Customer Ratings & Reviews
- Model:
- HW-R650/ZA
- SKU:
- 6327857
Rating by feature
- Value
Rating 4.4 out of 5 stars
- Quality
Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars
- Ease of Use
Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars
Customers are saying
Customers are positive about the sound quality, easy setup, price, bass, and Bluetooth connectivity of the 3.1-Channel 340W Soundbar System with 6-1/2" Wireless Subwoofer. They appreciate the impressive sound quality, simple setup process, affordability, strong bass, and convenient Bluetooth connection. However, some customers have expressed concerns about the connectivity issues, limited volume, and size of the soundbar and subwoofer.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
Okay
||Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.The sound was decent but not what I was looking for. I returned it back
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from Samsung
Posted .Moe18:
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this soundbar.
So that we can better understand your disappointment, please reach out to. Also, should you ever decide to give Samsung audio products another try and have concerns or questions, please know we are always here to help. You can contact Samsung Customer Support by any of the below options:
1) Phone: 1-800-SAMSUNG (ask for Soundbars)
Available 8AM - 12AM EST (Mon-Fri) / 9AM - 11PM EST (Sat-Sun)
2) LiveChat: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/#contact_us_for_support
3) Facebook Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/samsungsupport
4) Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamsungSupport
The Samsung Members Community is also a great resource for getting help from Samsung moderators and customers: https://us.community.samsung.com/t5/Get-Help/ct-p/get-help
We hope to regain you as a customer in the near future.
Good Quality System For The Price!
||Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Overall good system, just had trouble syncing it to universal remote.
I would recommend this to a friendBrand response from Samsung
Posted .Shad32:
Thank you for choosing the Samsung HW-R650. I'm glad to see that you are happy with the overall model.
If you ever need assistance with product features, specs, or operation, please know we are here to help. You can reach Samsung Support via:
1) Phone: 1-800-SAMSUNG
Available 8AM - 12AM EST (Mon-Fri) / 9AM - 11PM EST (Sat-Sun)
2) LiveChat: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/#contact_us_for_support
3) Facebook Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/samsungsupport
4) Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamsungSupport
5) The Samsung Members Community is also a great resource for getting help from Samsung moderators and customers: https://us.community.samsung.com
If you have not already done so, we invite you to register your new Samsung product at: https://us.community.samsung.com
Registering your product gives you access to easy warranty support, convenient opt-in to special promos and offers, faster troubleshooting and service, and quick notification of system updates.
Good sound
||Posted . Owned for 8 months when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.It had a good sound but I returned it for something a bit louder
I would recommend this to a friendBrand response from Samsung
Posted .Henry:
Thank you for your review of this Samsung Soundbar System. I am sorry to hear that it did not work out for you and have returned your unit.
Your feedback is very important to us and will be shared with our product team.
Should you ever decide to give Samsung audio products another try and have concerns or questions, please know we are always here to help. You can contact Samsung Customer Support by any of the below options:
1) Phone: 1-800-SAMSUNG (ask for Soundbars)
Available 8AM - 12AM EST (Mon-Fri) / 9AM - 11PM EST (Sat-Sun)
2) LiveChat: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/#contact_us_for_support
3) Facebook Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/samsungsupport
4) Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamsungSupport
The Samsung Members Community is also a great resource for getting help from Samsung moderators and customers: https://us.community.samsung.com/t5/Get-Help/ct-p/get-help
Again, thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We hope to regain you as a customer in the near future.
~ Samsung Solutions
Better sound than the TV but not what I expected
||Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.The quality of sound lacks the depth one would expect in this unit.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from Samsung
Posted .Joseph1:
I am very sorry to see that the sound quality is not what you were expecting.
There are two adjustments that can be made to maximize bass from soundbar and subwoofer:
1) Using the WOOFER button on the remote, you can adjust the volume of the subwoofer between -6 to +6 by toggling the button up or down. To set the subwoofer volume level to 0, press the button down.
2) Adjust the bass control by pressing the SOUND CONTROL button (gear icon) on the remote control, then select BASS to increase the level. You can adjust the volume between -6 to +6 by using the Up/Down buttons.
For precise audio adjustments, you can use the 7-band frequency equalizer to optimize the sound for your room acoustics.
Please refer to pages 22-24 in the User Manual for complete audio setting adjustments: http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/201903/20190312112428032/HW-R650_ZA_FullManual_00_ENG_190211.pdf
If you need further assistance, please know we are here to help. You can reach Samsung Support via:
1) Phone: 1-800-SAMSUNG
Available 8AM - 12AM EST (Mon-Fri) / 9AM - 11PM EST (Sat-Sun)
2) LiveChat: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/#contact_us_for_support
3) Facebook Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/samsungsupport
4) Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamsungSupport
5) The Samsung Members Community is also a great resource for getting help from Samsung moderators and customers: https://us.community.samsung.com
If you have not already done so, we invite you to register your new Samsung product at: https://us.community.samsung.com
Registering your product gives you access to easy warranty support, convenient opt-in to special promos and offers, faster troubleshooting and service, and quick notification of system updates.
It’s just okay
||Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.The sound seems to cut in and out sometime and I am not sure why.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from Samsung
Posted .Gretchenr2:
Thank you for sharing your review of the Samsung HW-R650. I am sorry to see that you are experiencing sound drops.
So that we can better troubleshoot your issue, please reach out to Samsung Support.
You can reach Samsung Support via:
1) Phone: 1-800-SAMSUNG
Available 8AM - 12AM EST (Mon-Fri) / 9AM - 11PM EST (Sat-Sun)
2) LiveChat: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/#contact_us_for_support
3) Facebook Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/samsungsupport
4) Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamsungSupport
5) The Samsung Members Community is also a great resource for getting help from Samsung moderators and customers: https://us.community.samsung.com
If you have not already done so, we invite you to register your new Samsung product at: https://us.community.samsung.com
Registering your product gives you access to easy warranty support, convenient opt-in to special promos and offers, faster troubleshooting and service, and quick notification of system updates.
Your feedback is very important to us as we continuously strive for best-in-class product and service.
We hope to hear from you.
Nice sound
||Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Its pretty good. But i think we should of bought the bose soundbar
I would recommend this to a friendBrand response from Samsung
Posted .Joaniss:
Thank you for purchasing this Samsung HW-R650 3.1ch Soundbar featuring Smart Sound Mode, Plug-and-Play ease, and crisp, clean, high-impact audio via a dedicated center channel and wireless subwoofer. I am sorry to hear that you are not completely happy with performance.
So that we can better understand your dissatisfaction and help you with settings that improve your enjoyment of the HW-R650, please contact Samsung Soundbar Support at:
1) Phone: 1-800-SAMSUNG
Available 8AM - 12AM EST (Mon-Fri) / 9AM - 11PM EST (Sat-Sun)
2) LiveChat or Email: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/#contact_us_for_support
3) Facebook Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/samsungsupport
4) Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamsungSupport
The Samsung Members Community is also a great resource for getting help from Samsung moderators and customers: https://us.community.samsung.com
If you have not already done so, we invite you to register your new Samsung product at: https://us.community.samsung.com
Registering your product gives you access to easy warranty support, convenient opt-in to special promos & offers, faster troubleshooting & service, and quick notification of system updates.
We look forward to helping you.
Ok
||Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Samsong product is acceptable but difficult to read the display
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from Samsung
Posted .Pete:
Thank you for sharing your feedback about the display.
So that we can better understand specifically what was difficult to read on the display, we invite you to please contact us at any of the below:
1) Phone: 1-800-SAMSUNG (ask for Soundbars)
Available 8AM - 12AM EST (Mon-Fri) / 9AM - 11PM EST (Sat-Sun)
2) LiveChat or Email: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/#contact_us_for_support
3) Facebook Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/samsungsupport
4) Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamsungSupport
Your thoughts and opinions are very important to us and will be shared with our internal teams for future product development.
We hope to hear from you.
Good product
||Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Returned for smaller soundbar with built in sub. Sonos Beam.
I would recommend this to a friendBrand response from Samsung
Posted .Pro1:
I am very sorry to see that you were not completely happy with the Samsung HW-R650 featuring a dedicated center channel for clear dialogue and a wireless subwoofer for deep bass.
Should you ever decide to give Samsung soundbars another try and have questions on size/dimensions, please visit us at: https://www.samsung.com/us/televisions-home-theater/home-theater/
Or reach out to us at:
1) Phone: 1-800-SAMSUNG (ask for Soundbars)
Available 8AM - 12AM EST (Mon-Fri) / 9AM - 11PM EST (Sat-Sun)
2) LiveChat or Email: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/#contact_us_for_support
3) Facebook Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/samsungsupport
4) Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamsungSupport
5) The Samsung Members Community is also a great resource for getting help from Samsung moderators and customers: https://us.community.samsung.com/t5/Get-Help/ct-p/get-help
We hope to regain you as a customer in the future.
One week and no HDMI audio
||Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Purchased this sound bar to replace a Samsung sound bar we had for three years and after one week, the HDMI (ARC) input did not work. Now using bt and trying to get a resolve from Samsung. If all else fails, will return to Best Buy for resolution.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from Samsung
Posted .REMC74:
I am very sorry to see that you are having issues with HDMI ARC.
So that we can provide step-by-step troubleshooting or warranty support, please reach out to us at:
1) Phone: 1-800-SAMSUNG
Available 8AM - 12AM EST (Mon-Fri) / 9AM - 11PM EST (Sat-Sun)
2) LiveChat: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/#contact_us_for_support
3) Facebook Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/samsungsupport
4) Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamsungSupport
5) The Samsung Members Community is also a great resource for getting help from Samsung moderators and customers: https://us.community.samsung.com
This model is covered by a one-year limited manufacturer's warranty if purchased brand-new directly from an authorized seller, like BestBuy.com.
If you have not already done so, we invite you to register your new Samsung product at: https://us.community.samsung.com
Registering your product gives you access to easy warranty support, convenient opt-in to special promos and offers, faster troubleshooting and service, and quick notification of system updates.
I was not happy with the bass
||Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.I installed this sound bar on my new Sony Bravia television. I was disappointed with the sound I was hearing. I returned this sound bar for the JBL 3.1 sound bar with the 10 inch sub woofer. What an amazing difference. Glad I returned this for the JBL
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from Samsung
Posted .Jeffg:
Thank you for your review of this Samsung HW-R650 Soundbar System. I am sorry to hear that it did not work out for you and have returned your unit.
Your feedback is very important to us and your concerns with the bass will be shared with our product team.
Should you ever decide to give Samsung soundbars another try and have concerns or questions, please know we are always here to help. You can contact Samsung Customer Support by any of the below options:
1) Phone: 1-800-SAMSUNG (ask for Soundbar) Available 8AM - 12AM EST (Mon-Fri) / 9AM - 11PM EST (Sat-Sun)
2) LiveChat or Email: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/#contact_us_for_support
3) Facebook Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/samsungsupport
4) Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamsungSupport
The Samsung Home Theater & Home Audio Community is also a great resource for getting help from Samsung moderators and customers: https://us.community.samsung.com/
Again, thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We hope to regain you as a customer in the near future.
- Samsung Solutions
I wish I had got something else
||Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.I got this to use with a TV that I just installed in the Kitchen, there are two major problems with it. 1) The power supply is not built in which makes wall mounting a pain, there is no excuse for this in a product of this size. 2) The sub is garbage, you literally can't here it in the breakfast area which is on the other side of the counter (no wall in between). I have no idea how they accomplished this subs should be omnidirectional. I've tried putting it in different places but no matter where I put it you can only here it in one area or the other. I suppose this could be a benefit if you lived in an apartment and didn't want to bother your neighbors.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from Samsung
Posted .Stick:
Thank you for sharing your review of the HW-R650. Your feedback on wall mounting and subwoofer are important to us and will be shared with internal teams.
Because the subwoofer is designed to pick up and amplify low frequency sounds, you won’t always hear it. To test if the sub-woofer is working properly, we recommend you play a Blu-ray or UHD DVD movie with plenty of explosions, and place your hand on the subwoofer. You should feel vibrations as the unit receives and transmits the incoming audio from the content.
Using the WOOFER button on the remote, you can adjust the volume of the subwoofer between -6 to +6 by toggling the button up or down. To set the subwoofer volume level to 0, press the button down.
You can also press the Sound Control button on the remote (looks like a gear) to adjust TREBLE and BASS.
For further help, please reach out to as at:
1) Phone: 1-800-SAMSUNG (ask for Soundbars)
Available 8AM - 12AM EST (Mon-Fri) / 9AM - 11PM EST (Sat-Sun)
2) LiveChat: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/#contact_us_for_support
3) Facebook Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/samsungsupport
4) Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamsungSupport
The Samsung Members Community is also a great resource for getting help from Samsung moderators and customers: https://us.community.samsung.com/t5/Get-Help/ct-p/get-help
If you have not already done so, we invite you to register your new Samsung product at: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/register/
Registering your product gives you access to easy warranty support, convenient opt-in to special promos & offers, faster troubleshooting & service, and quick notification of system updates.
Thanks for choosing Samsung.
Thought it would produce more sound.
||Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Purchased this soundbar with a new 75” Samsung Tv. Very disappointed in the sound output as it wasn’t really that much better than the tv’s internal speakers. Ended up buying a new receiver and using some older speakers I already had.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from Samsung
Posted .Jaystang:
Thank you for purchasing this Samsung HW-R650 Soundbar featuring a dedicated center channel for clear dialogue and a wireless subwoofer for deep bass. I am sorry to hear that you are not completely happy with performance.
The HW-R650 features Smart Sound Mode to automatically analyze your content and optimize sound settings for the best audio delivery. You can also select from STANDARD, SURROUND SOUND, and GAME effects by pressing the SOUND MODE button on the soundbar remote.
Should you ever decide to give Samsung audio products another try and have concerns or questions, please know we are always here to help. You can contact Samsung Customer Support by any of the below options:
1) Phone: 1-800-SAMSUNG (ask for Soundbars)
Available 8AM - 12AM EST (Mon-Fri) / 9AM - 11PM EST (Sat-Sun)
2) LiveChat: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/#contact_us_for_support
3) Facebook Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/samsungsupport
4) Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamsungSupport
The Samsung Members Community is also a great resource for getting help from Samsung moderators and customers: https://us.community.samsung.com/t5/Get-Help/ct-p/get-help
Again, thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We hope to regain you as a customer in the near future.
Not What I Expected
||Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.I expected this soundbar system to shake my house down when I turned it up to the max. House is still standing. I have an LG that I don't/cant even max out to achieve desired result. Item returned
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from Samsung
Posted .Dame21:
Thank you for your review of this Samsung Soundbar System. I am sorry to hear that it did not work out for you and have returned your unit.
Your feedback is very important to us and will be shared with our product team.
Should you ever decide to give Samsung audio products another try and have concerns or questions, please know we are always here to help. You can contact Samsung Customer Support by any of the below options:
1) Phone: 1-800-SAMSUNG
- Available 8AM - 12AM EST (Mon-Fri) / 9AM - 11PM EST (Sat-Sun)
2) LiveChat: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/#contact_us_for_support
3) Facebook Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/samsungsupport
4) Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamsungSupport
5) The Samsung Members Community is also a great resource for getting help from Samsung moderators and customers: https://us.community.samsung.com
Again, thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We hope to regain you as a customer in the near future.
~ Samsung Solutions
Not happy with Samsung service
||Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.I purchased this is June last year and had been happy with it. However it just quit working. Took it in to Best Buy and since it is still under manufacturer warranty it had to be sent back. I am paying for this on Best Buy Credit card. After a month I called back and learned Samsung had to order parts from S. Korea and they did not have them yet and could give no estimate on when I would get the soundbar back. After major hassle Best Buy finally made adjustment and I am going to get another soundbar but would be very unlightly to get another Samsung ever
No, I would not recommend this to a friendSound would not Synchronized to Video
||Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.I bought a Samsung sound bar under the incorrect assumption that it would be a seamless installation with my Samsung smart TV. The sound bar came with an optical audio cable which I used to connect it to the TV. Unfortunately, the video and sound coming out of the sound bar were not synchronized, the video preceding the audio be a noticeable fraction of a second. The TV’s advanced settings function allows delaying audio but not video which didn’t help audio trailing video. Switching to an HDMI cable, the problem remained. I returned the sound bar to Best Buy.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from Samsung
Posted .Mitch:
Thank you for purchasing the Samsung HW-R650. I am very sorry to see that you have returned this soundbar due to audio delay.
If the video on the TV and audio from the soundbar are not synchronized, press the SOUND CONTROL button on the soundbar remote, until you see SYNC on the display. You can then set the audio delay between 0~300 milliseconds by using the Up/Down buttons.
You can also try the below to minimize the delay:
1) Connect the source directly to the Soundbar’s HDMI input, then connect the Soundbar to the HDMI ARC input on the TV.
2) On the TV, set the Sound Delay level to 0. Home > Settings > Sound>Expert Settings > Digital Output Audio Delay: “0”
3) Change the audio format to PCM on both the source device and the TV.
Should you ever decide to give Samsung audio products another try and have concerns or questions, please know we are always here to help. You can contact Samsung Customer Support by any of the below options:
1) Phone: 1-800-SAMSUNG (ask for Soundbars)
Available 8AM - 12AM EST (Mon-Fri) / 9AM - 11PM EST (Sat-Sun)
2) LiveChat: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/#contact_us_for_support
3) Facebook Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/samsungsupport
4) Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamsungSupport
The Samsung Members Community is also a great resource for getting help from Samsung moderators and customers: https://us.community.samsung.com/t5/Get-Help/ct-p/get-help
Again, thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We hope to regain you as a customer in the near future.
Disappointing Waste of Money
||Posted . Owned for 7 months when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Totally disappointed with this soundbar. I invested in this Samsung product thinking I was getting an exceptional soundbar but I have been nothing but disappointed and aggravated at wasting my money. So much so that I just use the speakers on my Samsung TV since it has been a complete waste of time to even bother turning the soundbar on. The sound is awful. Totally disgusted at spending the money on this disappointing product that is a complete waste of money!!!
No, I would not recommend this to a friendGlitchy
||Posted . Owned for 11 months when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Maybe I got a bad one, mine has been glitchy. Turns on and off on its own. Won’t seem to pair with my devices for Bluetooth.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendAtmos impressive, poor sub ruins system.
||Posted . Owned for 1 year when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Very underwhelming sub. Reminds me of the low quality sub I had many years ago. Atmos is impressive, sub ruins it
No, I would not recommend this to a friendDidn't workout
||Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.This was an open box bar with an excellent condition status. However, couldn't get the sub to work. The bar itself worked fine, but the sub never got loud...merely a murmur of sound. Return to store after 4 days of repeatedly trying to get it to work. Display in store sounded great. Whether I'd recommend or not....replied 'no' just because of my experience ....feel you can find lemons in any product...this was a great value, easy setup....sub just didn't perform.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendOk
||Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Does not have the sound quality of a much cheaper LG sound bar I had. Directions are vague for the remote control. Never could get it to work properly.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from Samsung
Posted .veteraned:
Thank you for sharing your concerns with the Samsung HW-R650.
I am sorry that you are not completely happy with audio performance.
Try optimizing audio performance for your specific content by pressing the SOUND MODE button on your soundbar remote, and then selecting the desired sound effect by choosing STANDARD, SURROUND SOUND, GAME, or SMART.
You can also press the Sound Control button on the remote (looks like a gear) to adjust TREBLE and BASS.
Press and hold the Sound Control button for about 5 seconds to adjust the sound for each of seven frequency bands.
Using the WOOFER button on the remote, you can adjust the volume of the subwoofer between -6 to +6 by toggling the button up or down. To set the subwoofer volume level to 0, press the button down.
Please refer to pages 22-24 in the User Manual for audio setting adjustments: http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/201903/20190312112428032/HW-R650_ZA_FullManual_00_ENG_190211.pdf
If the remote is not working properly and audio quality seems hindered, please check that the soundbar is correctly positioned with the SAMSUNG logo facing up towards the ceiling. We have found that many customers are misplacing the soundbar with the SAMSUNG logo perpendicular to the floor (facing you when seated), with the unit resting on the speakers, resulting in muffled sound, and blocking the remote signal sensor.
If you need further assistance, please know we are here to help. You can reach Samsung Support via:
1) Phone: 1-800-SAMSUNG
Available 8AM - 12AM EST (Mon-Fri) / 9AM - 11PM EST (Sat-Sun)
2) LiveChat: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/#contact_us_for_support
3) Facebook Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/samsungsupport
4) Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamsungSupport
5) The Samsung Members Community is also a great resource for getting help from Samsung moderators and customers: https://us.community.samsung.com
Lastly, we invite you to register your new Samsung product at: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/register/
...for access to easy warranty support, convenient opt-in to special promos & offers, faster troubleshooting & service, and quick notification of system updates.