Watch out, Sonos — Samsung’s new wireless speakers look very cool, and directly challenge the Era models

  • Samsung unveils new Music Studio wireless speakers ahead of CES
  • Music Studio 5 has a woofer and two tweeters
  • Music Studio 7 has a 3.1.1 configuration, and Hi-Res Audio support

Ahead of CES 2026, Samsung has revealed two new wireless speakers – right at the same time as it revealed its next two flagship Dolby Atmos soundbars for 2026.

These speakers are called the Samsung Music Studio 5 and Music Studio 7, respectively, and I was immediately struck by their looks.

They’re available in black or white, and their simple form with the concave ‘dish’ shape and dot at the center looks fantastic to me – they make me think of the classic industrial design work of Dieter Rams (most notably at Braun), which inspired a lot of Apple’s design including the iPod, and I think you can see a certain shared DNA in the larger Music Studio 7 especially.

Samsung says this about the design: “Each model shares a timeless dot concept by renowned designer Erwan Bouroullec, inspired by a universal symbol in music and art — and grounded in the Samsung signature aesthetic.” Bouroullec has worked with Samsung before on the handsome Serif TV.

However, the configurations inside the speakers will be of interest to people looking for a new option among the best wireless speakers, because they quite closely match what Sonos has been doing in its Era speakers.

The Samsung Music Studio 5 on a countertop

The Samsung Music Studio 5 (Image credit: Samsung)

First is the Music Studio 5 (also known more formally as the LS50H), which features a four-inch woofer and two tweeters. This is the same basic speaker configuration as the Sonos Era 100, and actually is also what you’ll find in the Sonos Move 2 and the Wiim Sound.

It’s the smaller of the two Samsung speakers, but features plenty of tech, including AI Dynamic Bass Control that “deepens low frequencies without distortion”, plus support streaming to it over Wi-Fi, streaming directly to it from music services, plus playing to it from Bluetooth.

Notably absent from the list is Hi-Res Audio support, which the other speaker supports, so let’s get into that one.

The Samsung Music Studio 7 on a music console, next to a turntable

The Samsung Music Studio 7 (Image credit: Samsung)

The Samsung Music Studio 7 (AKA the LS70H) is beefier option, and has what Samsung describes as a 3.1.1 speaker configuration. What this means is that it has left, front and right and upfiring drivers for “spatial sound”, and presumably some kind of woofer system for bass (since that’s what one of the ‘.1’ number there means, but Samsung didn’t specify this).

I don’t want to shock you here, but that happens to be more or less the exact same configuration as the Sonos Era 300 – I told you Samsung was really gunning for Sonos with these. However, I think this is much better looking than the Era 300.

Samsung says that this model does support Hi-Res Audio (up to 24-bit/96kHz), and again features AI Dynamic Bass Control, plus casting and streaming over Wi-Fi – though Samsung doesn’t mention Bluetooth.

It’s also oddly vague about exactly what “spatial audio” support to expect; the Sonos Era 300 works with Dolby Atmos, but that’s not mentioned here at all.

However, Samsung does mention that the Music Studio 7 can be used as surround speakers for Samsung soundbars and TVs that support Q-Symphony (which is most of them). This presumably will support Dolby Atmos – and Samsung says that you can have up to five speakers connected to a TV now (no soundbar needed, if you prefer).

We’ll probably have to wait for more details to be revealed at CES, and that includes the price, though I have to assume Samsung will be aiming close to the price of the Sonos speakers that these compete with. The Sonos Era 100 cost $249 / £249 / AU$399 at launch, though has since come down in price, while the Sonos Era 300 cost $449 / £449 / AU$749 at launch.

TechRadar will be extensively covering this year’s CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

Read more @ TechRadar

Latest posts

LG will release the first 1000Hz, 1080p gaming monitor this year

If you just can't choose between refresh rate and resolution, LG's next gaming monitor could solve your problem, as the UltraGear 25G590B monitor is...

YouTube removes dedicated ‘Subscriptions’ tab from mobile app in new test

YouTube is no stranger to redesigns, but the next one could throw your muscle memory for a loop. The mobile app might be getting...

Volvo teases a new affordable EV to replace discontinued EX30

Volvo's compact, quirky EX30 had a lot of problems when it was first released. Tariffs essentially erased its affordability, making it more expensive to...

Sony is raising short-subscription prices for PlayStation Plus

Sony is hiking the starting price of one-month and three-month PlayStation Plus subscriptions in "select regions," blaming "ongoing market conditions." Beginning May 20th, 1-month...

Google is rolling out its redesigned Workspace app icons

It's not just you - the Google Workspace apps are getting a new look. The redesigned app icons, leaked last month, are now rolling...

Elon Musk loses his case against Sam Altman

After around two hours of deliberation, the jury has reached a unanimous verdict in Musk v. Altman, the tech trial of the year. The...

Dyson’s super-slim PencilWash just hit its best price to date for Memorial Day

If Dyson’s PencilVac Fluffycones made you wish the company had built something similarly slim for scrubbing the hard floors in your home, enter the...

Walmart launches new budget-friendly Android tablets starting at $97

Walmart's Onn brand just launched a whole line of budget-friendly Android tablets that, all together, cost less in total than a single iPad Pro....

Musk v. Altman proved that AI is led by the wrong people

The tech trial of the year, Musk v. Altman, was ultimately a fight for control. Elon Musk argued that Sam Altman, with whom he...

PlayStation exclusives aren’t coming to PC anymore

Sony reportedly won't release its major single-player PlayStation games on PC anymore. According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, Hermen Hulst, who heads up PlayStation's studios...