I can count on one hand the sound bars I would try to listen to music on, and you've probably guessed by now that the Samsung is one of them. Harman's automotive experience concepts are a glimpse into the future, JLab unveils $49 alternative to Bose Frames audio sunglasses. The surrounds and the subwoofer are identical but the actual main soundbar is so much better. The up-firing drivers are placed closer to the surface of the cabinet than other Atmos speakers and feature a special waveguide to maximise the overhead sound effects. We may earn a commission if you click a deal and buy an item. Build quality is suitably solid and substantial, but it’s missing an air of luxury. If budget isn’t a concern, the HW-K950 offers superb room-filling sound with enhanced music streaming capabilities. Once installed, simply select the Add Speaker option in the setup menu and follow the instructions. Each driver is powered by a dedicated 20W amplifier (total power output is rated at 500W). The Samsung HW-K950 is the best reason I could think of to spend over a grand on a sound bar. On the front of the soundbar is a small OLED display panel that disappears when idle. This is what you hear on the Samsung. But now that Samsung HW-N950 is here with us expect no psychoacoustic processing, nor resorting to acoustic beams. But the real beauty of the HW-K950 is that it provides everything you need in one practical, convenient package. The presence of real surround speakers provides a genuine feeling of envelopment that virtual surround modes in regular soundbars simply can’t match. Straight away the staccato strings of opening track "Burn the Witch" stabbed into the room. The best bit is a pair of silver switches that you flick up and down to control the main and subwoofer volumes. On top are two upward-firing 2.5-inch Atmos drivers. Alternatively, you can stream music from PCs, NAS drives and phones via DLNA and send it to other Samsung multiroom speakers around the house. Built-in Bluetooth not only provides a quicker way of streaming music but also sends audio from a compatible Samsung TV to the soundbar. Samsung's latest home theatre offering is the HW-K950 — a Dolby Atmos-enabled soundbar that delivers far more immersive sound than I thought possible from this form factor. Well, the Studio W has it over the Samsung in the design department, with its solid aluminum billets and its massive subwoofer. Samsung HW-K950 has the hardware to reproduce 7.1 sound but unfortunately not the software support to reproduce DTS surround. It does a great job with Atmos soundtracks too, creating a rich, immersive 3D soundstage with impressive orchestration of overhead effects – provided your ceiling height and room layout fit the bill. Basically, you’re getting a full Atmos system in a single box, but that’s only part of the story. In fact, it’s almost obstinately ordinary, composed of four components cut into plain black cubes. As the first soundbar to come out of Samsung’s Californian audio lab, the HW-K950 Dolby Atmos soundbar was a real gamble. I started my testing with Radiohead's excellent "comeback" album, "A Moon Shaped Pool." The HW-K950 delivers a smoother, more balanced sonic character, nudging it ever closer to the audiophile quality of brands such as B&W and Monitor Audio. The HW-K950 is now available in the US for $1,499 , … #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width:100%;} Of course, you could always build your own Atmos system with a receiver and a set of speakers -- say a Denon AVR-S920W, a couple of sets of Pioneer SP-BS22A-LRs, a center and a sub. From a marketing perspective Dolby Atmos is undoubtedly this soundbar’s key feature, but in truth it only plays a small part in the HW-K950’s success. The HW-K950. When it comes to movies, there is no substitute for surround speakers, and that's especially true for an Atmos system like the Samsung. The small wand comes with a handy dedicated volume control for the subwoofer, and it feels premium when you hold it in your hand. The real story here is its excellent sound quality across the board, be it stereo, 5.1 or 5.1.4 – the result of tireless tweaking by Samsung’s engineers. Samsung’s amazing Atmos soundbar system brings you immersive 3D sound while keeping clutter to a minimum, and delivers Samsung’s best-ever sound quality in the process. Mad Max’s brutal car chases are conveyed with sparkling clarity and precise placement, while the drum-heavy score slams hard without distortion. The hissing downpour feels like it’s emanating from above the listening position, and spreads far and wide into the room. The HW-K950 is now available in the US for $1,499 , in the UK for £1,299 and in Australia for $1,999. The Samsung HW-K950 Atmos sound bar offers the best sound for the money and should appeal to serious movie and music fans alike. Samsung HW-N950 soundbar system review. HW-K950/ZA SKU: 5507159. I wasn't surprised to learn that Samsung doesn't support Apple Music. - Page 2 After a lot of research, I decided that I wanted the best possible soundbar to compete with my existing 7.1 setup with minimal wiring and footprint. The effect is subtle most of the time – you get a vague sense that noises are circulating above the listening position – but when an object passes overhead, the inter-speaker movement is clear and precise. By contrast, no one was in any danger of being stabbed, garroted or even papercut on the Yamaha YSP-5600. It works best during scenes with obvious spatial or height cues, such as the part in The Hobbit where the dwarfs are trudging through the rain. On my visit to the Samsung audio lab, the technicians explained that the drivers are paper-based, which they claim has better acoustic properties than other popular materials such as Kevlar. */ With built-in Wi-Fi, multiroom and Bluetooth, the HW-K950 boasts impeccable streaming credentials. Due to its inability to simulate true surround, the Yamaha didn't quite manage this feat. Exclusive review of Samsung's Dolby Atmos soundbar that offers audio immersion without cable-clutter Soundbars are big sellers on the high street but they can get a cold shoulder from the home cinema aficionado seeking authentic surround sound. … As the Thanator bounded and clawed after Jake through the jungle the Studio W's sound helped raise the hairs on the back of my neck. It stifles dialogue clarity and makes explosions sound bloated. It’s mostly fun, slick and intuitive. The competition for multiroom music is fiercer than ever, but I expect things to consolidate in the next year or two, thanks largely to the influence of Google Cast/Home. Review of Samsung HW-K950 powered by the Slant community. Dolby Atmos is only available on a limited number of titles compared with other surround formats. Once you’ve found the best place for the soundbar, you can adjust the volume of each channel to find your preferred balance using the remote and front-panel display. ... if that's your bag. You can also adjust the bass, treble and lip-sync settings. Thank you for purchasing the Samsung HW-K950 Channel Soundbar with Dolby Atmos Technology. The Samsung generated plenty of air around Watson's voice and was also capable of convincing stereo separation -- something unusual in a sound bar -- with a mandolin percolating merrily in the right channel. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Samsung HW-K950/ZA 5.1.4 Channel Soundbar with Dolby Atmos Technology (2016 Model) at Amazon.com. It would probably sound better than the Samsung, but it would also cost more and be a lot more finicky to set up. While I missed the provision of dedicated speakers, for pure envelopment, the DefTech was still appropriately exciting in this scene. The Samsung HW-K950 combines the discreet looks and simple setup of a sound bar with truly impressive sound for both movies and music. Especially if you listen to music a lot. This one sports low-key black styling and a shape that’s easier to slide down the side of a sofa – although it’s on the large side. Samsung HW-K950 Review. But in all other respects, the HW-K950 is a killer proposition for anyone looking to immerse themselves in Atmos without the clutter or the hassle. No, the Samsung HW-K950 is not just a giant like LG’s SK10Y but you can not call it small with a width of 1.23 meters. Elsewhere, you’ll find optical and 3.5mm mini-jack inputs. Moving to the "Avatar" Blu-ray, the Studio W was on surer ground. /* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. Samsung HW-K950 – Performance From a marketing perspective Dolby Atmos is undoubtedly this soundbar’s key feature, but in truth it only plays a small part in the HW-K950’s success. 32 1 . Well, the subwoofer lets the side down a little, delivering bass that sounds too thick and overpowering. There’s nothing wrong with a low profile for a soundbar, … Richard Stevenson | Oct 23, 2018 We were huge fans of Samsung’s HW-K950 soundbar, launched in 2016. The Samsung HW-K950 weighs just under 9 kg, which is quite a bit of a soundbar. The weight is proportional to the dimensions. The Studio W was CNET's favorite high-end sound bar, with great looks, wireless streaming and superb sound for movies, but the Samsung has eclipsed it in almost every way. Despite all this, I’m a big fan of the HW-K950. Their robust, weighty build quality can only mean good things for performance.The subwoofer is a departure from the wide “Multi-Air Gap” model Samsung has been supplying with its soundbars of late. In the meantime, Samsung's Multiroom app is one of the best following an update earlier this year. I recommend using the dedicated Music preset, which trims the bass and opens up the soundstage. Achieving the optimum Atmos performance involves a bit of trial and error – you’ll need to move the surround speakers around so they hit the ceiling at the best angle for your listening position. Naturally, Dolby Atmos is star of the show, delivered by 15 drivers within the soundbar and surround speakers. As the owner of a network DLNA server where I keep my music collection, one perk I appreciate is that the app automatically finds servers and puts them in the list. 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