Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 vs Samsung HW-R550 review

Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 vs Samsung HW-R550 comparison chart

Overall
Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400
8.2
Samsung HW-R550
5
10
4

Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 vs Samsung HW-R550 review

Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400
vs
Samsung HW-R550

In this article, we will talk about Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 vs Samsung HW-R550 comparison. The Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 was rated 8.2, while the Samsung HW-R550 has a rating 5. The soundbars are equipped with a different number of buttons, power, volume down, volume up, input, mute for the MusicCast BAR 400 and volume down, volume up, power, source for the HW-R550.

Audio features

Each of the models under consideration has active amplification type. A noticeable difference is the number of channels that MusicCast BAR 400 has 5.1 and HW-R550 has 2.1. These rivals can be compared in terms of power, 200 (overall) versus 320 (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 7 out of 10 in our ranking. The MusicCast BAR 400 can play audio from Spotify.

Connectivity

Wireless Internet connection is realized only in the MusicCast BAR 400. Soundbars from this comparison have Bluetooth support. 1/1 HDMI inputs/outputs are in each of soundbars. As in the MusicCast BAR 400, so in the HW-R550 there is the HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC). Connecting devices via USB is possible in both models. We rated the connectivity of the MusicCast BAR 400 at 8 out of 10, while the HW-R550 was rated 7/10. None of these soundbars can be controlled using the app. The Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 equipped with a microphone. The Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 may become part of a multiroom system.

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos audio decoder support is not implemented in either the MusicCast BAR 400 or HW-R550. Devices from this comparison cannot process surround sound due to lack of DTS:X. The MusicCast BAR 400 was rated 6/10, while the HW-R550 received a mark of 4/10 for multichannel surround.

Advantages Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 over Samsung HW-R550

  • Amazon Music compatible
  • Spotify support
  • WI-FI enabled
  • Microphone
  • Multi-room support
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Common

Product

Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400
Samsung HW-R550

Model

MusicCast BAR 400
HW-R550

Brand

Yamaha
Samsung

Reviews

121
1236

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, mute
volume down, volume up, power, source

Audio features

Built-in channels

5.1
2.1

Amplification type

active
active

Output power, W

200 (overall)
320 (overall)

Separate speaker (in package)

0
0

Separate speaker connections

wireless
wireless

Subwoofer

Built-in subwoofer

Separate subwoofer (in package)

Separate subwoofer connections

wireless
wireless

Streaming services

Apple Music (AirPlay)

AirPlay 2

Amazon Music

Spotify

Other streaming services

Pandora, Deezer, TIDAL, Napster, SiriusXM, Qobuz
has not

Connectivity

WI-FI

Bluetooth

Ethernet (RJ45)

1
0

NFC

HDMI input/output

1/1
1/1

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

App control

Microphone

Remote control

Multi-room

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos

Dolby (other)

Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital

DTS:X

DTS (other)

DTS Virtual:X, DTS Digital Surround
has not

User manual

Manual

Dimensions

Size (Wx H x D), cm/in

94.2 x 8.3 x 11/38.6 x 3.3 x 4.3
89 x 5 x 7.6/35.6 x 2.2 x 3.2

Weight, kg/pounds

2.7/6
2.2/4.9

Other

Release year

2018
2019
Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400
Samsung HW-R550
Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400
Samsung HW-R550

Soundbars SoundStrokes Art comparison rating

  • better
  • worse
  • 8.2
  • 5
  • 8.2Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400
  • 5Samsung HW-R550