Samsung HW-MS550
Computer Shopper|March 2018

VERDICT

This all-in-one soundbar has some nice features for the money, but audio quality could be better

Christopher Minasians
Samsung HW-MS550

EARLY IN 2017, Samsung came out with the superb HW-MS650 soundbar, which combined impressive sound quality with effective distortion cancelling for less than £550. Now, an even cheaper model in the series has arrived, the HW-MS550. This is the most affordable soundbar Samsung makes in an all-in-one design, and it offers the same technology found in its pricier brother.

Indeed, at £299 this is far from an extravagance, though there is some stiff competition that costs even less –take the £229 Q Acoustics M3 (Shopper 352), for instance, orthe £200 Cambridge Audio TV V2 sound base (Shopper 353). What, then, can Samsung’s soundbar offer?

SLIMMING DOWN

For starters, the HW-MS550 has the same swish-brushed aluminium design as the HW-MS650; here, Samsung hasn’t skimped on quality. It’s slightly smaller than the HW-MS650, measuring only 890mm across, but retains the same 131mm depth and, at 71mm, it’s roughly the same height as well.

If you don’t like the idea of placing the MS550 on top of a fire place or cluttering up your AV rack, you can attach it to your wall-mounted TV with the One Mount Kit, which costs an additional £70.

Denne historien er fra March 2018-utgaven av Computer Shopper.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra March 2018-utgaven av Computer Shopper.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA COMPUTER SHOPPERSe alt
XIAOMI Mi Mix 3 5G
Computer Shopper

XIAOMI Mi Mix 3 5G

VERDICT This is the most affordable of the first 5G smartphones, but even with great hardware, the service isn’t yet worth the expense

time-read
6 mins  |
November 2019
RHA T20 Wireless
Computer Shopper

RHA T20 Wireless

VERDICT They’re not cheap, but these well-designed earphones deliver superb sound quality

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2019
Protect And Preserve
Computer Shopper

Protect And Preserve

Data might be A Valuable Commodity, But It’s Remarkably Easy To Lose Or For Others To Get Their Hands On. Mike Bedford Provides Guidance On How To Preserve, Recover And Destroy Data, And Looks At The Technologies Involved

time-read
10+ mins  |
November 2019
NZXT H510i
Computer Shopper

NZXT H510i

VERDICT Some qualities shine through, but this is an underwhelming case from a maker we know can do better

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2019
Kicking Off A New Era Of Football?
Computer Shopper

Kicking Off A New Era Of Football?

With the new football season well and truly under way, David Crookes talks to Jon Hare about reviving the spirit of Sensible Soccer with a new, more sociable offering that he hopes will avoid an own goal

time-read
7 mins  |
November 2019
NAIM Mu-so 2
Computer Shopper

NAIM Mu-so 2

VERDICT A luxurious and fine-sounding slab of metal, but for most homes it won’t be worth the expense

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2019
Motorola One Vision
Computer Shopper

Motorola One Vision

VERDICT The One Vision comes close to being a brilliant mishmash of tech – shame about the camera

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2019
JBL Xtreme 2
Computer Shopper

JBL Xtreme 2

VERDICT With top-quality sound and a versatile design, this is a great – if expensive – rugged Bluetooth speaker

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2019
HUAWEI MateBook 13
Computer Shopper

HUAWEI MateBook 13

VERDICT What the MateBook 13 lacks in flourish, it makes up for in value and performance

time-read
7 mins  |
November 2019
GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Master
Computer Shopper

GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Master

VERDICT A loaded and forward-thinking motherboard, but not one that fully justifies its high price

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2019