A soundbar can make a world of difference in your home entertainment experience. The built-in speakers in most flat screen TVs leave much to be desired when it comes to audio quality. Soundbars provide louder, clearer audio and help add immersion to movies, TV shows, video games, and music.
In this guide, we’ll recommend the top soundbars across various budgets and use cases. We’ll also offer tips on how to choose the right soundbar for your needs and properly set it up. Let’s boost your home audio!
Why You Need a Soundbar
Today’s sleek, ultra-thin LED and OLED TVs can’t fit decent speakers inside. The sound from built-in TV speakers is thin, tinny, and lacking in bass. Dialogue can be hard to understand, and effects don’t have impact. A soundbar provides the following audio benefits:
- Louder, fuller sound for increased immersion
- Clearer dialogue so you don’t miss words
- Wide soundstage that fills the room
- Thunderous bass from a bundled subwoofer on many models
- Surround sound capabilities on high-end models
A good soundbar makes you feel like you’re right in the middle of the action in movies and provides a huge soundstage for music.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Soundbar
Here are the key factors to weigh when shopping for a soundbar:
- Room size – Soundbars built for larger spaces have higher wattage and more drivers.
- Music streaming – Many models offer built-in streaming over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
- Surround sound – Higher-end models simulate surround effects with Dolby Atmos.
- Subwoofer – Many soundbars come with a bundled sub for punchier bass.
- HDMI ports – HDMI connectivity, especially ARC, offers optimal setup.
- Price – Budget soundbars start under $100, while high-end models run over $1,000.
Take measurements of the room where you’ll use the soundbar. Larger spaces may require a model with added power and surround speakers for true immersion. If you’ll primarily listen to music, make sure the bar offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for streaming.
Best Soundbars Under $250
You don’t have to spend a fortune to improve upon built-in TV speakers. Here are our top soundbar picks under $250:
- Roku Streambar – $129
The Roku Streambar kills two birds with one stone: you get a full-bodied soundbar plus a Roku 4K HDR streaming device built right in.
Setup is a breeze with a single HDMI cable connected to your TV’s ARC port. The audio instantly improves on TV speakers with four 2.5” drivers that fill a small to mid-sized room. While bass is lacking without an external subwoofer, the soundbar simulated surround effects. And the built-in Roku interface provides access to just about every streaming app.
- Polk Signa S2 – $179
The Signa S2 is an ultra-slim soundbar that can sit in front of a wall-mounted TV without blocking the screen. It delivers a wider and more immersive soundstage than TV speakers. While bass is modest, Polk’s Voice Adjust technology makes dialogue crisp and clear. The Signa S2 features HDMI ARC connectivity and comes with a remote, wall mount, and optical cable.
3. Anker Nebula Soundbar – $169
This Anker soundbar packs a punch with 100 watts of power in a compact form factor that fits in front of thin-bezel TVs. Four drivers and two passive radiators immerse you in the action with cinematic audio. The Nebula connects over HDMI ARC or optical and features one-touch Bluetooth pairing. Bass and treble can be adjusted to your liking. It’s an affordable way to boost sound for TV, movies, and music.
4. Yamaha SR-B20A – $150
Yamaha is known for high-quality audio products, and this compact soundbar is no exception. With 100 watts of power driving dual drivers and a bass port, it outperforms TV speakers and fills a small room with rich sound. The SR-B20A has HDMI ARC connectivity and a handy single-cable setup. Bluetooth streaming is also included for playing music from your phone or tablet wirelessly.
Best Soundbars Under $500
In the $300 to $500 range, you can get a full surround sound system with a soundbar, subwoofer, and satellite speakers. Dolby Atmos support for height effects is also common in this price range.
- JBL Bar 5.1 – $500
JBL’s Bar 5.1 soundbar system features a slim soundbar with two wireless detachable speakers than can be placed anywhere in the room for immersive surround sound. This soundbar supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X for three-dimensional audio effects. The 10-inch wireless subwoofer provides earth-shaking bass. Setup is a cinch with one-cable HDMI eARC connection. The audio performance here far exceeds TV speakers.
2. Sonos Beam (Gen 2) – $449
The second-gen Sonos Beam provides a massive upgrade over TV audio with support for virtual Dolby Atmos surround sound. This compact bar uses upfiring drivers and processing tricks to heighten immersion without satellite speakers. Multi-mic arrays enhance TV dialogue. Set up through the Sonos app is seamless. And you can even pair it with other Sonos speakers for whole-home audio.
3. Polk MagniFi 2 – $499
Polk’s MagniFi 2 is a 3.1 surround system in one rectangular soundbar. This room-filling audio upgrade has two wireless subwoofers for heart-pounding bass and Polk’s SDA technology for immersive effects from the bar. Chromecast and Bluetooth streaming are built-in, while HDMI and optical provide TV connectivity. The MagniFi 2 also supports Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri voice commands.
4. Vizio Elevate – $500
Vizio’s Elevate soundbar features audio drivers that automatically rotate upward when playing Dolby Atmos content. The effect is enhanced height and immersion from the 46-inch bar. Dual subwoofers deliver thunderous bass, while DTS:X processing creates a spatial surround effect. HDMI connectivity and app-based setup make this a user-friendly soundbar. The auto-rotating audio drivers are a cool extra.
Best Soundbars for Music Streaming
If you want a soundbar primarily for streaming music from Spotify, Pandora, and other apps, make sure the model you choose offers Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth. These are the best music-oriented soundbars:
- Sonos Beam (Gen 2) – $449
No home audio brand has nailed music streaming as flawlessly as Sonos. The compact Beam Gen 2 soundbar delivers jaw-dropping width and depth on music tracks thanks to Wi-Fi streaming smarts. Connect it to your Sonos app and you have access to all major music services with song control from your phone. Or use AirPlay to stream music from Apple devices. Two passive radiators round out the bass. It’s by far the best music-centric soundbar.
- JBL Bar 5.0 – $400
The JBL soundbar 5.0 produces energetic, bright audio perfect for music. This model foregoes a subwoofer in favor of a slimmer form factor. Streaming music wirelessly from your phone is a breeze with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. MultiBeam surround technology widens the soundstage. And the bar looks as good as it sounds with a sharply angled design.
- Bose Smart Soundbar 900 – $899
The Bose soundbar 900 pumps out room-filling, lifelike sound. Four customized drivers powered by proprietary processors recreate music with stunning clarity. The sleek soundbar streams content over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, providing access to Spotify, Pandora, Amazon, and other services. Add a Bose wireless subwoofer and surrounds if you desire an even more cinematic experience.
- Yamaha YAS-209 – $350
Yamaha’s flagship YAS-209 soundbar supports Amazon Alexa voice commands, so you can ask for your favorite songs by name. Integrated Wi-Fi with Spotify Connect and Bluetooth allow app-based and wireless music streaming. The sound signature is finely tuned for music with clear mids and vocal reproduction courtesy of Yamaha’s audio engineering expertise.
- Roku Streambar – $129
The ultra-affordable Roku Streambar offers upgraded sound for TV and access to just about any streaming music service. Functions like a Roku streaming stick, the Streambar connects via Wi-Fi to apps like Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora, and SiriusXM. Bluetooth rounds out the wireless connectivity options. Four internal speakers improve TV, movie, and music playback in a small package.
Surround Sound Soundbars
For full cinema immersion from a soundbar system, we recommend choosing a model with true surround speakers or Dolby Atmos height effects. Here are top surround soundbar options:
- Sonos Arc – $899
The Sonos Arc soundbar delivers 3D Dolby Atmos sound that makes movies and shows truly come alive. Angled side drivers and upward-firing speakers create effects all around you and over your head with Atmos tracks. Sonos’ premium 11-driver design fills rooms with cinema audio that standard soundbars can’t match. Of course, music streaming with Wi-Fi and AirPlay is flawless as well. It’s the king of surround soundbars.
- LG SP9YA – $646
LG’s flagship soundbar system supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X for mesmerizing 3D audio. The low-profile bar handles the front three channels, while wireless surround speakers immerse you from the sides and rear. A booming subwoofer brings heart-pounding bass. Connected via HDMI eARC, the complete 5.1.2 setup transforms your TV experience.
3. Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar – $2,500
Audiophile brand Sennheiser aimed for the ultimate, no-compromise soundbar with the Ambeo. This massive bar delivers 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos totally wirelessly, recreating surround effects more convincingly than any competing model. 13 drivers powered by 500 watts of amplification bathe you in sound. The frequency range and clarity achieved here live up to Sennheiser’s audiophile reputation.
How to Connect a Soundbar to Your TV
Connecting a soundbar properly ensures you get the most from it. Follow these steps for hooking one up:
- Place the soundbar in front of the TV at ear level when seated. Place any rear speakers and subwoofer so their sound reaches the central listening position.
- Shut off your TV’s built-in speakers in the audio settings menu.
- Connect the soundbar to your TV with a single HDMI cable if both devices have ARC ports. This allows TV remote volume control of the bar.
- Alternatively, use an optical digital audio cable from the TV’s optical output to the soundbar’s optical input. You’ll control volume on the soundbar remote.
- Turn on the soundbar and select the correct input if needed. “ARC” typically indicates the HDMI connection while “OPT” indicates the optical input.
- Turn your TV back on and confirm sound plays from the soundbar. You can tweak bass/treble and surround levels in the bar’s settings if desired.
Transform Your Home Entertainment
A quality soundbar delivers louder, clearer, more immersive audio for movies, TV, music, and gaming. Even an affordable model can vastly improve upon the poor speakers built into today’s flat panels.
I hope our soundbar buying guide helps you select the right model to enhance your entertainment experience.
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