Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Enjoy crisp audio with our Samsung Sound + soundbar setup and unboxing guide

Soundbars provide a great way to boost your TV’s audio output for a reasonable price. At less than $500, Samsung’s Sound + HW-MS650 is an excellent option, offering powerful, balanced sound and a litany of useful features to bolster your home theater. To help you get started, our Samsung Sound + soundbar setup and unboxing guide will walk you through all the important information, so you don’t have to call customer service to get everything up and running.

What’s in the box?

In addition to the Sound +, you will find the following:

  • An A/C power cable
  • An optical cable for digital connection
  • A remote with two batteries
  • A wall mount template and a user manual
  • Wall mount brackets
  • Feet extensions
  • A cable management clip
Recommended Videos

The soundbar does not come with HDMI cables or the drywall anchors or screws you need for mounting purposes.

Hardware setup

All the ports and jacks are located on the bottom of the soundbar, rather than its rear. There is a power port, an optical port, a jack for a wireless subwoofer dongle (not included), an auxiliary jack, and HDMI in+out (with ARC support). There is also a port which routes power to a Samsung TV so you can reserve an extra wall outlet if need be.

Speaking of HDMI ARC, that should be your first priority when it comes to TV connection. If you don’t have an appropriate cable, though, optical will work fine as well; just make sure to remove the plastic caps from the ends.

There are also two buttons hidden in a small alcove to the right of the ports. Here you will find the “Wi-Fi Setup” button, which will enable the soundbar to connect wirelessly with a Samsung TV, and the ‘SPK ADD” button, used to connect with the Samsung mobile app.

Features and design

The attractive soundbar is clothed in black and carbon gray, with speaker mesh across the front and a few onboard control buttons on the right side. Frankly, it is unlikely you will be using these, given the inclusion of a remote, but it is nice to know they exist in case you run out of batteries (or if the remote decides to disappear inside a couch).

The remote itself has some cool features, including dedicated bass control, surround sound activation, and sound mode switching. If you have a Samsung One Remote and a matching Samsung TV, you can use that remote to control the soundbar via the TV’s interface.

Software setup

To get the soundbar working properly with your TV, head into the audio settings and switch “sound out” to Optical/HDMI ARC. If you want to listen to music with the soundbar, Samsung’s Connect app can be fairly useful. Once downloaded, it will walk you through the steps to connect to your soundbar, and it offers compatibility with tons of popular music streaming apps.

Caleb Denison
Digital Trends Editor at Large Caleb Denison is a sought-after writer, speaker, and television correspondent with unmatched…
Attention, PS5 gamers: the Sony Pulse gaming earbuds are $30 off
The Sony Pulse Explore wireless gaming earbuds on a white background.

Whether you've just bought the PlayStation 5 from gaming deals, or you've had it for a while, you should always be on the lookout for offers on accessories that will further improve the experience. For even better audio, check out the Sony Pulse Explore wireless gaming earbuds, which are available from Best Buy at $30 off. From their original price of $200, they're down to $170, and considering they rarely go on sale, this is an excellent time to pick them up. You'll need to hurry with your purchase though, as we're not sure when this offer expires.

Why you should buy the Sony Pulse Explore wireless gaming earbuds
For PS5 accessories that will let you enjoy lifelike sound while playing the best PS5 games, you can't go wrong with the Sony Pulse Explore wireless gaming earbuds. They're powered by planar magnetic drivers, which are usually found in audiophile-grade headphones and wired earbuds, and they offer a lossless wireless connection that's made possible by PlayStation Link technology that utilizes a proprietary USB dongle. The wireless gaming earbuds are also equipped with two hidden microphones with AI-enhanced noise rejection, so you'll be heard loud and clear when you're talking to your teammates during online multiplayer matches.

Read more
This “premium performance” Sony TV has a $700 discount today
Sony Bravia X93L Mini LED Review

We’re only a week away from Christmas 2024, which means our eyes are extra peeled for TV deals, soundbar markdowns, and other consumer tech exclusives. Fortunately, we’re still finding plenty of great offers on top devices, including the following sale on a fantastic Sony TV:

For a limited time, when you purchase the Sony 65-inch Bravia XR X93L mini-LED TV at Walmart, you’ll only pay $1,100. At full price, this model sells for $1,800. We reviewed this TV in June 2023, and editor at large, Caleb Denison, said, “The Sony X93L delivers the same stellar Sony picture quality at a lower price.”

Read more
Sony is “the brand to beat” for ANC, and its XM5 headphones are $100 off
Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones hanging on a wall hook.

What is there to say about the incredible Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones that hasn’t already been said? These flagship cans were released a couple of years ago, and we here at Digital Trends are just as enamored by the sound quality, comfort, and rock-solid battery life today as we were when our review first dropped. We gave them a perfect score of 10 out of 10. And while it can be challenging to come across headphone deals for premium products like the WH-1000XM5, we did find this great offer: 

For a limited time, when you purchase the Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones through Amazon or Best Buy, you’ll only pay $300. At full price, this model sells for $400. Our resident headphone expert, Simon Cohen, had this to say about the Sony XM5 headphones: “Sony proves once again that it's the brand to beat in noise-cancelling headphones.”

Read more