Samsung HW C700 Home Cinema Amplifier Review

Samsung HW-C700 Home Cinema Amplifier Review

There’s likely no need to introduce the South Korean brand Samsung to anyone. Known for its wide array of audio and hi-fi products, mobile phones, smart devices, smart TVs, and household electronics, Samsung also manufactures home cinema amplifiers—including the HW-C700.

Let’s take a closer look at the Samsung HW-C700 Home Cinema Amplifier!

Specifications:

The amplifier delivers 7 x 120 watts of power, measures 430 x 164 x 368 mm, and weighs only 6 kg. It supports a broad range of audio formats, including Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby ProLogic II / x / z, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-ES, and DTS-HD, meeting all modern audio standards.

The amplifier features four HDMI 1.4 inputs, one HDMI output, two component video inputs and one component output, 7.1 analog audio inputs, three optical and one coaxial digital audio input, five composite video inputs, and one composite video output. It is also equipped with an iPod dock input and two subwoofer outputs.

Samsung HW C700’s design

In terms of aesthetics, the amplifier is stylish, with a straightforward square design. The brushed front panel, although made of painted plastic rather than metal, still maintains a high-quality appearance and doesn’t detract from the overall look. The minimalist front panel includes an LCD display, a volume knob, and a power button. Behind the bottom cover are all the essential control buttons, along with front panel connectors for headphones, a microphone, and composite video input for external devices.

The rear panel houses all the previously mentioned connections, along with an FM antenna connector and an RCA input.

During the setup process using the remote control, we noticed a key omission: the lack of an on-screen display (OSD) function. As a result, all configurations had to be performed using the front panel display and controls, which requires a bit of time to become familiar with the menu structure and available options.

Aside from this limitation, the setup process was not overly complicated. The amplifier includes a Smart Volume feature that helps prevent distortion caused by volume fluctuations. To our pleasant surprise, the device also supports an automatic room correction system, a rarity in this price range. Using the included microphone, the ASC (Auto Sound Calibration) software delivered precise and well-balanced audio settings.

The remote control that came with the amplifier has not been backlit, which is not very practical for a home theatre system you would want to operate with the remote control in the dark. There is almost no difference between the buttons, which also makes it difficult to navigate the menu in darkness.

HD signals are processed with a slight delay, but their quality did not deteriorate. The audio signal is passed through the HDMI connection without compression, so we did not experience any loss. The fact that the iPod dock is standard on the device is a great advantage of the Samsung HW C700 amplifier.

The main menu offers 13 options, including sound setting, speaker size and distance, speaker level, test tone, bass and treble control, room calibration setting, mp3 enhancer, HDMI settings, and more. There are options in the menu to adjust the speakers: you can select the size and number of speakers you intend to configure in your system. The speaker level controls the relative volume of each speaker separately.

Test

We tested the Samsung HW C700 amplifier in the home theatre room of one of our precious customers. We connected the amplifier together with a Dynaudio speaker system. In order for the device to provide truly satisfactory performance, it is important to set up the right sound system. In addition, we must pay attention – whether we are talking about a home theatre room or a studio – to the acoustic treatment of the walls and ceiling of the room. This can be done after appropriate measuring with sound-absorbing and diffuser panels specially developed for acoustic purposes. So called acoustic elements such as sound absorbers made of sponge and foam are not suitable at all for optimising sound quality due to their inherent material structures.

To start our testing, we were curious about the amplifier abilities to play music contents, so we opted for a song jointly produced by Black Eyed Peas and Shakira, the Girl like me. We had a quite dynamic, rather muscular audio, but at the same time we noted that high tones were pretty much concealed making the sound artificial and unnatural. Digital effects were exaggerated and wide stage picture was also lacking.

We also tested the amplifier for videos. We watched the sci-fi Geostorm presented in 2017. Dynamics, intense basses, and clarity were not missing from the sound produced by the HW C700. Images were sharp, which is not surprising at all speaking of a Samsung product. The surround sound was also absolutely ideal, we had the feeling of spaciousness.

Conclusion

Samsung’s amplifier is not a premium-tier device. The design and build—particularly the plastic casing—clearly reflect its budget positioning. Nonetheless, the overall appearance is elegant and modern, leaving little to be desired in terms of style. Menu navigation was simple and intuitive, although the absence of an on-screen display (OSD) was a notable drawback.

Thanks to its unusually light weight, positioning the unit is effortless. The inclusion of a video-compatible iPhone/iPod dock is a definite advantage, as is the automatic room calibration system. The amplifier also supports full HD audio via HDMI, but it lacks input level control, an FM radio, on-screen menu, and a backlit remote control—all of which are downsides for a true home cinema environment.

When it comes to music playback, this unit is not ideal. For optimal musical performance, we recommend investing in a higher-end model or a dedicated stereo amplifier. Unfortunately, the stereo sound quality and high-frequency clarity fell short of expectations, marred by excessive digital processing and a noticeable lack of realism or natural tone.

However, the Samsung HW-C700 excels in what it was clearly designed for: watching movies. It delivers sharp, vibrant images, accurate color representation, and impressive spatial effects—making it a fantastic choice for film enthusiasts.

For those seeking top-tier performance, a higher-priced home theater amplifier is worth considering. But for users on a budget or those focused primarily on movie viewing, the Samsung HW-C700 is a solid and sensible investment.