To assist you in making a decision, our team has put together an exhaustive Samsung HW-A650 review.
Samsung HW-A650 Soundbar is a 3.1 soundbar from the manufacturer’s 2021 lineup. This soundbar has a very neutral sound profile right out of the box, making it suitable for listening to a wide variety of audio content, but it struggles to reproduce deep, punchy bass. Can it, however, live up to your hopes?
So as not to let down a prospective customer, let’s attempt to comprehend the Samsung HW-A650 review.
Table of Contents
Pros and Cons Of Samsung HW-A650 Soundbar
What’s Good?
- Sleek, simple, and attractive design
- Wireless Bluetooth connection
- Adaptive SoundLite
- 3D surround sound
- Graphic EQ and presets
- Lightweight
What’s Not So Good?
- Doesn’t support Apple AirPlay or Chromecast built-in
- Lack of Dolby Atmos support
- No Wi-Fi
- No virtual assistant
At a Glance
In 2021, the Samsung HW-A650 3.1 CH soundbar was introduced. The soundbar’s default settings provide a very basic sound profile that is suitable for playing a variety of audio files, despite the fact that the soundbar tries to reproduce loud low bass. The Samsung HW-T650 soundbar is its forerunner.
A graphic equalizer and several different presets are just a couple of the soundbar’s many sound-improving features. To improve dialogue, it is suggested to use “Adaptive Sound Lite”, and “Bass Boost” is able to add more energy to the audio. 3D surround mode is included in the specification, but for this kind of playback the bar has to mix the signal in stereo.
Samsung A650 Soundbar Specs
- Number of Channel 3.1.
- Wireless is the only subwoofer type available (active, passive, built-in).
- One packing measures 1036.0 x 460.0 x 252.0 mm in terms of gross dimensions (WxHxD).
- Gross Weight (1 Packing), 11.4 kg.
- Power 0.5W.
- (Main) Operating Power Consumption: 32W.
Design & Build
The HW-A650 3.1 soundbar from Samsung is a part of the brand’s 2021 lineup. A wide variety of audio content can be enjoyed right out of the box on this soundbar thanks to its relatively neutral sound profile. The low-bass, on the other hand, is not reproduced.
It has many sound-improving plugins, including “Adaptive Sound Lite,” which can enhance dialogue, and “Bass Boost,” which can give the audio more impact. It also has a visual EQ.
It also supports surround content, but in order to play it, it must be downmixed to stereo. You can mount the sleek Samsung HW-A650 soundbar on a wall or place it flat on a tabletop. It has a subwoofer. You won’t need additional furniture to set up the soundbar if you use the wall mount.
The fact that the soundbar and buttons are all the same color is one drawback of this soundbar. Due to its difficulty in differentiation, it is less user-friendly.
The Samsung HW-A650 soundbar measures 2.3 inches by 38.6 inches by 4.1 inches and weighs about 19.5 pounds. Like the other soundbars from Samsung, it is well-built.
The top and front of this model are covered with a metal grille, similar to the Samsung HW-T650, while the rest of the soundbar is made of plastic. Wood makes up the majority of the subwoofer. The front is covered in plastic, and the port is in the back.
The control cable and inputs are housed in two holes on the back of the bar. It can also be wall-mounted using the standard holes on the bottom. On the subwoofer’s back, there is a plastic port. A pairing button and a power cable connection are also present.
Sound
DTS Plus and Dolby Audio bass boosters and decoders are included with the A650 soundbar when used with a subwoofer. The bar has a subtle, minimalist audio profile despite this. The center channel of the soundbar is designated for crystal-clear speech.
To create a wide soundstage, the left and right channels can project sound in any direction. The sound produced by Adaptive Sound Lite is more lifelike. To create a full home theater experience, additional acoustics can be added to the 3.1 CH system using a Bluetooth connection.
Very good midrange response can be found in the A650 soundbar. However, the bar’s default sound profile is only neutral and balanced, making it appropriate for simple audio content.
While lacking the deep thump and rumble of heavy bass music, the HW-A650 nevertheless attempts to reproduce deep low bass. It’s true that there are some sound customization options, such as a graphic equalizer, presets, and bass and treble controls. By using them, you can give the sound more depth.
Despite what the manufacturer claims, the Samsung A650 soundbar performs poorly for surround sound. It reduces surround content to straightforward stereo. As a result, the soundstage will not portray voices and footsteps as precisely and clearly. Even with 5.1 CH expansion, the sound may still seem to be coming from speakers in front of you rather than those behind you.
There are numerous sound enhancement features on Samsung’s A650 soundbar. You can adjust the sound using the graphic equalizer. Standard, Surround, Bass Boost, Game, Adaptive Sound Lite, and DTS Virtual X are among the other EQ presets that are available. Voice clarity in dialog can be increased with Adaptive Sound Lite.
It is advised to change sound settings for better directivity using the Game preset. Although its effectiveness is unknown, this facilitates the tracking of audio cues in games. Toggle the automatic volume control mode on or off next. The manual explains how to accomplish this.
Controls
The soundbar can be turned on or off, the speed can be changed, and the input source can be changed using the four physical buttons on the top of the bar.
Simple and capable of controlling all soundbar features, the remote is easy to use. However, you can’t use it on your television because it isn’t a universal controller.
However, the Samsung HW-A650 has an automatic off feature that disables the soundbar after a predetermined period of time.
Additionally, it supports HDMI CEC, enabling you to use the TV remote to control some of the soundbar’s fundamental features.
Connectivity
The Samsung HW-A650 has a number of physical inputs. Because the soundbar has a full HDMI In port, you can use it as a hub for multiple devices.
You can’t connect older devices to the soundbar to play music, though, because it doesn’t have an AUX port.
Dolby Digital and DTS content, which is common on Blu-ray discs and streaming services, is supported by the Samsung HW-A650 using ARC. However, object-based surround formats like Dolby Atmos are not supported.
Without requiring a wired connection, the Samsung HW-A650 can wirelessly connect via Bluetooth to a phone or tablet and play audio from these gadgets. The fact that you cannot play music wirelessly using Wi-Fi, Apple AirPlay, or built-in Chromecast is a drawback for many.
Performance
Excellent stereo frequency response is provided by the Samsung HW-A650. It is perfect for listening to a variety of audio content because it has a relatively neutral, balanced sound profile out of the box.
On the other hand, you won’t hear the deep thump and rumble of bass-heavy songs like EDM or action-packed movie scenes because it has trouble reproducing a deep low-bass.
Plugins, a graphic EQ, and bass and treble adjustments are available, which is a blessing.
The Samsung HW-A650 has exceptional middle channel efficiency. Because this 3.1 system has a dedicated middle channel in contrast to the Samsung HW-A450, the conversation is reproduced more accurately and consistently.
Since the middle channel doesn’t reproduce any bass, if the frequency response is slightly bass-heavy, it shouldn’t be too noticeable.
This soundbar performs excellently in terms of stereo dynamics. Because it is so loud, it works best in crowded settings and large areas.
When played at the fastest speed, there aren’t many compression or pumping artifacts, which is fantastic.
Vocals that are consistent and precise are produced by a well-balanced mid-range. Those who enjoy listening to audio in large spaces may be dissatisfied by the middle channel’s lack of volume.
On the other hand, the Samsung HW-A650 performs poorly in surround. Voices and footsteps, for example, aren’t depicted in the soundstage as clearly or accurately as they would be with localization because it downmixes surround content into stereo using the left and right speakers.
Samsung A650 Soundbar Price
The Samsung HW-A650 is reasonably priced considering what you get with the soundbar and subwoofer package. The majority of people looking to upgrade their home theater sound on a budget will find this model affordable at less than 500.
This soundbar is worth the money due to the additional audio enhancements, bass boost, connection flexibility, and high-quality connections.
Competition
Samsung HW-T650
You can choose between the Samsung HW-T650 and its counterpart based on your listening preferences because both have comparable overall performance.
The HW-A650 is more advanced and works well in surround sound. On the other hand, the HW-T650 will play a little louder and has a fantastic soundstage.
Samsung HW-Q600A
The Samsung HW-Q600A is another model that competes with this one. When it comes to audio quality, this soundbar beats out the Samsung HW-A650.
In contrast to the 3.1 HW-A650 edition, the Samsung HW-Q600A is a 3.1.2 configuration that supports Dolby Atmos. It also has a few sound amplification features that can pass through signals with the widest bandwidth.
FAQs
Are Samsung Soundbars Any Good?
Samsung soundbars do indeed work well. Some of their soundbar models come with top-of-the-line features for reasonable low prices. For instance, the HW-A650 is a reasonably priced soundbar that offers DTS Virtual:X, Dolby Digital, and 3D surround sound, among other sound enhancements.
How Long Does a Samsung Soundbar Last?
A Samsung soundbar has a long lifespan. The company makes products that are dependable and have a long lifespan. In order to give devoted customers more compatibility, many of their models can be paired with subwoofers, TVs, and satellite speakers made by the same Samsung brand.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Samsung HW-A650 Soundbar is a superb soundbar at a reasonable cost.
This soundbar is probably the best option for you if you want a decent soundbar with good sound quality and are willing to give up the Dolby Atmos feature.
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