Samsung’s Music Studio 5 and 7 speakers are set to shake up the high-end audio market. With sleek designs and advanced features, they’re aiming to rival top players.
This week at CES, Samsung revealed its latest venture into the high-end speaker market with the Music Studio 5 and Music Studio 7 Wi-Fi speakers. These new models boast a striking industrial design created by renowned French artist Erwan Bouroullec, and they promise to offer serious competition to established brands like Amazon, Apple, Bose, and Sonos.
Scheduled for a March release, the Music Studio series draws attention with its modern aesthetics. While initial shipments will only be available in black or white, the design hints at a fresh direction for Samsung in the smart speaker arena.
Though details regarding voice assistant compatibility were briefly mentioned in Samsung’s press release, sources indicate that both models will support Alexa+. This AI-enhanced assistant is expected to deliver more engaging conversations and smarter home integration compared to its predecessor. Users can also opt for Google Assistant or Samsung’s Bixby, which works seamlessly with Samsung devices.
Both speakers integrate with Spotify Tap, allowing users to kick off their favorite playlists without needing to reach for their phones. The Music Studio 7 stands out with its capability to stream lossless audio, handling FLAC files up to 24-bit/96kHz resolution, thus appealing to audiophiles seeking quality sound.
Moreover, buyers who choose Alexa will have Amazon Music as their default streaming service, while Google Assistant users will default to YouTube Music. For fans of other services, such as Tidal or Qobuz, those can be accessed through respective apps or standard Bluetooth connections.
For those who still appreciate wired connections, the Music Studio 5 includes a Toslink digital audio input, while the Music Studio 7 comes with an HDMI port, likely HDMI ARC, although specifics weren’t confirmed at CES.
Samsung’s speakers can also sync with recent Samsung TVs using Bluetooth, thanks to their Q Symphony technology, enabling a blend of the speaker output with the TV’s built-in audio. This technology allows users to mix and match Music Studio speakers with Samsung soundbars and Music Frame speakers, providing a holistic audio experience.
For fans of multi-room audio setups, users can stream the same or different tracks to up to ten Music Studio speakers simultaneously through the SmartThings app. However, unlike some competitors, these models can’t be configured into stereo pairs.
Pricing is set at $249 for the Music Studio 5, which aims to offer a unique visual appeal compared to its rivals like the Sonos One and Bose Home Speaker 300. The Music Studio 7 is priced at $499 and features a sophisticated 3.1.1-channel design with spatial audio capabilities, utilizing Samsung’s proprietary technology.
Samsung is clearly targeting consumers who want a high-quality, all-in-one audio solution, and these new speakers could make a significant impact in the competitive smart speaker market. As the launch date approaches, many are eager to see how these devices perform in real-world conditions.