- VERDICT
Perfect for the simplistic loungeroom or someone who doesn't want "speakers" around the loungeroom
With the popularity of the Samsung Frame TV – a unit that takes the “black box” on the wall and makes it artwork when you’re not watching TV, you can see the small leap that was made at Samsung to come up with the concept of the Samsung Music Frame.
This is a speaker, but at no point would anyone pick it was a speaker.
Out of the box and once setup (which is a really fast and easy process), this looks like a large photo frame.
You can hang it on the wall, all the hardware required for that comes with it, but that would also require you to run the 2m power cord through the wall and plenty wouldn’t bother with that. However, if you have a TV that’s wall hung, it’s worth considering doing the same here, just for the look.
It’s possible to get two of these and hang them each side of your TV and get stereo sound with epic quality over and above your TV – without having to install a soundbar – something plenty might choose for the pure aesthetic of it.
Samsung Music Frame has an Optical input if you’re hard wiring a TV, or it will operate on WiFi and offer Chromecast, Apple Airplay and WiFi streaming via Samsung Q Symphony which means for a recent Samsung TV you should be able to choose the Music Frame for sound output.
The output is certainly room-filling – a booming sound, with two clear bass speakers at the back this doesn’t lack.
I’d say there’s a very finite lack of clarity from the sound, but I think that comes from the form factor, with no direct speaker grill – instead you’re firing sound into and around the plastic cover that is your chosen photo or artwork.
That’s not at all to say the sound is bad, in fact it’s fantastic – I’ve loved having music filling the room these last week or so.
At $499, it’s reduced from $699 and that’s a far better price point.
If you want to throw your own photo into the frame, you can insert n 8x10inch print but only the 8×8 centre of the image will show.
Or, you can create your own custom front cover. I did this at a site called Marpple and the cost came to almost $150 AUD with the design and shipping.
Really cool product. I think no doubt an Audiophile would be better placed with a solid soundbar or speaker to choose for this placement, but for a style and tech-minimalist approach this is a really great idea and great sounding speaker.
