Samsung is undoubtedly one of the best TV brands out there. It sells a variety of budget, mid-range, and luxury models that deliver excellent performance across multiple verticals. These include design, low-latency gaming, picture quality, and smart home integration. One area that doesn’t receive much attention is sound.
The average consumer will be satisfied with their TV’s default sound settings. Those who value detail and nuance — not so much. Don’t get me wrong now. Samsung TVs are fine for enjoying music performances, movies, and video games. But many critics agree that their sound quality could be improved. Well, let’s change that.
Whether you already own a Samsung TV or plan to buy one, know that you can tweak the audio output on these devices for optimal listening. Numerous upscaling sound features are sitting on the backend waiting to be discovered. You just need to know what they are and where to find them. We assembled this guide to help you get started.
Here are 7 ways to greatly enhance the sonics on your Samsung TV.
1. Adjust the equalizer
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The majority of Samsung TVs come with a manual 8-band EQ. It looks and operates similarly to the EQ on other wireless audio products (e.g., Bluetooth speakers, earbuds, headphones). Once opened, you can adjust the bass, midrange, and treble, which is done through the remote controller. If you need some assistance understanding frequency ranges, check out our guide on how to customize your EQ settings.
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2. Switch the sound modes
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Samsung offers three sound modes: Amplify, Adaptive Sound (Optimized), and Standard (default). Each mode modifies sound performance based on preference. Amplify will boost mids and high tones, which is ideal for dialogue-heavy content, while Optimized makes special effects more immersive. Standard is basically the equivalent of a flat EQ; sound is balanced with no emphasis on a specific frequency range.
3. Unlock the power of Q-Symphony
This proprietary feature gets you surround sound by syncing your TV’s audio output with a Samsung soundbar. You can connect both devices using an HDMI cable, optical cable, or through Wi-Fi. Samsung says to change the source on the soundbar to “D.IN for a cable connection, or Wi-Fi when establishing an internet connection.” Press the Source button on your TV remote to cycle through options.
A more current Samsung TV is required for this setup. Click this hyperlink to check out a list of compatible models.
4. Turn on Dolby Atmos
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Anyone who owns a pair of spatial audio headphones has likely experienced Dolby Atmos. It’s the most common 3D audio format out there. Enabling the feature will deliver theatrical surround sound best enjoyed in your living room. There is one caveat — you must own external speakers that support Dolby Atmos.
5. Enable Auto Volume
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Turning this on will equalize sound across different channels and sources and keep volume output consistent.
6. Shift sound output to the left or right
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Listeners with hearing impairments will want to take advantage of the Balance feature. Simply put, it allows you to freely adjust the sound to deliver more sound from the left or right speaker.
7. Adaptive Sound
Think of Adaptive Sound as an auto-generated EQ. It analyzes a room’s acoustics and your TV’s audio signal in real time to create a clearer and more natural sound profile. Not every Samsung TV comes with the same version. You may see “Adaptive Sound,” “Adaptive Sound+,” or “Adaptive Sound Pro” when navigating through the settings.
