Overview
There is a model out there for everyone, whether you want a soundbar that supports Dolby Atmos or something you can plug your MP3 player into. While some soundbars offer a greater listening experience than others, not all soundbars are created equal.
Whether you want to connect it to your smart TV or prefer streaming directly from your smartphone, if you watch a lot of TVs or listen to music at home, you'll want something that sounds excellent and is compatible with your existing devices. The best soundbars with subwoofers for TV accurately imitate the dialogue from your favorite programs.
Top Picks
1.Best Soundbar- Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module
2. Best Soundbar Under $1,000- Vizio Elevate
3. Best Soundbar Under $500- Vizio M Series M512a-H6
4.Best Soundbar Under $250- Vizio V Series V51-H6
5. Best Small Soundbar- Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Reviews
1. Sony HT-A7000
Reasons to buy
-
strong low-end
-
Fantastic Atmos performance
-
many features
Reasons to avoid
-
No VRR or ALLM at launch
The award-winning HT-A7000 soundbar from Sony, which has a strong track record with soundbars, continues that trend. This Dolby Atmos soundbar fits five front-facing drivers, two beam tweeters, two up-firing speakers, a built-in dual subwoofer, and two up-firing speakers into a single chassis, creating a 7.1.2 slab of sound.
Whether you're watching immersive content or not, the Sony HT-A700 uses a combination of speaker positioning and psychoacoustic approaches to produce a wide and high soundstage while maintaining melody, presence, and detail.
The performance is comparable to that of the Sonos Arc in terms of height and accuracy, but it is more believable due to the wider soundstage and forward projection. Although it's not the same as having direct audio coming from the speaker above or to the side, it works well and adds drama, which improves the viewing experience. Another noteworthy component is the integrated sub, which performs tautly, carefully, and powerfully.
The A7000 excels in terms of supported audio formats and offers Sony 360 Reality Audio, DTS:X, LPCM, Dolby Atmos (in both the Digital+ and TrueHD forms), and DTS:X
2. Sonos Beam Gen 2
Reasons to buy
-
Dolby Atmos handling is done well
-
Warm, elegant audio
-
Smarts for streaming
Reasons to avoid
-
No Bluetooth
It's no easy task to provide Dolby Atmos with a compact chassis, the award-winning Sonos Beam Gen 2 pulls it off with a compelling, immersive performance with not a single vertical speaker in sight. Two of the soundbar's five front-facing arrays are instead devoted to generating overhead and surround sounds when viewing Atmos content.
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 uses psychoacoustic HRTF (head-related transfer function) technology and powerful processing to create the illusion of height without having to get in a vertical position.
While realistic overhead sounds might be a reach for this small performer, its simulated Atmos format delivery outperforms any soundbar of a similar budget and even some that are more expensive. The Beam Gen 2 offers a rich, detailed audio experience with a spatial soundscape that is enveloping and gives the impression of depth and movement.
Not many soundbars at this price point have networking features, but since the Beam Gen 2 is a Sonos product, its ability to operate with a wireless multiroom system is crucial to its conception.
This implies that Spotify Connect is built-in and that Apple AirPlay 2 can be used to play music to the Beam Gen 2 from a mobile device. A future update will also bring compatibility for Amazon Music Ultra HD audio, enabling access to tracks in lossless 24-bit/48kHz as well as Dolby Atmos Music.
3. Sonos Arc
Reasons to buy
-
calling for Dolby Atmos
-
dynamic, intricate, and significant
-
All the typical Sonos intelligence
Reasons to avoid
-
Music could be better projected
Sonos is no stranger to soundbars, but the Arc, winner of 2024? The award is the first Sonos soundbar with vertical speakers that supports Dolby Atmos. It costs more than the Beam (Gen 2) and is suitable for TVs larger than 55 inches.
To create your soundfield, the Sonos Arc uses 11 drivers, some of which are firing and aimed toward your room to reflect sound off your walls and ceiling. All in all, the soundbar delivers one of the most impressive Atmos performances available.
4. Sony HT-A9 speaker system
Reasons to buy
-
Not picky about placement
-
Engrossing, thorough, and cinematic
-
A strong set of features
Reasons to avoid
-
The additional sub is pricey
The HT-A9 from Sony has the integration and immersive sound of a conventional surround package while offering the same compact, plug-and-play ease and streaming features of a high-quality soundbar.
The Sony HT-A9 is a flexible, all-in-one Dolby Atmos theater in a box. It consists of four identical-looking grey wireless speakers and a hub that you connect to your TV. A 19mm front-facing tweeter, a full-range X-balanced driver, and an upward-firing X-balanced driver that reflects sound off the ceiling are all included in each of the four speakers.
The Dolby Atmos (in the Digital+ and TrueHD forms), DTS:X, LPCM, hi-res wireless audio, and Sony 360 Reality Audio are among the audio codecs that the A9 supports. With content from Tidal, Amazon Music HD, Nugs, and Deezer that is compatible, the latter is a spatial technology designed to envelop the listener.
The "Immersive AE" feature on the remote can be used to up-mix content to produce a 3D rendition that uses the height speakers and the rears when watching or listening to more traditional stereo content.
FAQs
1. Do soundbars merit the cost?
Absolutely. The best soundbars transform your TV viewing experience, even if you don't consider yourself a die-hard cinephile. Built-in TV speakers simply can't do your favorite movies, TV shows, and games justice.
2. What should I expect to pay for a soundbar?
Really, it all depends on what you're after. You can be looking at costs of $800, £800, or AU$ 1,000 and higher if you want the best soundbar technology to offer. However, there are several excellent low-cost soundbars available, some of which are priced under $100, £100, or AU$150.
Just keep in mind that, usually speaking, you get what you pay for, and that these inexpensive versions probably won't have high-end features like Dolby Atmos, built-in back speakers, or compatibility with high-resolution music.
3. Where should a soundbar be placed?
When it comes to where to put a soundbar, you typically have two choices: wall-mount it or put it on the TV cabinet below your TV. Wall mounting can be the best choice if your soundbar is quite tall because otherwise, it might block the IR receiver on your TV, making your remote control unusable.
We have listed the best soundbars with subwoofers we believe the majority of people should purchase in the suggestions above. We consider the cost (a less expensive soundbar prevails over a more expensive one if the price difference isn't significant), visitor reviews, and availability (no soundbars that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
Here is a compilation of all of our soundbar reviews, including the top TV soundbars and the top Bluetooth soundbars, in case you want to make your own decision. Avoid getting sucked into the details. A soundbar is not flawless. Your choice will be more influenced by your own preferences, tastes, and listening styles.
