Customer Ratings & Reviews

Hi Billybob,

Thank you for your review of the HW-A40R Soundbar and for your feedback regarding the performance of the included rear speakers. By design, the surround speakers are supposed to simulate sounds happening behind the viewer. Therefore, most of the time the surround channels are only used for ambient sounds, which are naturally lower in volume.

There are a few settings and adjustments that can be made to increase the volume of the rear speakers to your liking. First, make sure you have the latest firmware version installed (ver1014). Once installed, with the Soundbar on, press and hold the STANDARD button on the remote control for about 6 seconds. Use the BASS Up/Down buttons to adjust the level of the REAR speakers between -6 to +6.

Additionally, turn off the soundbar, then press and hold the source button on the soundbar for 7 seconds to enable Gain Boost. With Gain Boost active, the rear speaker’s volume level will be increased when the soundbar is in Surround mode. This feature can be turned off by following the same process.

I hope this helps you get more enjoyment from the included Wireless Rear Speaker Kit. Should you have additional questions regarding the optimization of your audio, please contact Samsung Customer Support at 1-800-SAMSUNG (ask for Soundbars), available 8AM - 12AM EST, 7 days a week.

For additional support resources, visit us on the Samsung website and click on the ‘Support’ link in the upper right corner of the homepage for:
1) Chat with Us/Product Help: To begin a chat or find solutions, choose ‘TVs & Home Theater’ and select your model & topic.
2) Manuals & Software
3) Warranty Info
4) Register a Product: For access to easy warranty support, convenient opt-in to special promos and offers, faster troubleshooting and service, and quick notification of system updates
5) Contact Us

~ Samsung Solutions

Hi Sew7575,

Thank you for purchasing the Samsung HW-A40R and for your review. We appreciate your feedback regarding the performance of your new soundbar.

You can try manually optimizing your settings by selecting the Surround or Standard buttons to change the sound mode. Additionally, Press the BASS + or BASS - buttons to adjust the level of the woofer (bass) between -6 to +6.

With the latest firmware version installed (v.1014), press and hold the STANDARD button on the remote control for about 6 seconds then use the Bass Up/Down buttons to adjust the level of the rear speakers between -6 to +6.

I hope these tip help to improve your sound experience. If you should need further assistance or have questions, please contact Samsung Customer Support at 1-800-SAMSUNG (ask for Soundbars), available 8AM - 12AM EST, 7 days a week.

For additional support resources, visit us on the Samsung website and click on the ‘Support’ link in the upper right corner of the homepage for:
1) Chat with Us/Product Help: To begin a chat or find solutions, choose ‘TVs & Home Theater’ and select your model & topic.
2) Manuals & Software
3) Warranty Info
4) Register a Product: For access to easy warranty support, convenient opt-in to special promos and offers, faster troubleshooting and service, and quick notification of system updates
5) Contact Us

~ Samsung Solutions

Hi NoBueno!

Thank you for purchasing the Samsung HW-A40R Soundbar. We appreciate you sharing your experience with us.

If there is anything we can do to improve your enjoyment such as helping to optimize settings for your specific sound scenario, please contact Samsung Customer Support at:

1-800-SAMSUNG (ask for Soundbars), available 8AM -12AM EST (Mon-Fri), 9AM – 6PM EST (Sat). Or text HELP to 62913.

For additional support resources, visit us on the Samsung website and click on the ‘Support’ link in the upper right corner of the homepage for:
1) More ‘Contact Us’ options – LiveChat, Facebook, Twitter, Samsung Community, Samsung Members app
2) Manuals, Software, & Warranty Info

We look forward to hearing from you.

~ Samsung Solutions

Hi Anemonene,

I am very sorry to hear that you have experienced difficulties with the setup of your new Samsung soundbar. Your experience regarding lack of sound from the rear speakers is very important to us. If you set the sound mode to SURROUND, you should get sound from the rear speakers.

If you continue to experience issues, we would love the opportunity to gather additional information and provide specific troubleshooting steps to resolve your issues. Please contact us at 1-800-SAMSUNG (ask for Soundbars), available 8AM - 12AM EST, 7 days a week.

For additional support resources, visit us on the Samsung website and click on the ‘Support’ link in the upper right corner of the homepage for:
1) Chat with Us/Product Help: To begin a chat or find solutions, choose ‘TVs & Home Theater’ and select your model & topic.
2) Manuals & Software
3) Warranty Info
4) Register a Product: For access to easy warranty support, convenient opt-in to special promos and offers, faster troubleshooting and service, and quick notification of system updates
5) Contact Us

~ Samsung Solutions

Hi Customer,

We appreciate you sharing your experience with the HW-A40R soundbar turning on unexpectedly. Please know, the soundbar features Auto Power On functions designed to power the soundbar on when detecting a signal via Bluetooth or optical from a connected device. The issues you are experiencing may be due to a different device.

To disable the Bluetooth Power On feature, first make sure the soundbar is powered on. Once powered, press and hold the "Surround" button on the remote for 5 seconds to disable the setting.

Should this not resolve the issue, or if you have not paired the soundbar to a Bluetooth device before, you may first want to update to the latest firmware version, often times resolving any software issues you are experiencing. When an update is available, you can update the Soundbar by connecting the USB drive that contains the update firmware to the SERVICE port of the Soundbar.

If the issue continues, you can try to reset the soundbar back to default settings. Initializing the soundbar will revert any audio settings you have adjusted. With the soundbar powered on, press and hold the "AUX" button on the remote for 10 seconds to reset the soundbar.

Please know, Samsung is committed to providing the best possible product experience, quality, and value. We back this Samsung Soundbar with a 1-year limited manufacturer's warranty, including authorized repair for manufacturer defect, if purchased brand-new directly from an authorized seller. You can view the full details of your warranty here: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/service/warranty/HW-A40R/ZA

Should you have any additional questions, please call us at 1-800-SAMSUNG (ask for Soundbars), available 8AM - 12AM EST, 7 days a week.

For additional support resources, visit us on the Samsung website and click on the ‘Support’ link in the upper right corner of the homepage for:
1) Chat with Us/Product Help: To begin a chat or find solutions, choose ‘TVs & Home Theater’ and select your model & topic.
2) Manuals & Software
3) Warranty Info
4) Register a Product: For access to easy warranty support, convenient opt-in to special promos and offers, faster troubleshooting and service, and quick notification of system updates
5) Contact Us

~ Samsung Solutions

Hi Koolkat,

Thank you for your review of the Samsung HW-A40R Soundbar System. We appreciate you sharing your experience with us, and that the troubleshooting steps provided did not resolve your issues. It is our customers’ concerns and opinions that drive our continuous efforts towards delivering world-class service and products. Your feedback is very important to us and will be shared with our product team.

Should you ever decide to give Samsung Soundbars another try and have questions or need assistance with settings, setup, or features, please know we are always here to help. Call us at 1-800-SAMSUNG (ask for Soundbars), available 8AM - 12AM EST, 7 days a week.

For additional support resources, visit us on the Samsung website and click on the ‘Support’ link in the upper right corner of the homepage for:
1) Contact Us: For additional Chat & Text options, choose ‘TVs & Home Theater’ and select your model & topic.
2) Manuals, Software, & Warranty Info

We hope to regain you as a customer in the future.

~ Samsung Solutions

Hi!

Thank you for purchasing the Samsung HW-A40R and for your review. We appreciate your feedback regarding the performance of your new soundbar.

You can try manually optimizing your settings by pressing the SOUND MODE button on your remote, and then selecting the desired sound effect by choosing STANDARD or SURROUND SOUND.

You can further adjust TREBLE and BASS via the SOUND CONTROL button (looks like a gear symbol).

For precise audio adjustments, you can use the 7-band frequency equalizer to optimize the sound for your room acoustics.

Additionally, there are two adjustments that can be made for bass 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.

Please know that since the TV is stationary, you would expect the Bluetooth connection to the Soundbar to be consistent. For mobile devices, however, you must be aware that the wireless Bluetooth signal does not do well passing through objects such as metal, concrete or plaster wall. In addition, interference can occur when near electronic devices such as microwave ovens, wireless routers, or even other Bluetooth devices.

For best performance, devices should be within 32 feet, and line of sight with the Soundbar. If you still experience issues with the sound dropping when playing music please know Samsung is committed to providing the best possible product experience, quality, and value. We back this model with a 1-year limited manufacturer's warranty if purchased brand-new directly from an authorized seller.

Should you ever have any questions or concerns or need help with settings or features, please contact Samsung Customer Support at

1-800-SAMSUNG (ask for Soundbars), available 8AM -12AM EST (Mon-Fri), 9AM – 6PM EST (Sat). Or text HELP to 62913.

For additional support resources, visit us on the Samsung website and click on the ‘Support’ link in the upper right corner of the homepage for:
1) More ‘Contact Us’ options – LiveChat, Facebook, Twitter, Samsung Community, Samsung Members app
2) Manuals & Software
3) Warranty Info
4) Product Registration: For access to easy warranty support, convenient opt-in to special promos and offers, faster troubleshooting and service, and quick notification of system updates.

~ Samsung Solutions

Hello Chris,

I am sorry to see that you have had a difficult time setting up your wireless rear speaker kit on the HW-A40R Soundbar.

Please contact Samsung Customer Support so we can better understand your issue and assist you with step-by-step troubleshooting or warranty service.
Call us at 1-800-SAMSUNG (ask for Soundbars), available 8 AM – 12 AM EST, 7 days a week.

LiveChat with an agent by clicking the ‘Support’ link on the Samsung website.

~Samsung Solutions

Hi,

Thank you for your review of the HW-A40R Soundbar and for your feedback regarding the lack of sound from the included rear speakers.

Please verify that the rear speakers have been properly connected to the soundbar. If automatic connection has failed, try manually pairing the rear speakers:
1. Check whether the power cables for the Soundbar and Wireless Surround speaker are connected properly.
2. Make sure that the Soundbar is turned on
3. Press the ID SET button on the back of the Wireless Receiver Module with a pen tip for 5~6 seconds until the LINK LED indicator blinks fast (in Blue)
4. Press and hold the mute button on the remote control for at least 5 seconds.
5. Check if the LINK LED is solid blue (connection complete)

- If the LED light is solid blue, the rear speakers are connected to your soundbar.
- If the LED light is blinking blue fast, the module is in pairing mode. Check to see if your soundbar is turned on and repeat the above steps.
- If the LED light is blinking blue slowly, the module is disconnected. Turn off your soundbar and press the Up button on the remote for 5 seconds. The ID SET message will appear on the soundbar for a short time and then disappear. After the ID SET process, the soundbar power is automatically turned on. The LINK LED indicator stops blinking and glows a solid blue when a connection is established between the soundbar and the wireless receiver module.

Additionally, there are a few settings you can change to adjust the surround effect to your preference:

1) Download and install the latest firmware version found at the following link (ver. HMS-A4X0WWB-1011): https://www.samsung.com/us/support/downloads/?model=N0021435&modelCode=HW-A40R/ZA
2) Once installed, with the Soundbar on, press and hold the STANDARD button on the remote control for about 6 seconds
3) The LEDs will blink to indicate you are in adjustment mode
4) Use the BASS Up/Down buttons to adjust the level of the REAR speakers between -6 to +6.
5) The adjustment mode will exit if the surround button is pressed, or if no button is pressed for 10 seconds

If the volume levels still seem to low for your preference, please be aware of the following:

1) Make sure that the source (e.g. TV output) is sending surround channels to the Soundbar. If the source is not capable of surround, then set the Surround mode to OFF on the Soundbar by pressing the Surround button on the remote.
2) If the source has surround channels, select the Surround Sound Mode from the Soundbar remote.
3) Turn off Dynamic Range Control. This is done by pressing and holding the SURROUND button for 5 seconds.
4) Turn off the soundbar, then press and hold the source button on the soundbar for 7 seconds to enable Gain Boost. With Gain Boost active, the rear speaker’s volume level will be increased when the soundbar is in Surround mode. This feature can be turned off by following the same process.

I hope these tips help to enhance your audio enjoyment. Should you ever have questions or need help, please call us at 1-800-SAMSUNG (ask for Soundbars), available 8AM - 12AM EST, 7 days a week.

For additional support resources, visit us on the Samsung website and click on the ‘Support’ link in the upper right corner of the homepage for:
1) Chat with Us/Product Help: To begin a chat or find solutions, choose ‘TVs & Home Theater’ and select your model & topic.
2) Manuals & Software
3) Warranty Info
4) Register a Product: For access to easy warranty support, convenient opt-in to special promos and offers, faster troubleshooting and service, and quick notification of system updates
5) Contact Us

~ Samsung Solutions

Hello DL78,

I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing these issues with the HW-A40R Soundbar powering on automatically.

Please know, the soundbar features Auto Power On functions designed to power the soundbar on when detecting a signal via Bluetooth or optical from a connected device. The issues you are experiencing may be due to a different device.

To disable the Bluetooth Power On feature, first make sure the soundbar is powered on. Once powered, press, and hold the "Surround" button on the remote for 5 seconds to disable the setting.

Should this not resolve the issue, or if you have not paired the soundbar to a Bluetooth device before, you may first want to update to the latest firmware version, often resolving any software issues you are experiencing. When an update is available, you can update the Soundbar by connecting the USB drive that contains the update firmware to the SERVICE port of the Soundbar.

If the issue continues, you can try to reset the soundbar back to default settings. Initializing the soundbar will revert any audio settings you have adjusted. With the soundbar powered on, press, and hold the "AUX" button on the remote for 10 seconds to reset the soundbar.

Please know, Samsung is committed to providing the best possible product experience, quality, and value. We back this Samsung Soundbar with a 1-year limited manufacturer's warranty, including authorized repair for manufacturer defect, if purchased brand-new directly from an authorized seller. You can view the full details of your warranty here: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/service/warranty/HW-A40R/ZA

If we can further help with any other issues, please know we are here for you.

Just call us at 1-800-SAMSUNG (Ask for Soundbars), 8 AM – 12 AM EST, 7 days a week. Or visit us on the Samsung website and click on the ‘Support’ link for:
• LiveChat with an agent
• Manuals, Software, & Warranty Info

~ Samsung Solutions

Hi Brandon,

I’m sorry to hear that you’re not fully satisfied with the performance of the rear speakers and bass of your HW-A40R Soundbar.

By design, the surround speakers are supposed to simulate sounds happening behind the viewer. Therefore, most of the time the surround channels are only used for ambient sounds, which are naturally lower in volume.

However, there are a few settings you can change to adjust the surround effect to your preference:

1) Make sure that the source (e.g. TV output) is sending surround channels to the Soundbar. If the source is not capable of surround, then set the Surround mode to OFF on the Soundbar by pressing the Surround button on the remote.
2) If the source has surround channels, select the desired Sound Mode from the Soundbar remote.
3) Turn off Dynamic Range Control. This is done by pressing and holding the Sound Mode button while the Soundbar is in standby mode. Depending on your soundbar model, you may or may not have DRC.
4) Increase the volume level of the surround speakers using the Sound Control button on the Soundbar remote control. Press the Sound Control button on the soundbar remote (looks like a gear), then select REAR LEVEL and use the Up/Down buttons to adjust the volume within a -6 to +6 range.

I hope these tips help to enhance your audio enjoyment.

Should you ever have questions or need help, please call us at 1-800-SAMSUNG (ask for Soundbars), available 8 AM – 12 AM EST, 7 days a week.

For additional support resources, visit us on the Samsung website and click on the ‘Support’ link in the upper right corner of the homepage for:
1) Chat with Us/Product Help: To begin a chat or find solutions, choose ‘TVs & Home Theater’ and select your model & topic.
2) Manuals & Software
3) Warranty Info
4) Register a Product: For access to easy warranty support, convenient opt-in to special promos and offers, faster troubleshooting and service, and quick notification of system updates
5) Contact Us

~ Samsung Solutions

Hi Domonique,

Thank you for your review of the HW-A40R Soundbar and for your feedback regarding the volume issues you are experiencing with the included rear speakers.

First, please be sure you have the latest firmware version installed (v. 1014). You can update to the latest firmware by downloading the firmware file from the Samsung Electronics Website, load the file onto a USB storage device, and connecting the USB storage device to the soundbar. Updating your firmware provides the latest improvements and features, such as the ability to adjust the volume of the rear speakers.

Once the latest firmware version has been installed, press and hold the STANDARD button on the remote control for about 6 seconds then use the Bass Up/Down buttons to adjust the level of the rear speakers between -6 to +6.

Additionally, you may want to check the sound settings on your TV. If your Digital Output Audio Format is set to PCM then you will likely notice decreased performance with surround sound audio systems. Dolby options are designed for surround systems (like 3.1.2 or 7.1), whereas PCM provides great sound quality for stereo speakers.

I hope these tips help. For additional assistance please contact us at:

Hello CalvinP,

Thank you for your review of the HW-A40R Soundbar and for sharing these experiences that have caused you to return your unit. Your experience is very important to us and will be shared with our product team.

Should you ever decide to give Samsung Soundbars another try and have questions or need assistance with settings, setup, or features, please know we are always here to help.

Call us at 1-800-SAMSUNG (ask for Soundbars), available 8 AM – 12 AM EST, 7 days a week.

~ Samsung Solutions

Hi Cynthia,

Your feedback regarding the audio performance of the rear speakers is important to us and will be shared with our product teams.

There are a few settings and adjustments that can be made to increase the volume of the rear speakers to your liking. First, make sure you have the latest firmware version installed (ver1014). Once installed, with the Soundbar on, press and hold the STANDARD button on the remote control for about 6 seconds. Use the BASS Up/Down buttons to adjust the level of the REAR speakers between -6 to +6.

Additionally, turn off the soundbar, then press and hold the source button on the soundbar for 7 seconds to enable Gain Boost. With Gain Boost active, the rear speaker’s volume level will be increased when the soundbar is in Surround mode. This feature can be turned off by following the same process.

I hope this helps you further enjoy the audio experience. Should you ever have questions or need help, please call us at 1-800-SAMSUNG (ask for Soundbars), available 8AM - 12AM EST, 7 days a week.

For additional support resources, visit us on the Samsung website and click on the ‘Support’ link in the upper right corner of the homepage for:
1) Chat with Us/Product Help: To begin a chat or find solutions, choose ‘TVs & Home Theater’ and select your model & topic.
2) Manuals & Software
3) Warranty Info
4) Register a Product: For access to easy warranty support, convenient opt-in to special promos and offers, faster troubleshooting and service, and quick notification of system updates
5) Contact Us

~ Samsung Solutions