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The Samsung HW-A650 is a 3.1-channel soundbar that Samsung released in 2021 as the step-up model in its A-series, and its built-in center channel still delivers clear dialogue, but in 2026 it’s worth buying only at a clearance, open-box, or refurbished price. It pairs a 38.6-inch soundbar with a wireless subwoofer, adds High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) input and output ports for your television (TV), and supports optional wireless rear speakers. This Samsung A650 soundbar review covers its specs, what reviewers and owners report about its sound, which Samsung models replaced it, and which midrange soundbars on Amazon make sense today.
Quick verdict: The A650 remains a solid pick for clear movie and TV dialogue thanks to its dedicated center speaker, and its HDMI connections make setup easy. It lacks Dolby Atmos, Wi-Fi, and convincing virtual surround, and Samsung no longer sells it new. Buy it only at a clearance, open-box, or refurbished price; otherwise, look at the 2025 HW-B630F. Check the Samsung A650 price on Amazon.
Key takeaways
- What it is: A 2021 3.1-channel soundbar with a dedicated center speaker, a wireless subwoofer, 430 watts of rated power, and HDMI input and output ports.
- Who it’s for: Viewers with a 50-inch to 65-inch TV who mostly watch shows, sports, and movies with lots of dialogue.
- Price: It sold for around $400 at launch and often dropped to about $300. Samsung no longer sells it new, so look for clearance, open-box, or refurbished deals (fall 2026). Prices change often.
- Main weaknesses: No Dolby Atmos, no Wi-Fi, and virtual surround modes that add little.
- Successor: The 2022 HW-B650 replaced it, and in the United States the 2025 HW-B630F, which launched at $299, is the closest current equivalent.
Samsung A650 at a glance
| Spec | Samsung HW-A650 |
|---|---|
| Channels | 3.1 channels (left, center, and right plus a wireless subwoofer) |
| Speakers | Seven drivers in total, according to Samsung |
| Rated power | 430 watts (W) |
| HDMI | One HDMI input and one HDMI output with Audio Return Channel (ARC) and Consumer Electronics Control (CEC); no 4K video pass-through listed |
| Other wired inputs | One digital optical input; Universal Serial Bus (USB) port for music files; no auxiliary input |
| Wireless | Bluetooth with Subband Coding (SBC) and Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) codecs and two-device multi-connection; no Wi-Fi |
| Audio formats | Dolby Digital 5.1 and Digital Theater Systems Virtual:X (DTS Virtual:X); no Dolby Atmos |
| Sound modes | Standard, Surround Sound Expansion, Game Mode, Adaptive Sound Lite, DTS Virtual:X, and Bass Boost |
| Expansion | Works with Samsung’s SWA-9100S wireless rear speaker kit (sold separately) |
| Soundbar size and weight | 38.6 x 2.3 x 4.1 inches; about 6.8 pounds |
| Subwoofer size and weight | 8.1 x 13.9 x 11.9 inches; about 12.7 pounds |
| Release and status | Released in 2021; no longer sold new by Samsung |
Specs come from Samsung Australia’s spec sheet, StereoIndex‘s review, and 9to5Toys‘s launch coverage. Samsung lists sizes in millimeters, so we converted them to inches.
Is the Samsung A650 still available?
Not new from Samsung. The A650 sold for around $400 at launch, and retailers regularly discounted it to about $300; 9to5Toys reported a $297.99 deal at Amazon and B&H Photo in May 2021, about $100 below its usual price. Today you’ll mostly find leftover stock, open-box units, or refurbished bars at Amazon, eBay, and Newegg, and prices change often.
Samsung followed it with the 2022 HW-B650, which RTINGS calls “the next generation of the Samsung HW-A650” and says sounds very similar out of the box. In some markets Samsung now sells the 2025 HW-B650F, a 3.1-channel bar with HDMI input and output, Q-Symphony, Voice Enhance, and Night Mode. In the United States, the closest current equivalent is the 2025 HW-B630F, which launched at $299 according to SamMobile and recently listed for $327.99 at Best Buy. If you want Dolby Atmos height effects, Samsung’s 3.1.2-channel HW-Q600F launched at $599, and Samsung introduced the HW-Q600H in some markets in 2026.
Design and build
The A650 measures 38.6 inches wide, which suits 50-inch and larger TVs. StereoIndex warns that it may not fit between the feet of some 55-inch TVs, so measure your stand before you buy. A metal grille covers the front and top, and four buttons on top handle power, input, and volume. The wood subwoofer connects wirelessly, so you need only a power outlet nearby, and Samsung includes a wall-mount bracket in the box.
If you plan to mount the bar under a wall-mounted TV, our guide to the best TV wall mounts for 65-inch TVs covers mounts with enough clearance for a soundbar bracket.
Connectivity and setup
Connectivity is the A650’s biggest advantage over cheaper Samsung bars such as the A430. You get three ways to connect it to your TV:
- HDMI ARC: Connect the bar’s HDMI output to your TV’s ARC port. CEC lets your TV remote control volume and power. This is the best option for most people.
- HDMI input: Plug a cable box or Blu-ray player into the bar. Samsung’s spec sheet doesn’t list 4K video pass-through, so connect 4K game consoles and streaming players to your TV and let ARC send the audio back.
- Optical: A fallback for older TVs without ARC. Samsung includes the cable.
Bluetooth lets you stream music from two phones at once, and the bar supports the AAC codec that iPhones use. It has no Wi-Fi, so you can’t use AirPlay, Chromecast, Alexa, or Samsung’s SmartThings app. Samsung’s One Remote feature lets the soundbar respond to Samsung TV remotes, and owners report that CEC works with most other brands, too. A high-speed HDMI cable helps if your TV is a few feet away from the bar.
Features and sound modes
The A650 offers six sound modes. Adaptive Sound Lite analyzes content and adjusts the mix, and StereoIndex says it makes voices clearer. Game Mode boosts directional effects for video games. DTS Virtual:X and Surround Sound Expansion use processing to widen the soundstage, while Bass Boost adds low-end punch. You can also adjust bass and treble from the remote and toggle automatic volume leveling.
You can turn the A650 into a true 5.1 system by adding Samsung’s SWA-9100S wireless rear speaker kit. Owners on Looria say the kit creates a real surround effect, though some find the rear speakers quiet and hard to balance.
Sound quality: what reviewers found
RTINGS rates the A650 as a better soundbar than the 2.1-channel HW-A550 mainly because its discrete center channel reproduces dialogue “more clearly and accurately in movies and TV shows,” and it describes the A650’s out-of-the-box sound profile as very neutral. StereoIndex praised its spacious left and right soundstage and very good midrange.
Reviewers also point out real limits. StereoIndex found that the subwoofer misses “the deep thump and rumble of heavy bass music” and called surround performance poor, since the bar folds surround content into the front channels. Owner reviews collected by Looria echo that bass can feel weak at low volume. In short, the A650 excels with dialogue and TV shows but doesn’t deliver real surround or overhead effects without the optional rear kit.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Dedicated center channel for clear dialogue
- HDMI input and HDMI ARC output with CEC
- Wireless subwoofer you can place almost anywhere
- Bluetooth multi-connection with AAC support
- Expandable to 5.1 with Samsung’s wireless rear speaker kit
- Wall-mount bracket included
Cons
- No Dolby Atmos or real height effects
- Virtual surround modes add little
- No Wi-Fi, app, or voice assistant support
- No 4K video pass-through listed
- Discontinued and replaced by newer B-series models
Samsung A650 vs. other midrange soundbars
Amazon is our main affiliate partner, and it carries the A650’s successors and several strong midrange alternatives. Here’s how they compare:
Compare similar midrange soundbars on Amazon
| Soundbar | Channels | Dolby Atmos | Best for | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung HW-A650 | 3.1 with wireless subwoofer | No | Clear dialogue at a clearance price | Check price |
| Samsung HW-B630F (2025) | 3.1 with wireless subwoofer | No | The A650’s current U.S. equivalent | Check price |
| Samsung HW-Q600F (2025) | 3.1.2 with wireless subwoofer | Yes | Adding height effects and Q-Symphony | Check price |
| Sony HT-S2000 | 3.1 with built-in subwoofers | Yes (virtual) | A single-box bar with no separate subwoofer | Check price |
| Polk Audio Signa S4 | 3.1.2 with wireless subwoofer | Yes | Atmos on a midrange budget | Check price |
| Sony HT-S400 | 2.1 with wireless subwoofer | No | Big bass for less money | Check price |
- Samsung HW-B630F: It keeps the A650’s 3.1-channel layout, center speaker, DTS Virtual:X, and HDMI connections in a newer design. See the Samsung B630F on Amazon.
- Samsung HW-Q600F: Up-firing drivers add Dolby Atmos height effects, and Q-Symphony lets compatible Samsung TVs play through the bar and TV speakers together. It costs more but fixes the A650’s biggest gap.
- Sony HT-S2000 and Polk Signa S4: Both bring Dolby Atmos to the midrange. The Sony skips the separate subwoofer, while the Polk includes one for deeper bass.
- Sony HT-S400: A cheaper 2.1-channel option with a strong wireless subwoofer, though it lacks a center channel. If you want something even simpler for a small room, see our Samsung A430 soundbar review or Bose Solo Soundbar 2 review.
Who should buy the Samsung A650?
The A650 suits living rooms with a 50-inch to 65-inch TV where you mostly watch shows, sports, and movies with lots of dialogue. It pairs naturally with Samsung TVs such as the Samsung CU7000, and its HDMI ARC connection works with most other brands. Skip it if you want Dolby Atmos, streaming over Wi-Fi, or a bar for a small bedroom TV. For a smaller, cheaper Samsung bar with no HDMI, read our Samsung C400 soundbar review.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Samsung A650 support Dolby Atmos?
No, the Samsung A650 doesn’t support Dolby Atmos. The A650 decodes Dolby Digital 5.1 and uses DTS Virtual:X processing, but it has no up-firing drivers and doesn’t decode Dolby Atmos. Samsung’s HW-Q600F is the cheapest current Samsung bar in this class with Atmos.
Can you add rear speakers to the Samsung A650?
Yes, you can add rear speakers to the Samsung A650. Samsung lists the SWA-9100S wireless rear speaker kit as compatible. It turns the A650 into a 5.1-channel system.
Does the Samsung A650 have HDMI ARC?
Yes, the Samsung A650 has HDMI ARC. It has one HDMI output with ARC and CEC, plus one HDMI input. It doesn’t support enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC), so it can’t receive lossless audio formats from your TV.
What replaced the Samsung A650?
The 2022 HW-B650 replaced the Samsung A650. In the United States, the 2025 HW-B630F is the current 3.1-channel equivalent, and some other markets sell the HW-B650F.
Final verdict
The Samsung A650 still makes dialogue sound clear and natural, and its HDMI ports, wireless subwoofer, and rear speaker support give it more flexibility than most bars in its old price range. Its lack of Atmos, Wi-Fi, and convincing virtual surround, plus its discontinued status, mean you should buy it only at a solid discount. If the price comes close to the HW-B630F, choose the newer model. Check the current Samsung A650 price on Amazon.