When in search of the best soundbars, it’s important to consider several factors before making a purchase. First and foremost, audio quality should be your top priority. Look for soundbars that support advanced audio technologies such as Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, that gives a rich and immersive sound experience. Connectivity options are equally essential, with HDMI eARC for high-quality audio transmission and Bluetooth for wireless streaming from your devices.
Moreover, consider the form factor and design that fits perfectly into your space. Soundbars with smart features like voice control (Alexa, Google Assistant) and room calibration technology, such as Trueplay or ADAPTiQ, can further elevate your audio setup. To simplify your buying process, the following list gives you a comprehensive guide, featuring soundbars renowned for their audio excellence, connectivity options, and design considerations. Whether you prioritize cinematic surround sound, sleek aesthetics, or smart functionalities, this curated list ensures you find the perfect soundbar to elevate your home entertainment experience.
Quick List
Best All-in-one soundbar
Immersive audio experience. Dolby Atmos, Trueplay tuning, sleek design. Upgrade your home entertainment with crystal-clear sound.
Best balanced soundbar
Sleek, stylish design meets powerful audio. With Alexa built-in, ADAPTiQ calibration, and Bose app control.
Best for Dolby Atmos
Elevate with 11.1.4 channels, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X. Wireless subwoofer, adaptive sound, Q-Symphony.
Best theater feel
Premium 7.1.4 channels, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X. Meridian audio, wireless rear speakers, AI Sound Pro.
Best Soundbar under $1000
Upgrade your home entertainment. with Affordable 5.1 sound. Dolby Audio, DTS Virtual:X. Streamlined design, wireless subwoofer.
Best for flexibility
immersive home entertainment with 9.1 channels, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X. Detachable speakers, 4K pass-through, HDMI eARC.
Best All-in-one soundbar
Sonos Arc
Reasons to buy:
- Stellar sound for music and TV
- Works well as a music speaker, too
- Dolby Atmos, TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus
Reasons to avoid:
- A single HDMI input
The Sonos Arc, the manufacturer’s flagship soundbar released in 2020, stands out as a smart soundbar with integrated voice assistant capabilities, giving seamless integration into your living room. Designed for versatility, it supports multi-channel audio formats such as Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital, giving an immersive experience for your favorite movies and shows. Linking the soundbar with other Sonos products allows you to extend audio throughout your home or enhance performance with the Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set featuring Arc.
Versatile across various uses, the Sonos Arc serves as a premium standalone bar suitable for music, movies, and TV shows. With clear dialogue right out of the box, it reproduces instruments perfectly for an enhanced audio experience. The soundbar has various audio formats, including Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos, and you can enhance its performance in the future by adding a subwoofer and satellites.
Best balanced soundbar
Bose Soundbar 700
Reasons to buy:
- Very well-built design
- Neutral sound profile
- Budget Friendly
- Easily upgradable setup
Reasons to avoid:
- No Atmos support.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700, introduced in 2019, is a sleek 3.0 setup offering built-in voice assistant support for convenient control. It functions well as a standalone soundbar or can be upgraded to the complete Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module for enhanced performance. While lacking Dolby Atmos support unlike the Bose Smart Soundbar 900, it features premium elements like the ADAPTiQ room correction tool.
For diverse use, the Bose Soundbar 700 proves decent. Its premium construction and integrated voice assistant provide an excellent sound quality suitable for various audio content. Clear dialogue in movies and TV shows, along with detailed instrument reproduction in music, showcase its versatility. Although lacking a subwoofer may limit low-bass depth, and satellite absence affects surround sound performance, both components can be added separately. Notably, the soundbar does not support object-based formats like Atmos.
Best for Dolby Atmos
Samsung HW-Q990C
Number of Channel: 11.1.4
Subwoofer Type ( Active / Passive / Wireless, Built-in ): Wireless
Packaging (WxHxD): 1309.0 x 595.0 x 277.0 mm
Packaging (Gross Weight): 28.2 kg
Electrical: 0.5W
Operating Power Consumption (Main): 41W
Reasons to buy:
- Many sound customization tools.
- Immersive Dolby Atmos sound.
Reasons to avoid:
- No HDMI 2.1 support.
Released in 2023, the Samsung HW-Q990C is the flagship soundbar, succeeding the HW-Q990B, offering similar features for a great listening experience. it provides extensive customization tools, including SpaceFit Sound Pro for room optimization and Q-Symphony support for easy pairing with compatible Samsung TVs. Built-in Alexa ensures convenient hands-free control.
Ideal for various purposes, the Samsung Q990C, boasting an 11.1.4 configuration, excels with various audio content—music, movies, and TV shows. Straight out of the box, it delivers clear, detailed sound with impactful low-bass for action scenes. Supporting multiple audio formats and offering customization features, it caters to individual preferences. Particularly impressive with Atmos content, this soundbar brings an immersive audio experience to your living room.
Best for theater feel audio experience
LG S95QR
Amplifier Output: 350 W
Subwoofer Amplifier Output: 220W
Inputs: 2 x HDMI – Audio/Video, 1 x Optical TOSLINK – Audio
Outputs: 1 x HDMI – ARC/eARC/Audio/Video
Wireless: Bluetooth 5.0
Audio Decoding: DTS Digital Surround, DTS-HD High-Resolution, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS:X, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, LPCM
HDMI Compliance: ARC, CEC, eARC
Wall Mountable: Yes, with Included Hardware
Reasons to buy:
- Extended low-bass
- Immersive sound with Dolby Atmos
- Room correction feature
Reasons to avoid:
- Overall design lacks the luxurious touch
The LG S95QR stands as the flagship soundbar in LG’s 2022 lineup, featuring a 9.1.5 configuration with a dedicated subwoofer. With two up-firing drivers for Dolby Atmos content and a distinct up-firing center channel (also present in the LG S90QY and LG S80QY), this soundbar delivers a comprehensive audio experience. The rear speakers adopt a 4.0.2 setup with both front-firing and up-firing height channels.
The LG S95QR includes AI Room Calibration for room correction and the TV Sound Mode Share feature, enhancing sound when paired with your TV. It offers premium performance for TV shows, music, and movies. Out of the box, it produces a rich, bass-heavy sound, customizable through bass and treble adjustments. Clear dialogue and impactful bass enrich the experience with action movies and bass-centric music genres. Supports a range of audio formats, from Dolby Atmos to Dolby Digital, it caters to diverse content available on various streaming platforms.
Best Soundbar under $1000
Vizio V Series V51x-J6
Total Number of Speakers: 6
DTS Virtual:X: Yes
Sound Enhancement Technology: DTS TruVolume, DTS Virtual:X
Speaker Channels: 5.1
System Frequency Response: 50Hz-20kHz
Sound Bar Buttons: Sound Bar Buttons Power, Input, Bluetooth, Volume UP & DOWN
Remote: Yes
Remote Control Type: With LCD Display
Listening Modes: Movie, Music, Game, Direct
Wall Mountable: Yes, with Included Hardware
Reasons to buy:
- Bass and treble adjustments.
- Gets loud
Reasons to avoid:
- No height channels.
The Vizio V Series V51x-J6, an affordable 5.1 soundbar, represents the next generation of its predecessor, the Vizio V Series V51-H6. Notably, it distinguishes itself in its price range by offering discrete satellites, Upgrade the surround sound experience when placed around your seating area. Despite a slightly smaller subwoofer, it delivers impactful sound effects and bass-heavy music. Also gives you an option to integrate a voice assistant device for voice-controlled operation.
For varied purposes, the Vizio V51x-J6 proves satisfactory. Straight out of the box, it ensures clear and accurate dialogue in TV shows and podcasts, while maintaining balance in voices and instruments for music. The bass range receives an extra punch, injecting excitement into the audio mix. specially suitable for 5.1 surround sound formats like Dolby Digital, thanks to its discrete satellites, it excels in giving an immersive experience. However, the absence of Atmos support limits its compatibility with some of the most immersive audio formats available.
Best for flexibility soundbar
JBL Bar 1300X
Sound system: 11.1.4 channel
Power supply: 100 – 240V AC, ~ 50/60Hz
Networked standby power: < 2.0W
Operating temperature: 0°C – 45°C
Total speaker power output (Max @THD 1%): 1170W
Soundbar output power (Max @THD 1%): 650W
Frequency response: 33Hz – 20kHz (-6dB)
Audio inputs: 1 Optical, Bluetooth, USB (USB playback is available in US version. For other versions, USB is for Service only.)
Remote: Yes
Wall Mountable: Yes
Reasons to buy:
- Room correction tool
- Extended low-bass
- Dolby Atmos support
- Truly wireless satellites
Reasons to avoid:
- No HDMI 2.1 support
- Expensive
The JBL Bar 1300X stands out as a high-end 11.1.4 Dolby Atmos soundbar, akin to the JBL Bar 9.1 and JBL Bar 1000. Having detachable truly wireless satellites, these can be strategically placed around your living room for an exceptionally immersive sound experience. Advertised to last up to 10 hours on a single charge, and recharging is conveniently done by connecting them back to the main bar. Additionally, these satellites double as wireless Bluetooth speakers, offering versatility for audio playback, including the option to create a stereo pair.
Ideal for diverse uses, the JBL Bar 1300X, with its 11.1.4 configuration, caters to various audio content such as music, movies, and TV shows. The discrete center channel ensures clear and prominent dialogue, while the substantial subwoofer enhances the sensation of bass in music. Extensive support for immersive audio formats like Dolby Atmos commonly found on streaming platforms contributes to a rich audio experience. The inclusion of up-firing channels in both the bar and satellites creates an all-encompassing sound environment, allowing flexibility in adjusting the satellite positions to achieve the desired audio effect.
Best soundbar under $500
Vizio M Series M512a-H6
Reasons to buy:
- Easy to set up and use
- Excellent build quality
- Sounds great with movies and music
Reasons to avoid:
- No dedicated Voice preset
- Lacks Chromecast and AirPlay support
The Vizio M Series M512a-H6 is the best soundbar for under $500. It’s an excellent choice for music, movies, and television shows, providing versatile overall performance at a lower cost than more expensive models. This setup includes two rear speakers that help position sound effects and pinpoint locations in the soundstage. Whether you’re watching 5.1 surround sound formats like Dolby Digital or object-based formats like Dolby Atmos, the action feels spread out across your living room. Its subwoofer also adds a rumble in the bass during intense scenes for a true cinematic experience.
Out of the box, this soundbar creates a balanced and even sound that is appropriate for listening to a wide range of audio content. Vocals and instruments from your favorite songs are present and detailed in the mix, and dialogue is reproduced with excellent clarity. Of course, this bar lacks the sound enhancement features found in more premium setups, so there is no room correction feature, which means it will sound slightly different depending on the acoustics of your room. However, its bass and treble adjustments still allow you to control the sound, which is nice. Overall, it provides excellent value for its price.
How to choose the best soundbar?
Choosing the ideal soundbar involves considering key factors like audio quality, channel configuration, and connectivity options. Prioritize high-quality components and support for advanced formats. Make sure the design complements your room, and decide on a built-in or separate subwoofer based on your bass preference. Explore additional features like room calibration and smart home integration. Research reviews, stay within budget, and listen to the soundbar in-store for a firsthand experience before making a decision.
Audio Quality: Consider soundbars with high-quality audio components and support for advanced formats like Dolby Atmos or DTS:X for an immersive audio experience.
Channel Configuration: Choose a channel configuration based on your room size and preferences, whether it’s a 2.1, 5.1, or models with overhead channels for added depth.
Connectivity: Ensure the soundbar has sufficient input options, including HDMI, optical, and coaxial, to connect to your TV and other devices. Look for HDMI ARC or eARC support for optimal audio transmission.
Wireless Connectivity: Explore soundbars with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi capabilities for convenient wireless streaming from your devices.
Design and Placement: Opt for a soundbar that complements your room’s aesthetics and fits well with your TV. Consider space limitations and explore wall-mountable options.
Subwoofer: Decide if you want a soundbar with a built-in subwoofer or a separate subwoofer for enhanced bass response, considering your preference for impactful low frequencies.
Additional Features: Look for features like room calibration technology (e.g., Trueplay, ADAPTiQ) for optimized sound based on your room’s acoustics. Consider voice control, smart home integration, and compatibility with virtual assistants.
Brand Reputation and Reviews: Research and read reviews to gauge the performance and reliability of the soundbar. Consider well-known brands with positive reputations for audio quality.
Budget: Determine your budget and explore options within that range. Keep in mind that higher-end models may offer more advanced features and better audio quality.
Demo Before Purchase: Whenever possible, listen to the soundbar in-store or at a demo event to experience its audio quality firsthand before making a purchase decision.
FAQs
What factors should I consider when buying a soundbar?
Prioritize factors such as audio quality, channel configuration, connectivity options, design, and any additional features that align with your preferences and room setup.
Is Dolby Atmos necessary, and how does it impact my choice?
Dolby Atmos provides a three-dimensional sound experience. If you seek an immersive audio experience with overhead sound, consider a soundbar with Dolby Atmos support.
How important is connectivity, and what options should I look for?
Connectivity is crucial. Ensure the soundbar has HDMI, optical, and/or coaxial inputs, and consider wireless options like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi for convenient streaming.
Do I need a separate subwoofer, or is a built-in one sufficient?
Decide if you prefer a soundbar with a built-in subwoofer or if you want a separate subwoofer for enhanced bass. Your preference for low-frequency performance will guide your choice.
Can I use a soundbar with my existing home theater system?
Yes, you can use a soundbar with an existing home theater system. Ensure compatibility and consider how the soundbar integrates with your current setup.
