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Comparison Samsung HW-MS650 vs Samsung HW-M550

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Samsung HW-MS650
Samsung HW-M550
Samsung HW-MS650Samsung HW-M550
from £392.86 
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Audio format3.13.1
Mount typeshelf / wallshelf / wall
Virtual surround sound
3D
Ultra HD (4K)
Tech specs
Rated power180 W340 W
Soundbar speaker power180 W
Frequency range40 – 20000 Hz40 – 20000 Hz
Impedance6 Ohm
Subwoofer
Built-in subwoofer
Wireless subwoofer
Acoustic designbass-reflex type
Subwoofer power160 W
Subwoofer speaker size178 mm
Subwoofer dimensions (WxHxD)200х392х378 mm
Subwoofer weight7.2 kg
Interfaces
Interfaces
Bluetooth
LAN
DLNA
wireless TV connection /TV SoundConnect/
Bluetooth
 
 
wireless TV connection /TV SoundConnect/
Audio decoders
DTS
Dolby Digital
DTS
Dolby Digital
Connectors
Inputs
USB A
mini-Jack (3.5 mm)
optical
 
mini-Jack (3.5 mm)
optical
HDMI input1 pc1 pc
HDMI output1 pc1 pc
Speakers
Number of speakers9 шт6 шт
General
Display
Control
remote control
 
 
remote control
TV remote control
from smartphone
Power consumption400 W
Dimensions (WxHxD)1060x78х131 mm1011x54x88 mm
Projector weight6.2 kg2.6 kg
Color
Added to E-Catalogjuly 2017july 2017

Virtual surround sound

The projector supports the virtual surround function.

The purpose of this feature is that due to special sound settings and the reflection of sound beams from the walls of the room, the listener hears more channels than are actually available in the projector (see "Audio Format"). For example, a 3.1 system with virtual surround sound can produce sound similar to 5.1 surround sound. This allows you to achieve the effect of "immersion" in sound without increasing the number of channels and the cost of the projector. On the other hand, the reliability of such sound is usually noticeably worse than that of real surround sound, and the overall quality is highly dependent on the characteristics of a particular room.

Note that the virtual surround function is specified for 2.0, 2.1, 3.0, 3.1 format systems. In more advanced multi-channel systems, there are a priori additional channels for reproducing surround sound.

Rated power

The total power rating of the sound projector speakers (including subwoofer, if present).

This parameter is often used to estimate the overall sound volume of the device, but this is not entirely true. The fact is that the actual sound volume is determined mainly by the power of the main speakers of the sound projector, and the total power is the sum of this power and the power of the subwoofer. Therefore, models with the same power rating can vary markedly in actual volume: for example, a 150-watt soundbar with a 50-watt subwoofer will be louder than a 100-watt projector with a subwoofer of the same power, although in both cases the rated power will be equal to 200 watts.

Summing up, we can say that it is possible to evaluate the volume by rated power only if the sound projector is not equipped with a subwoofer — in such models, the rated power is equal to the power of the main speakers. In other cases, it is worth focus on the power of the soundbar and the power of the subwoofer directly stated in the characteristics (see below for both).

Soundbar speaker power

The nominal power of the speakers installed directly in the soundbar, excluding the subwoofer (in models with a built-in subwoofer, respectively, only the power of the main speakers is taken into account).

This indicator directly determines the overall volume of the sound projector; It is worth choosing according to this parameter taking into account the specifics of the room in which the projector is planned to be installed: the larger the room and the greater the distance to the viewer, the higher the power should be, otherwise the soundbar will not be able to effectively sound the scene. Detailed recommendations on the optimal power for different situations can be found in special sources.

Impedance

Impedance is the projector's resistance to alternating current, or more precisely, to the analog audio signal input from an external power amplifier. Actually, this parameter is of practical importance precisely if the device is planned to be used with an external amplifier. Ideally, the projector's impedance should match the impedance for which the amplifier is designed - otherwise, the volume may either decrease (if the impedance is too high), or distortion, overload, and even damage to the acoustics (if the impedance is too low) may occur.

Higher impedance is also thought to reduce the likelihood of interference. However, modern speakers (including sound projectors) have standard impedance values of 4, 6 or 8 ohms - the difference is not so great that the differences in sound quality are noticeable.

Built-in subwoofer

The presence of a built-in subwoofer in the design of the sound projector.

Any subwoofer enhances the bass response, delivering rich bass. Models with a built-in subwoofer are more convenient to install and take up less space, because. no need to look for a separate place for the woofer. On the other hand, the dimensions of this speaker are usually smaller than those of a separate subwoofer (this is due to the limited space in the projector cabinet) — accordingly, the bass is less powerful and richer.

Wireless subwoofer

The presence of a wireless subwoofer in the design of the sound projector.

Any subwoofer enhances the bass response, delivering rich bass. The advantage of a wireless subwoofer is the ability to install it almost anywhere in the room without the hassle of laying wires — this makes it easier to adjust the sound to specific conditions. In addition, such subwoofers can have a fairly solid speaker size — 200 mm or more (see below for more details). However note that wireless acoustics require their own power source and significantly affect the cost of the projector.

Acoustic design

Acoustic design of the subwoofer used by the sound projector.

— Closed type. The simplest design option is a speaker installed in a closed case. Such subwoofers have a relatively low volume, but are distinguished by good sound fidelity and a minimum of distortion.

— Bass-reflex type. Subwoofers equipped with a phase inverter - a special tube connecting the inner volume of the case with the outer space. Such equipment improves the volume and saturation of the sound, but increases the likelihood of interference (primarily the rumble of air in the pipe).

— With a passive radiator. The passive radiator is actually a speaker without a coil and a magnet, installed in the subwoofer cabinet along with the main speaker. The purpose of such a radiator is similar to the phase inverter described above, except that it is less susceptible to interference.

Subwoofer power

The rated power of the subwoofer included in the design or delivery of the sound projector.

The higher the power, the louder the sub can sound, the richer the bass it can provide. On the other hand, an increase in power inevitably promises an increase in the size and cost of the speaker. Therefore, an overly powerful subwoofer is just as undesirable as one that is too weak. Detailed recommendations for selecting power for the size and acoustic characteristics of a particular room can be found in special sources.

Note that the external subwoofer in soundbars should be approximately twice as powerful as the soundbar in order to prevent sound sags at maximum volume. So, if the total output power of the speaker system is 300 watts, then 100 of them should come from the soundbar alone, and 200 should go directly to the subwoofer.

Subwoofer speaker size

The diameter of the speaker in the subwoofer used by the sound projector.

It is believed that the larger the speaker, the louder the sub and the deeper and richer sound it can provide. Models up to 200 mm in size are entry level; This is exactly the size that built-in subwoofers usually have (see above). But free-standing bass speakers can use larger speakers, up to 254 mm (10").
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