The speaker of the house has a tremendous job, whether you’re perched on a Westminster bench or curled up on your sofa at home. But Samsung’s latest lightbulb moment - the Music Frame - ends party (playlist) politics with a smart speaker that anyone can cast to.
Disguising speakers as frames isn’t quite breaking new ground. Amazon does a similar thing with its line of Echo tech, and back in 2021, IKEA teamed up with audio leader SONOS on its SYMFONISK picture frame speaker.
But for houseproud types who want something with a little more polish and personality in their space, the new Music Frame ticks two of these very big, very essential boxes.
What else does it have going for it? I tried one out at home to see if the hype checks out.
Samsung Music Frame Key specs
Packaging
Neatly parcelled with a wall mount fixing and tabletop stand, Samsung has managed to keep the packaging to a minimum while still ensuring there’s enough padding to have the speaker arrive safely at your door.
Although a quick start manual is included in the mix, I found watching an online set-up much more helpful in getting to grips with this audio gadget quickly.
Design
Samsung’s innovation seems to have been inspired by its bestselling The Frame TV, which, thanks to the art gallery-style border, white mount and the selection of famous artworks that you can stream to it, means the set blends seamlessly into walls. The artwork detail is so rich that the glass feels like it has vanished; it’s almost as if you can reach out and stroke the canvas.
Samsung’s Music Picture Frame differs in that there is no smart screen onto which you can beam images from your phone or another device. Instead, the front plate is removable allowing you to slip in a traditional print measuring 8 x 10 inches. Quite old school, yes, but that’s about as rudimentary as it gets.
Like its sibling Frame TV, the Music Frame could easily slip into a gallery wall or stand happily on a sideboard without a second glance, unlike bulky and ominous-looking traditional speakers (must they always be black?). And while IKEA limits users with a few bland interchangeable covers, the dress-up choice with Samsung is endless, whether you wish to gaze at a family photo or your favourite album cover.
Performance
As a speaker, Samsung hits the high notes. Two large drivers on the back radiate room-filling sound reaching 95dB at top whack (which is slightly less than a nightclub din), soliciting a few queries and knocks from neighbours during testing.
Turn it down to a more socially-acceptable volume and the Dolby Atmos and 3D surround sound remains pin-sharp whether you’re Bluetoothing a podcast, Chromecasting a party soundtrack or settling down in front of a festive flick. You can pair two of these speakers to create a theatre surround sound for your TV, visually appearing much smarter than traditional speakers or a soundbar.
Anything else?
I worried about the heft of this thing - at nearly 6kg, it can hardly be accused of being featherweight - and while it comes with perfectly sturdy wall brackets, I prefer setting it on the included tabletop stand. What can I say? I’m a cautious homeowner (with fledgling DIY skills).
I also despair at the charging option. It’s set on the back, which means the speaker must be plugged into the mains to work. I hope Samsung releases a wireless option, so you’re not left with the sight of spidery wires dangling down all over the place - make it a USB-C chargeable one while you’re at it.
Verdict
Samsung Music Frame
The speaker of the house has a tremendous job, whether you’re perched on a Westminster bench or curled up on your sofa at home. But Samsung’s latest lightbulb moment - the Music Frame - ends party (playlist) politics with a smart speaker that anyone can cast to.
Samsung isn’t the first to have paired the power of a speaker with the aesthetics of a photo frame: Amazon does a similar thing in its Echo products while in 2021, IKEA teamed up with audio leader SONOS on its SYMFONISK picture frame speaker.
What sets Samsung apart is the polish of the product. Its Music Frame could easily slip into a gallery wall or stand happily on a sideboard without a second glance, unlike bulky and ominous-looking traditional speakers (must they always be black?).
And while IKEA limits users with a few coma-inducing interchangeable covers, the dress-up choice with Samsung is endless, whether you wish to gaze at a family photo or your favourite album cover. Simply pop out the front-facing art panel and slide your favourite 8 x 10-inch snap behind the white mount.
As a speaker, Samsung hits the high notes too. Two large drivers on the back radiate room-filling sound reaching 95dB at top whack (slightly less than a nightclub), soliciting a few queries from neighbours in testing. Turn it down to a more socially-acceptable volume and the Dolby Atmos and 3D surround sound remains pin-sharp whether you’re Bluetoothing a podcast, Chromecasting a party soundtrack or settling down in front of a festive flick.
Can music be art? Samsung manages it in the literal sense - and just in time for the Christmas shopping season too.
Buy now £278.00, Amazon
