The Best Soundbar

With the panel technology becoming predominant in the manufacture of TVs, the manufacturers are putting all of their efforts into making the TVs slimmer, larger, and pushing the pixels to a maximum resolution.

Unfortunately, because of this, the speakers in the TVs are getting smaller and less powerful too.

This is the main reason why these devices have become so popular in the last decade or so. Today, there are soundbars which offer features such as Dolby Atmos support, virtual surround sound, and multi-room audio functionality, music streaming via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and others.

Since they have become so popular, the choice for the best soundbar is becoming more difficult due to the growing assortment being offered on the market right now.

After careful research into the current soundbar market, we have come up with an updated list of the best soundbars you can buy for 2026.

Our best overall pick is the Sonos Beam Gen 2, but make sure you read on to find out more about all of our top picks. We are pretty sure we have added a soundbar fit for all needs – from a simple and budget-friendly option to several ones made for serious audiophiles.

Below, you will also find some useful information about the different features of these devices, as well as tips for making it easier for you to pick the right one for you.

Our Top Soundbar Picks

1. Sonos Beam Gen 2

Our best overall pick. This compact soundbar packs Dolby Atmos support into a single bar with no separate subwoofer required, and it integrates cleanly into a Sonos multi-room system if you already own other Sonos speakers. Setup is genuinely simple, and voice control is built in.

2. Bose TV Speaker

Our budget-friendly pick. It skips surround-sound extras and focuses entirely on making dialogue and everyday TV audio clearer, which is exactly what most people actually want from a first soundbar upgrade. Simple HDMI-ARC or optical setup, no subwoofer to find space for.

3. Sonos Arc Ultra

Our premium pick for a genuinely immersive Dolby Atmos experience in a single bar, with upward-firing speakers that bounce sound off the ceiling for real height cues. This is the flagship choice for anyone who wants a home-theater-grade experience without a separate receiver and speaker set.

4. Klipsch Flexus CORE 300

The pick for bass lovers and audiophiles. This 5.1.2 channel system is powered by Onkyo electronics and includes Dirac Live room correction, so it actually adapts its output to the shape of your room rather than relying on generic presets.

5. Yamaha SR-B40A

A strong mid-range Dolby Atmos pick with a wireless subwoofer included, giving genuine low-end without extra cables running across the room. Yamaha's clear voice processing also makes it a solid dialogue-enhancement option.

6. LG S90TR

A 7.1.3 channel system built to match LG's OLED TV lineup, with a wireless subwoofer and rear surround speakers included in the box for a true multi-speaker home theater layout rather than a single bar alone.

7. Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9

Sony's flagship soundbar, with 13 individual speakers built into the system for a genuinely wide, layered soundstage. It pairs particularly well with Sony BRAVIA TVs for synchronized picture and sound processing, though it works with any TV over HDMI-ARC.

8. Vizio 33" Dolby Atmos 5.1 Ch Soundbar System

A genuinely affordable way into Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, with a wireless subwoofer included in the box. It's a good value pick for anyone who wants surround-style sound without stepping up to premium pricing.

So, what is a soundbar exactly?

Soundbars became a thing after flat TVs started to get thinner and thinner. The reason is that the manufacturers often need to compromise the audio in order to make the TV as thin as possible.

A soundbar is usually a one, two or more piece speaker system which has the main purpose of bringing better audio quality to the modern flat TVs. It is designed and made for people who either cannot afford, don’t have the space or are restricted by the connectivity options of their TV to add a whole audio system with freestanding speakers to their home theater.

Today’s soundbars offer an audio performance which surpasses that of any modern flat TV, and at the same time take up very little space, are easy to set up, and in most cases are much more affordable than the traditional home theater audio systems.

They are designed to be able to fit on the TV stand, in front of the TV on a piece of furniture, or mounted on the wall beneath the TV in a way which does not interfere with the viewing experience or with the remote control access to the TV.

There are some soundbars which are referred to as sound bases and are meant to act like a base on which the TV stands as well.

Many TV manufacturers make soundbars which aesthetically and size wise fit their TVs.

Since most of the content available on TV or from other sources has been recorded in surround sound, many of them have the ability to decode Dolby Digital and playback the sound in the center, left and right channels and the low-frequency effects for an immersive surround effect. Many of the soundbars including those from our list come with an included separate subwoofer which handles the low-frequency effects.

Some of them even come with rear speakers and others support Dolby Atmos and DTS:X which support object-oriented codecs and deliver a sensation of the sound coming from above the viewer and listener.

What is the difference between a sound base and a soundbar?

The two have similar functions and often have the same features but sound bases are specifically designed to be able to act as bases of the TV, which is placed directly on top of them, while as the soundbars are made to be placed on the TV stand, in front of the TV or wall mounted below a hanging TV.

The fact is that sound bases are not as good as providing stereo as soundbars. They also are becoming skinnier just like the TVs which means that their audio quality is deteriorating as well.

What are the advantages of buying a soundbar?

There are many advantages of buying and installing a soundbar in your home theater. Here are the main ones:

• It will provide an easy and effortless upgrade to your TV’s audio and will provide you with a more immersive audiovisual experience
• Most of them offer quite wide listening angles and have a high listening volume which allows for a great listening experience no matter where you are sitting or standing in the room
• The soundbar is compact and slim and won’t take up too much space
• It is easy to put together – just plug it in a power outlet and to the TV, and you are done
• There is no complicated wiring and much fewer cables than in a traditional home theater audio system
• They have have amplification and sound processing which your own speakers don’t have
• A good soundbar can reproduce 4k surround sound, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X which you can’t get out of even the most expensive 4K TV
• You get the choice to place the soundbar flat in front of the TV, on the TV stand or mount in on the wall. Either way, it doesn’t take up too much space and is not too intrusive
• It offers much more power than the speakers of your TV
• Most soundbars have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and can be connected to each and every one of your devices in the home network, or those paired with it so you can stream any kind of audio content at any time
• They are generally less expensive than buying and setting up individual components of a home theater audio system
• A soundbar with Dialogue enhancement will let you hear clearly and comprehend every single word being said. This is great for those of you having trouble picking up the voices amidst the background music, sounds, and It is also superb for the elderly and for people with impaired hearing
• Some of them have an option to even the sound levels, so you won’t get the annoying and jarring peaks in the volumes of the sound when a commercial comes on, or when you are switching from one program to another
• You can use your soundbar as a convenient music player as well
• Some are expandable so you can add additional speakers or subwoofers. You can also set up a multi-room audio system and your soundbar can become the star component
• Soundbars look good and will fit in your décor without being distracting or interfering with your viewing experience

Where to place the soundbar

There are basically three options for the placement of your soundbar, so that you can get the optimal sound out of it.

One is placing it in front of the TV on the TV stand or another piece of furniture. In this case, you need to measure the stand to ensure that the soundbar will fit, and also measure the height of the TV with the stand or wall-mounted TV to ensure that the soundbar will not get in the way when you are watching something or when you are trying to use your remote control.

The other option is placing it under the TV. This is an option if you choose a sound base, or if you want to place it on the TV’s stand. Once again, measure the height available, or if placing a sound base, ensure that the footprint of the TV will fit and that it has the weight capacity to hold it safely.

The third option is wall mounting. This is the best option if your TV is wall mounted. But you need to consider how to deal with the cable management to ensure there are no unsightly cables running along the wall in between both units. Most  of these audio devices come with mounting brackets or with keyhole slots for easy mounting.

If your TV is mounted on an articulated bracket, you should check for an option for a soundbar bracket which can move in the same direction and in the same plane as the TV.

What size soundbar do you need

The most important factor to consider when choosing the size of the soundbar is its height if you are planning on placing it in front of the TV or directly below it on the TV stand. You need a soundbar which doesn’t block your view, as well as doesn’t block the infrared receiver for the remote control, even though most of them have IR repeaters which will ensure that your infrared signal passes through.

Also, the length is important if you have limited space on the TV stand or the TV cabinet.

When choosing a sound base, choose one which has the size and capacity of holding your TV and fit its stand or legs.

Keep in mind that the smaller the soundbar is the less space it will have for all speakers, tweeters, and woofers, as well as for more inputs and connectivity options. So, a compact soundbar may look nice, but check out all of the features to see whether you will be satisfied with your audio-visual experience. But, don’t think that bigger soundbars are always better. Just check out all specifications when choosing the best one for you.

What are the soundbar channels

The channels are the sound source or the individual speakers of an audio system. Most movies and TV shows offer 5 channels – center, right, left, left rear and left right. The soundbar contains all or most of the channels in the unit itself. Some come with subwoofers, satellite speakers, or offer possibilities for expansion. The first digit is for the number of speakers, the second one is for the subwoofer, and if there is a third digit – it is for upward firing speakers.

Here is what the channels mean:

2  channel – one with a left and right speaker

3 channel – one with a right, left and center speakers

5 channel – left, right and center speakers as well as two rear speakers

7 channel – in this case, the surround and rear channels are split in 4 and along with the main left, right and center, the speakers are 7

Dolby Atmos soundbars – when you see a model which has a third digit in the channel number, like 5.1.2 to 7.1.2, you should know that the third digit represents Dolby Atmos upwards firing speakers

Dolby Atmos and DTS:X

If you want to have a complete and immersive home theater experience, look for a soundbar which supports Dolby Atmos, DTS:X or both.

Normal soundbars rely on the right left and center speakers and offer two-channel stereo, but for the ability to fill the room and surround you from all sides, including from above some of these audio systems are fitted with top-notch digital signal processing, psychoacoustics and rely on the shape of your room to deliver this effect.

Others offer the option of adding additional surround speakers for a more immersive 5.1 surround sound.

And of course, there are soundbars which support the object-oriented  Dolby Atmos, DTS:X or both. Usually, these soundbars have more speakers in the device itself – some of them dedicated to the left, right and central channels, and the others dedicated to the height and surround cues.

With Dolby Atmos, the soundbar will simulate the immersive powerful 3D audio which you can experience in a movie theater. Atmos will allow you to perceive the sound up and down, unlike the regular surround which allows for side-to-side hearing.

Within our top picks, we have several soundbars which support Dolby Atmos, DTS:X or both, including the LG S90TR, the Sonos Arc Ultra, Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9, and the Klipsch Flexus CORE 300.

These high-end soundbars can support 5.1.2 and even 7.1.3 channel speaker setups. The 5.1.2 channel ones have a front left, front right, center, left surround, right surround, left height and right height as well as a subwoofer. The 7.1.3 channel ones have the same consideration but with additional height channels. From our list, the LG S90TR has a 7.1.3 surround sound set with rear speakers included, and the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 packs 13 individual speakers into its soundstage.

HDMI ARC

If you saw HDMI ARC in some of our soundbar reviews above, you may be wondering what this acronym means and how you can benefit from such a feature?

HDMI ARC stands for high definition multimedia interface audio return channel, which means that you can get the full benefit of enjoying the best video along with the best audio via a single HDMI cable connection between your TV and the audio system. This kind of connection supports Dolby Digital and DTS audio which uses an S/PDIF (Sony Philips Digital Interface) output.

In order to benefit from such a connectivity option, you need to make sure that your TV has an ARC output of course.

4k soundbars

If you want the sound to match the image quality and ultra-high definition resolution of your 4k TV, you should opt for a 4k soundbar. But if you are buying a soundbar to use for listening to music only, there will be no difference for your listening experience if you buy a 4k one.

We have picked several which have 4k pass-through such as the LG S90TR, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9, the Yamaha SR-B40A, the Klipsch Flexus CORE 300, and others.

A 4k pass-through will allow for a direct transfer of the 4k signal from the TV to the soundbar for a lossless listening experience when you are watching 4k content.

What about an A/V receiver?

Soundbars can be active or passive. The active ones are self-contained and include an amplifier, volume control, digital signal processing along with the speakers in the cabinet. Some of these soundbars can be connected to multiple HDMI sources simultaneously.

Passive ones, on the other hand, rely on an external amplifier of an A//V receiver just like a traditional standalone loudspeaker. These can be connected to the receiver along with the TV and the other loudspeakers, and then the receiver will amplify the signal and send it to the speaker.

All of our top picks above are active soundbars, and some have the option to add additional speakers and subwoofers.

Smart soundbars and App control

If your phone or tablet is always next to you and you want to use it to control your soundbar, you should opt for one of the many soundbars which offer app control. Most of the devices on our list offer this option, and the apps for controlling them are free and allow for adjusting all settings via a smartphone or other device in your home network, or paired to the TV via Bluetooth.

We have picked several soundbars with integrated Chromecast, Google Assistant or Alexa, which have the ability to stream your favorite tracks, podcasts, radio, and others on their own or via a compatible device. These units can also connect to the compatible devices in your smart home and be controlled hands-free with voice commands only.

Dialogue enhancement

This feature which is especially prominent in the LG S90TR, the Sonos Beam Gen 2, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9, and the Vizio Dolby Atmos soundbar in our lineup is especially important for those of you who find that they need to use closed captions in order to get everything that is being said when watching a movie, show or anything else. With this technology, the soundbar uses an algorithm to identify the frequencies of voices and speech and by passing them through a digital signal processor make them highlighted, clearer and easier to distinguish from the background music, sounds, and other effects.

This is an excellent feature which will help you understand every single word being said in a movie, show, sports event or anything else you are watching or listening to.

The Bose TV Speaker in particular is an especially useful dialogue enhancement instrument for people with impaired hearing such as elderly people and others, since it focuses specifically on clarifying voices rather than adding surround-sound extras.

HDMI

Most modern TVs, Blu-ray players, cable boxes, consoles, and other devices offer HDMI connectivity. If you are planning on connecting more than one source to your soundbar in order to be able to switch from one input to another without having to unplug the HDMI cable and plug in the other device, go for a soundbar with several HDMI input options.

HDMI 2.0a

Even if your TV is not UltraHD 4k, chances are that the next one you buy is going to be and will support high dynamic range (HDR). HDR pumps up the contrast for more vibrant colors and more details of the picture. In order to ensure that your audio system can handle the HDR information and pass it on to the TV, you have to ensure that it supports HDMI 2.0 connectivity.

Optical port

The optical patch cord port is probably the most solid and the simplest of the connectivity options for connecting the soundbar to your TV. Keep in mind that it doesn’t have the bandwidth to transfer 5.1signal.

Digital audio inputs

Most of the soundbars today have at least one digital audio input (coaxial or optical), as well as the red and white RCA analog stereo and mini-jack inputs. These are great for connecting portable music players, disc players, cable boxes and TVs. But today more and more of the TVs, disc players, and cable boxes come with HDMI connectivity. This is why you should carefully check the outputs of all of the devices you are planning to use with the soundbar before proceeding to buy one.

USB

If you want to plug in a USB flash drive, an external hard drive or an MP3 player to the soundbar, then opt for one with a USB port. Keep in mind that some USB ports on these devices are only for software updates, so take a look at the specifications first if you are planning on using the USB port.

What about lossless audio?

For the audiophiles who want the soundbar to be able to decode high-resolution music files in ALAC and FLAC, you need to make sure that the soundbar can handle and decode these types of files, and ensure that you listen to the music in a way in which the creators of the music intended you to hear it.

Multi Room audio

Some of the products on our list such as the Sonos Beam Gen 2 and the Sonos Arc Ultra can be components of an entire home audio system including speakers, wireless satellite speakers and subwoofers, placed in different rooms of the home which can be controlled via the Sonos app

Music streaming

Most of the soundbars on our list have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or both, and can be connected to your home network, which means that they can play music streamed from your smartphone, computer, tablet or any other compatible device. Some of our top picks have built-in Chromecast, Alexa, and Google Assistant and have access to thousands of internet radios and streaming services.

The units which support Bluetooth aptX like the Klipsch Flexus CORE 300 from our list can provide CD quality streaming. As for the audiophiles, you need to check whether the soundbar can decode FLAC, ALAC and other lossless codecs.

Room correction

Since the size and shape of your room plays a very important part in how the soundbar will perform and sound , you may want to choose one which has an integrated room correction technology. These soundbars are usually in the higher end when it comes to price, so you can expect to pay $1,000 or more for one of these. But then, a well-implemented room correction feature can result in absolutely astounding results for your listening and overall audiovisual experience.

Subwoofers

For those of you who love a deep good bass, you should opt for a soundbar which comes with a subwoofer or has an option to connect to one. We have picked a number of soundbars which come with wireless or wired subwoofers for you. The ultimate soundbar for the bass lover is the Klipsch Flexus CORE 300, which comes with a wireless subwoofer and Dirac Live room correction. Another superb option for bass-oriented audiophiles is the LG S90TR 7.1.3 channel soundbar, which comes with a wireless subwoofer and rear satellite speakers.

The wireless subwoofers are better for those of you who don’t want to be restricted by cables, and those who don’t want to deal with cables passing through the room.

Soundbars which have an option of connecting an external subwoofer are perfect for those of you who want to choose the subwoofer to add to your audio system by yourself.

Surround speakers

Some of the products come with wired or wireless surround speakers. They will enhance the surround system to a more lifelike sound and they are generally easier to install than if you are setting up your own home theater audio system.

Remote control

Although most of the soundbars come with dedicated remote controls, many of them have the option of programming your TV remote to work with the soundbar. There are also a variety of audio systems which can be controlled via an App downloaded on your smartphone, tablet or computer as well. The Alexa and Google Assistant enabled soundbars can be controlled by voice, so for a hands-free experience, pick one of them.

The price

The prices of these products start from less than $100 for the basic devices, and then step up to $200 to $300 for units with added features such as virtual surround, subwoofers and others. The subwoofers in the range of $300 to $500 can offer you some fancier features like Hi-Fi, 4k pass-through and others. As for the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundbars, you can find some which are in the $300 price range, but there are models which will cos you $1,000 and more too.

So can a soundbar beat a home theater audio system?

While setting up a home theater audio system is quite a complex and expensive field which is more or less reserved for audiophiles and for people who feel comfortable choosing and spending money for the setup of all individual components of such a system at home, soundbars have become increasingly popular in the last 10 years due to their relatively inexpensive price and ease of set up and use.

Plus, they take up much less space than an entire home theater audio system with a receiver, amp, large speakers and more.

But when it comes to the flexibility and the power of an audio system, there is no single soundbar which can match the one which you can build from different individual components.

Keep in mind that only the A/V receiver can cost as much as a good quality soundbar, and that is only the beginning. You will need to spend more on good quality speakers, an amplifier, as well as run all of the wiring by yourself.

As for the bar, usually you will just have to take it out of the box, plug it into a power outlet, connect it to the TV and you are set to go!

Final words

We truly hope that we have made things clearer for you and your choice of the best soundbar easier for you with this article.

Our belief is that we have done everything that needed to be done to pick out the absolute best soundbars which are being offered on the market right now.

There are soundbars available for any budget as well as for any need in this list, so we are pretty sure that you have managed to single out your favorite too.

Be prepared to hear details and sound effects which you have never previously experienced before when you are watching or listening to your favorite TV or other content with one of these clever devices.

Their set up does not require any complicated wiring and special skills, so you can start enjoying all of the benefits of having a good quality soundbar as soon as you take it out of the box and plug in a couple of cables!

You can have a home movie theater audio system which doesn’t cost a bundle of money and doesn’t require painstaking set up and choice of separate components with any one of these superb soundbars.

We wish you the best of luck with your choice and your purchase, and we truly believe that you will immediately hear and feel the difference when watching a movie, show, a sports game or playing a video game with one of these soundbars switched on.

Finally, you can get the maximum out of your expensive flat TV with one of these simple, compact and yet amazingly efficient audio device.