To start I have a couple setup tips that may help some people before I review sound quality.
1. Surprisingly the most irritating part of setting up everything was installing the 3V battery in the remote control. The battery kept wanting to pop up after I'd install it, especially when attempting to reinstall the battery cover on the remote. Finally I just deciding to try to continue putting the battery cover back in place after installing the battery even though I could hear that the battery had popped out of place. Screwing the battery cover back in place pushed the battery back where it should be after popping out, so just be prepared for this. Stupid design and the instructions didn't prep me for this so it took more time that it should have which seems silly to me.
2. I have a Samsung UN55D8000 TV, 2011 model year. My TV has an HDMI port (port #2 on my TV) that has ARC (Audio Return Channel) which is the ideal setup if your TV also has it. If your TV was manufactured in 2009 or earlier, you probably don't have it. But if you do have it, take advantage of it! Check out this link which I found very helpful as there is nothing about ARC connectivity in the owner's manual. [...]
3. When connecting with ARC, you will likely need to go into your TV's settings to turn on HDMI-CEC. You'll need to do this after installing the soundbar, the subwoofer, and following the directions in the manual to link them.On my TV, I clicked "Menu" on my remote, selected "System" and then "Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC)" and found that HDMI-CEC was already on, which means sound should have been coming out of my soundbar/subwoofer but it wasn't. So I selected "off" under the "Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC)" option and then selected "on" again and bam, sound starts coming out of the soundbar/subwoofer. Setup complete! By default my TV had this option selected "On", but wouldn't work until I turned it off and then back on for whatever reason.
4. Once my sound system was properly setup, without any additional setup my TV remote was synced up the sound system, so I could immediately adjust the volume and use mute on my TV remote. I think this is because I have a Samsung TV and this is a Samsung sound system so they work well together, otherwise it's because of the ARC.
As far as the sound, I was hesitant about this inexpensive sound system because a few people wrote reviews talking about it not having enough bass. I went to Best Buy and listened to it myself before buying, and I think the subwoofer offers a perfect amount of base. You will definitely notice it, and overall the sound from this system is infinitely superior compared to listening to anything with factory TV speakers. I should have bought this sooner!
That being said, people need to keep in mind a sound system like this is best suited for a bedroom or a small living room. It's not meant to make your whole damn house shake, so to the people that complained about the bass not being powerful enough, I think you have unfair expectations and could be scaring people off that would otherwise have enjoyed this product. Which is what almost happened with me! This is a really nice sound system and it is capable of getting VERY loud with VERY noticeable bass.
I highly recommend the Samsung HW-K450!
| Mounting Type | Bar Mount |
|---|---|
| Unit Count | 1.0 Count |
| Controller Type | Remote Control |
| Surround Sound Channel Configuration | 2.1 |
| Color | Black |
| Speaker Maximum Output Power | 600 Watts |
| Item Weight | 4.4 Pounds |
| Is Waterproof | FALSE |
| Control Method | Remote |
| Wireless Communication Technology | Bluetooth |
| Power Source | Corded Electric |
| Subwoofer Connectivity Technology | Wireless |
| Connectivity Protocol | Bluetooth |
| Center Channel Capability | No |
| In Ceiling Speaker | No |
| Brand Name | SAMSUNG |
| Item Weight | 4.4 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 35.8 x 2.8 x 2.1 inches |
| Item model number | woot-4743970 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Color Name | Black |
