X

Samsung HW-C450 (photos)

The Samsung HW-C450 is an exceedingly thin sound-bar home theater system that sounds surprisingly good with movies but lacks HDMI connectivity.

Matthew Moskovciak
Covering home audio and video, Matthew Moskovciak helps CNET readers find the best sights and sounds for their home theaters. E-mail Matthew or follow him on Twitter @cnetmoskovciak.
Matthew Moskovciak
1 of 8 Sarah Tew/CNET

Samsung HW-C450

Sound bars aren't as thin as the slimmest HDTVs yet, but the Samsung HW-C450 ($300 street price) is getting close. It is less than 2 inches thick, which seems almost impossibly thin, considering the fact that it houses six drivers and built-in amplification. Even more impressive is that Samsung manages to get some impressive sound quality out of those cramped quarters (plus a wireless subwoofer), with better-than-average detail on movies.

Music, on the other hand, sounds a little disappointing, and JVC's somewhat heftier TH-BA1 is a better pick if you plan on listening to more than TV and movies. Our other main knock against the HW-C450 is the lack of HDMI connectivity, especially when the competing Sony HT-CT150 ($300 street price) has three HDMI inputs, all capable of 3D video pass-through.

If the lack of HDMI connectivity doesn't bother you, the Samsung HW-C450 is one of the sleekest sound bar home theater systems we've tested, making it a good pick for style-minded buyers who mostly watch movies.

34041748-2-440-FT.jpg
2 of 8 Sarah Tew/CNET

Design

The HW-C450 is one of the most decor-friendly sound bars we've tested. At only 1.77 inches deep, its slim profile makes it easy to fit on even the most crowded TV stands. It's 3.62 inches high, so it should fit easily under an HDTV without obscuring the screen. From the front, you'll notice six total drivers, separated by a glossy black finish, as per Samsung's usual style.
34041748-2-440-DT2.jpg
3 of 8 Sarah Tew/CNET

Touch-sensitive buttons

There's also a small LCD display along the top, which we appreciate, although its size makes it hard to see from far back. Next to the display are several touch-sensitive buttons, which are handy in case the remote goes missing. The lack of need for a wire to connect the included sub just adds to the minimalist charm.
34041748-2-440-SD.jpg
4 of 8 Sarah Tew/CNET

Side view

The HW-C450 can be wall-mounted with the supplied bracket or placed on a shelf; we went with the second option. Unfortunately, the HW-C450's 1.77-inch depth doesn't make for a stable design. Samsung should include pads or footers to prevent the speaker from tipping over.
34041748-2-440-SUB.jpg
5 of 8 Sarah Tew/CNET

Wireless subwoofer

Our sample HW-C450's wireless subwoofer automatically linked with the speaker; if it didn't work, we would have initiated the simple "ID Set" procedure. The wireless sub worked perfectly throughout the testing period, and we didn't experience dropouts, noise, or other malfunctions. As with all small speaker-subwoofer systems, we recommend placing the sub within a few feet of the speaker--much further away and you start to hear the sub as a separate sound source.
34041748-2-440-DT1.jpg
6 of 8 Sarah Tew/CNET

Connectivity

The HW-C450's connectivity package is less extensive than we would have liked. Most glaring is the omission of any HDMI connectivity, which is available on the similarly priced Sony HT-CT150 and Panasonic SC-HTB10. Two optical inputs are the main digital audio connections and the HW-C450 also includes a minijack input designed to handle a device with a stereo analog audio output. Samsung includes a minijack-to-stereo RCA adapter cable with the HW-C450. If you have a simple home theater--three devices or fewer--the HW-C450 may fit your needs, but it's smart to check whether it has enough inputs to handle all your gear. There's also a USB port on the back, but it's used only for firmware updates.

34041748-2-440-DT3.jpg
7 of 8 Sarah Tew/CNET

Accessories

The Samsung HW-C450's accessory pack includes an optical audio cable, minijack-to-RCA adapter cable and simple wall mount.
34041748-2-440-RMT.jpg
8 of 8 Sarah Tew/CNET

Remote

The remote mostly matches the simplicity of the bar's physical design. Samsung doesn't clutter up the clicker with too many unnecessary buttons, and important functions like volume, at least, get different colors to make them easier to spot. We appreciated the ability to adjust subwoofer volume directly with the remote, which isn't always available.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos