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ZDNET's key takeaways
- Samsung's Music Studio 7 makes its debut at CES 2026, featuring a sleek design and impressive sound quality.
- Its audio specs, performance, and design make it stiff competition for Sonos.
- Pricing and availability have not yet been announced.
Ahead of CES 2026, Samsung announced a pair of new Bluetooth smart speakers in its Music Studio series. It includes the Music Studio 7 (LS70H) and the Music Studio 5 (LS50H), and their sound, sleek design, and modularity immediately reminded me of Sonos' Era 300 and Era 100.
Samsung's speakers feature a simple form with a concave dish shape and a dot at the center. I like the design because it has a distinct yet look. While the Music Frame Bluetooth speaker blends in with your surroundings, the Studio 7 and Studio 5 have a timeless appeal.
Also: CES 2026 news: Live updates on TVs, smart glasses, robots, and more we've seen so far
According to Samsung, “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.” For context, Bouroullec has worked with Samsung before on the Serif TV.
The Samsung Music Studio 7 is the more premium speaker and features a 3.1.1-channel spatial audio speaker configuration, providing left, center, right, and upfiring speakers. It is compatible with audio playback at up to 24-bit/96kHz resolution, and also supports Spotify Lossless.
Also: LG's new Dolby Atmos system promises immersive sound no matter where your speakers are
If you already have a Wi-Fi-compatible Samsung soundbar or TV, you can connect the Music Studio 7 as a rear speaker to your setup. The company states that you can now connect up to five speakers to a TV (no soundbar required), or have up to 10 units of these speakers.
My hands-on session was in a small space but the speakers were promising, nonetheless.
Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET
I received a hands-on demo with four Music Studio 7 speakers connected to a Samsung TV, and I was impressed by their sound quality. While there's no Dolby Atmos support, this system was equally immersive. The sound moved in sync with the on-screen objects, and I could hear it seamlessly transition from one direction to another.
The four Music Studio 7 speaker setup had noticeable depth in lower frequencies, delivering a mighty response for its size. I would still prefer to add a sub if I'm using these as my home theater system, but the bass was rich and clear. Samsung hasn't announced the price yet, so I'm unsure if purchasing four of these instead of a soundbar and two Studio 7 speakers makes sense. However, I'd consider that setup if I need a surround sound experience without a soundbar.
The Samsung Music Studio 5 has a more playful design.
Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET
As for the Samsung Music Studio 5, you get a smaller speaker with one 4-inch woofer, dual tweeters, and a built-in waveguide to enhance sound clarity and control dispersion. This is the same configuration that you'd get on the Sonos Era 100 and Move 2. While the Music Studio 7 supports Hi-Res Audio (up to 24-bit/96kHz), the Studio 5 lacks Hi-Res Audio support.
Also: I saw LG's ultra-thin OLED TV at CES 2026, and it made even last year's models feel outdated
I prefer Studio 5's design — it looks modern and more playful compared to Studio 7, thanks in part to the colorful options, including Orange, Yellow, and Green.
Both the Samsung Studio Bluetooth speakers feature an AI-powered Dynamic Bass Control to minimize distortion. They are compatible with Wi-Fi casting, streaming services, voice control, and Bluetooth connectivity. While Samsung has yet to reveal the price and availability of these speakers, I can't wait to get a pair of Studio 7 for my living room.
