Samsung products are high quality and this soundbar is no exception. There’s no doubt that the features and functions of this soundbar are superb, but is it the right one for you? In this Samsung HW-MM55C review, we’re digging deep into its advantages and drawbacks to help you find out.
What We Like
- Crystal clear dialogue
- Wireless subwoofer for earthshattering bass
- Bluetooth connection supported
- One remote for all controls
- Streamlined design
- Compact and relatively lightweight
- 3.1 channels
- Dolby Digital and DTS decoding ability
- Sound modes
- Samsung Soundconnect
- Has a compatible app
- Bluetooth power on
What We Don't Like
- No Wi-Fi
Design
The design alone is an appealing point of the HW-MM55C soundbar. It sports a brushed grey color with flattened corners to give it a more rounded look, as opposed to the sharp edges most models have.
The soundbar itself can be controlled from the side with clearly-labelled push buttons. This makes controlling and adjusting the settings easy for all users.
When it comes to size, the HW-MM55C soundbar is suitable for larger TVs like 55-inch sets. It measures 41.7 inches to be exact, which makes it on the larger end of the spectrum. Still, a general rule that’s easy to remember is that this soundbar is ideal for TVs that exceed 41 inches.
Display
Unlike many soundbars in the market, the Samsung HW-MM55C has a display panel. The information is hard to read from an angle though, so you might want to stick with the remote and the settings that appear on TV.
Although a display screen is useful, not many soundbars have one so if you’re used to seeing your preferences onscreen rather than on the soundbar, a display may not be entirely necessary.
Placement
When it comes to placement, the HW-MM55C is a larger but still lightweight soundbar that can be wall-mounted or placed on a flat surface. The wall mount kit, along with the battery and optical cable, is included in the package as well so you have everything you need during the setup.
We would suggest placing the soundbar directly under the TV with no obstructions for the soundbar to effectively propel sound around the room. Another pro tip is to place it at a height near your ear level when you sit down on the couch.
If you want to place your soundbar as a center speaker, you should learn the advantages and disadvantages of using your soundbar like a center speaker here.
Samsung HW-MM55C Features Review
Power
The Samsung HW-MM55C operates at a total of 340 watts. That is a lot of punch compared to other soundbars at this price point (more about wattage and soundbars here). And with a frequency response (amp) at 40Hz-20KHz, you’re getting clarity with a wide range of tones.
Sound Quality
While the HW-MM55C soundbar doesn’t feature true surround sound, it does come with Dolby Digital and DTS decoding. This means if a movie has these technologies in place, the Samsung soundbar can deliver the quality sound it’s expected to produce.
According to Samsung, the soundbar has expansion capabilities to emanate sound from two sides and up. This surround sound expansion feature will produce sound at an immersive level and bring new depth and dimension to whatever is played onscreen.
So before you wonder if soundbars are worth the extra money for sound quality [1], take it from us and the millions of soundbar users that these devices perform better than TV speakers.
Channels
This is a 3.1 soundbar, which means that there are 3 channels and one subwoofer. The former number is how many channels sound is emitted from the soundbar alone and 1 being how many subwoofers it has.
With a three-channel soundbar, it means that the sound is coming from the left, right, and the center area as well. Samsung boasts crystal clear speech and audio effects, thanks to the extra center channel.
Other soundbars like the Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 can go higher, but that is not without its own compromises.
Does the HW-MM55C Has Subwoofer?
Like the Samsung HW-A650, this soundbar comes with its very own wireless or external subwoofer. Some soundbars can have a subwoofer built-in, but in the many tests we’ve done, it just doesn’t compare to an external one. A separate sub is just larger and more capable of pumping out thundering bass.
If the bass is important to you in a soundbar, and we believe for most people it is, then one with an external sub is best if you have enough space at home. For the HW-MM55C model, the subwoofer is quite compact measuring at 8.46×15.14×11.97.
Bluetooth
Even the most basic soundbars can come with Bluetooth. Other relatively cheaper Samsung models like the HW-J355 is also Bluetooth-enabled.
With the technology we have today, Bluetooth is a common feature that proves itself useful – especially if you dislike clutter and wires. Not only does Bluetooth connection clean up the aesthetics of your entertainment unit, but it also provides more functions.
Bluetooth allows you to pair your mobile device to the soundbar and enjoy your favorite audiobooks, tracks, and podcasts.With this, you don’t have to simply get by with the lax sound from your phone.
Connection
The Samsung HW-MM55C has HDMI input and output, digital optical, and 3.5 mm auxiliary, USB, and of course, the previously mentioned Bluetooth.
Bluetooth allows for a seamless connection to your Samsung TV, but if you have devices that do not support Bluetooth, there are ample ways to connect to other devices. A lot of the connections you need also come with the box, but we do recommend going for the HDMI.
Setup
The setup was very easy for us when we tested it for this HW-MM55C review. It’s a plug and play design that makes it intuitive for everyone. With all you need already in the box, a secure connection from the soundbar to your TV is all that needs to be done.
Samsung HW MM55C Sound Modes
The six sound modes that come with the HW-MM55C soundbar will allow you to personalize your audio experience with whatever is happening on screen. The 3 channels and competent speakers will then dish out an impressive sound for a full home cinematic experience.
With the crystal amplifier, you can fine-tune the soundbar to reflect standard, music, sports, movie, or clear voice modes. While the presets are pretty good, you can also tweak them to make them better.
Remote
While the HW-MM55C soundbar can be controlled via the compatible app and the control buttons directly on the soundbar, it still comes with a remote control. We find this a good move since a remote is what many of us are familiar with when it comes to adjusting settings on different devices.
Tuned and Tested
The Samsung HW-MM55C soundbar is tuned and tested at a lab by skilled sound engineers to promise the best quality of sound that a 3.1 soundbar is capable of.
New methods are adopted with this soundbar to give you the most balanced sound coming from you in all directions. This proves to be true in our tests, particularly because the performance and quality that the HW-MM55C delivers show great attention to detail.
The Samsung HW-MM55C as Expandable System
The HW-MM55C soundbar is compatible with other devices and comes with connections available to expand your home theater. You can also add rear speakers and any other compatible speaker if you want to. With a buildable audio system, it’s easy to customize your listening experience if you want true surround sound.
TV SoundConnect
As mentioned, one of the advantages of a Bluetooth feature is the wireless connection between your TV and your soundbar. If you own a Samsung TV, you just need to use the TV SoundConnect function for a seamless pairing with your entertainment system.
With the Multiroom App, simply select the ‘Source’ icon and choose the ‘TV SoundConnect’ option. Then, turn on the ‘Add New Device’ function in the TV settings menu and the soundbar will automatically connect via Bluetooth.
Samsung HW-MM55C Review Conclusion
The HW-MM55C soundbar offers a wide range of performance capabilities, the most impressive one being surround sound expansion. With this device, you can achieve unmatched sound comparable to professionally tuned and top-grade soundbars that produces balanced sound and room-filling bass. And with an expandable setup, you can truly have that home theater experience.
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