Sony HT-ST5000 vs Samsung HW-N950 review

Votes 11 11
Rating 4.1 4.1

Sony HT-ST5000 vs Samsung HW-N950 comparison chart

Overall
Sony HT-ST5000
8.6
Samsung HW-N950
8.6
10
10

Sony HT-ST5000 vs Samsung HW-N950 review

Sony HT-ST5000
vs
Samsung HW-N950

An affordable soundbar is always a good option to consider, so Sony HT-ST5000 vs Samsung HW-N950 comparison definitely makes sense. Based on our rating, both soundbars have the same overall rating of 8.6. The competitors' control buttons are different: power, volume down, volume up, input Bluetooth, music service and power, input, volume down, volume up, respectively.

Audio features

Both soundbars have active amplification type. A significant difference between the units in the number of channels, the Sony HT-ST5000 has 7.1.2 versus 7.1.4 for the Samsung HW-N950. The output power is different and equal to 800 (overall) W for the HT-ST5000 versus 512 (overall) W for the HW-N950. Competitors do not have a built-in subwoofer. Rivals have wireless connection to separate subwoofer. Both models received our 9 rating of 10 for their audio features and specs. Spotify is available on each of the soundbars.

Connectivity

These models have the ability to connect to the Internet via WI-FI. Rivals from our review have Bluetooth support. The Sony HT-ST5000 has 3/1 HDMI inputs/outputs versus 2/0 of the Samsung HW-N950. The HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) feature supports both devices. Both soundbars have a USB connector. For connectivity, the HT-ST5000 received a rating of 9/10 versus 7/10, respectively.

Features

App control is available in every soundbar. A built-in microphone is present in each model. Multi-room is available to every soundbar.

Multichannel surround

Both devices have support for Dolby Atmos multichannel audio format. The surround sound technology DTS:X is supported by devices under review. For multichannel surround Sony HT-ST5000 got a rating of 8, and Samsung HW-N950 7 out of 10.

Advantages Samsung HW-N950 over Sony HT-ST5000

  • Amazon Music compatible
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Common

Product

Sony HT-ST5000
Samsung HW-N950

Model

HT-ST5000
HW-N950

Brand

Sony
Samsung

Reviews

184
122

General

Placement type

table-top, wall-mountable
table-top, wall-mountable

Connection to source

wired, wireless
wired, wireless

Soundbar buttons

power, volume down, volume up, input Bluetooth, music service
power, input, volume down, volume up

Audio features

Built-in channels

7.1.2
7.1.4

Amplification type

active
active

Output power, W

800 (overall)
512 (overall)

Separate speaker (in package)

0
2

Separate speaker connections

wireless
wireless

Subwoofer

Built-in subwoofer

Separate subwoofer (in package)

Separate subwoofer connections

wireless
wireless

Streaming services

Apple Music (AirPlay)

AirPlay

Amazon Music

Spotify

Other streaming services

Pandora, Tuneln, Deezer, TIDAL, Napster, SiriusXM, Qobuz, Chromecast, iHeart
Pandora, Tuneln, Deezer, Chromecast

Connectivity

WI-FI

Bluetooth

Ethernet (RJ45)

1
0

NFC

HDMI input/output

3/1
2/0

HDMI ARC

HDMI eARC

HDMI CEC

Optical digital input/output

1/0
1/0

USB

1 (USB 2.0)
1 (USB 2.0)

Coaxial digital input/output

0/0
0/0

Analog audio input/output (RCA)

1/0
0/0

Headphone output

0
0

Subwoofer output

0
0

Features

Voice control

Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
Amazon Alexa

App control

Microphone

Remote control

Multi-room

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos

Dolby (other)

Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital

DTS:X

DTS (other)

has not
has not

User manual

Manual

Dimensions

Size (Wx H x D), cm/in

117.8 x 7.8 x 14.4/46.4 x 3.1 x 5.7
122.4 x 8.1 x 13.4/48.2 x 3.2 x 5.3

Weight, kg/pounds

8.1/18
8.8/19.4

Other

Release year

2017
2018
Sony HT-ST5000
Samsung HW-N950
Sony HT-ST5000
Samsung HW-N950

Soundbars SoundStrokes Art comparison rating

  • better
  • worse
  • 8.6
  • 8.6
  • 8.6Sony HT-ST5000
  • 8.6Samsung HW-N950