With the end of the year just around the corner, I'm trying to decide which audio system I should buy to complement my Samsung smart TV, and I've gone down a rabbit hole. From what I hear, many people do when they try to purchase new audio equipment.
I didn't go too far on an endless research journey before pulling myself out of said rabbit hole, but deep enough to where I have a few thoughts I want to share with other people who might be looking for a better audio experience for their TVs.
Mind you, these are just my thoughts, and I'm sure there are audiophiles out there who would like to burn me at the stake for what I'm about to say. I'll risk it.
Let's start with a so-called “hot take.”
(Some) built-in Samsung TV speakers aren't that bad. No, really!
Okay, I know you've heard all about the fact that built-in TV speakers sound like tin cans. And I agree. In some cases, they do.
However, I have owned two Samsung smart TVs over the past four years, and that case about the built-in speakers was true only for one of them. A low-end Crystal LCD model.
Meanwhile, my 50-inch QN90C Neo QLED TV sounds quite decent.
I understand all this can be subjective, and my “decent” could be someone else's “sub-optimal.” So, let me put it like this:
- I prefer the on-board Adaptive Sound+ speakers on my Neo QLED TV to the old Sony HT-SF150 soundbar I bought a few years ago.
That soundbar was necessary for my Samsung Crystal TV, whose speakers did sound like tin cans. But compared to the TV speakers on my Neo QLED, the old Sony soundbar is worse — at least to my ears.
Granted, the on-board speakers have slightly less bass than the Sony soundbar. However, they have a much wider soundstage with better sound separation. Plus, they sound crisper and not nearly as muffled as the HT-SF150 soundbar. I much more enjoy those characteristics.
In my experience, I believe you might be better off using the on-board speakers than a cheap soundbar from another brand. However, it depends on how much you spend on your Samsung TV, and I can't tell you where precisely that crossover point is, from tin can speakers to decent ones.
Why I decided against a soundbar with a dedicated subwoofer
Going into this journey to find the perfect audio solution to complement my TV speakers, the only thing I was sure of was that I wanted a Samsung audio solution. I haven't changed my mind.
As I said, the on-board TV speakers on my Neo QLED are decent enough to where I don't need anything extra. But I am a big fan of Samsung's Q-Symphony concept, as I explained in an editorial last month.
I want to enhance, rather than replace, my on-board TV speakers. And Q-Symphony will help me do exactly that.
Now, what's this about not wanting a subwoofer? Well, this is where the audiophile army might once again feel like raining down on me, but darn it, I'm not backing down.
Initially, my eyes were set on the Samsung Q-Series HW-Q600C soundbar + subwoofer. It seemed to tick all the right boxes within my budget.
Then, I found out about the subwoofer crawl. It's a technique where you literally crawl around the floor and move your subwoofer around the room to find the perfect spot. You can Google it and see what it's all about.
You don't have “crawl” all your speakers, but subwoofers are special like that. As it turns out, they are very picky regarding where you place them. Depending on the subwoofer's location in the room relative to the listener's position, it can sound better or worse.
Finding out about subwoofer crawling reminded me that nearly every subwoofer system I had in the past sounded like I had some artificial extra bass tacked onto the mids and highs of my music rather than sounding natural.
That may very well be a characteristic of the subwoofer experience in itself, and if it is, I can do without. Or maybe, had I set up my subwoofers properly in the past, I wouldn't have had this experience. It's probably the latter, but that still won't change my mind.
Not to mention that I want a decent audio experience anywhere in the room and not just one particular sweet spot.
Look, I get it. If you want to throw a party with music blasting or have a cinematic experience where the couch vibrates under you, that's all fun. But that's not what I'm after, and my neighbors likely appreciate it.
The last thing I want when I watch a movie or play a console video game is to reach out for the remote to quickly lower the volume when the subwoofer goes wild in the middle of the night. All I want is a fuller, wider, and crispier sound.
Besides, I don't have enough room to be picky about a subwoofer's placement. And, to be honest, I just can't be bothered with doing something like a subwoofer crawl. As a bonus, one less electrical plug is a nice perk.
All things considered, a subwoofer is starting to sound like too much of a headache. I decided I don't want one attached to my Samsung smart TV, so the Q-Series HW-Q600C and other Samsung soundbars with subwoofers are out of the picture.
My two remaining options: Music Frame or S-Series HW-S60D
Having narrowed down my search, I ended up with these two options. I either buy the Music Frame smart speaker or the S-Series HW-S60D soundbar.
Both have cool features I want, such as Dolby ATMOS, Adaptive Sound, SpaceFit Sound Pro, and Q-Symphony, and they lack dedicated subwoofers. They also cost about the same and are presently discounted.
The final question is, which one should I pick? Judging by the spec sheet, the HW-S60D soundbar has one extra speaker, more channels, and more power. On paper, it should deliver a better audio experience than the Music Frame.
On the other hand, I've seen a few worrying user reviews on the S60D soundbar not connecting to Q-Symphony properly and having firmware issues, so I might not want to take the risk. I value convenience.
The Music Frame is more stylish and a bit more clever in other ways. It has a great design, and the interchangeable frame and album art are nice touches. The Music Frame might just be the perfect piece to complement my on-board speakers.
How I'll decide, I do not know. I might flip a coin. Either way, I will pick one or the other soon. Stay tuned if you want to know more.
