Samsung is set to introduce its Music Studio 5 and Music Studio 7 Wi-Fi speakers with significant smart home capabilities, marking a notable evolution in the company's speaker lineup. These models, unveiled at CES this week, promise to compete with established brands like Amazon, Apple, Bose, and Sonos, particularly at the higher end of the market.
The speakers feature a distinctive 'dot-faced' industrial design by French artist Erwan Bouroullec, though initial shipments will be limited to black or white finishes. While voice assistant support is not prominently mentioned in Samsung's press materials, industry sources confirm that both models will integrate Alexa+, Google Assistant, and Bixby, offering users a range of smart home control options.
Alexa+ brings generative AI capabilities, enabling advanced tasks such as ordering food or securing concert tickets. Google Assistant and Bixby will also be supported, with the latter optimized for interaction with other Samsung products. Additionally, the speakers will work with Spotify Tap, allowing users to start playlists with a simple touch on the speaker cabinet.
The Music Studio 7 will support lossless rendering of Spotify Premium content, including FLAC files at up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz resolution and other content at resolutions up to 24-bit/96kHz. Users opting for Alexa as their voice assistant will have Amazon Music as the default streaming service, while those choosing Google Assistant will default to YouTube Music.
For wired connectivity, the Music Studio 5 includes a Toslink digital audio input, and the Music Studio 7 features an HDMI port, though it is unclear if this will support HDMI ARC. Both models can synchronize with recent Samsung TVs via Bluetooth using Q Symphony surround-sound processing, enabling multi-room audio setups with up to 10 speakers.
Pricing for the Music Studio 5 starts at $249, while the Music Studio 7 is priced at $499. These prices position the speakers as premium options, competing with models like the Sonos Era 300 ($479) and Amazon Echo Studio ($220). The Music Studio 5 features two high-performance tweeters and a 4.2-inch woofer, while the Music Studio 7 offers a 3.1.1-channel spatial audio system with advanced signal-steering technology.
Samsung's SmartThings app will manage multi-room audio options, allowing users to stream music to up to 10 speakers simultaneously. However, it is not possible to configure two Music Studio speakers as a stereo pair due to their dual-channel output. The speakers also support Apple's AirPlay and Bluetooth connections for additional flexibility.
The Music Studio 5 and 7 are expected to be available in March, building on Samsung's growing presence in the smart speaker market. With these new features and capabilities, the speakers aim to provide a compelling alternative to existing options, catering to users seeking both advanced audio performance and smart home integration.
