If and when extra bass is needed, this Samsung HW-S60T Soundbar review is worth a read if you are serious about the sound of your television entertainment.
We've been super lucky to have the chance to review this piece of audio equipment over the past couple of weeks. It's been up and down (in volume) and connected to the television in more ways than one. Positioned in front of the Samsung The Frame (2020), the soundbar has had to compliment the screen in more ways than one in terms of design.
Keep scrolling to see how it fared during testing in our home. Then, check out our best soundbar guide for more top audio options for your television.
Samsung HW-S60T Soundbar: Key specs
- Total power: 180W
- No. of speakers: Six
- Connectivity: HDMI, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Control: remote device, on-bar buttons and voice assistant
- Type: all-in-one
- App?: Samsung Smart Things
- Compatibility: Samsung teles with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and a HDMI
Samsung HW-S60T Soundbar: Who would it suit?
It's a known and obvious fact that televisions are getting slimmer, so you may find that the audio is somewhat impaired. But, on the other hand, the soundbars have also slimmed down over recent years, which is great if you live in a small house or want something discrete.
This option is no exception. It's an all-in-one, meaning that all the speakers and a sub are within one unit. It can sit on a side unit or be mounted to a wall depending on how or what you would like your TV set. And in terms of audio, it will produce a sound experience with extra bass and depth if this is what you feel you are missing from your current television watching experience.
Samsung HW-S60T Soundbar: Set-up
A doddle. You just need to plug in the power cable and the HDMI into the back of the soundbar and then subsequently plug the HDMI into the back of the television or the One Connect Box (depending on which TV set you have).
The instructions are limited, I must say, but it is very straightforward to set up this soundbar from the offset.
Samsung HW-S60T Soundbar: Performance
Really easy. To control the soundbar, there are remote and on-bar controls that are pretty straightforward to navigate around. You can also use your voice with Amazon Alexa for some handy hands-free control.
The remote control is slim but sits nicely in hand. And to control the volume and woofer, the buttons work by being moved up and down rather than pressing down. In addition, you can change the bass levels, and some other settings, by selecting the 'cog' button and using the central button to adjust what you need. Pairing to a Bluetooth device is also possible with the press of a button on the remote, so you can listen while you watch and amplify your fave tracks through the likes of Spotify.
The on-bar controls can turn up or turn down the volume or power on or power off the soundbar altogether. It's also very cool that when you adjust the settings on the bar, some pretty lights get displayed.
Alternatively, the HW-S60T is integrated with Amazon Alexa if you prefer to use voice commands. With this, you can play music, check the weather, and get questions answered completely hands-free. We liked this very much because it meant we could put the controller away somewhere safe but memorable and not get confused with what controller controlled which piece of TV-related equipment.
Lights displayed when adjusting the volume
Samsung HW-S60T Soundbar: Design
Being an all-in-one soundbar means that all six speakers, and a sub, are within one unit. This is great for saving space and is easy to move around the home, thanks to that wireless connection and 5.3kg weight. Also, being just 101.8cm in length, it can fit in front of your television screen, although it does obstruct it a little, or it can just sit nicely on the top of a side unit or be wall-mounted, so it's totally out of the way.
The overall design is wrapped in a fabric refined by leaders in contemporary textiles; Kvadrat. It mimics a nice canvas-like material, BUT I can see it gathering and trapping dust within the weave over a few weeks or so. If I'm honest, I'm not too sure how I would keep it clean either. Dust tends to go a bit static on fabrics; however, if you're confident that your home doesn't gather dust that easily (some don't), the black or grey color ways could look smart.
Anything else?
We predominantly tested this soundbar alongside the Samsung The Frame (2020) 32in TV, BUT you can also use it to stream music across your home Wi-Fi. Again, you can get Alexa involved or the SmartThings app, which can link directly to your Spotify, Deezer, or Tune In account.
To touch on the app, you can connect and control it with several other smart devices from one place. These brands are also different than Samsung, including Amazon, Ring, and Philips Hue. Unfortunately, I could not test this in my home because I do not have access to these other smart products, BUT I would say that it is worth thinking about if you like to have a connected eco-system.
Oh, and if you want even MORE bass for your TV and audio, it's also compatible with the SWA-W500 wireless subwoofer.
Samsung HW-S60T Soundbar: Our verdict
Yes, I'd say so. It gives you a bigger sound for your television watching and music listening. But really, the beauty of it is that it can be moved around anywhere in the room – on the floor, on the side unit, or on the wall – which will fill your space with volume and bass.
The price point is pretty reasonable, also, because it's got everything you need in one unit. And it will save you getting more speakers if you want to get away from the headphones.