Whenever people start thinking about their home theater setups, they usually think of the television first. Sure, visuals mean a lot and that’s why it’s worthwhile to invest in a good HDTV to go along with your Blu-ray player and wall mount kit, but what about audio? Sound is just as important as the picture and, let’s face it, the speakers built into TVs these days leave a lot to be desired.
The more expensive option would be to invest in a high-quality amplifier/receiver, along with a 5.1 or 7.1 speaker system. Even if we end up finding the best powered subwoofer deals, a system can still easily run you $1000 US or more. And that’s not including the cables!
Offering a more affordable option with as few cables as possible is the Samsung HW-C450 Soundbar. This is about as clean an install as it gets. But how does it sound? Let’s find out!
Features and Specifications
This product is of the soundbar variety, meaning that it’s not a true surround sound system. Instead, you get a single “bar” of speakers in the front, accompanied by an external subwoofer. With this configuration, you can get a simulated surround sound experience. It also saves a lot of room if you are setting up in cramped quarters.
By going with this route, you can mount the main speaker bar on the wall (or just place it on a shelf), put the wireless subwoofer somewhere else and have very little in terms of messy cables to deal with. This is great for smaller spaces like dorm rooms where a true 5.1 system might not be appropriate. It’s also difficult to properly setup a 5.1 system in small spaces.
Going through the specs, the soundbar itself (which measures just 92mm thick) has a total of six speakers pushing out a total of 160 watts (80w x 2 channels), plus the 120-watt subwoofer for a total of 280 Watts. The sub only needs a power cable and will “sync” automatically with the main unit. The soundbar also has a built-in amplifier.
The Samsung HW-C450 system retails for around $349 US, but you can easily purchase the system for around $249 – $314 US making it quite affordable.
Looking Inside the Box
When I opened up the box to the HW-C450, I was a little surprised to see that there was no instruction manual or quick start guide. I can safely assume, though, that this is because I have a review unit and the last person to test it neglected to return the documentation. The retail version should most certainly have some sort of guide included. This is an area where Samsung does a fairly good job so we’ll assume that the HW-C450 receives the same treatment.
I was also surprised to see that an optical audio cable was included. In the day and age when most AV equipment comes bundled with virtually no cables, this was a pleasant surprise. The box also contained the soundbar itself, the wireless subwoofer, a 3.5mm stereo mini to RCA audio cable, remote control, and wall mount kit.
Setup and Input Options
The whole point of the Samsung soundbar speaker system is that it is remarkably easy to install and setup. You plug the power cable into the wall, plug in your inputs, and away you go. The subwoofer requires no synchronization or pairing process. Just provide it with power and make sure it’s on.
As far as input options, you get a single 3.5mm stereo mini input and a pair of optical audio inputs. The stereo mini jack can be used for regular RCA audio (red and white) audio input too, using the supplied adapter cable. The real shame here, though, is the lack of HDMI input and the lack of an HDMI pass-through.
The limited number of input jacks also limits the number of components you can have connected to this. Connect your cable TV receiver and a video game system and that’s about it. What about my Blu-ray? My HD media player? My HTPC?
Remote Control the Audio Modes
The good news is that the provided remote control has been kept relatively simple while still providing plenty of functionality. I’m also glad that it’s a remote of normal thickness and not one of those credit card-sized numbers. I much prefer this style.
The main soundbar unit in the HW-C450 comes with a single-line display in the front, so this makes it relatively simple to change a few settings, navigate the menu, and so forth. There are even buttons included to change the TV channel, adjust the subwoofer level, and turn on the TV.
The “sound mode” button is particularly noteworthy, as the different modes can make a big difference in how the audio sounds. There is a gaming sound mode, for instance, that would be suitable for your Halo: Reach sessions.
Gaming, Movies, and Sports
To test out the audio quality of the Samsung HW-C450 soundbar, I ran it through several different scenarios. Most of these were done through my Xbox 360 in some shape or form.
For gaming, I tried a few different titles from different genres, including NHL 11, The Beatles: Rock Band, Super Street Fighter IV, and Gears of War. Interestingly enough, I had the most enjoyable gaming experience playing Street Fighter on “Cinema” mode. This is meant for movies, but it works great for games that don’t need surround sound.
Speaking of the virtual surround sound, it’s not quite as “encompassing” as I had hoped. This is still very much a 2.1 speaker system and it does not replace the true 5.1 experience that you would get with a full multi-speaker setup. This held true in both playing video games and watching Hollywood movies.
Switching to sports mode for some NFL football, I found that the “virtual surround” part of the equation lent itself to an almost echo-like effect. I guess this is meant to make for a better roar of the crowd. Don’t use “sports” mode for anything else though, especially regular sitcoms and other TV programming, as the echo can get annoying.
Listening to Music Only
Despite being relatively thin and taking up a relatively small amount of room overall, the Samsung HW-C450 did not disappoint in the sound production department. It has no trouble getting really loud and it is largely able to cover most of the range. The bass from the subwoofer can be a little overpowering at times, but you can dial that down to suit your preferences.
The sound quality is a huge step up from what you’d get built into your usual HDTV, but it is a little odd that the “music” mode was the least impressive of them all. The sound came out a little flat, not nearly as rich as the other modes. For this reason, if you’re listening to music, I’d recommend you not even use the “music” sound mode. Under most circumstances, I found “Cinema” to be the most appealing overall.
Closing Thoughts
Despite claims to the otherwise, this virtual surround soundbar system is not going to give you anywhere close to the same surround sound experience you’d get with a true 5.1 or 7.1 speaker system. However, that’s not to say that you shouldn’t consider buying something like this.
Selling on the street anywhere between $249 – $349 US, the Samsung HW-C450 represents a very good value. The sound output is great, the minimalist installation is very appealing, and the ease of use is fantastic. I had a lot of fun playing Xbox games with this and watching sports is pretty great too. Most importantly, it takes up very little room making it useful for a small media room or bedroom.
The lack of HDMI input is disappointing and I would have liked a better (fuller) surround experience, but when you realize this comes in at less than one-third the price of a full 5.1 system when you factor in an amp and a set of speakers, the Samsung soundbar is a sound purchase (bad pun intended).
Pros
- Slim design with included wall mount
- Surprising potent and robust
- Thoroughly enjoyable gaming experience
- Wireless subwoofer requires no setup
- A good value, especially with integrated amplifier
Cons
- No HDMI input or passthrough
- Virtual surround sound is uninspiring
- Simple music playback is mediocre
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
