The new Music Frame by Samsung might seem like a gimmick product, but it is probably designed for the commercial market more than the home market. It officially retails at S$899, but since its launch in March 2024, there are numerous promotions, currently at S$388 with terms and conditions.
I received two units to review together with The Frame TV, the devices can be connected with Q-Symphony technology. It cleverly extends the audio mapping from the TV speaker to the Music Frame so that the background elements seem to flow across the field while keeping the dialogue centred. It only supports the placement of next to the TV, not the sides or the back, thus limiting the ability to use as multi-channel speaker setup.
The Music Frame consists of 6 drivers, weighing 4.6kg, with a removable front panel that can fit a 8×10-inch printed photo. Just like The Frame TV, bezels of different colours can be purchased for the Music Frame. There are a handful of customisations available to personalise the audio through the SmartThings smartphone app. Besides the preset sound modes, further adjustments are available using the 7-band equaliser. The Music Frame supports Wi-Fi music streaming straight from your favourite app like Spotify and AirPlay, or connecting to Bluetooth for other content. I was surprised to see an optical port which supports direct digital audio. There are a few touch controls at the side of the Frame for direct volume control and changing of input modes.
The reason why I believe the Music Frame is made for commercial spaces is that they sound really loud, too loud for the living room. With a volume level of 12, the audio easily fills the bedroom. At 40, it is considered loud for the living room of an apartment. I can imagine the Music Frame deployed at art galleries or visual installations and still packs punches for visitors. The bass response is impressive for the size, and midrange offers great warmth with controlled harmonics. The upper midrange can sound shimmery and the upper treble does not penetrate. So I would say the speakers are great for playing background music but not to deliver songs that demand clarity at the upper registers.
The Music Frame supports Dolby Atmos, the more popular choice for enjoying surround audio experience. The spatial experience can be enhanced with SpaceFit Sound which analyses the room to tailor the sound to the space, while dialogues can sound clearer with Active Voice Amplifier.
The design is rather attractive, honestly, and I was seriously considering to get one during this promo launch period. My biggest concern is space: this speaker takes up more space than other network speakers like Sonos. And they are quite heavy. I’m also not a fan of displaying photo frames, so it does not really fit my home style. But if you live in a huge house, loves to display photos and enjoys ambient music, the Samsung Music Frame is a great replacement for your home.
