Most TVs have built-in speakers insufficient to cover your living area with immersive sound that sufficiently highlights the finer points of movies and TV shows. Fortunately, you won't have to pay on a five-speaker (or more) surround-sound system to enhance your audio experience. Generally speaking, Dolby Atmos content may be greatly enhanced with a single soundbar and sometimes a subwoofer. I have produced a list of the top soundbars in premium, mid-range, and budget price levels together with a synopsis of what distinguishes them from the competition to help with your home theater buying. Just know going in that you will receive more in terms of features and performance the more you pay.
What Search Should I Do For A Soundbar?
Features
In terms of features, your new audio system will yield more the more you pay for it. Most reasonably priced choices ($150 or less) may enhance the audio quality of your TV; that's about it. Enter the $300 to $400 area and discover a smart soundbar including built-in voice control, wireless connection, Google Chromecast, AirPlay 2, even Android TV. While the finest sound quality is typically only in the top tier and the formats that premium soundbar systems offer, they all aid when you want to avoid searching for the remote control. I'm referring about high-resolution audio standards such Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and others. These are what you should search for if your living room arrangement calls for very immersive sound. And not all Atmos soundbars are equal, so before you start saving, you should carefully review the finer points.
Ports
One of major importance is this. Many of the most reasonably priced soundbars have few connectivity choices. If fortune favors you, they either provide one HDMI jack or an optical port. Though that's not always the case, things improve somewhat around the middle range. For instance, the Sonos Beam has just one HDMI connector yet is $449. Usually looking for an option with at least two HDMI (eARC) ports will let you to connect your set-top box, gaming console, and more straight to your soundbar for the finest possible sounds. Things like Dolby Atmos support, DTS:X and other high-res, immersive audio systems depend on HDMI connections. Furthermore supporting HDR, 8K, and 4K/120 passthrough with the HDMI 2.1 protocol, soundbars will make these speaker systems an even better friend for a game console.
Stations
Channels are another major consideration you should provide while choosing the ideal soundbar. Companies use that 2.1, 7.1.2 or another decimal value in product descriptions. The first figure relates to channel count. A two would merely be left and right; a more solid Atmos system, particularly one with back satellite speakers, may be five or seven (left, right, center and upward). The second number relates to the subwoofer; so, should your new soundbar have one or have them built in, you will notice a one here. Important for the immersive impact of Dolby Atmos, the third number is up-firing speakers. Though not all Atmos-enabled devices have them, if they do the third number will indicate their current count.
Bluetooth
These days most soundbars have Bluetooth, WiFi, or both. Regarding WiFi, such connectivity offers luxuries including Chromecast, Spotify Connect and AirPlay 2, voice control (either built-in or via another device), Your tastes might let you live without some of these. While the others I could live without, AirPlay 2 and Chromecast are basics. Those two enable me to broadcast music and podcasts from my preferred applications without having to compromise — or battle with — a Bluetooth connection.
Dimensions
Though this one seems clear-cut, humor me for a minute. Getting a costly soundbar in your living room only to discover you have to reorganize everything to find a place for it is more soul-crushing than anything else. When the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar showed up at my house, this was my situation. Indeed, the speaker is quite huge and weighty; most soundbars are not nearly as massive. I discovered a useful lesson: Make sure the area you intend to install a soundbar can fit the item you're about to spend hundreds—if not thousands—of dollars on.
Basically, the TV you have (or intend to have) and the main objective for your living-room audio define everything. Is it easy to operate? From a single speaker or speaker/sub combo, do you desire the greatest sound available? You just want to be able to hear your TV clearer? Alternatively would you want to create surround sound-powered immersive home theater out of your living room?
Paying attention to each of those elements will help you to know what to search for in a soundbar, soundbar/subwoofer combo or a more sturdy arrangement. Having said that, we have tested several items at Engadget and have a few choices for best soundbar at different price ranges to get you going.
The Greatest Soundbars For 2024
Samsung's HW-Q990D
The Q990D from Samsung is my first choice largely because of its remarkable, immersive sound quality. However, I also ranked it ahead of the pack as the home theater arrangement is perfect. The soundbar, subwoiser and rear speakers all fit in one package for $2,000. Although that is expensive, assembling a comparable package among the competitors will cost the same, or in some circumstances more.
Samsung fits in 22 total drivers across all the different parts to produce an 11.1.4-channel sound factory. For Dolby Atmos material, the audio is clear and detailed, so movies and TV shows are as near to a theatrical experience as you could possibly find from a soundbar configuration. Features like Private Rear Sound, which just use the rear speakers when you need to listen at a much quieter setting, also abound in the Q990D. For music as well, this is a fantastic choice as the subwoofer boosts better parts of tunes along the road and produces booming bass when needed.
The Sony HT-A7000
Sony has a long history of outstanding high-end soundbars; their most recent creation is another terrific product. Thanks to Sony's 360 Sound Masking, Sound Field Optimization, vertical surround technology and S-Force Pro front surround, the A7000 is a strong Dolby Atmos soundbar competent of immersing 7.1.2 audio. Though I haven't discussed 360 Reality Audio or DSEE Extreme upscaling, both beneficial for listening to music, there is a lot of tech at work here. Regarding audio, you might stream your tunes to the A7000 utilizing Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay 2.
Two HDMI eARC inputs allow you to link many game consoles or streaming devices. The A7000 is a wonderful choice for gamers since owing to HDMI 2.1 compatibility you should anticipate 8K and 4K/120 passthrough to your display. Though it has one built in, this soundbar is costly at $1,198 and lacks a separate subwoofer. Sony does, however, provide you several choices for both a sub and back satellite speaker. The SA-SW5 is $699; the SA-SW3 sub is $298. The SA-RS3S costs $350 for back speakers; the completely wireless (and far nicer looking) SA-RS5 set is $598. Sony has the HT-A5000 for $999 if you want to save some money on the soundbar itself; but we have just spotted it on sale for $798. Though only in a 5.1.2-channel arrangement, it has almost all of the same bells and whistles as the A7000.
Ambeo Mini Sennheiser
Though this is the most little of Sennheiser's Ambeo soundbars, the Mini stays in the premium category for two reasons. First, you will have to purchase a subwoofer to really utilize it, adding still another $600. Second, the Mini is already $700, hence a full package brings you in line with competitor flagship models. Once you have both though, for a little soundbar the Ambeo Mini is rather amazing.
First presented on the large Ambeo Soundbar Max in 2019, Sennheiser's spatial Ambeo technology is the major highlight. The firm offers more immersive sound with a mix of 3D virtualization and driver placement with it. Due less speakers inside, the audio profile of the Mini depends more on virtualization than on the larger Ambeo soundbars. You will still have a virtualized 7.1.4-channel configuration, though, that fits music and movies nicely. That is so long as you indulge for the Ambeo Sub as well.
Sonos Beam
strong audio quality Look. Dolby Atmos? Right. Easy to put up and small? Uh yeah. compatible with other Sonos items for a more strong system? You bless. Since it debuted in 2018, the first-generation Sonos Beam has been among our favorites; but, one thing it lacked: Dolby Atmos. Though it's somewhat restricted as the Beam lacks upward-firing speakers, it was the major improvement of the 2021 model. By adjusting audio time and frequency instead of adding extra drivers, Sonos is able to give objects greater directional quality. With just one HDMI connection in the new Beam, you won't be connecting a game console or set-top box straight to this. It also implies you will require an adaptor if your TV is older and features an optical port.
Sonos Ray
Though at $279, Sonos's most recent offer for best soundbar is not exactly a budget choice even if it may be most reasonably priced. Particularly when there are less expensive choices with a subwoofer. Still, the little design fits perfectly for modest living areas as it doesn't occupy much room in front of or on your TV stand. Easy to set up, the Ray offers excellent sound quality for TV and music. Regarding the immersive quality of the audio, there are certain trade-offs; still, this is a decent choice for improving the TV sound with least disturbance.
VIZio V21t-J8 2.1
Vizio offers several premium choices if you're trying to enhance your TV sound on a shoestring. For $160 you get a 2.1-channel arrangement in a small soundbar and 4.5-inch wireless sub combo with the V21t-J8. If you want your add-on TV speaker to occupy little space, this would be a fantastic option. Although Wi-Fi is not available, this is basically the only fundamental sacrifice made. While a 3.5mm aux jack and Bluetooth let you playback music from your phone or another device, HDMI ARC/eARC and optical connectors link to your television. Some of the surround sound effects of DTS Virtual:X compatibility come without a larger device or extra speakers. You may alos read this: Fitbit Ace LTE Review: A Kids' Activity Tracker
Additional Soundbars Under Testing
Son's Arc
Although the Arc is Sonos' most costly soundbar, it is without a doubt their best-sounding one. It's tough to suggest this product above companies like Samsung and Sony given a new model based on the Arc said to be on route. The Arc fits perfectly with other Sonos equipment you might already have for a multiroom arrangement and performs effectively as both a soundbar and a speaker. Though many of the competition lets you connect streaming and gaming devices straight to their soundbars, it just has one HDMI connector.
Ambeo Soundbar Plus by Sennheiser
Sennheiser's medium-sized variant doesn't seem to have enough to set from the more potent Ambeo Soundbar Max or the Ambeo Soundbar Mini. With its own proper immersive audio, the Mini is more reasonably priced and performs really well. As you can only add a subwoofer to the soundbars, there is no choice for satellite speakers as with the rest of the Ambeo roster. If you enjoy vinyl, though, the Ambeo Soundbar Plus does feature RCA input; you can use it with a turntable.
