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Samsung Music Body: One-minute assessment
I really like the thought of hiding a speaker in plain sight – actually, I refuse to have bookshelf audio system as a result of I actually don’t like how they appear on my, nicely, bookshelf and, regardless of providing nice sound, I’m not too enthused by the design of the best wireless speakers both. Name me fussy, however when Samsung launched the Music Body, it regarded like one thing that might match proper into my house – enjoying my tunes and probably showcasing my images as nicely.
I’m impressed by how nicely constructed the Samsung Music Body is, however weighing in at shut to 5 kilos, I’m hesitant to wall mount it. Furthermore, as a renter in Sydney, Australia, I’m not allowed to bore a gap in my wall, so I can’t actually touch upon how nicely it could carry out with sound waves bouncing off a tough floor immediately behind it. That stated, Samsung thoughtfully gives a dampener within the field exactly for this goal. It nonetheless appears beautiful on its stand.
Altering the art work is straightforward, however it’s important to have pictures or photographs that might look good inside a 8×8 inch sq. area – as a nature photographer who usually shoots in a 4:3 side ratio, it was onerous to search out one in all my very own prints to suit inside the Music Body.
To match its beautiful design, Samsung has managed to make a speaker that fills a big room with sound. The Music Body can get fairly loud, a lot louder than the Ikea Symfonisk Picture Frame Wi-Fi speaker, with sturdy, expansive sound. And there are many wi-fi streaming choices to select from, so it doesn’t need to be a part of Samsung’s SmartThings ecosystem to work as a standalone speaker, however the app is important for the preliminary setup.
What it lacks is detailed and dynamic sound. Whereas it’s simply bassy sufficient for the common listener who isn’t too fussed concerning the soundstage to take pleasure in some tunes or pair with a Samsung The Body TV, will probably be a disappointment to anybody who cares about sound high quality and needs to make use of it as a standalone speaker.
Additionally considering that the entrance panel isn’t a digital display screen that might show, say, album artwork or double as a digital picture body, I’m struggling to justify its worth.
Samsung Music Body assessment: worth & launch date
- Made its debut at CES 2024; launched in April 2024
- Listing worth: $399.99 / £399 / AU$699
The Samsung Music Body isn’t model new – it made its public debut at CES in January 2024, then was launched to pick out markets in April that 12 months. It grew to become a bit extra broadly out there later in 2024 and will be picked up for $399.99 / £399 / AU$699 at full worth.
Samsung was providing a reduction in some nations when the Music Body launched and, since then, we’ve got seen provides that make the speaker a little bit extra inexpensive. For instance, I’ve seen the worth drop to as little as $150 within the US and AU$499 in Australia.
When you can show printed pictures inside the Music Body, appropriate acrylic panels will be ordered from choose third events for an extra price, plus transport, however word that you could be have to preserve the rear studs secure or supply extra to reattach the brand new art work panel again into the Body.
Samsung Music Body assessment: specs
|
Audio system: |
6 |
|
Channels: |
2 |
|
Connectivity: |
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, optical |
|
Streaming help: |
AirPlay 2, Google Forged, Spotify Join, Tidal Join |
|
Voice assistant: |
Amazon Alexa (in-built) |
|
Dimensions: |
13.8 x 13.8 x 2.1 inches / 35.3 x 36.4 x 14.3 cm |
|
Weight: |
9.3 lbs / 4.6kg |
|
Different options: |
Dolby Atmos (solely with choose Samsung TVs), Dolby Atmos Music, Q-Symphony |
Samsung Music Body assessment: options
- SmartThings app required for setup
- Dolby Atmos help with two-channel output
- Constructed-in Q-Symphony help
The Music Body’s function set is kind of spectacular on paper, maybe precisely what you need from a “way of life” product (as Samsung calls it) to widen its enchantment. From loads of wi-fi streaming choices – together with AirPlay 2 and Google Forged – to built-in voice assistant help for Alexa however, unusually, not Samsung’s personal assistant Bixby, there’s so much happening right here.
You possibly can’t get issues began with out Samsung’s SmartThings app, although, and that requires you to create a Samsung account or use an current one. Setup from there on in could be very easy and I had no points when utilizing a Samsung cellphone or an iPhone – simply following the onscreen steps will take you about 30 seconds to get going.
You’re additionally going to want the app to get the most effective sound setup too. You possibly can mess around with the seven-band equalizer within the Customary mode inside the app, however when you go for the Music or Adaptive Sound mode, you solely get bass and treble controls.
Picture 1 of 2
That finished, you’ve the selection to pair the speaker along with your cellphone or pill by way of Bluetooth 5.2 or solid by way of the built-in Chromecast. iPhone or iPad customers will instantly see AirPlay as an choice after they open the Apple Music app, however you additionally get Spotify Join and Tidal Join help, all of that are higher than utilizing Bluetooth connectivity on account of a slight lag that’s evident when utilizing the SmartThings app as they go management of streaming to the speaker itself fairly than utilizing the cellphone. Regardless of this tiny lag, I by no means skilled any connection dropout throughout my weeks-long testing, which in all probability says one thing about how nicely Samsung has executed the connectivity choices.
There’s Dolby Atmos help too, though it comes with a serious caveat: it’s acquired solely by way of Wi-Fi – there’s no HDMI ARC/eARC port right here and the optical enter isn’t Atmos appropriate – and works with solely choose Samsung TVs with a two-channel output. Meaning you may’t use this as a soundbar different, however you may set it up as an extra speaker for Samsung The Frame TV or the Samsung QN95D, at the same time as a pair when you have the money to spare for a second Music Body.
Faucet-to-Play can also be out there however, once more, it solely works with appropriate Samsung telephones. I had the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 throughout my testing, which is meant to be appropriate, however no quantity of tapping wherever on the Music Body triggered the performance. One other function Samsung guarantees is on board is its AI-powered Adaptive Sound expertise, which adjusts readability and quantity in actual time to any adjustments in ambient sound and, as soon as once more, I didn’t discover any adjustments when a landscaper outdoors my window was utilizing an influence software.
What I did take pleasure in, nevertheless, is enjoying music by means of each my Ikea Symfonisk Image Body and the Music Body for greater stereo sound. Thanks, AirPlay!
• Options rating: 4 / 5
Samsung Music Body assessment: sound high quality
- Loud, room-filling sound
- Decently bassy, however lacks the meatiness supplied by different manufacturers
- Sound lacks element and nuance
To match the spectacular connectivity and streaming choices, the Music Body has a heck of loads of energy, though Samsung doesn’t reveal how a lot. Nevertheless, the six drivers with built-in amplification within the Music Body belt out loads of quantity. The primary tune I performed on the speaker instantly after setting it up – Gimme All Your Love by Alabama Shakes by way of Google Forged from the aforementioned Galaxy Z Flip 5 – it was LOUD with the quantity set at degree 17, sufficient to make me wish to flip it down a notch. The louder it obtained, although, the muddier the audio sounded.
A number of music streaming apps, like Apple Music and Tidal, don’t have built-in quantity controls and I discovered that, when utilizing the Samsung cellphone’s controls, every incremental enhance or lower made a big distinction. It was a special expertise when utilizing an iPhone 13 Pro’s quantity management (streaming by way of AirPlay 2), the place the adjustments had been smoother and extra interesting.
Out of the field, the Music Body provides respectable bass however, in comparison with the 2024 Beats Pill Bluetooth speaker and the Ikea Symfonisk Image Body, it may well sound ethereal (or tinny when you favor) with the high-mid frequencies being the main focus. You possibly can alter this by way of the bass management or the equalizer within the SmartThings app, however I struggled to search out my candy spot.
Professional Tip
I obtained the most effective sound utilizing the Music mode inside the SmartThings app, together with the SpaceFit Sound function turned on.
The Music mode on the SmartThings app provides heat to the music, whereas SpaceFit Sound makes use of the speaker’s built-in mic to research the room and alter the sound accordingly. It’s going to work wonders for the common listener by enhancing the vocals on a observe, but it surely may nonetheless disappoint when you actually care about good total audio because it lacks element. For instance, Ellie King’s Ain’t Gonna Drown sounds good however not nice because it doesn’t ship the dynamic contrasts in her vocals. JJ Cale’s Magnolia sounds flat, missing the wistfulness and melancholy I usually affiliate with it.
I unintentionally additionally discovered that there’s some muffling because of the entrance art work panel. This occurred after I was listening to KD Lang’s After The Gold Rush, and selected a whim I might attempt to swap out the art work whereas nonetheless enjoying. The observe lacked depth however, as soon as the entrance panel got here off, it sounded higher.
Listening to Dolby Atmos tracks like M.I.A’s Marigold and Freddie Hubbard’s Weaver of Goals is immersive, however I’ve skilled higher from the Sonos Era 300, though Sonos is thought for placing particulars entrance and middle. That is exacerbated by the truth that, when enjoying a Dolby Atmos observe, its quantity degree dips considerably – I needed to bump up the quantity by 5 ranges to get the identical impact when listening to different tracks. One of the simplest ways to take pleasure in Dolby Atmos right here could be to make it a part of an current setup, combining it with a soundbar.
As a lot as I admire its room-filling efficiency, I anticipated higher total sound high quality from a premium wi-fi speaker that prices greater than a number of of its rivals.
• Sound high quality rating: 3 / 5
Samsung Music Body assessment: design
- Lovely design with skinny bezels and hidden controls
- Detachable body panel to vary art work, however price of customization can add up
- Might be wall mounted, however the cable is likely to be an eyesore
I might need been disenchanted by the sound from the Music Body, however I actually love the design. It’s not as sq. because it seems, measuring 35cm alongside the bottom and stands 36cm excessive. It’s about 14cm thick and has a heft to it, tipping the scales at over 9lbs / 4.5kg. I’d be hesitant to wall-mount it as Samsung gives simply the one screw for it to hold off, however its corners are sharp too. If it will get nudged off its perch for any purpose – even when it’s on its stand – it may well trigger harm to toddlers and pets.
I really like that stand, although – it’s straightforward to slide on however not take away (which might be an excellent factor), and it doesn’t stand out, when you get my drift. So all of your consideration is on the precise Music Body.
The skinny black bezels surrounding the matte acrylic panel makes for a terrific aesthetic, however when you don’t just like the darkish border, Samsung will promote you white snap-on panels for an extra price – though that is solely out there in choose markets.
Picture 1 of 2
Eradicating the highest panel to vary the art work isn’t tough, but it surely requires a little bit elbow grease and finest finished by putting the speaker flat on its again. Individuals with slim fingers will discover it straightforward to get a grip on an edge, however I want Samsung had included a pry software to assist these of us with sausage fingers. The panel is held in place by ball studs that match into sockets on the black body, and a detachable plastic sheet on its rear means that you can change the art work. Whereas the panel measures 13×13 inches, solely the central 8×8 inch cutout will showcase the art work. Samsung says you should utilize 8×10 or 8×8 inch prints, however I think that utilizing a print smaller than the precise dimension of the panel will give it room to slip round inside and look misaligned.
The Music Body comes with a generic picture pre-installed, however you’ll discover an additional one within the field. I had hoped to make use of a print of one in all my very own pictures, however none that I had helpful would match the body. Samsung has partnered with some third events to make customized acrylic panels which you can order and get shipped to you however, once more, this customization will price further and also you’ll have to bear the transport price too.
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I requested Samsung why the entrance panel wasn’t a digital display screen to make use of as a photograph body or at the very least show album artwork of the observe being performed, and I used to be informed the associated fee would enhance. I’m not solely offered on this argument, but when we will have sensible shows just like the Amazon Echo Show 15, it’s doable and would probably broaden the enchantment of the Music Body. The Body TV already has the flexibility to show digital wallpapers and I want Samsung had found out easy methods to carry that over to the speaker too.
It’s essential to notice that the Music Body might want to stay plugged into the mains to work, so that you get a skinny, kinda translucent cable within the field that may go right into a small energy brick linked to a thick black energy wire. Whereas I’m actually not a fan of energy bricks, I admire that the skinny cable isn’t as noticeable because the one of many Ikea Symfonisk Image Body, and the heavy cable and adapter will be tucked away.
The bodily controls, within the type of 4 buttons are hidden away on a rear edge, which makes them onerous to see. They’re additionally extraordinarily delicate and even the lightest contact can change the quantity, swap the mic on or off, or swap sources (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, optical). Plus, each time you press one, indicator lights which might be additionally tucked away between panel and the body mild up. There is no such thing as a play/pause choice right here, so you’re left with utilizing the app’s controls for that.
The again of the unit appears prefer it solely has two audio system, however there are six hiding beneath, enjoying by means of two channels. Plus there are three ports: the optical enter, a USB port for the SmartThings dongle to connect with an current sensible house setup, and the ability enter.
• Design rating: 4.5 / 5
Samsung Music Body assessment: worth
- Retails for a worth larger than a number of premium big-brand wi-fi audio system
- You’d anticipate glorious efficiency at this worth level
- Falls quick in opposition to the competitors in each worth and efficiency
With a retail worth of $399.99 / £399 / AU$699, the Samsung Music Body doesn’t come low-cost. When discounted, although, it is likely to be price contemplating, offered the provide out there on the time of buy undercuts the competitors considerably.
That stated, when you’re an audiophile or, on the very least, a discerning listener, you may nicely be disenchanted by the dearth of element from the Music Body. Compared, the Ikea Symfonisk Image Body Wi-Fi Speaker with Sonos sound is barely $199 / £179 / AU$249 and, whereas not as loud as its Samsung counterpart, provides a extra balanced and dynamic soundstage that’s additionally bassier.
Even a number of the different finest wi-fi audio system that the Music Body is contending with are cheaper at full worth. In our Sonos Era 100 review, for instance, we stated you’d get sound high quality with “numerous readability and punch” for a listing worth of $249 / £249 / AU$399.
Maybe if Samsung had added a digital display screen with a SmartThings interface and even simply made it right into a digital picture body, it might need been simpler to justify the worth. If the sound high quality and performance had been to be improved, I feel the second-generation Music Body may probably give the likes of Sonos a run for its cash.
• Worth rating: 2.5 / 5
Do you have to purchase the Samsung Music Body?
|
Attribute |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Options |
The function checklist is in depth and the essential ones work nicely. There are a pair that did not work throughout testing, whereas others want further {hardware} (just like the SmartThings Dongle). |
4 / 5 |
|
Sound high quality |
What it lacks in dynamism, the Music Body makes up for in loudness, which is likely to be wonderful for the common listener however not everybody will take pleasure in it. |
3 / 5 |
|
Design |
It’s arguably the best-looking wi-fi speaker in the marketplace, however customization prices can add up shortly. |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Worth |
Attractiveness apart, the Music Body disappoints on the subject of audio high quality, with cheaper wi-fi audio system doing a much better job. |
2.5 / 5 |
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Samsung Music Body assessment: additionally take into account
For those who’re in search of alternate options to the Samsung Music Body, probably the most comparable ‘way of life’ or ‘arty’ product could be the Ikea Symfonisk Image Body Wi-Fi Speaker, which remains to be out there at most Ikea shops all over the world. Nevertheless, when you’re after higher wi-fi audio system, take into account the 2 choices listed under.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
Samsung Music Body |
JBL Authentics 200 |
Sonos Period 100 |
|
Dimensions (W x H x D) |
353 x 364.8 x 143.4 mm |
266.3 x 171.7 x 167.4 mm |
120 x 182.5 x 130.5 mm |
|
Weight |
4.6kg |
3.12kg |
2.2kg |
|
Connectivity |
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, optical |
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3 |
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 |
|
Drivers |
6 with built-in amplification (no specs offered) |
2 x 25mm tweeters, 5-inch full-range woofer, 6-inch passive radiator |
2x tweeters, midwoofer, 3x class-D amplifiers |
|
Microphone |
Sure |
Sure |
Sure |
How I examined the Samsung Music Body
- Listened to it almost on daily basis for six weeks in numerous rooms
- Used AirPlay 2 on an Apple iPhone 13 Professional and solid utilizing the SmartThings app on a Samsung Galaxy Flip 5
- Predominantly streamed from Apple Music, but additionally tried Spotify and Tidal
I’ve had the Samsung Music Body in my residence for about six weeks on the time of publication and, in that point, examined the speaker in varied rooms, together with an open-plan dwelling and eating space. Throughout this time, the Music Body grew to become my main speaker, changing the Ikea Symfonisk Image Body Wi-Fi Speaker. I additionally had the chance to match the audio with two Bluetooth audio system – the 2024 Beats Tablet and the JBL Cost 4.
Whereas I predominantly take heed to the blues, I performed all kinds of genres by means of the Music Body, largely by way of the Apple Music app on an iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5. I additionally briefly streamed by way of the Spotify and Tidal Android apps.
I tweaked the settings within the SmartThings app – each on iOS and Android – throughout varied genres to see how the audio modified, and even tried varied bass and treble changes.
Whereas I attempted out as most of the options as doable, I didn’t use the built-in Alexa help very a lot, and there have been just a few different issues I wasn’t capable of check because of the lack of extra {hardware}, particularly the SmartThings Dongle and a appropriate Samsung TV. And on account of restrictions positioned on wall-mounting it in my house, I wasn’t capable of check how the Music Body sounds when hung up in opposition to a wall. I did, nevertheless, prop it up in opposition to a wall (with out its stand) to emulate wall-mounting as finest as doable.
Learn extra about how we test
[First reviewed March 2025]