%20Abstract%20Background%20102024%20SOURCE%20Amazon.jpg?w=1920&resize=1920,998&ssl=1 "14 Finest Soundbars We have Examined and Reviewed (2025): Sonos, Sony, Bose")
Honorable Mentions
There are loads of nice soundbars on the market, and we don’t have room to characteristic all of them. Listed here are some others you may need to think about.
LG’s S95TR for $1,000-1,300: LG’s 9.1.5-channel soundbar (8/10, WIRED Recommends) would not carry out in addition to Samsung’s flagship Q990 sequence, but it surely may very well be a more sensible choice for these with newer LG TVs just like the C4, which might join wirelessly and use its audio system in tandem with the bar for extra immersion. It additionally helps gaming options like 120-Hz pass-through, however solely consists of one spare enter.
Vizio 2.1 Soundbar (SV210M) for $170: Vizio’s curvy little combo brings attractive worth, with stable sound high quality and a few cinematic punch from the teensiest subwoofer you’ll ever see. There’s no optical enter or distant included, however the Vizio app makes adjusting settings or swapping to Bluetooth easy sufficient. The primary disadvantage is that dialog typically (however not at all times) will get misplaced, lowering the primary draw of an inexpensive soundbar. That mentioned, good musical chops and options like DTS Digital X growth make it value contemplating on sale.
Samsung HW-Q800C for $598: If Samsung’s HW-Q990C all the pieces bar is just too wealthy on your blood, the two-piece HW-Q800C (WIRED Recommends, 8/10) may very well be an excellent compromise. This bar provides the same sound signature as Samsung’s flagship bars lots of the similar options, packed right into a smaller bar-and-subwoofer combo for a notable low cost–particularly because it’s now nearly at all times on sale.
Sennheiser Ambeo Mini for $700: This pint-sized luxurious bar is nice for these with cash to burn in very small areas. Sennheiser’s built-in Ambeo virtualization know-how brilliantly throws sound throughout you for exhilarating TV and flicks, and provides superior options like help for Google Assistant and Alexa.
Sony HT-X8500 for $300: Sony’s HT-X8500 is getting tougher to search out, but it surely’s nonetheless one in every of our favourite choices for these after a single bar with stable bass response and expansive sound, together with respectable Dolby Atmos virtualization. Whereas it is pricier than our prime bar, it is an ideal different for these after a bit extra, and price contemplating whereas it is nonetheless accessible.
Roku Streambar for $130: For those who’re after a soundbar that doubles as an ideal streaming machine, WIRED reviewer Adrienne So swears by the Roku Streambar. After she spent years with out one she was so impressed that she shouted it from the rooftops. Setup is simple, and since it consists of Roku’s easy streaming interface you’ll be able to stream motion pictures and reveals at as much as 4K HDR from nearly each streaming service. You can even add a Roku subwoofer or surround-sound audio system down the road. We encourage getting a sub.
Vizio Elevate M-Collection for $500: In order for you full-featured Dolby Atmos and you want a little bit of aptitude, Vizio’s second Elevate bar is value contemplating. Drivers come out of the aspect and goal towards your ceiling when Atmos content material is taking part in, giving it a nifty get together trick to indicate your buddies. Sound high quality is stable too, and we just like the compact design and simple setup. Nonetheless, you’ll have to route some speaker cables for the rear surrounds.
The Yamaha SR-C30A for $276: This mannequin SR-C30A soundbar seems to be very comparable certainly to the SR-C20A, and that’s as a result of they’re the identical factor the place dimensions, specification, and sound high quality are all involved. The distinction is that the SR-C30A ships with a compact (335 x 160 x 364mm) wi-fi subwoofer for some genuine Hollywood-style rumble and punch. —Simon Lucas
Sennheiser Ambeo Plus for $1,200: Given the worth and the bodily dimensions of the soundbar—which does not even embody a subwoofer—the Ambeo Plus may appear to be a poor deal. However due to its 400 watts of energy and its 9 rigorously developed and much more rigorously positioned speaker drivers, this Sennheiser is able to massive, enveloping sound with a powerful suggestion of the sonic peak that Dolby Atmos soundtracks thrive on. By means of an encore, it seems to be a massively succesful wi-fi speaker if you need to hearken to some music, too. —Simon Lucas
The Polk React for $269: This soundbar works if you wish to get {surround} sound ultimately however don’t have the money proper now. The Alexa-enabled soundbar is okay by itself, with {surround} audio system and subwoofers accessible from Polk if you wish to improve.
The Vizio Elevate P-Collection for $700: That is an awesome-looking soundbar with aspect audio system that swivel skyward if you’re watching content material with object-based audio. It’s a nice-sounding bar, and that gimmick is neat, however there are higher choices for beneath $1,000.
Tips on how to Join Your Soundbar
We’ve included a listing of obtainable connectivity choices subsequent to each soundbar on our listing. Nearly all soundbars will connect with your TV by way of optical or HDMI cables—HDMI being preferable typically.
In case your TV and soundbar each have an HDMI-ARC port (the cable port seems to be like common HDMI, but it surely’s labeled ARC or eARC), join it that approach. It can help you use the quantity buttons in your TV distant to manage the soundbar’s quantity. Additionally, ensure CEC is enabled. Use an optical cable provided that HDMI isn’t accessible, as HDMI can also be obligatory for Dolby Atmos and different 3D audio codecs.
Lastly, examine your TV audio menus to verify your TV’s inner audio system are set to off (so that you don’t get any bizarre audio fluttering) and discover the very best spots to put your audio system and sub.
Now we have but to check a brand new TV that didn’t sound crummy with out an audio accent. That’s largely as a result of approach televisions are designed. Nice-sounding audio system are cumbersome, and as TVs have gotten thinner, with shrinking bezels and sleeker designs, producers are having a tougher time constructing good audio system into them.
You may spend as little as $150 on a brand new soundbar with a subwoofer, and it’s important to getting probably the most out of your viewing expertise. Our listing of the very best soundbars we’ve examined consists of soundbars offered on their very own and fashions that come bundled with a subwoofer at all kinds of value factors. Learn on for extra recommendation on constructing your inexpensive new house theater setup.
Are Soundbars as Good as Audio system?
Stumble onto any A/V or house theater subreddit or discussion board and also you’ll see a mob of individuals claiming even the concept of a soundbar matching as much as a pair of audio system is heresy. The reality, so far as we’re involved, is that all of it is determined by your particular person needs and wishes.
For those who’re searching for probably the most musical bang on your buck, particularly on the subject of hi-res audio and vinyl document collections, an ideal pair of bookshelf audio system is probably going your greatest worth choice. Even in case you’re not eager on looking for an amplifier and working speaker wires, our greatest bookshelf audio system information provides loads of powered/energetic pairs that embody all of the inputs and amplification built-in—like a soundbar system for audiophiles.
That is probably not the best choice for everyone, although. For those who’re simply after one thing low cost and easy to soup up your TV sound, or on the opposite finish, a handy method to discover thrilling audio codecs like {surround} sound and Dolby Atmos, a soundbar may very well be the proper selection. Soundbars are inexpensive and hassle-free options, lots of which provide sound and options which will match your wants higher than a pair of audio system or a standard house theater setup. We take no sides right here, we simply love good sound and nice options. For a lot of, a soundbar is one of the simplest ways to get there.
This can be a query solely you’ll be able to reply, however there are just a few factors to contemplate earlier than making a name, beginning together with your dwelling area. For those who dwell in a smaller house or multiplex, a subwoofer is probably not the only option resulting from each its dimension and its chance of arousing noise complaints. Trendy soundbars just like the Klipsch Flexus Core 200 have gotten more and more good at reproducing convincing bass from a single bar, usually using a number of audio system in live performance to carry extra punch to decrease frequencies with out inflicting numerous increase and bombast.
For those who’re much less involved about shut quarters and searching for extra cinematic punch, it is best to extremely think about a soundbar with a subwoofer. Physics can solely be stretched up to now, and no multi-speaker system we’ve heard can match the punch and efficiency of a devoted giant driver and acoustic cupboard. Even many inexpensive soundbar fashions embody a subwoofer. In order for you full-throttle sound, we propose contemplating going all in for a subwoofer, or on the very least, a bar that means that you can add one later.
%20Abstract%20Background%20102024%20SOURCE%20Amazon.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1&description=14+Finest+Soundbars+We+have+Examined+and+Reviewed+%282025%29%3A+Sonos%2C+Sony%2C+Bose){kind=link}