Soundbars provide a few benefits over standard home theater speaker systems. They take up less room, are easier to set up, and are frequently less expensive. There's a soundbar out there for everyone, whether you want one that supports Dolby Atmos or one that you can connect your MP3 player into.
However, not all soundbars are made equal, and some best soundbars offer a superior listening experience. If you watch TV or listen to music at home, you'll want something that sounds excellent and works with your existing gadgets if you wish to connect it to your smart TV or stream music directly from your phone.
Our Top Picks
1. Best with Two Subwoofers – Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4
2. Best for Music Listening – Polk Signa S3
3. Best with Streaming Video – Roku Streambar
4. Best Bass without a Subwoofer – Zvox SB500
5. Best for Home Cinema – Sony HT-A5000 5.1.2ch
What Should You Consider Before Buying The Best Soundbar?
There are several aspects to consider while determining which soundbar to purchase.
1. Features
The majority of low-cost options will boost your television's audio, but that's about all. In the $300 to $400 range, you can get built-in voice control, wireless networking, Chromecast, AirPlay 2, and even Android TV. They're all beneficial when you don't want to look for the remote, but premium devices and support formats typically have the highest audio quality. I'm talking about Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and other audio standards.
2. Ports
When it comes to connection, many of the more affordable soundbars offer limited options. If you're lucky, they'll feature both an optical connector and a single HDMI jack. In the mid-range, things improve marginally, although this isn't always the case. If you want to connect your set-top box, gaming console, and other devices directly to your soundbar for the best possible audio, look for a soundbar with at least two HDMI connectors.
3. Wireless
Most soundbars now have Bluetooth, WiFi, or both. Voice control (built-in or via a separate device), Chromecast, Spotify Connect, and AirPlay 2 are just a few of the WiFi options available. Depending on your tastes, you might be able to do without some of these. For me, AirPlay 2 and Chromecast are must-haves, while the rest is optional. Those two let me stream music and podcasts from my favorite apps without having to rely on a Bluetooth connection or fight to pair them.
Soundbar FAQs
1. Can you use a soundbar to play music?
Music nearly always sounds better when you have a soundbar connected to your TV. Many soundbars offer Bluetooth, so you don't have to watch TV to listen to music. A soundbar with a wireless subwoofer is better for music in general since it helps to reproduce dynamics and deep bass.
2. Can you use any soundbar with any TV?
With a few exceptions, any soundbar can be used with any TV, though it does occasionally assist in matching the TV and soundbar brands. Many new soundbars use HDMI ARC to send audio from your TV to the soundbar, so if both devices have one of these ports, you're good to go. Certain older soundbars use optical connections, and most TVs have them.
3. Will a soundbar improve sound quality?
Modern televisions have very small speakers that bounce sound off the TV stand. As a result, they can seem distant and tinny.
Conclusion
Soundbars have exploded in popularity in recent years. They offer all of the functionality of an extensive music system while maintaining a slim and stylish look. These are the two critical reasons for sound appliances' increasing popularity. So don't waste any time and pick the best soundbar right now.
