Samsung's smart speaker is gunning for Sonos. It has many features and decent performance, and now it's significantly cheaper

This May, Samsung introduced new Wi-Fi home speakers that are clearly trying to directly compete with more established models from the Sonos brand. Now, the just a few months old Music Studio 7 (HW-LS70H) can be purchased in a great deal, costing 8,792 CZK instead of the original 10,990 CZK. It impresses not only with its performance but also with a rich palette of features.

Quick summary:
✅ Makes sense if you want a single designer enclosure with Dolby Atmos and open streaming for your living room or a Samsung TV.
⚠️ Consider if you prefer full surround sound instead of a single unit, and if you will use Q-Symphony, which only works with Samsung TVs from 2022 to 2026.
💡 For 8,792 CZK, you are getting it below the price at which the model was sold after its launch, even with Samsung’s cashback.

Why this speaker is interesting

Music Studio 7 solves a problem that conventional speakers struggle with: Dolby Atmos spatial sound from a single enclosure. Inside, a 3.1.1 architecture with 150 W of power operates, meaning left, right, and center channels, a five-inch subwoofer, and one upward-firing driver for height effects. Samsung added a design by Erwan Bouroullec with a characteristic circular motif, which targets the speaker more towards living room shelves than technical tables. Those who want a smaller and cheaper variant can find a comparison in the overview of its smaller sibling, the HW-LS50H.

Key parameters in plain language

The sound is based on a 3.1.1 configuration with 150 W and is complemented by a Super Tweeter with a range of up to 35 kHz and support for Hi-Res Audio 24 bit / 96 kHz. In addition to Dolby Atmos, the model also supports the spatial format Eclipsa Audio. Wirelessly, it handles Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 6.0, Google Cast, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect, and for more demanding listeners, there’s also Roon Ready certification, which most competitors in this price range don’t offer. This openness is precisely what distinguishes Music Studio from the more closed Sonos.

Practical aspects: ports, dimensions, control

On the back, you’ll find HDMI eARC and an optical digital input, so you can connect the speaker to your TV and use it as a soundbar replacement. The dimensions of the unit itself are around 269 × 185 × 191 mm, which is a size for a shelf or dresser, not a desk. Setup is handled by the SmartThings and Samsung Sound apps, music can also be started with a double tap via Spotify Tap, and features like SpaceFit Sound Pro for room acoustics calibration or AVA Pro dialogue enhancement are available. Operating power consumption is 20 W, and 0.5 W in standby.

What to watch out for

The biggest compromise stems from the product’s nature: Atmos is created by a single enclosure with one upward-firing driver. Height effects perform surprisingly well for a single unit, but it won’t replace full surround sound with rear speakers and a separate subwoofer.

The Q-Symphony feature is tied to Samsung TVs from 2022 to 2026 (excluding The Serif and The Sero models). Furthermore, the number of cooperating units depends on the TV’s year: up to five for 2026 models, three or just one for older ones. Without a compatible Samsung TV, you’ll miss out on one of the model’s main selling points.

Also, pay attention to the marketing number for multiroom. Samsung states connectivity for up to ten speakers, but this applies to Bluetooth Auracast. Group playback via Wi-Fi can handle a maximum of five units in the 5 GHz band. Only black and white variants are available (white is designated LS71H).

When it doesn’t make sense

If you’re building a home theater and want true spatial sound with rear channels, a soundbar with a subwoofer and surround speakers makes more sense than a single unit. The speaker is also not portable and runs on mains power, so battery-powered models will serve better for the garden or travel. And if you’re looking for the cheapest way to Atmos, 8,792 CZK is still a premium price for a single speaker. It will be fully utilized mainly by Samsung TV owners and people for whom appearance is as important as sound.

Verdict: who it’s worth it for

For 8,792 CZK with code ALZADNY20, you get one of this year’s most design-interesting Wi-Fi speakers with Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res audio, and an unusually open ecosystem. Compared to the regular price of 10,990 CZK, this is a discount of 2,198 CZK and also an amount below the price at which the model was sold after its launch. It is ideal for Samsung TV owners and listeners who want quality sound from a single elegant enclosure. Those aiming for a full-fledged home theater will rather opt for a soundbar with a separate subwoofer.

A complete overview of discounted electronics can be found in the current Alza Days, where the offer is continuously updated according to stock levels.

Would you opt for a single designer speaker with Atmos, or rather a classic soundbar with a subwoofer?