Sound quality:
If not for a sound settings problem the Samsung's HW-B550/ZA sound quality of this model would have scored higher in the good range - this model reproduces music and dialog reasonably well despite the obvious shortcomings in its sound. In the Standard sound mode with the tone controls set to provide the most even tonal balance the bass has good impact and goes deep but is a bit prominent and boomy. Midrange is even but is somewhat hazy and a bit grainy. Treble is fairly extended but is a bit smeared and a sizzly. Does a decent job of recovering room ambience but the overall sound is somewhat congested. With stereo program material the two channel sound field extends somewhat above but not much beyond the sides of the speaker array and lacks depth.
There was no significant difference in sound quality between the HDMI, optical, USB, and Bluetooth inputs.
The system can provide satisfying volume in a medium sized room.
Sound Modes
The various sound modes, Voice Effect and Night Mode have a noticeable effect on the sound field and/or tonal balance.
Multichannel
When 5.1 channel program material is played back in the Standard mode the width and height of the sound stage expands, and depending on the program material extends well beyond the height and width of the sound bar enclosure but the depth is still flat.
Sound Modes (Multichannel)
The various sound modes, Voice Effect and Night Mode have a noticeable effect on the sound field and/or tonal balance.
Tech Note: We found that the tone settings of this model were glitchy - even though the settings look like they haven't changed they may actually change to some other settings which will cause the sound of the sound bar to change when it is unplugged and plugged back in again. To make sure the settings are the ones that were originally chosen (and the sound of the sound bar is the way it was intended to be set) the tone controls settings have to be re-set to the desired values (even with re-setting the tone controls sometimes the sound may still not be exactly as it was when the tone controls were set before). If not for this problem with the settings the sound quality of this model would have scored higher in the good range.
TV ease of use: Very good overall. This model can work seamlessly with most TVs - the soundbar's volume and mute functions can be controlled by a HDMI CEC compatible TV's remote when connected via an HDMI cable. If an HDMI connection is not used the soundbar's volume and mute functions can be directly controlled by the IR remotes (the typical remote that comes with a TV) of Samsung and other major brand TVs. The soundbar's own physical remote is easy to use - although the area around the volume and mute buttons is a bit cluttered, all of the major controls are clearly labeled. The soundbar console was not particularly user friendly - although all controls were easy to access one was an unlabeled multi-function button and all were hard to see due to poor contrast. The console display lacks a persistent power on indication. The source, mute, and sound mode displays are in words and are highly visible; although they are momentary they can be recalled with a button press. The volume display is numeric but momentary and can't be recalled without changing the level. Use with a Bluetooth connected TV is a bit convoluted - if you turn the soundbar off and on, or switch from the Bluetooth connection to another source and then back again you have to manually re-connect the TV to the Bluetooth input.
Features ease of use: Acceptable overall. The soundbar's physical remote is easy to use - although the area around the volume and mute buttons is a bit cluttered, all of the major controls are clearly labeled. The soundbar console was not particularly user friendly - although all controls were easy to access, one was an unlabeled multi-function button and all were hard to see due to poor contrast. The console display lacks a persistent power on indication. The source, mute, and sound mode displays are in words and are highly visible; although they are momentary they can be recalled with a button press. The volume display is numeric but momentary and can't be recalled without changing the level. Use with Bluetooth sources is a bit convoluted - if you turn the soundbar off and on, or switch from the Bluetooth source to another source and then back again you have to manually re-connect the Bluetooth source device.
