TEST: Samsung Music Frame - Nobody knew this was actually a (good) speaker

This has happened to anyone who walks into my living room and doesn't understand why they feel like the sound is coming from the picture I have on the TV stand. Of course, it wasn't a picture, but a Samsung Music Frame. I wonder what the reaction would be if I just put it on the wall.

The speaker, which is also a picture, at first glance sounds like something that the manufacturer would present as a concept at a trade fair, but then abandon the idea because they would realize that there is simply no market for such a device. Whether there is a market or not, Samsung has decided to produce the Music Frame speaker. It is certainly a niche product for users who like to regularly play with the aesthetics of their rooms. And they're willing to pay for it, because the Samsung Music Frame isn't exactly cheap, especially if you plan to buy accessories.

Samsung Music Frame price?

• Samsung Music Frame: €349 at samsung.com.

Samsung Music Frame - Camouflage works

Samsung is not the first to think of hiding the speaker behind the facade of the picture. Ikea and Sonos did something similar three years ago with the Symfonisk Picture Frame WiFi Speaker. I haven't seen it live yet, but at least from the pictures, they captured the aesthetics of the picture frame even better. You really can't tell that the speaker is also hidden behind. Samsung also managed to do this well, but if you take a closer look, you start to suspect that not everything is as it first appears.

Maybe it would be different if I had the opportunity to further customize the front. The speaker allows this, judging by the instructions, it also works very easily. You unclip the back page, remove the existing image, replace it with your own, but unfortunately I didn't have any that fit the dimensions (maximum 188 x 188 mm). If the black frame doesn't suit you, you can exchange it for a white one for around €60.

It would be even better if you mounted the Music Frame on the wall, which is definitely the best option if you want it to really work as a picture frame. However, you rarely find a frame this heavy (4.6 kg), so before mounting, make sure that you really want it and, of course, that you will mount it correctly. The assembly kit and instructions are included in the packaging.

The Samsung Music Frame connects wirelessly, but it's not wire-free, so you need to take that into account when installing. It is easiest to place it on a shelf, where it will be easier to hide the wire, but it will be best placed on the wall, where it will be more difficult to hide the cable. Unless you already have a room filled with records, then the Music Frame will fit in very well with your existing aesthetic.

If you put other picture frames next to it, it will stand out despite its appearance, mainly because of the depth, which is impossible to mask.

Although most of the time you'll be controlling it with the Smart Things app (or the remote if you have a Samsung TV), there are also physical buttons on the frame for volume, switching the audio source (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, optical) and mute the microphone.

For a complete front panel change, you can visit the Samsung MusicFrameLab, where you can choose from pre-made ones or upload your own image. The price is €60, but you can do the same with third-party providers, such as Marpple, for a good €10-15 less.

Although it is compact, it can sing well

Two tweeters, two midrange speakers and two woofers, a total output power of 120 W. Who would have thought that all this was hidden in a picture frame. You can see the woofer with the naked eye on the back, but the rest of the speakers are hidden under a plastic cover.

It performs very well as a standalone speaker. It also has Dolby Atmos support, but it won't be an audiophile's first purchase anyway. The bass is nicely exposed, the treble is sharp, which I could perhaps accuse it of lacking the depth or focus on details that you find in similar speakers. I noticed this most when listening to rock, but it sang well in other genres. The maximum volume is very impressive, even the bass, especially if you are close to the woofer, is strong. I wonder how the bass would work if I mounted the speaker on the wall.

If I draw the line at sound, most will like it, but any shortcoming will be forgiven at the expense of looks.

If you have a Samsung TV or soundbar, you can turn on the Q-Symphony function, which simply puts all sound sources into one system. If you are not in the Samsung ecosystem, you will not be able to use this feature.

The application includes an equalizer and some ready-made sound profiles (Music Mode, Standard, Adaptive). There is also the SpaceFit Sound function, which analyzes and adjusts the sound according to the room where the speaker is located. Is there any difference? At least for my large living room, I felt better treble exposure, but I didn't find the sound to adjust regularly and dynamically.

Samsung Music Frame - elegant, beautiful, but...

... despite all the superlatives, of course, the main question is who really needs it. You can get an equally good speaker for much cheaper, and the need for a device that is a speaker and frame in one is certainly not great. I believe that there are buyers who see the potential and scenarios in the device to beautify the room and fill it with good sound at the same time.