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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
    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

Samsung HW-A550 vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Samsung HW-A550
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Jan 12, 2024 03:49 PM

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Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated May 22, 2025 05:12 PM

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Samsung HW-A550 Picture
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Picture
Channels
2.1
Channels
5.0
  1. Recommended in 7 articles:
  2. Soundbars
  3. All-In-One
  4. Music
  5. Small
  6. Under $500
  7. Dialogue
  8. Movies

Variants

  • HW-A550 (Black)
  • Beam (Gen 2) (Black)
  • Sonos Beam (Gen 2) (White)

Review

See Samsung HW-A550 Review
See Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Review
0 
16 

Our Verdict

Samsung HW-A550

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

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.

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Black
HW-A550
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Black
Beam (Gen 2)
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Black
HW-A550
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White
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
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HW-A550
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HW-A550
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HW-A550
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

7.1
7.4

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
5.7

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.9
7.4

Center 
 

5.9
7.4

Surround 5.1 
 

3.3
5.9

Stereo Soundstage 
 

7.0
8.0

Stereo Dynamics 
 

8.2
7.1

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Samsung HW-A550 Style photo - bar
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Samsung HW-A550 Style photo - sub
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

Yes
No

Enclosure 
 

Ported
No Subwoofer
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Samsung HW-A550 Style photo - satellites
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Samsung HW-A550 Dimensions photo - bar
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

33.9" (86.1 cm)
25.6" (65.0 cm)

Height  

2.2" (5.5 cm)
2.6" (6.7 cm)

Depth  

3.4" (8.7 cm)
4.0" (10.1 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Samsung HW-A550 Dimensions photo - sub
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

7.9" (20.0 cm)
N/A

Height  

13.8" (35.0 cm)
N/A

Depth  

11.4" (29.0 cm)
N/A
Show Text 

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Samsung HW-A550 Dimensions photo - satellites
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

No

Mountable Satellites 
 

No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

7.5
8.5

Build quality photo  

Samsung HW-A550 Build quality photo
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Samsung HW-A550 In The Box photo
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) 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 
 

Ported
No Subwoofer
Show Text 

Back - Satellites  

Back photo - satellites  

Samsung HW-A550 Back photo - satellites

Mounting 
 

No
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.9
7.4

Stereo Setup  

Samsung HW-A550 Stereo Setup
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) 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 
 

2.1
5.0

Tested Preset 
 

Standard
No Preset

Slope 
 

-0.58
-0.56

Standard Error 
 

2.35 dB
2.82 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

40.6 Hz
50.4 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
16.7 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

8.0
7.4

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Standard
No Preset

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

-3
-3

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

3
2

Slope 
 

-0.12
0.05

Standard Error 
 

1.96 dB
2.66 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

40.6 Hz
51.9 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
17.2 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

7.0
8.0

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.65 dB
2.32 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

8.2
7.1

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

92.2 dB SPL
88.8 dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB 
 

N/A

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

0.55 dB
1.70 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 
 

5.9
7.4

Center Setup  

Samsung HW-A550 Center Setup
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom
Discrete

Slope 
 

-1.63
0.24

Std. Err. 
 

4.66 dB
3.73 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

87.8 dB SPL
72.3 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.50
0.63

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

3.08
1.54
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

3.3
5.9

Surround Setup  

Samsung HW-A550 Surround Setup
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Phantom (Front Firing and Side Firing, Bar)

Slope 
 

-1.68
-0.56

Std. Err. 
 

4.87 dB
2.79 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

85.1 dB SPL
70.4 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.51
0.38

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

2.22
0.87

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
5.7

Height Setup  

Samsung HW-A550 Height Setup
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

Samsung HW-A550 H Frequency Response
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Not Supported
Phantom (Front Firing, Bar)

Slope 
 

N/A
1.01

Std. Err. 
 

N/A
3.35 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
59.2 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

N/A
1.45

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
0.30
Show Text 

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

6.7
5.4

Room Correction 
 

No
Yes

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
No

Bass Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

EQ 
 

Graphic + Presets
No

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Virtual Surround 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Samsung HW-A550 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Samsung HW-A550 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
Adapter into HDMI ARC

HDMI Out 
 

1 (shared)
eARC

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No

Full HDMI In 
 

1
No

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

No
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

1
No

Ethernet 
 

No
1

Subwoofer Output 
 

No

HDMI ARC 
 

1 (shared)
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

7.1
9.6

Dolby Atmos 
 

No
Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

No
Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

No
Supported

DTS 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS:X 
 

No
Not Supported

eARC 
 

No

DTS-HD MA 
 

No
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 7.1

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

6.4
0.0

Dolby Atmos 
 

No
Not Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Not Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

No
Not Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

No
Not Supported

DTS 
 

No
Not Supported

DTS:X 
 

No
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

No
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Not Supported

5.1 PCM 
 

No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

10
10

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS 
 

Yes
Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
Show Text 

Audio Latency: ARC 
 

7.3

ARC Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

61 ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

61 ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

79 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

111 ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

121 ms

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

121 ms
Show Text 

Audio Latency: HDMI In 
 

7.0
0.0

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 
 

7.8

Optical Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

119 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

180 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
3.0

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
No

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

No
Yes

Chromecast built-in 
 

No
No

Apple AirPlay 
 

No
Yes

Spotify Connect 
 

Yes
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 
 

Yes
No
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  

Samsung HW-A550 Interface photo
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Interface photo

Display 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Samsung HW-A550 Controls photo
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Samsung HW-A550 Remote photo
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Remote photo

Universal Remote 
 

No
Show Text 

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

No
Yes (Built-in)

Google Assistant 
 

No
Yes (Built-in)

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

Yes
Show Text 

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 

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HW-A550
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Beam (Gen 2)
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HW-A550
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Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
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HW-A550
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HW-A550
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Samsung HW-A550

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Samsung HW-A550 vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2): Main Discussion

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