Samsung has released new lifestyle speakers for the home. The Music Studio 5 is a unique looking unit designed by French artist Erwan Bouroullec and comes in black (LS50H) and white (LS51H) with power adaptor cables in the same colour pairing. It retails in Singapore at S$349, and $659 for 2 units.
The entire chassis is in plastic, there was no exposed speaker cone to wreck, thankfully. There are touch buttons lining on top of the speaker, no remote control, but you are better off controlling the speaker via the Samsung Sound or Samsung SmartThings app.
The speakers can be connected via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Optical-In. It supports Stereo Play (split left-right channel) and Group Play (multiple speakers playing the same output) that works only if the speakers are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. It supports Q-Symphony audio mode with compatible Samsung TV models after 2022 ((BU8000 and above for 2022 models, CU7000 and above for 2023 models, DU7000 and above for 2024 models, U8000F and above for 2025 models, U8000H and above for 2025 models, and 2022-2026 models of The Frame, The Frame Pro).
Setting up the Bluetooth connection is easy which is useful only for single speaker setup. With a single speaker, I can adjust the audio balance using 7-band EQ. There are also sound modes like SpaceFit Sound Pro, Active Voice Amplifier Pro to suit your listening preference.
Connecting to Wi-Fi is a little more tricky, at least for my home situation. Apparently, one of my StarHub home broadband which uses the Nokia ONT XS-2426X-A is connecting to DFS wireless channel which is not supported by Samsung. So when the Studio 5 is connected to this Wi-Fi network, the Samsung TV and the Samsung apps could not detect them. Fortunately, I still run a separate Wi-Fi mesh network as redundancy, so after switching to the other Wi-Fi network, the devices are visible and I was able to test the other functions.
Once the Samsung TV and the Samsung Music Studio 5 speakers are all connected to the same Wi-Fi network, go to the TV sound menu and select “Q-Symphony” sound mode, and it should detect and display the speaker units. Select the position of the unit – it can be front or rear – and apply the settings. In Q-Symphony mode, the audio quality is not dramatically improved, merely a aural spatial extension of the TV speaker which is already feeble-sounding. The additional Music Studio 5 speakers merely expand the stereo image and adds a bit more weight at the mid and low, but not massive like soundbar or subwoofer.
However, it’s a different story when I use the Music Studio 5 in Stereo Pair mode. Using the Samsung Sound app, look for the “Stereo” option and select it. Then it will ask you to select the speaker for each channel. After applying, you will be able to select the paired speaker under Spotify Connect or other Wi-Fi Cast-supported audio apps. In this audio mode, the sound quality is a lot more impactful and dynamic. The speakers can produce substantial sub-bass, open-sounding midrange, the treble is not excessive but I feel it can brighten a little more. And they are loud! The sound staging remains forward, it does not push the sound towards you, which is the characteristic of Dolby ATMOS sound staging. With the Music Studio 5, you have no issues filling the room with powerful sound.
Nevertheless, they are not the speakers for audio aficionados. The Music Studio 5 impresses me with its loudness and the bass-ability but it does not convince me in the stereo imaging or instrumentation layering. Even so, the Music Studio 5 looks better than conventional speakers for the modern homes who look to audio as a lifestyle rather than art. Buy several units and place them all over your large property to deliver a whole-home piped-in music.
Visit the official website for product details and order. https://www.samsung.com/sg/audio-devices/wireless-speaker/ls50h-black-hw-ls50h-xs/
