Samsung HW-B450 2.1ch Soundbar with Dolby Audio (2022)

First and foremost, when it is setup and working it sounds phenomenal. I have been through 3 soundbars in the last 2 months (I'm a bit obsessive) and this was the one I landed on. The others (names will not be mentioned) were either under powered and finicky (random pops and clicks) or so bass heavy I bet my neighbors down the street heard it (I live in Atlanta so no one would've paid any mind). BUT there are 2 major issues I would like to mention that I wish I had known before purchasing. First off, I know this is my own fault for not reading fully but COME ON SAMSUNG don't start a product description with something the item DOES NOT HAVE!! The first 2 words in the description: 'Dolby Atmos...' Like I said tho, my fault for not reading. And 2nd, the HDMI input only supports HDCP 1.4 meaning, YUP... standard HD. No 4K for this soundbar. For the price... a little disappointing.

i don't get some of these other people's reviews i've had this thing for six seven months sound quality is great pairs fine with the tv my phone everything would definitely buy it again and would recommend to friends

At the beginning of December, I purchased a Samsung HW-B650 Soundbar, a Samsung SWA-9200S Wireless Rear Speaker Kit and a Samsung QN85QN85BAFXZA Smart TV.

I am still tweaking the system (sound) and find the documentation poorly lacking – if it is not incomplete, it is confusing!

Additionally, I have a Spectrum supplied Arris DCX3600-M DVR/Cablebox connected to HDMI port 1 on my Smart TV. I am a retired IT professional and am using both a hardwired Ethernet Cable to my TV as well as having enabled a WiFi 5.0 connection to the same router.

In addition to researching the Internet, I have read all 80 reviews here that were available at the time. The response to RichT’s comment regarding his “audio-sync issue” from the Samsung Brand Ambassador suggesting he utilize the “Pass-Through” feature, I found very helpful as I had the same issue and it is that response that encourages me to submit this detailed review.

When reading all the reviews, I found other bits-and-pieces helpful, while others I found confusing.

First, why are reviews regarding HW-B450 and HW-B550 Soundbars included here – because HW-B650 may demonstrate similar issues - to show improvement in the product line? Clarification addressing this would be helpful.

Secondly, since a link to a digital version of the Full Owner’s Manual was given, why not add a “Notes Section” to the end of it and continually update it with an organized and edited synopsis of many of the threads that run though the responses to the reviews stated here to help ease the burden of doing haphazard, tedious and questionable research elsewhere?

Thirdly, now points regarding the HW-B650 specifically to address and clarify:

- Although “Pass-Through” seems to resolve my Audio-Sync issue, am I losing functionality that I may find more beneficial than having my lip-sync issues resolved? If so, what are they?

- What specification is the 650’s ARC port – is it true HDMI 2.1 or more specifically eARC as is my TV?
- Would I benefit from buying a new HDMI-eARC high speed / high bandwidth cable with Ethernet as I have found suggested elsewhere?
- Is there any benefit to using both an HDMI-ARC and an Optical Cable simultaneously?
* The sound from my 650 periodically/intermittently cuts out causing me to miss dialogue?
* Often when switching from/to a cable show on my DVR to/from a show from a streaming service such as Netflix (whatever) the 650 makes a loud popping / cracking / staticy noise?

Should I connect my Sony BluRay player to the HDMI port on my Smart TV or Soundbar?

- If I do go through the time and exercise of setting my Sound Mode to “Standard” and manually adjusting my Sound Control for:
* Night Mode
* Voice Enhancement
Are these settings kept or ignored/superseded when switching to another Sound Mode such as “Adaptive” or “DTS VIRTUAL:X”?
* Similar question to what happens to configuring the "Equalizer"?

- Is the same also true if I set the CH/Level or Tone Control and manually adjust each of “Speaker Volume” and/or the “Treble” and “Bass Volume Levels”?
- How does setting the Bass (an/or Treble) volume levels affect each other when using:
* Sound Mode “Base Boost”
* Tone Control “Base (Treble) Volume” Up/Down
* “Woofer Button” on the Remote?

I like “Surround Sound” and “DTS VIRTUAL:X” but have some hearing issues and don’t want to lose dialogue to overpowering background sound. It would be nice to have some dialogue come out of my Rear Speakers which are now positioned closer to where I sit than is the Soundbar.

If my manual selections are overruled/overwritten/superseded by particular Sound Modes, it would seem that this issue could be resolved by a Firmware Update.

Sufficient detail on how these different settings interact is missing and sorely needed, and any clarification, answers, help and/or guidance would be greatly appreciate not only by me, but I am sure by others reading this post and Samsung's responses - THANKS!

The subwoofer has a constant hum no matter what sound mode it’s on. I tried everything, all connections are secure, moved subwoofer to a different outlet, reversed polarity of power cable. Nothing worked.

user manual is not user friendly. very cryptic info. took longer to set up. needs to be more informative like setting up the 2 components.

once figured out it did work fine. but we have slight delay in voice to picture.

my real concern is based on other reviews that it is not reliable. unfortunately had bought it to pair with new samsung tv.

i'm returning this soundbar the only reason it makes a humming noise until i turn it off. and i don't like that.

very good surround sound system for the price. definitely recommended

Sounds worse than a cheaper model Vizio soundbar I purchased 5 years ago. It's like everything is coming from a tin can.

I went to Best Buy two weeks ago and bought a new TV and splurged a tiny bit for a sound bar as well Brought everything home and set it up. Killer combo-absolutely loved the sound quality. But then the next day the soundbar wouldn’t turn on….tried the remote, tried the button on the bar, and nothing. So I tried the typical troubleshooting list and unplugged it. Worked great. For an hour and then it shut off. Well two weeks later the problem continues and now instead of it working for an hour it works for about 5 minutes and it’s super frustrating. I don’t have the box and I don’t have a course of action. I know Samsung will respond and send me to customer service but I’ve read a few other Reviews now and it seems like I’m not the only one with this issue and it seems like there’s a bigger problem then just my soundbar