Show text

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

2.1
6.7

Room Correction 
 

No
No

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

No
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Bass Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

EQ 
 

No
Graphic + Presets

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Virtual Surround 
 

No
Yes
Show text
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Bose TV Speaker Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Samsung HW-A550 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Bose TV Speaker Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Samsung HW-A550 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI Out 
 

ARC
1 (shared)

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No

Full HDMI In 
 

No
1

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

1
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

No
1

Ethernet 
 

No
No

Subwoofer Output 
 

Yes

HDMI ARC 
 

1 (shared)
Show text

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

4.8
7.1

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
No

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
No

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS 
 

Not Supported
Yes

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
No

eARC 
 

No

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

2.0

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

No
Show text

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

0.0
6.4

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
No

Dolby Digital 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
No

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
No

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

Not Supported

5.1 PCM 
 

No
Show text

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

6.5
10

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Yes

DTS 
 

Not Supported
Yes

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
Show text

Audio Latency: ARC 
 

10

ARC Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

10 ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

N/A

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

28 ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

N/A
Show text

Audio Latency: HDMI In 
 

0.0
7.0

HDMI Latency Video  

Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

N/A

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

N/A

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

N/A

ARC 
 

104 ms

Optical 
 

77 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

77 ms
Show text

Audio Latency: Optical 
 

10

Optical Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

69 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

126 ms
Show text

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

0.0
0.0

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

No
No

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

No

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

No

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

No
Show text

Wireless Playback 
 

6.0
6.0

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

No
No

Chromecast built-in 
 

No
No

Apple AirPlay 
 

No
No

Spotify Connect 
 

No
Show text

Connectivity - Subwoofer 
 

Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1  

Samsung HW-A550 Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1

Physical controls subwoofer photo 1  

Samsung HW-A550 Physical controls subwoofer photo 1

Sub Wireless 
 

No
Yes
Show text

Connectivity - Satellites 
 

Physical inputs satellites photo 1  

Samsung HW-A550 Physical inputs satellites photo 1

Physical controls satellites photo 1  

Samsung HW-A550 Physical controls satellites photo 1

Sat Wireless 
 

No
No
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Bose TV Speaker Interface photo
Samsung HW-A550 Interface photo

Display 
 

No
Yes
Show text

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Bose TV Speaker Controls photo
Samsung HW-A550 Controls photo
Show text

Remote  

Remote photo  

Bose TV Speaker Remote photo
Samsung HW-A550 Remote photo

Universal Remote 
 

No
Show text

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

No
No

Google Assistant 
 

No
No

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

No

App 
 

App image  

Samsung HW-A550 App image

App Name  

No App

iOS  

No

Android  

No

Acts As A Remote 
 

No

Controls Soundbar's Settings 
 

No

Casts Device Files 
 

No

Other Features 
 

Power Saving 
 

Auto-off

HDMI CEC (TV Remote Control) 
 

Yes
Show text

Check Price

Black
TV Speakers
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
TV Speakers
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
HW-A550
B&H
Black
TV Speakers
B&H
Black
HW-A550
BestBuy.com
Black
TV Speakers
BestBuy.com
Black
HW-A550
Walmart.com
Black
TV Speakers
Samsung.com
 

Bose TV Speaker

Samsung HW-A550

Comments

  1. Comparison

Bose TV Speaker vs Samsung HW-A550: Main Discussion

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