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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/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
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
  8. Comments

Vizio V Series V21-H8 vs Samsung HW-B550

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Vizio V Series V21-H8
Samsung HW-B550

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Apr 17, 2024 02:36 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated Jan 14, 2025 08:37 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Vizio V Series V21-H8 Picture
Samsung HW-B550 Picture
Channels
2.1
Channels
2.1
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Vizio
  1. Recommended in 2 articles:
  2. Samsung
  3. Under $200

Variants

  • V21 H8 (Black)
  • V21 H8R (Black)
  • HW-B550 (Black)

Review

See Vizio V Series V21-H8 Review
See Samsung HW-B550 Review
2 
0 

Our Verdict

Vizio V Series V21-H8

Samsung HW-B550

Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Vizio V Series V21-H8 or the Samsung HW-B550. They're both 2.1 bars at budget-friendly prices. The Vizio is best for fans of bass-heavy music—it reproduces more low-bass and adds more boom and punch to the mix right out of the box. The Samsung is more balanced out-of-the-box but has more customization tools, like a graphic EQ. You can add more boom in the high-bass with these features, but unfortunately, the Samsung soundbar still doesn't get the rumble in the low-bass like the Vizio.

0 

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Black
V21 H8
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HW-B550
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V21 H8R
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HW-B550
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HW-B550
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HW-B550
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HW-B550
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

7.0
7.3

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.6
8.0

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Style photo - bar
Samsung HW-B550 Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Style photo - sub
Samsung HW-B550 Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

Yes
Yes

Enclosure 
 

Ported
Ported
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Style photo - satellites
Samsung HW-B550 Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Dimensions photo - bar
Samsung HW-B550 Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

36.0" (91.5 cm)
33.9" (86.0 cm)

Height  

2.3" (5.8 cm)
2.2" (5.6 cm)

Depth  

3.2" (8.2 cm)
3.0" (7.6 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Dimensions photo - sub
Samsung HW-B550 Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

8.3" (21.2 cm)
7.2" (18.4 cm)

Height  

9.8" (25.0 cm)
13.5" (34.2 cm)

Depth  

8.3" (21.2 cm)
11.7" (29.7 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Dimensions photo - satellites
Samsung HW-B550 Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Bar Mounting Holes
Samsung HW-B550 Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Satellite Mounting Holes
Samsung HW-B550 Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

Yes
Yes

Mountable Satellites 
 

No
No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
No

Build Quality 
 

7.0
7.5

Build quality photo  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Build quality photo
Samsung HW-B550 Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Vizio V Series V21-H8 In The Box photo
Samsung HW-B550 In The Box photo
Show Text 
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.6
8.0

Stereo Setup  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Stereo Setup
Samsung HW-B550 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
2.1

Tested Preset 
 

Music
Standard

Slope 
 

-0.86
-0.32

Standard Error 
 

4.28 dB
2.40 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

34.1 Hz
38.3 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

16.5 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.5
8.0

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Music
Standard

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

-4
0

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

0
0

Slope 
 

-0.09
-0.32

Standard Error 
 

2.81 dB
2.40 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

43.0 Hz
38.3 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

16.0 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 
 

2.99 dB
2.57 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

7.5
8.5

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

95.8 dB SPL
94.1 dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB 
 

0.26 dB

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

2.88 dB
0.68 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

7.7

THD  

See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.45

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.78
Show Text 

Center 
 

6.4
6.0

Center Setup  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Center Setup
Samsung HW-B550 Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom
Phantom

Slope 
 

-0.83
-1.43

Std. Err. 
 

4.33 dB
4.91 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

95.8 dB SPL
90.6 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.43
0.38

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.79
3.20
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

3.9
3.4

Surround Setup  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Surround Setup
Samsung HW-B550 Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Stereo (Downmix)

Slope 
 

0.79
-1.50

Std. Err. 
 

3.62 dB
5.10 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

88.2 dB SPL
87.9 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.90
0.39

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

3.51
2.60

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
0.0

Height Setup  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Height Setup
Samsung HW-B550 Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 H Frequency Response
Samsung HW-B550 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

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

6.8
7.4

Room Correction 
 

No
No

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Bass Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

EQ 
 

Presets
Graphic + Presets

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Virtual Surround 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Samsung HW-B550 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Samsung HW-B550 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI Out 
 

ARC
ARC

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No
No

Full HDMI In 
 

No
1

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

1
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

1
1

Ethernet 
 

No
No

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

6.3
6.3

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS 
 

Supported
Supported

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
2.0
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

0.0
6.3

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Not Supported
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS 
 

Not Supported
Supported

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Not Supported
2.0
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

10
10

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Supported

DTS 
 

Supported
Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
2.0
Show Text 

Audio Latency: ARC 
 

8.8

ARC Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

85 ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

N/A

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

85 ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

N/A
Show Text 

Audio Latency: HDMI In 
 

8.1
8.9

HDMI Latency Video  

Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

84 ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

N/A

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

97 ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

N/A

ARC 
 

59 ms

Optical 
 

52 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

N/A
Show Text 

Audio Latency: Optical 
 

7.2

Optical Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

140 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

181 ms
Show Text 

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

0.0
5.3

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
120Hz

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
60Hz

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
30Hz

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

No
No

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No
No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

No
No

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No
No

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No
No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No
No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No
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
No
Show Text 
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Interface photo
Samsung HW-B550 Interface photo

Display 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Controls photo
Samsung HW-B550 Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Vizio V Series V21-H8 Remote photo
Samsung HW-B550 Remote photo
Show Text 

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

No
No

Google Assistant 
 

No
No

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Check Price

Black
V21 H8
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Black
HW-B550
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Black
V21 H8R
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Black
HW-B550
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Black
HW-B550
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HW-B550
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HW-B550
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Vizio V Series V21-H8

Samsung HW-B550

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Vizio V Series V21-H8 vs Samsung HW-B550: Main Discussion

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