I had a chance to test and compare two models: Samsung HW-R450 vs Samsung S50B and this review should help people who are looking for a good soundbar. The Samsung HW-R450 was rated 4, while the Samsung S50B has a rating 4.6.
Each of the models under consideration has active amplification type. A noticeable difference is the number of channels that HW-R450 has 2.1 and S50B has 3.0. These rivals can be compared in terms of power, 200 (overall) versus 140 (overall) according to devices. The built-in subwoofer is not implemented in any of these models. An external subwoofer can be connected to any of the units in this comparison. Audio features and specs of considered models we rated 6 out of 10 in our ranking.
Soundbars do not have AirPlay support. The units in this comparison do not support Spotify.
Both models do not have a wireless Wi-Fi interface. Soundbars from this comparison have Bluetooth support. The HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) is implemented only in the S50B. Connecting devices via USB is possible in both models. We rated the connectivity of the HW-R450 at 5 out of 10, while the S50B was rated 7/10.
None of these soundbars can be controlled using the app. Soundbars in this review are not equipped with a microphone. The models under consideration cannot become part of a multiroom system.
Dolby Atmos audio decoder support is not implemented in either the HW-R450 or S50B. Devices from this comparison cannot process surround sound due to lack of DTS:X. The HW-R450 was rated 4/10, while the S50B received a mark of 6/10 for multichannel surround.