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  1. Home
  2. Soundbar
  3. Compare
  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
  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
    3. Audio Format Support - Full HDMI In
    4. Audio Format Support - Optical
    5. Latency
    6. Wireless Playback
    7. Other Input Specifications
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
  8. Comments

Polk Audio Signa S2 vs Samsung HW-A450

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Polk Audio Signa S2
Samsung HW-A450

Tested using Methodology v1.1

Updated May 09, 2025 01:09 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.1

Updated Apr 17, 2024 03:01 PM

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Amazon.com
Polk Audio Signa S2 Picture
Samsung HW-A450 Picture
Channels
2.1
Channels
2.1

Variants

  • Signa S2 (Black)
  • Signa S2D (Black)
  • HW-A450 (Black)

Review

See Polk Audio Signa S2 Review
See Samsung HW-A450 Review
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Our Verdict

Polk Audio Signa S2

Samsung HW-A450

The Samsung HW-A450 is a better 2.1 soundbar than the Polk Audio Signa S2. The Samsung soundbar has a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, which some listeners may prefer. It also reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it has more sound enhancement features like a graphic EQ. That said, the Polk Audio is better built with an HDMI ARC port.

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Black
Signa S2
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Black
HW-A450
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Black
Signa S2D
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Black
HW-A450
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Black
HW-A450
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Black
HW-A450
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Black
HW-A450
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Black
HW-A450
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

6.6
7.0

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.2
8.0

Audio Format Support - ARC 
 

6.1
0.0

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Polk Audio Signa S2 Style photo - bar
Samsung HW-A450 Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Polk Audio Signa S2 Style photo - sub
Samsung HW-A450 Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

Yes
Yes

Enclosure 
 

Ported
Ported
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Polk Audio Signa S2 Style photo - satellites
Samsung HW-A450 Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Polk Audio Signa S2 Dimensions photo - bar
Samsung HW-A450 Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

35.4" (89.9 cm)
33.9" (86.0 cm)

Height  

2.0" (5.0 cm)
2.1" (5.3 cm)

Depth  

3.1" (7.9 cm)
3.0" (7.6 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Polk Audio Signa S2 Dimensions photo - sub
Samsung HW-A450 Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

6.7" (17.1 cm)
7.2" (18.2 cm)

Height  

13.7" (34.9 cm)
13.4" (34.1 cm)

Depth  

12.3" (31.3 cm)
10.7" (27.3 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Polk Audio Signa S2 Dimensions photo - satellites
Samsung HW-A450 Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Polk Audio Signa S2 Bar Mounting Holes
Samsung HW-A450 Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Polk Audio Signa S2 Satellite Mounting Holes
Samsung HW-A450 Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

No
Yes

Mountable Satellites 
 

No
No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
No

Build Quality 
 

7.0
6.5

Build quality photo  

Polk Audio Signa S2 Build quality photo
Samsung HW-A450 Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Polk Audio Signa S2 In The Box photo
Samsung HW-A450 In The Box photo
Show Text 
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.2
8.0

Stereo Setup  

Polk Audio Signa S2 Stereo Setup
Samsung HW-A450 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

Tested Preset 
 

Music
Standard

Slope 
 

-0.44
-0.45

Std. Err. 
 

3.26 dB
2.31 dB

Channels 
 

2.1
2.1

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

49.0 Hz
40.0 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

17.2 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 
 

Music
Standard

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

0
-3

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

N/A
2

Slope 
 

-0.44
-0.19

Std. Err. 
 

3.26 dB
2.20 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

49.0 Hz
40.0 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

17.2 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

7.0
7.0

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.45 dB
2.65 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

7.5
8.1

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

95.6 dB SPL
93.1 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

2.66 dB
0.91 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

6.3
7.5

THD  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.58
0.47

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

10.19
2.49
Show Text 

Center 
 

5.8
5.8

Center Setup  

Polk Audio Signa S2 Center Setup
Samsung HW-A450 Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom
Phantom

Slope 
 

-1.44
-1.41

Std. Err. 
 

5.48 dB
4.74 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

93.6 dB SPL
84.4 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.55
0.52

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

3.22
1.88
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

3.3
3.2

Surround Setup  

Polk Audio Signa S2 Surround Setup
Samsung HW-A450 Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Stereo (Downmix)

Slope 
 

-1.47
-1.46

Std. Err. 
 

5.51 dB
4.93 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

91.2 dB SPL
81.7 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.72
1.15

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

2.04
1.46

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
0.0

Height Setup  

Polk Audio Signa S2 Height Setup
Samsung HW-A450 Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

Polk Audio Signa S2 H Frequency Response
Samsung HW-A450 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 
 

4.5
6.9

Room Correction 
 

No
No

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Bass Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

EQ 
 

Presets
Graphic + Presets

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Virtual Surround 
 

No
No
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Polk Audio Signa S2 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Samsung HW-A450 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Polk Audio Signa S2 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Samsung HW-A450 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI ARC 
 

1
No

HDMI Out 
 

No
No

Full HDMI In 
 

No
No

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

1
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

No
1

Ethernet 
 

No
No

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support - ARC 
 

6.1
0.0

eARC 
 

No
No

Dolby Atmos 
 

No
No

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
No

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

No
No

DTS 
 

No
No

DTS:X (eARC only) 
 

No
No

Dolby TrueHD (eARC only) 
 

No
No

DTS-HD MA (eARC only) 
 

No
No

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support - Full HDMI In 
 

0.0
0.0

Dolby Atmos 
 

No
No

DTS:X 
 

No
No

Dolby Digital 
 

No
No

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

No
No

DTS 
 

No
No

Dolby TrueHD 
 

No
No

DTS-HD MA 
 

No
No

5.1 PCM 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support - Optical 
 

6.0
10

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Yes

DTS 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Latency 
 

7.3
8.7

Latency Video  

ARC 
 

83 ms
N/A

Optical 
 

75 ms
39 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

N/A
N/A
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
No
Show Text 

Other Input Specifications 
 

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

No
No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

No
No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

No
No

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

No
No
Show Text 
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Polk Audio Signa S2 Interface photo
Samsung HW-A450 Interface photo

Display 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Polk Audio Signa S2 Controls photo
Samsung HW-A450 Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Polk Audio Signa S2 Remote photo
Samsung HW-A450 Remote photo
Show Text 

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

No
No

Google Assistant 
 

No
No

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

No
No

Check Price

Black
Signa S2
Searching
Finding store
Black
HW-A450
Searching
Finding store
Black
Signa S2D
Searching
Finding store
Black
HW-A450
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
HW-A450
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
HW-A450
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
HW-A450
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
HW-A450
Searching
Finding store
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Polk Audio Signa S2

Samsung HW-A450

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Polk Audio Signa S2 vs Samsung HW-A450: Main Discussion

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