TechRadar Verdict
Much like The Frame TV, the Samsung Music Frame is a beautifully designed speaker.
That said, Samsung thoughtfully provides a dampener in the box precisely for this purpose.
It still looks lovely on its stand.
There’s no denying that the Samsung Music Frame has ‘presence’
What it lacks is detailed and dynamic sound.
Youre also going to need the app to get the best sound setup too.
Tap-to-Play is also available but, again, it only works with compatible Samsung phones.
You need the SmartThings app for initial setup, whether on Andriod or iOS…(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
However, the six drivers with built-in amplification in the Music Frame belt out a lot of volume.
The louder it got, though, the muddier the audio sounded.
JJ CalesMagnoliasounds flat, lacking the wistfulness and melancholy I normally associate with it.
..then choose the best options and settings for your use case(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
I accidentally also found out that theres some muffling due to the front artwork panel.
The track lacked depth but, once the front panel came off, it sounded better.
Its not as square as it appears, measuring 35cm along the base and stands 36cm high.
Samsung’s Adaptive Sound feature didn’t work when there were power-tool noises just outside the window
Its about 14cm thick and has a heft to it, tipping the scales at over 9lbs / 4.5kg.
So all your attention is on the actual Music Frame.
While the panel measures 13x13 inches, only the central 8x8 inch cutout will showcase the artwork.
It looks like there are just two speakers in the rear of the Music Frame, but there are, in fact, six
The Music Frame comes with a generic image pre-installed, but youll find an extra one in the box.
There is no play/pause option here, so you are left with using the apps controls for that.
Value score: 2.5 / 5
Should you buy the Samsung Music Frame?
I like the look of the Samsung Music Frame (right), but prefer the audio quality of the Ikea Symfonisk Picture Frame (left)
Attribute
Notes
Score
Features
The feature list is extensive and the important ones work well.
However, if youre after better wireless speakers, consider the two options listed below.
And it will cost you a lot less than the Samsung Music Frame too.
The stand for the Samsung Music Frame is demure and not an eyesore
I also briefly streamed via the Spotify and Tidal Android apps.
Removing the art panel isn’t difficult…(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
..and it doesn’t take much effort to change the print inside, if you have one that will fit(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
You can barely see the indicator lights as they’re practically hidden in the gap between the art panel and the frame(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
You can use a SmartThings Dongle (middle port) here, but it needs to be purchased separately(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
The visible part of the power cable is a light one, but it does have an adapter and a thicker cable(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
