New TVs are generally thin, making them look great on your wall or in your entertainment center, but that isn’t advantageous when it comes to sound quality. You need a separate sound system for loud, high-quality home theater audio, and your best bet is a soundbar. I’m a THX home theater expert and have been covering home theater equipment for more than 15 years. I’ve thoroughly tested more than 100 soundbars, evaluating everything from audio balance, bass power, and treble clarity to surround sound and spatial audio imaging. With a 4.5-star rating and an Editors’ Choice award, the Sonos Arc Ultra is our top pick overall, but it isn’t the only model we recommend. This list of the best soundbars covers a wide range of brands and prices.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Best Overall
Sonos Arc Ultra
- Excellent bass response
- Immersive Atmos performance
- Highlights dialogue well
- Versatile connectivity options, including Bluetooth
$1,000 might seem like a lot for a single soundbar with no satellites or subwoofer, but the Sonos Arc Ultra is worth the expense. Seven angled dome tweeters, including two up-firing tweeters for height, work with six midwoofers and a dedicated woofer to produce a wide, precise sound field and bring out impressive bass without a subwoofer. It’s a powerful, immersive sound system on its own, and you can make it even better by adding Sonos Era 300 speakers for rear satellites and a Sonos Sub 4 subwoofer for theater-like rumble.
The Sonos Arc Ultra is the soundbar to get if you want big spatial audio and plenty of power without dealing with a subwoofer and satellites. It’s even more appealing if you already use other Sonos components since they integrate seamlessly.
Channels
9.1
Physical Connections
Ethernet, HDMI
Built-In Voice Assistant
Amazon Alexa, Sonos Voice Control
Learn More
Sonos Arc Ultra Review
Best for Google Cast Support
Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar
- Detailed spatial audio imaging with height channels
- Large sound field
- Strong balance
- Built-in Amazon Alexa
- Apple AirPlay and Google Cast support
- Expandable
- Expensive
- Unimpressive bass without a subwoofer
There’s a limit to just how powerful and immersive a single soundbar can be without rear satellites or a subwoofer, and the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar pushes against that limit as much as possible. It sounds big and full, with strong bass considering it doesn’t come with a subwoofer (though you can purchase one separately). Its 5.1.2-channel configuration produces impressively detailed surround imaging. It also has built-in support for Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, and Amazon Alexa.
The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar can give you a strong surround experience in a slim package that disappears under your TV and doesn’t require running wires around your couch. Its Google Cast support is especially useful for Android device owners who want to stream high-quality audio without dealing with a proprietary app like you have to with the Sonos Arc Ultra.
Channels
5.1.2
Physical Connections
HDMI, Optical
Built-In Voice Assistant
Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa
Learn More
Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar Review
Best Spatial Audio
JBL Bar 1300X
- Accurate spatial audio with height channels
- Thunderous subwoofer
- Detachable wireless rear satellites
- Alexa MRM, Apple AirPlay, and Google Cast support
- Expensive
- Satellites need to be charged regularly
JBL’s top-of-the-line Bar 1300X lives up to its billing with 11.1.4-channel spatial audio and a powerful, 12-inch subwoofer. One seriously cool aspect is that its wireless satellites can plug into the sides of the soundbar to expand its stereo capabilities while they charge—and even serve as standalone portable Bluetooth speakers.
This is the soundbar to get if you want full surround sound with height channels for Dolby Atmos and other spatial audio content. It’s doubly appealing if you can’t or don’t want to run power or speaker cables behind your couch, since the rear satellites operate without wires.
Channels
11.1.4
Physical Connections
HDMI, Optical
Built-In Voice Assistant
None
Learn More
JBL Bar 1300X Review
Best Spatial Audio on a Budget
LG S70TY
- 3.1.1 channels with an upward-firing driver
- Powerful subwoofer
- Well-balanced sound
- Expandable to 5.1.1 channels
- Affordable
- Single height channel limits spatial audio precision
- No Wi-Fi features
- Treble could be a touch crisper
The LG S70TY is a 3.1.1-channel soundbar that features a single upward-firing driver to really expand its sound field, and its included subwoofer can put out some serious thump. It doesn’t have many extras like Wi-Fi streaming or a voice assistant, but at well under $400, it doesn’t need them.
The LG S70TY is an excellent way to get powerful audio with a height channel while not spending too much money. It should be a significant upgrade in sound quality from almost any TV, with a thunderous subwoofer and a big sound field. Just be aware that the actual vertical precision of the spatial audio is limited; there’s only so much you can do with a single upward-firing driver instead of multiple ones you can pan between.
Channels
3.1.1
Physical Connections
HDMI, Optical, USB
Built-In Voice Assistant
None
Learn More
LG S70TY Review
Best Small Soundbar
Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX
- Powerful sound for the size
- Strong bass from the subwoofer
- Plenty of wireless streaming options
Usually, the amount of sound a speaker produces directly correlates with its size, but the exceptionally compact Polk MagniFi Mini AX surprised us with its huge sound field (thanks in part to the included wireless subwoofer). Just be aware that it doesn’t offer the most accurate surround imaging despite its Dolby Atmos support.
If you have a TV that’s less than 55 inches and you don’t care about spatial imaging, this Polk soundbar is a good choice because of its relatively small width.
Channels
3.1
Physical Connections
3.5mm, HDMI, Optical
Built-In Voice Assistant
None
Learn More
Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX Review
Best for Samsung TVs
Samsung HW-Q990C 11.1.4-Channel Soundbar
- Detailed, immersive 11.1.4-channel audio
- Powerful bass
- Supports Apple AirPlay and Spotify Connect
- Built-in Alexa voice control
- Q-Symphony support for compatible Samsung TVs
- Expensive
- Only supports SBC codec for Bluetooth
- Minor upgrades from previous model
The Samsung Q990C is an excellent 11.1.4-channel sound system with incredibly detailed spatial audio and powerful bass, along with Apple AirPlay and built-in Amazon Alexa. While it hasn’t seen any significant upgrades over its predecessor, it’s still a top choice if you’re looking to splurge for an all-encompassing surround system.
If you own a newer Samsung TV, its speakers can work with the Q990C soundbar through Samsung’s Q-Symphony feature, adding even more channels to the mix for a more immersive experience.
Channels
11.1.4
Physical Connections
HDMI, Optical
Built-In Voice Assistant
Amazon Alexa
Learn More
Samsung HW-Q990C 11.1.4-Channel Soundbar Review
Best Midrange Sonos Soundbar
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
- Big sound field for its size
- Full and crisp sound, from low-mids to highs
- Dolby Atmos audio sounds precise and immersive, even without rear speakers
- Not much deep bass without optional (and pricey) subwoofer
- No Bluetooth support
- Trueplay audio tuning only available for iOS
The Beam sits in the middle of the Sonos soundbar lineup between the low-end Ray and the high-end Arc. It’s a capable soundbar that complements a modest-size TV (55 inches or smaller) quite well. Its biggest weakness is mediocre bass response, though you can add a Sonos subwoofer to it for increased low end.
If you want to improve your TV’s sound quality, add a voice assistant to your living room, and start building a Sonos multi-room system for less than $500, the Beam is a good choice.
Channels
5.0
Physical Connections
HDMI, Optical
Built-In Voice Assistant
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
Learn More
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Review
Best for Roku TVs
TCL Alto R1 Roku TV Wireless Soundbar
- Powerful, balanced sound
- Easy to set up
- Can be augmented with a Roku Wireless Subwoofer
- Requires a Roku TV
- TV needs to be on in order to use the speaker
On paper, this soundbar is unimpressive: It’s stereo-only and requires a Roku TV. But, for its size and price, it offers powerful sound. And its wireless integration with Roku TVs means you only have to plug it into power. You can augment it with Roku’s first-party subwoofers if you want more bass. Just as importantly, this soundbar is often on sale for well under its list price.
Roku TV owners should give this soundbar a shot for improved home entertainment audio quality at an affordable price. TCL no longer produces it, but it’s still available via third parties, including Walmart. If you can’t find it, the $150 Roku Wireless Soundbar offers a nearly identical experience and can be expanded to a 4.1-channel with rear satellites. At that price, we recommend bumping up to the Streambar Pro, though.
Channels
Stereo
Physical Connections
None
Built-In Voice Assistant
None
Learn More
TCL Alto R1 Roku TV Wireless Soundbar Review
Best Cheap Subwoofer System
Vizio 2.1 Soundbar
- Affordable
- Subwoofer delivers plenty of bass
- Uneven audio balance
- Limited sound field
- No real spatial audio
One of the biggest weaknesses in TV speakers is bass, and that’s also one of the biggest weaknesses in most soundbars without a separate subwoofer. The Vizio 2.1 Soundbar fixes that for well under $200 with a wireless subwoofer that can add some much-needed thump to your TV. The soundbar itself isn’t particularly impressive, but it’s still an easy way to get a solid bass boost.
This is a good way to add subwoofer rumble to your TV without spending much. Just be aware that the soundbar itself probably won’t offer much of an improvement over your TV’s speakers for the frequencies higher than sub-bass.
Channels
2.1
Physical Connections
HDMI, Optical, USB
Built-In Voice Assistant
None
Learn More
Vizio 2.1 Soundbar Review
Buying Guide: The Best Soundbars for 2024
Does Your Soundbar Need a Subwoofer for Good Bass?
If you plan on building a sound system with more than one piece, the most important addition is a subwoofer. Soundbars can generate a lot of sound from low-mid to high frequencies, but they usually can’t reach deep into the sub-bass ranges. Because of how sound travels, you need a lot of physical space to get powerful bass, and the wide, shallow shape of soundbars simply doesn’t allow that.
Many soundbar packages include subwoofers that wirelessly connect to the rest of the system; you can tuck these behind, next to, or under your couch. Low-frequency sounds don’t rely as much on acoustics and directionality as higher frequencies do, so you can still feel the effect of the rumble no matter where you put the subwoofer. You might need to plug a wireless subwoofer into a power outlet, but that’s likely the full extent of the setup process for wireless models.
Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX (Credit: Polk Audio)
If your soundbar doesn’t include a subwoofer, you might still have options. Some models have subwoofer outputs, which means you can add one after the fact. You have to consider cables with this method, though. You also need to make sure your subwoofer is powered (has a built-in amp) or connect a preamp between your unpowered subwoofer and the soundbar. Just like it takes a lot of space to move that much air, it also takes a lot of power.
Check out our article on how to set up your speakers for more on soundbar placement and how to get the best possible audio out of your system.
Wireless Surround Sound: More Convenient to Connect Than 5.1 and 7.1 Systems
Most soundbars claim to offer some form of surround sound, but this can be a bit misleading. Audio processing and driver placement can create a sense of surround sound even if the speakers are just directly in front of you, but this type of setup isn’t capable of reproducing the accurate imaging of a true surround system with dedicated satellites for each channel. If you really want a sense of immersion, you need a full surround sound speaker system—or a soundbar with separate satellites for the rear audio channels.
JBL Bar 1300X (Credit: Will Greenwald)
There’s also the matter of the type of surround sound you want. Conventional 5.1- and 7.1-channel audio is common for a lot of content, but home theater sound has gone beyond that with spatial audio. Spatial sound systems like Dolby Atmos map every source of sound from what you’re watching to a location around you in a 3D space and calculate how to mix the audio to best reproduce their locations, whether your speakers have two drivers or dozens. It’s an immersive effect, especially with the addition of upward-facing drivers to produce sounds with a sense of height. Not all soundbars support Dolby Atmos, though, and not all that support Atmos have the drivers necessary for height.
On the downside, true surround systems create more clutter than a single soundbar. Each satellite requires wires running either to the wall or a centralized device like an A/V receiver, and that means a lot of cables. You can hide them with rugs or in-wall conduits, but they can still be a hassle. And, of course, you need stands, shelves, or some other sort of nearby flat surface to place all the speakers on. It’s great if you have the budget to build or remodel your living room around a surround sound system, but this simply isn’t practical for most people.
Bluetooth vs. Wi-Fi Soundbars
All of the speakers on this list can wirelessly stream music from your smartphone or tablet. Most of them use Bluetooth, and some use Wi-Fi-based wireless audio systems like Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, or Sonos. Bluetooth is easy to use and lets you connect your phone to your soundbar, just like a pair of headphones. This setup won’t offer the best audio quality, though, especially if the soundbar doesn’t support high-res Bluetooth codecs.
Wi-Fi isn’t quite as simple to configure as Bluetooth, but it lets you set up multi-room sound systems so you can seamlessly play music all over your house. It also enables lossless audio because of its high bandwidth.
Either way, you probably won’t need to get a separate wireless music speaker for your living room if you have a soundbar. For more, read our roundup of the best wireless speakers. Voice assistants are also available in many Wi-Fi-compatible models, meaning that many of the soundbars above double as smart speakers.
Recommended by Our Editors
Home Theater Systems vs. Soundbars
Home theater audio has traditionally been a big, complex field for audiophiles, or at least for people who are comfortable building a sound system out of individual components. The last decade has popularized soundbars as simpler, compact, and affordable alternatives.
In terms of sheer potential power and system flexibility, no single soundbar or all-in-one sound system can match what you can build if you set up a home theater from components by yourself. With a standalone A/V receiver, amp, and set of big speakers, you get much more power and control over your home theater sound—but you have to put in more legwork and spend more money. A good receiver can easily cost as much as a good soundbar, and that’s before you start adding speakers. You also need to run the wires yourself and maybe even integrate an amp.
An elaborate home theater speaker system can be incredibly rewarding, but you need relatively deep pockets and a good feel for the technology (or even deeper pockets and a willingness to hire a custom installer) to make it all happen.
Audioengine A1-MR speakers (Credit: Audioengine)
The Best Alternatives to Soundbars
You don’t need a soundbar for great sound. Almost any large Bluetooth speaker, especially one with an optical, RCA, or 3.5mm input (if your TV has a headphone jack), can vastly improve your experience. Just keep in mind that its power and ability to produce a sound field might be better for smaller screens than a large TV. It also might not fit as neatly under or in front of your TV. Our roundup of computer speakers is a good place to start if you want something that works with both your TV and desktop PC.
