The French HomecineSolutions reported on January 6, 2026, among other things: The Music Studio has received a CES Innovation Award 2026, a recognition that validates Samsung’s approach in this segment. The manufacturer, the world leader in soundbars for the past eleven years, is now looking to broaden its lineup for an audience that cares as much about interior design as about sound quality.
This strategy is reminiscent of Bang & Olufsen or, more recently, Devialet. The difference lies in the method: rather than cultivating an in-house aesthetic, Samsung is teaming up with a designer whose signature is clearly identifiable. Bouroullec brings a degree of legitimacy in the design world that the Korean giant could not claim on its own.
In an interview with Samsung Newsroom, Bouroullec mentions a smooth dialogue with the engineers at Samsung Audio Lab in California: “The process of turning the form into a product was very enjoyable. The engineers’ ideas, based on their expertise, were even inspiring.” The initial circular shape evolved over the course of development to optimize acoustics while preserving the sculptural intent.
This day in What hi-fi? even Joe Svetlik
published: The Samsung Music Studio 7 and 5 both have minimalist designs and plenty of features, but only the 7 supports hi-res audio.
The 5 – which is the smaller of the two, pictured above – looks similar to the Ikea Nattbad Bluetooth speaker which launched over the summer. It has a 4-inch woofer and dual tweeters with a built-in waveguide providing "clear, balanced sound" and AI Dynamic Bass Control for deeper, distortion-free low frequencies.
The design of these speakers is interesting in the same way as the Tannoy Gold 5, which is discussed in the blog entry British proposals for new 4-channel surround in Windows. This type of speaker setup at home was first proposed in 1987 with Dolby Pro Logic. Microsoft still provides this configuration in Windows. Theoretically, in the simplest set it is possible to use the more expensive Samsung Music Studio in the front and complement it with a cheaper one in the back. Very interesting solutions based on this Samsung offer may also appear with other brands. This Korean manufacturer owns the iconic audio brands B&O and JBL. Perhaps there will be speakers with the JBL brand that resemble the Tannoy Gold 5.
Samsung has launched a new surround sound system and secured the cooperation of the most powerful partners for this project. It was presented at Consumer Electronics Show 2025, the most important event for this industry. This topic is discussed in more detail in the entry entitled A historic launch for Eclipsa Audio in Las Vegas will change a lot. The new surround sound format definitely takes into account previously released recordings and speaker placements.
CES2026 was dominated by artificial intelligence. Samsung had a lot to offer here, and that included audio. An advanced remote control was presented for a home entertainment center, which now supports both video and audio. This Korean manufacturer has access to practical knowledge in this field from years ago and from all over the world. These possibilities were presented, among others, at the IFA 2025 trade fair in Berlin, , but it was not clear enough for everyone.
The Danish B&O already offered advanced systems in audio sets in the 1980s. The remote control panel provided the person sitting on the couch with a lot of information about the current settings of the equipment. The Beocenter 7700 also has a large display. It displayed information about the current settings of the amplifier, tuner, turntable, and tape deck. The 7700 radio had very extensive controls, with a traditional dial for searching for stations broadcasting on long, medium, and ultra-short waves. Using the numeric keypad, you could also enter the frequency for FM stations, and assign six of them for quick access. These were very innovative solutions. Now, with AI, the possibilities are even broader, and the information can be displayed on your phone.
This Korean manufacturer also owns the Marantz brand. The brand's flagship amplifier was unveiled at the Audio Video Show 2025 in Warsaw. Exclusive power amplifiers from British Naim were connected to it to drive the speakers from French Focal in the 7.4.4-channel system. A new Dolby Atmos remix of the 50-year-old Genesis recording "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" was presented there. The Marantz AV 30 Preamplifier was the best choice for this presentation.
The Music Studio speakers unveiled at CES 2026 have many additional features, which increases their cost, but simpler models will undoubtedly appear. Importantly, a new trend for future RTV solutions has been identified. Record and tape players have been obsolete for years. Expensive radio tuner systems have also lost their purpose. Now it's the amplifier's turn. Its functions can be easily accessed on a TV or monitor screen, or even on a phone. However, for the most demanding users, Marantz still offers a wide range of options.
Benjamin's psychoacoustic lab is constantly testing and implementing possibilities for optimal music playback using new technical solutions with the computing potential of computers and open structures. PC4uMusicis the main project.
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