Expensive audio equipment is easier to recommend than most other high-priced technology. A cutting-edge smartphone feels like an anachronism 5 years later, but a pair of expensive speakers is likely to be just as good 20 years from now. The Samsung DA-E audio dock seems to straddle both worlds: it's a speaker with a high-end feel, but its built-in tech isn't likely to be as relevant a decade from now.
The Samsung DA-E isn't a good value -- you can do better for your money -- but if you want the most luxurious-looking audio dock with a great set of features, this is it. The DA-E looks gorgeous in photos and it manages to be just as impressive in person. That distinction is notable for Samsung, which has often made products with visually stunning design that fall short when you get the product in your hand.
Our review sample has a beautiful cherrywood finish it's also available in black that lives up to the descriptor of "furniture-grade. The sonic benefits of the built-in tubes may be negligible, but they certainly work as a visual effect. A pair of ECC82 vacuum tubes are sheltered under a glass window, which provides one of the ways of knowing the DA-E is on.
Unnecessary blinking lights can be an nuisance with electronics, but the soft, steady glow of the DA-E's tubes was warm and far from annoying.
If you don't need the novelty of the tubes, or the fancy wood finish, Samsung offers several much more affordable docks with plainer looks.
It also doubles as a basic display, with various icons letting you know what device the DA-E is playing from. The plastic control panel doesn't quite live up to the luxurious quality of the rest of the speaker, as it feels like it could have been ripped from one of Samsung's home-theater-in-a-box systems.
As nice as the DA-E is, the included remote seems like it belongs to a different cheaper product. It's hollow plastic, with a faux-metallic look that comes off as chintzy, especially sitting next to the speaker. At least the buttons are arranged well, although they could stand out a bit more. But I can let the cheap remote slide, since you'll most likely be controlling the DA-E with your smartphone or tablet.
Features An AirPlay speaker with a striking design would be enough for many, but the DA-E goes above and beyond with its extensive feature set. In addition to AirPlay, Bluetooth is also supported, which means you should be able to wirelessly stream audio from most smartphones and tablets although not the popular Kindle Fire. There's also built-in Wi-Fi, plus an Ethernet port on the back. It's retractable, too, so if you're not using it, you can push it in so it's flush with the back.
How was I going to get this gadget on my Wi-Fi network, without a screen to input the password? Samsung has a pretty clever solution for iOS devices, which I haven't encountered on other devices yet. When you dock your iOS device a prompt comes up on the device asking to share your network settings, and the DA-E will receive the network name and password from your device. It's a little more complicated than that I had to read the manual pretty carefully , but the move of copying the Wi-Fi password from my iPhone to the DA-E was slick and unexpected.
I didn't go through the setup process with an Android device, but it involves dialing in an IP address. For free personalized advice, call Our Advisors have listened to most of the speakers we carry, and can help you make the best choice for your system. Close contact box. Call See our hours Our hours Hours 7 days a week.
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Compare all. Read more from Crutchfield writer, Ralph G. Samsung DA-E - Front. Samsung DA-E - smartphone not included. Samsung DA-E - Back. Samsung DA-E - Bottom. Samsung DA-E - Corner detail.
Samsung DA-E - Dock detail. Samsung DA-E - Speaker detail. Samsung DA-E - Tube detail. Go back See more. Discontinued item. Item DAE Toggle Your vehicle.
Toggle Parts you'll need. Toggle Your car stereo. Radio: Please confirm that this adapter will work with the stereo you intend to use. Find what Fits your vehicle Remove. Please Select Make. Checking fit Toggle Your speaker location. Select a location Selected location: Other locations. Find products that fit Installation notes:. Select a location Choose another location:. About the Samsung DA-E Meet Ralph Graves Close. About Ralph Started at Crutchfield in Authored the ebook Bluetooth and Beyond: Crutchfield's common-sense guide to wireless audio for your smartphone tablet Completed six-week in-house Advisor training, learning the details of every type of product we sell Regularly attend manufacturer training sessions on new and soon-to-be released products Authored dozens of Crutchfield articles and over a thousand product presentations.
Quality sound from a beautiful product One look at the Samsung DA-E and you can tell this is no ordinary powered speaker system. The vacuum tube preamp section adds some pleasing warmth to the DA-E's sound.
Featured review If you like warm, rich analog sound, you'll love this speaker. John from Montgomery AL. See all 10 reviews. Samsung DA-E reviews Average review:. Thanks for submitting your review Most reviews are processed and published within 5 business days. You will receive a confirmation email once your review has been published. Review the Samsung DA-E Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences with other customers.
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