Samsung Music Frame LS60D Review

The Music Frame LS60D from manufacturer Samsung is a unique Bluetooth Speaker disguised as a Picture Frame. This unique design is an extension of Samsung’s interesting home decor technology that found its roots in ultra-thin bezel TVs that looked like paintings. This design aesthetic is back and on full display with this newest Samsung lineup addition.

Measuring 13.9” W x 14.36” H x 5.65” D, the LS60D is a thick picture frame. It is also quite heavy, weighing an impressive 9.3 LBS. Featuring 6 built-in speakers strategically placed behind the picture and rear of the frame, the LS60D looks like a simple picture frame. However, the Music Frame is more than meets the eye.

Designed for hot swapping of images thanks to the easy-to-remove front panel, the LS60D can be customized to accommodate a wide range of art or photos to best suit the intended environment. Leveraging the Samsung Art Panel, owners can purchase new pieces of art to clip into the Music Frame. Additionally, several third-party online stores will allow users to design and customize their pictures, which can then be printed onto a swappable Art Panel. It’s an interesting concept, albeit a bit costly.

The LS60D comes with two ways to display your Music Frame. For users who prefer integrating it into an existing table or shelf display, the LS60D comes with a sturdy stand that simply clips into the frame. Once attached, the Music Frame feels secure and stable on any flat surface. For those who want to mount it on a wall, Samsung has also included all the necessary parts. As mentioned, the frame weighs in at almost 10 lbs, so if you choose the latter option, I would warn you to make sure you install it directly into a stud and not leave the LS60D’s security to wall anchors.

“The Samsung Music Frame is quite an impressive speaker system with a clean, clear, and powerful sound profile.”

Powering the Music Frame is handled by a single power cable that runs from the back of the frame. A small inset is designed to tuck the cable into the back of the frame to help it sit flat when wall-mounted. As with any wall-mounted technology, cable management is always an adventure and worth considering if wall mounting the LS60D is the option you are considering.

Setup for the LS60D is as simple as unboxing, mounting (with either of the aforementioned methods), and turning it on. A small control panel located on the back edge of the frame allows for input switching, volume control, and a few other customization options. However, the easiest and most efficient way to manage all of the features of the Music Frame is through the SmartThings App, available on both Android and Apple.

Once powered on, the SmartThings App immediately recognizes the Music Frame and connects quite quickly via Bluetooth. Once connected, you’ll have full control over the LS60D. As for features, the Music Frame has some solid, albeit limited, options to choose from. With three sound profiles to choose from: Standard, Music, and Adaptive, the LS60D gives users the option to configure the sound to their liking.

While in Standard mode, you’ll have access to a 7-channel equalizer with three presets to choose from along with the option to customize the audio experience to your liking. Music Mode is catered to deliver a clean, balanced listening experience, while adaptive sound actively adjusts voice clarity when volume levels are low to ensure a consistent listening experience regardless of volume level. In testing, the Adaptive mode worked quite well, offering a clear listening experience while watching Star Trek on my phone.

The Music Frame also supports Alexa, Google Home, Apple AirPlay, and Chromecast, giving users several options for connecting to the LS60D. With both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi options available for connection, the Music Frame is quite adaptable to your current home entertainment configuration. Like connecting to the SmartThings App, utilizing Chromecast, for example, is a straightforward affair and works flawlessly.

One final feature of note is the Music Frames’ ability to link and sync to other Samsung devices you may already have. Thanks to the SmartThings App, supported TVs and sound bars, along with additional Music Frames, can all be grouped and allow for a synchronized listening experience. The only caveat is that it does require both a Samsung account and Wi-Fi to sync up all of the devices. However, if these are present, the process is quite simple and works well.

“Samsung’s SpaceFit Sound Pro system fine-tunes the audio to present a perfect mix of immersive audio with a balanced bass.”

More impressive still is what is called Q-Symphony. This allows the paired speakers to fully utilize all of the power of the Music Frame to essentially round out your surround sound setup for your home theatre. It’s a pretty unique way to disguise a surround sound setup, and as mentioned, it is easy to set up and use. 

Shifting from features to testing, the Samsung Music Frame is quite an impressive speaker system. With a six-speaker system built into the frame, the overall sound profile is impressively clean, clear, and powerful. The low-end frequencies are quite punchy, considering how small the speaker is, while the mids and highs produce consistently clear and crisp sound. While testing was performed using all three of the aforementioned audio profiles, the Music profile presented the most balanced audio experience and sounded great overall.

Samsung has included what is referred to as the SpaceFit Sound Pro system in the Music Frame. This system essentially accommodates interior space and fine-tunes the audio to present a perfect mix of immersive audio with a balanced bass. When coupled with what Samsung refers to as the wide sweet spot (a three-way speaker that pushes sound out equally over a wider area), the result is an impressively immersive and enjoyable listening experience no matter where you are located in the room.

The LS60D is also quite loud while still maintaining a clean audio profile. This was probably the most surprising aspect of the whole system. Considering its relatively small size, the Music Frame produces an impressive audio experience. It maintains clarity, thanks in part to its Dolby Atmos support, at both low and high volume levels. There is no question that the Samsung Music Frame is a premium product.

There are only two critiques of the LS60D, and neither has to do with performance. The first is the cost of changing out the artwork. Anything purchased from the official store is quite costly, and at present, when purchasing a Music frame, there is only one image to choose from. This is problematic if you ever want to buy more than one. Essentially, you have to assume you’re spending extra money or accept that you’ll have duplicate artwork.

The second issue is the price of the Music Frame. While quality speaker systems are appreciated, and the fact that they come in a picture frame format does make them unique, there are currently Bluetooth speakers on the market that can offer similar features and quality for a fraction of the price. While the picture frame is nice, if the goal is a quality audio experience, there are more cost-effective options that produce a similar audio experience. The Samsung Music Frame is unique, but it’s also niche.

If, however, you are someone who already lives in a Samsung-driven ecosystem or someone who is looking for a unique way to dress up your speakers, the Music Frame is a great option. With superb audio quality and plenty of features and customizations to work with the Samsung Music Frame is a unique speaker system that stands out in the crowd.

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