I remember getting the soundbar at xmas 2016 and excitedly doing research online for the R1s, R3s, or even, hell, the R5s.   Research said that nothing good was really going to come of it, as the soundbar and speakers have diverging firmware, so even if they all were fixed for a while, changes to the firmware of either the soundbar or speaker would mean problems again.   I took the soundbar back and picked up the last Sony BDV-n7200w in the shop and haven't looked back yet. Discrete 5.1 with the rear speakers being wireless to the main front unit. Excellent and recommended. ... View more

I feel this a bit like Stephen King's IT, and it's now 27 years later - every now and again there is a new "hopeful" / victim.    Anyone that reads this thread in the future - your firmare will not be updated, there is no good solution - please return your stuff to the shop.  ... View more

Looks good, and I understand your position of collaboration.   Just make sure to tell us when your BBC interview will be aired.   ... View more

Hey guys, I think you're going round in circles now. Samsung have made their point clear in their deliberated response, I'm afraid.   All you can hope for now is some media / Watchdog attention, focusing on your screenshots online relating to the changed "stealth" promises of wireless support.   An expected outcome of that is Samsung proposing that any customers perceived as impacted - no matter when they purchased it - can return their hardware.   Firmware changes are very unlikely to occur - they've changed their rear speaker tech back to the SWA solution, so noone is developing a fix for you anymore. So what is your desired outcome?   I think Samsung provide financing, so its likely their complaints activity is regulated. You should have had a response or acknowledgement to your complaint so far, notifying you of next steps. Even if you (or the many who you complained with) haven't had financing, they should be Treating their Customers Fairly.    Hopefully this post causes some action to be taken at Samsung, but I'd recommend taking the next steps, and not speaking to Samsung directly anymore.  ... View more

Good luck guys, though also keep in mind what your desired outcome is, as it certainly seems that Samsung's foray into firmware updates is over.    Watchdog etc is certainly a good idea, as this is the only reasonable way to get Samsung to admit a fault, and then you can return the item under warranty.    Or if you can still take it back to the retailer, take it back.    Boxing things up is a pain, but when you start doing it, it's done quick.    There are better rear wireless solutions at this price point, albeit still needing optical.  ... View more

Honestly guys, I'm not sure really there will be a good outcome here. Even if there is, firmware will be highly likely to diverge again, and you'll have less energy and motivation to come back here.    I'm not sure how firmware causing issues which the company contests, impacts your ability to return under warranty (as opposed to hardware faults) but perhaps someone here can advise.   I know you want full wireless, but if you have to go with an optical rear wireless solution with more than one remote (which might be worse next firmware update), there are better options for about the same cost.  ... View more

We're not trying to scare you off Ant (though regardless, at this stage it's in the best interest for Samsung for you to stick it out), but maybe put the anecdotal stress balls and group hugs away for now, and if possible, give the guys things like root causes, details, and tangible discussions. Keep the high fives till after the solution - which is probably i) fix current issue, and ii) get the development teams to agree that any development of firmware done on linked products must be done in liaison with the other team(s) too.    You might not be able to give strict deadlines, but if you only promise to deliver the first action, but not the second, then everyone will be back here soon.    I sound quite calm, but I was one of the first here to return the product, whilst those who are escalating things up the chain want to keep it. As someone mentioned earlier through their own discussion with Samsung - the R1s etc don't seem to have been originally designed as rear speakers. The guys here want to believe in this product nonetheless, and don't want to have to return it.  ... View more

I'm sure there will be a lot of people here that are happy you have responded Ant. And it is good.    Though you may not have much new to say, "managing expectations" is something that all companies have to focus on - it can be more important that what you actually deliver. Toiling away in the backoffice is great, but perceptions are what matter. Who knows whats going on behind closed doors? The development teams may be continuing to develop their firmwares in isolation for example. Or perceived to.    Even if there is not much news, I'm sure the guys here (visible and lurking) would be happy for weekly status updates - say on a Friday afternoon.    That way you'll build your community, people will get behind you, the pitchforks will be in *less* demand, and expectations will be managed.    (I may no longer have the k650, but I am a happy owner of other Samsung equipment, including a nice unsmart TV that I bought in 2007 and has gone strong for 10 years now.) ... View more

Good luck guys. I'm happy with my Sony-alternative (referred to in my previous posts).   I'd love full wireless too, but if you have the chance, box it up, and take it back. For the same price, you can get a discrete 5.1 with wireless rears, rather than the soundbar. Massive difference. You still have to use an optical cable, but you never have to worry about diverging firmware again.    Hoefully this post at least provides an unwanted advertisement, and further pressure for changes.  ... View more

By this point in the thread, I feel mixed about recommending an alternative, however when I was a newbie, people wanting to take things back within deadlines was a thing.    Does it do what you paid for it? Are you happy with this being the same forever? Are you happy with the firmware being fixed, but then diverging again, and you lacking the community voice to fix it?   Difficult questions, but if you have the money to invest in a Samsung optical 5.1 soundbar solution, then its roughly the same price for an all in one optical solution, where your speakers all sound great, and you don't run the risk of diverging firmware.  ... View more

I think the Sony system only does 5.1 if connected via optical cable, though I may be wrong. It does have two HD inputs and one arc HD output too though, so you have the option of routing your video through the Blueray player/basestation, instead of routing it through the television. Personally, I use an optical splitter on it, and connect the hd direct to the tv. 
 It may not have the tv wireless functionality you're looking for (though it has a lot of functioanlity), but it's wireless rear speakers are dedicated for that job (as opposed to what is becoming more apparent with the R1s etc, as retrofitted to being rear speakers). And because it's not a soundbar (its an actual 5.1 speaker system), there is a better front soundstage.  
 The main reason I took my k650 back though was the diverging firmware issue, which is likely to continue in the future (one item will stop having its firmware supported before the other...). The Sony may end up with bad firmware too, but as its effectively a "home theatre in a box", I assume/hope the firmware would be quicker to rectify/ much less likely to be released broken in the first place. There are also reports of some speakers going bad and becoming distorted, but Sony will replace under warranty. Much easier to gain support for a broken hardware, than a harder to prove broken firmware... ... View more

I'm no longer an owner of the 650, but for my depressing 2 cents - one Samsung team might get it's firmware aligned to another team's firmware, but it looks like they do this in isolation of each other, so can't see / test each others' planned changes. Someone mentioned something to that affect in ththe early pages of this thread, and it seems to be being borne out now.    I fear that once you guys take your foot off the gas here (when they manage to finally align things up) firmware will sooner or later diverge again, and you won't have this momentum / energy to force change.    I'd consider your return-options. There are alternatives.    (Happy Samsung TV owner, previous k650 owner, now happy sony bdv-n7200w owner) ... View more

Btw, I'd definitely recommend the Sony BDV-N7200W for anyone still in their returns-period.    It probably won't be wifi compatible with your Samsang TVs (as I have), but the sound is great.    Happy to answer any pms on it too.  ... View more

Well guys, I decided not to put down another £250-300 on the R1s. I no longer own the K650, and now have a Sony BDV-N7200W in the boot of my car. Cheaper overall than a 5.1-enabled k650.    I bought it knowing there can be speaker distortion issues. However, Sony fixes that issue under warranty.    I hate to say goodbye hehe, but goodluck, and hopefully Samsung losing an old customer (and his cash) will register somewhere.  ... View more

When it's all working (with its optica caveats) would you recommend it?   I'm trying to decide whether the 3.1 650 goes back, or I splurge on two relatively cheap R1s, and attempt to go 5.1.    Does adding the R1s change the soundscape substantially so that you'd recommend it?     ... View more

That's pretty disappointing to hear. That could suggest no further support at all. Or worse than that - since the firmware is developed by 2 or more teams, it could diverge further, leading to further complications that Samsung doesn't acknowledge / want to fix.    I'm pretty back and forth on keeping the soundbar at the moment.    It'd be nice if the Community Manager stepped in at some point.      ... View more

Thanks guys. Yeah, I'm trying to work out whether it needs taken back to the shop too...   The 550 afterall is pretty much the same, with costs for 5.1 being substantially smaller...   I was going to get the 5.1 5550w during black friday sales (now it's bit more expensive...). Possibly a better solution if looking for a samsung option ... no HDMI input though, so you're reliant on optical-in only, and no Multiroom.  Seems like a better solution to ease-of-use 5.1...   ... View more

My tv doesn't have an optical-out I'm afraid. I assume (hope!!) any optical cable to the soundbar will suffice though, doesn't need the data passthrough'd first, and that you're doing that as your tv is acting as the initial receiver for your multiple sound inputs?   cheers!   (Due to my tv limitations, I've been using a toslink port switch previously. It's not pretty,  but enables multiple optical sources to kinda be directly connected to the soundbar. Doing this at the moment for ps4 and pc sources.    https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B000QRI2EI/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1482962368&sr=8-9&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=toslink+splitter) ... View more

Sorry, I might have missed it, but just to clarify - do you mean optical to televison, and hdmi passthrough to the soundbar? Or optical direct to the soundbar?   Thanks!       (asking, as my tv is an old stereo passthrough non-wifi model. Thank God Samsung have made our lives easier here...) ... View more

It's things like this that suggested it was possible: https://gibbyselectronicsupermarket.ca/product/samsung-hw-k650-soundbar-wireless-subwoofer-swa-8000-wireless-rear-speaker-kit-bundle/?v=7516fd43adaa   That seller seems to have live chat. Maybe you can ask them how they pair. Or US Samsung has live chat too.    Probably though, they have a different firmware version in the US. Most likely so they can sell more R1s in the EU...   Now the question is... to keep the k650, with the hope of a firmware update(s) in the future to re-unify it with the r1.. will that happen though? Supply of R1s in retail shops in the UK seems limited, and no big retailers in Germany have them at all. Perhaps thats a normal post-nov/dec sales situation, but it might mean they are ramping up for the 2017 equivalents. In that case, what are the chances Samsung will update firmware for products they won't be selling?    Not trying to be pessimistic - just trying to decide whether to return the k650, or keep, and hope they update the firmware, then find some r1s.    ... View more

Thats a shame, but thanks for testing. ... View more

Also, this US Samsung site suggests compatibility:   http://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00049236/   It might just be a region thing in the end - and EU hardware may not in fact be compatible - though I'm not sure why they'd have different firmware / functionality across regions.  ... View more

Sorry, the 8000s was sold out by the time I got to the shop. No other shops locally stock it at the moment ... I'd rather not get it by mail, if theres a good chance it's getting returned...    (Edit: found an amazon.com seller recommending 8000s for the k650: https://www.amazon.com/ask/questions/Tx2C9P8X19RPNE7/?source=allQuestionsPage. It's a gamble though - it really might be the US versions that are only compatible with each other) ... View more

Thanks. The mkv file works, and demonstrates 3.1 working direct from the pc, despite the pc only detecting stereo (with the "rear" sources coming through the left and right of the soundbar).   Tempted to buy the swa-8000s now ... US Samsung website says it is compatible (top google result using both model numbers), and a 3rd party US seller is actually selling a 650+8000s bundle today.    However, Uk samsung advised by email today that it wouldnt work... Perhaps that is correct, but eu/us models seem the same, and I assume firmwares are the same too. If yes, I assume it will work...   If so, then I assume the gap is in documentation / marketing. I'll pick up an 8000s tomorrow and test it.    (Or if someone at Samsung would like to save me a trip first thing tomorrow, please advise confidently either way.) ... View more

Just bought a 650, and after many tests it looks like 3.1 isn't being recognised by my pc. Can't passthrough my telly, and its not wireless, but have done a lot tests, and pc only recognises it as stereo.    Could someone send me the MKW file please? Or is that a waste of time before adding the rear speakers?   I was considering the R1s as a solution, but from this discussion, I'm a little hesitant. Optical (or hdmi) direct to the soundbar is my solution, but if 5.1 can only occur in full Wireless mode... then thats a waste.    Does anyone know if using the swa-8000s gives discreet 5.1 via PC? (Samsung website suggests compatability, but can't find anyone that can confirm that) ... View more