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What are the best soundbars for movies?

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Samsung HW-K950 vs Philips Fidelio B5 vs Vizio SB3821-D6

 vs Yamaha YSP-5600 vs Samsung HW-K650

Specs

Weight

6.7 kg

Frequency Response

50 Hz - 20 kHz

Connections

2 x HDMI 2.0 in; 1 x HDMI ARC out; 1 x Optical in; 1 x Analogue in; 1 x USB (for updates only)

Wall mountable

Yes

Wireless connections

Bluetooth; Wi-Fi

Surround audio formats supported

Dolby Atmos; Dolby True HD; Dolby Digital Plus; DTS 2.0

Sound modes

Dolby Atmos; Music; Movie; Voice; Sports; Night

Power RMS

200 W (main unit) + 2 x 35 W (rear speakers)

Subwoofer size

203.9 x 3990 x 414.3 mm

Subwoofer weight

9.6 kg

Number of channels (standard channels.low frequency channels.vertical sound channels)

5.1.4 Ch

Power subwoofer RMS

162 W

Soundbar size

1210.2 x 81.7 x 131.4 mm

Dimensions

-

Weight

4.18 kg

Frequency Response

20 Hz - 20 kHz

Connections

2 x HDMI 1.4 in; 1 x HDMI ARC out; 1 x Optical in; 1 x Coaxial in; 2 x Analogue in; 1x USB (for updates only)

Wall mountable

Yes

Wireless connections

Bluetooth with aptX, NFC

Surround audio formats supported

Dolby Digital 5.1; DTS

Sound modes

Surround on demand; Night; Auto Volume; Leveller; Movie; Music; Near Listening; Voice

Power RMS

120 W

Subwoofer size

200 x 510 x 200 mm

Subwoofer weight

5 kg

Number of channels (standard channels.low frequency channels.vertical sound channels)

4.1 Ch

Power subwoofer RMS

90 W

Soundbar size

1035 x 70 x 156 mm

Dimensions

-

Weight

2.6 kg

Frequency Response

50 Hz - 20 kHz

Connections

1 x Optical; 1 x Coaxial; 2 x Analogue; 1 x Ethernet; 1 x USB (waw audio playback)

Wall mountable

Yes

Wireless connections

Bluetooth; Wi-Fi

Surround audio formats supported

Dolby Digital; DTS; TruSurround

Sound modes

Music; Movie

Power RMS

N/A

Subwoofer size

212 x 233 x 212 mm

Subwoofer weight

3.2 kg

Number of channels (standard channels.low frequency channels.vertical sound channels)

2.1 Ch

Power subwoofer RMS

N/A

Soundbar size

-

Dimensions

965 x 76 x 76 mm

Weight

25.8 lbs

Frequency Response

20 Hz - 150 Hz

Connections

4 x HDMI in (Input 1: HDCP 2.2); 1 x HDMI out (HDCP 2.2, ARC); 2 x Digital Optical in; 1 x Digital Coaxial in; 1 x Analog Audio in

Wall mountable

Yes

Wireless connections

Bluetooth, Wi-Fi

Surround audio formats supported

Dolby Atmos; Dolby True HD; Dolby Digital Plus; DTS 2.0

Sound modes

3D Surround, Surround, Stereo, Target Playback Mode, My Surround

Power RMS

128 W total power: 88 W beam speakers + 40 W woofers

Subwoofer size

-

Subwoofer weight

-

Number of channels (standard channels.low frequency channels.vertical sound channels)

7.1.2 Ch

Power subwoofer RMS

-

Soundbar size

43-1/4” x 8-3/8” x 3-5/8”

Dimensions

-

Weight

2.6 kg

Frequency Response

N/A

Connections

HDMI ARC, Optical S/PDIF, Auxiliary HDMI 1.4

Wall mountable

Yes

Wireless connections

Bluetooth (SBC), Wi-Fi

Surround audio formats supported

360° Circle Sound, Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 2.0 Channel

Sound modes

Music, Movie, Clear Voice, Sports and Night Mode

Power RMS

340 W

Subwoofer size

155 x 452 x 333 mm

Subwoofer weight

6.8 kg

Number of channels (standard channels.low frequency channels.vertical sound channels)

-

Power subwoofer RMS

160 W

Soundbar size

-

Dimensions

1011 x 86 x 53 mm

Pros + Cons

Pro
 Powerful, high quality speakers for a great audio experience

It has 16 speakers that combine to deliver the best audio experience for watching and listening to music. Combined, they have a power rating of 500W for a system that consists of a center channel, two front channels, two rear channels, four vertical channels and a low frequency channel. The highs and mids sound clean and clear, without being flat. Movie dialogue is clear and distinguishable thanks to the added central channel.
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Pro
 Dolby Atmos support

This soundbar supports Dolby Atmos, which has been becoming more popular in streaming services and new Blu-ray releases.
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Pro
 Amazing surround capabilities with an extra vertical dimension

This soundbar can produce cinema-like surround sound using the latest Dolby Atmos standard. Aside from the rear speakers, it also adds height by producing sound above the listener’s head, through extra speakers that reflect it from the ceiling. The ceiling needs to be flat and relatively shallow for this to work best, though. The sheer number of speakers together creates a more realistic sound bubble around the listener, as opposed to soundbars that can only emulate it with limited speakers. While only Dolby Atmos content takes full advantage of these extra speakers, even standard Stereo or Dolby Digital can benefit from this extra dimension.
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Pro
 Detects Atmos automatically

The soundbar notifies you and switches automatically to Atmos mode when it detects a Dolby Atmos signal.
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Pro
 Can be controlled with an HDMI-CEC device

If you have an HDMI-CEC compatible device, you can use it to control the soundbar.
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Pro
 Stylish look

This soundbar has a classic black look with a steel mesh around the unit with brushed aluminum ends. The screen is hidden behind the mesh and illuminates only when there is a change in input or a button is pressed. A blue LED indicates Dolby Atmos signal input.
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Pro
 Good wired connectivity

There are two HDMI 2.0 inputs and an HDMI ARC output with 4K HDR passthrough capabilities, as well as an optical and an analog input.
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Pro
 Conveniently sized rear speakers

The rear speakers are approximately the size of average desktop speakers.
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Pro
 Supports wireless connectivity

The HW-K950 has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support, for wireless media streaming from external devices. It also supports connecting wirelessly to Samsung TVs that support it.
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Pro
 Easy to update

Software updates can be done automatically over Wi-Fi, using a dedicated Samsung app.
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Pro
 Audio enhancement mode

There are dedicated digital sound processing modes that can be used to enhance audio from movies, sports or music.
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Pro
 Powerful subwoofer

The 8-inch driver of the subwoofer outputs 165W and is powerful enough to make windows shake. Since this can be overkill in some use cases, like music listening, you can easily control the subwoofer levels through the soundbar.
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Pro
 Multi-room audio streaming

Samsung has included an application that you can use to stream music from your phone, online streaming services and even media servers in your home network to the soundbar via Wi-Fi. It’s also possible to set up a multi-room system with other Samsung audio products that are compatible with the app.
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Pro
 OLED conveniently displays status information

The easy-to-read front OLED display gives you all the relevant status information.
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Pro
 Main unit can be wall mounted

The main unit can be wall mounted, using the included bracket, but you need to buy separate wall mounts for the rear speakers if you wish to mount them.
Comment

Con
 Large and heavy

The device is rather large and is best suited to pair with large TV sets, that are at least 50 inches. The subwoofer is also large and heavy, demanding a lot of space.
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Con
 DTS formats are downmixed to stereo

The K950 downmixes DTS formats down to stereo, which may be an issue for people with film collections in these formats. On the other hand, a lot of Blu-ray players can convert DTS to DD.
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Con
 No info output to the TV screen via HDMI

There is no information output on the TV screen when using the HDMI output.
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Con
 Rear speakers need an external power source

This soundbar's rear speakers need an external power source, so they can’t be placed anywhere without access to power.
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Con
 Remote control can be confusing to use

The remote control only has a few large buttons, and using them can be confusing, given that some functions are accessed via long presses of these buttons.
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Con
 Issues with 4K HDR passthrough

This soundbar's HDMI inputs support 4K HDR passthrough, but some devices have issues regarding this, like broken HDR or periodic cut offs. As of Spring 2017, Samsung is working on adding additional support for devices, by releasing new software updates.
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Pro
 Impressive audio performance

This Philips soundbar is a stunning performer with an overall clear and balanced sound coming from its high quality speakers. The subwoofer can produce deep, rumbling bass and the highs and mids are well balanced and sound natural.
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Pro
 HDMI 1.4a and ARC support

The Fidelio B5 has two HDMI 1.4a inputs that can passthrough signal to the TV, and one HDMI ARC output that can receive sound and remote commands from the TV.
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Pro
 Full surround effect

The separate rear surround speakers create a full surround cinematic effect that is much better than the virtual surround created from soundbars without rear speakers.
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Pro
 Clear dialogue and accurate positioning, despite not having a central speaker

It doesn’t have a central speaker, but it can emulate it pretty well, for clear dialogue and accurate positioning.
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Pro
 Loud enough for a large living room

With 210W of power (90W just for the subwoofer), its capable enough to use in a large living room.
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Pro
 Wide bass response

The subwoofer has a 6.5-inch downwards firing woofer that can produce frequencies between 20hz and 150hz, allowing for a much wider bass response than many of its competitors.
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Pro
 Useful signal processing features

Signal processing offers many enhancements including treble and bass control, auto volume level, listening modes, and voice clarification.
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Pro
 Using the remote control is easy and intuitive

The remote is easy to use and clearly labeled. It has convenient dedicated buttons for each input.
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Pro
 Automatically switches between surround and stereo modes

The soundbar automatically switches between surround and stereo modes, depending on the speakers being detached from the rest of the system or not.
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Pro
 Comes configured with preset modes for different use case

This soundbar comes with preset modes for listening to music or watching movies. There's also a night mode that decreases the overall loudness for when you don’t want to disturb the neighbors.
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Pro
 Suitable for hanging on the wall

The soundbar comes with included wall mounts. The rear speakers are completely wireless and have holes in the back that allows them to be easily hung on the wall.
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Pro
 Easy to set up and use

The system is easy and quick to set up, since the rear speakers and the subwoofer are wireless. You only need two power cords and a signal wire to connect to your TV. The easy-to-use remote lets you easily calibrate everything, as well as change the sound properties, sound modes, sync time and rear volume.
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Pro
 Automatic calibration depending on speaker placement

It’s possible to automatically calibrate the soundbar, depending on speaker spatial placement, with just the press of a button, on the remote.
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Pro
 All the importation information is conveniently visible

A dimmable front display provides all the necessary information regarding input, sound mode, volume, and sound levels.
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Pro
 Easily updatable via USB

Philips provides software updates that can be installed via USB.
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Pro
 Near listening mode

The Fidelio B5 has a near listening mode where you can place the surround speakers near you and sound will play only from them, disabling the main unit.
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Pro
 Detachable speakers can act as wireless rear surround speakers

On each side of the soundbar there are removable speakers that, once detached, can act as rear wireless surround speakers, allowing you to enjoy real surround sound. The speakers can work wirelessly for 8 hours and they take about 2-3 hours to fully recharge. Each of the rear speakers can be used separately as a Bluetooth speaker for music streaming, without having to use the soundbar itself.
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Pro
 Convenient Bluetooth connectivity

Both the soundbar itself and each detachable speaker can be connected to other devices via Bluetooth. The soundbar supports NFC for easy Bluetooth connection and aptX standard that allows high-bitrate audio streaming using this protocol.
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Pro
 Variety of input options for connecting most devices

This soundbar has HDMI, optical connection, coaxial, a 3.5mm jack and an RCA input to choose from, so the vast majority of devices can be connected using at least one of these inputs.
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Pro
 Dust and liquid resistant and stylish surface finish

This unit has a cloth finish that is dust and liquid resistant, with a brushed metal stripe in the center that gives it a premium finish look.
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Con
 No Wi-Fi connectivity

This soundbar doesn't support Wi-Fi connectivity.
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Con
 Rear speakers sound quality is only average, when used separately

The rear speakers, when used separately from the rest of the system, offer only average sound quality. They're only suitable for things like quiet ambient music or podcasts.
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Con
 No HDMI 2.0 support

This soundbar has no HDMI 2.0 support, so it cannot passthrough more modern formats, such as 4K HDR.
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Con
 Only controllable via remote

The soundbar has no control buttons on the unit itself, only a power button on the main unit and Bluetooth/surround buttons on the detachable speakers.
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Con
 Insufficient surround standards support

Even though this soundbar supports Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS sound standards for surround sound, it does not support the latest DTS:X and Dolby Atmos standards.
Comment

Con
 Takes up a lot of space

The main unit takes up a lot of space, as it is longer and wider than most of the soundbars. The subwoofer is considerably taller compared to those of competitors.
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Con
 No companion app

The Fidelio B5 doesn't come with a smartphone or tablet companion app.
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Con
 No input or setup information displayed on the TV

It does not display any input or setup information on the TV screen, via HDMI.
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Pro
 Good sound processing for movies

Built-in sound processing in movie mode does an excellent job expanding the sound and leveling the volume of dialogue and action scenes.
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Pro
 Amazing sound quality for its price

When compared to other soundbars within the same price range, the Vizio does an excellent job in generating detailed sound and a wide sound stage.
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Pro
 Compact and unobtrusive size

Both the soundbar and the subwoofer are compact, so the main unit doesn't require a large stand and the subwoofer can be hidden easily.
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Pro
 Simple to understand remote control

The remote control is intuitive and easy to understand.
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Pro
 Capable of filling a large room with clear sound

This soundbar can easily fill a large room with crystal clear sound and clearly distinguishable left and right channels, improving the cinematic experience.
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Pro
 Easy to set up media streaming via Wi-Fi

This soundbar has integrated Chromecast support. Its allows streaming media over Wi-Fi and is easy to set up and use.
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Pro
 Prepared to be wall mounted

This soundbar can be wall mounted using the included mounts.
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Pro
 Supports wireless connectivity

You can connect to this soundbar via Wi-Fi, for media streaming, a feature that is usually only available on soundbards in more expensive price ranges. Bluetooth is also supported.
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Pro
 Comes with a companion app

This soundbar comes with a Vizio companion app.
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Pro
 Cables included

The Vizio ships with various connection cables, so there's no need to purchase additional input cables.
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Pro
 Varied options for wired connectivity

The Visio has an optical, a coaxial and two analog sound inputs and also an Ethernet input to connect it to your home network.
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Pro
 Improved music listening experience with built-in sound processing

Built-in sound processing in music mode widens the soundstage for a greater stereo effect. It makes each instrument individually distinguishable.
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Con
 No HDMI inputs or outputs

This soundbar has no HDMI support.
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Con
 Surface finish looks cheap

The system has a plastic and black cloth finish that's similar to the one found on most cheap soundbars.
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Con
 Sound is only in stereo

There are no extra speakers for virtual surround modes, so the sound only comes in stereo.
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Con
 Subwoofer can feel quieter than other available options

Even though this soundbar's subwoofer extends bass response quite well, it can sometimes seem quiet compared to its competitors.
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Con
 Confusing LED lights for information display

There is no front display on the soundbar, instead it has LED lights that give out information by blinking. They are not easy to understand and you may have to refer to the user manual to decipher them.
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Pro
 Good surround effect emulation

Yamaha has implemented Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support in this soundbar, meaning that the audio not only has width and depth, but also added height. It has 44 built-in speakers that help achieve the surround effect.
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Pro
 Wireless support

The YSP-5600 supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so you can stream music wirelessly. Wi-FI can also be used for a multi-room setup.
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Pro
 Wide variety of connection ports

The soundbar has four 4K HDMI inputs, an HDMI ARC output, one coaxial, two optical inputs, an infrared in/out, an analog input and a subwoofer output. Even the most demanding customers with lots of equipment will be able to connect virtually anything.
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Pro
 Easy to setup

This soundbar has a full on-screen menu via HDMI. With the included Intellibeam microphone, the setup is a breeze: just follow the walk-through instructions, mount the microphone and the soundbar will do the rest.
Comment

Con
 It's not slide-proof

There are no rubber stoppers under the soundbar, so you have to take caution to keep it from sliding along the surface it's placed on.
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Con
 Surround is not as good as with a system with actual rear speakers

Even though this soundbar does fairly well at emulating surround sound, it still falls behind proper surround systems with actual rear speakers.
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Con
 Needs an external subwoofer to reach full potential

Since the soundbar itself lacks decent bass, you will also need to connect it to an external subwoofer to get its full impact.
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Pro
 Powerful sound, best suited for movie watching

This soundbar delivers sharp, aggressive mids and highs while the wireless subwoofer creates powerful bass frequencies. These combine to make action-packed scenes in movies and shows a joy to watch. Additionally, the dedicated center channel ensures that dialogue is always clear and distinguishable.
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Pro
 Supports HMDI ARC

If your TV has an HMDI ARC (Audio Return Channel) input, this soundbar can receive sound directly through the HDMI cable and, at the same time, it allows you to control it via the TV remote.
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Pro
 Can be turned into a surround system

It’s possible to upgrade this soundbar to a full surround system, using its smart Wi-Fi features. All that's needed is a Samsung speaker (such as one from the Radiant series) that supports the Samsung Multiroom app, so it can be used as a surround speaker. It only requires a one-time setup via the Android or iOS app, and the whole setup permanently becomes a full surround system.
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Pro
 Multi-room audio streaming

Samsung has included an application that you can use to stream music from your phone, online streaming services and even media servers in your home network to the soundbar via Wi-Fi. It’s also possible to set up a multi-room system with other Samsung audio products that are compatible with the app.
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Pro
 Prepared to be wall mounted

This soundbar comes with wall mounts.
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Pro
 Can be connected wirelessly to Samsung Smart TVs

If you have a Samsung Smart TV, it’s possible to easily connect it to this soundbar, wirelessly. All that's needed is the touch of a button on the remote.
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Con
 HDMI connections are hard to reach

The HDMI connections are hard to reach, because of the cramped layout, so you may need to get a slim HDMI cable to circumvent this.
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Con
 Too aggressive sound for pleasant music listening

This soundbar's aggressive approach to sound is not suited for proper music listening, as the high frequencies can become too overwhelming and lose detail. The preset music mode helps a bit, but doesn’t eliminate the issue.
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