Soundbars have become must-have devices for enjoying movies and shows because modern TVs don’t have space for big speakers. The best soundbars have built-in drivers, subwoofers, and drivers and easily connect to your TV via Bluetooth or cables for Dolby Atmos sound. They also have Chromecast and Airplay 2, so you can easily stream your favorite songs from your iPhone or Android smartphone.
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The Pocket-lint team specializes in testing headphones, speakers, and other audio devices and spent days using the soundbars on our list in their everyday lives to see what they offer and how they stack up against each other. They then graded the soundbars based on their performance while trying to add the widest range possible to appeal to every buyer.
Best soundbar: Our favorite picks
Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar
1. Best overall soundbar
Stylish sound
The Bose Smart Ultra has a stylish design and gloss black surface and offers fantastic sound quality from nine integrated speakers.
- Stylish looks
- Solid build quality
- Great sound
- No RCA or USB
- No DTS:X support
The Bose Smart Ultra is the company’s flagship soundbar, delivering fantastic Dolby Atmos sound from its nine speakers despite lacking a dedicated subwoofer. It’s packed with signature Bose features like PhaseGuide, which bounces the sound off the walls and ceiling to create a virtual surround effect, and Truespace, which analyzes and upscales 5.1 and stereo sound for a better effect.
Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar: Smart by name, smart by nature
This high-end Atmos soundbar intelligently elevates your TV’s sound quality, for a performance that matches its name.
Available in Black or Arctic White, the build quality is top-notch, with sleek lines and a classy gloss effect running the length of the 2.28 x 41.14 x 4.21-inch design. Connectivity options are limited to a single eARC HDMI and an optical port, but they get the job done and work with most modern TVs.
You can’t go wrong with the Bose Smart Ultra soundbar because it delivers excellent sound in a stylish package that will look great in your living room. The lack of DTS:X support and legacy connection ports are minor drawbacks for most buyers and are easily forgivable because of the excellent pricing.
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus
2. Best premium soundbar
No compromise quality
- Fantastic Dolby Atmos sound
- Wide variety of connection options
- Perfect size
- Pricey
- No HDMI 2.1 passthrough
Sennheiser’s Ambeo Plus doesn’t come cheap but justifies its cost with stellar audio performance from its pair of four-inch subwoofers and seven two-inch drivers with up to 400W of power. Dolby Atmos is standard, and you also get DTS:X and Sony 360 Reality Audio for the best listening experience on all platforms. Speaking of platforms, you can stream from most services via Bluetooth, Airplay 2, and Chromecast.
Sennheiser Ambeo Plus: A performance that adds up
The middle child of the Sennheiser soundbar range could be its sweet spot… for those with the budget.
One of the best things about the Ambeo Plus is its Goldilocks size, which should fit most TV cabinets at 41.3 x 2.95 x 4.76 inches. The soft fabric cover and rounded edges give it a more organic feel and distinguish it from many hard-touch rivals.
There is no shortage of connection options with three HDMI ports and an RCA, optical, and Ethernet to attach most devices. The Ambeo Plus delivers on all fronts by offering rich, booming sound in a perfectly sized package.
Polk MagniFi Mini AX
3. Best value soundbar
Portable performance
The Polk MagniFi Mini AX is ideal for smaller homes and spaces because of its compact size, and it delivers excellent performance thanks to the standalone downward-firing subwoofer.
- Standalone subwoofer with deep bass
- Compact size
- User-friendly
- Can’t wall mount
- Not great for music
The Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX is the perfect soundbar for smaller homes and offices because of its compact 3.1 x 14.4 x 4.1-inch design that includes a pair of 0.75-inch tweeters and three two-inch drivers. Low-end is courtesy of the standalone 5.0 x 7.0-inch downward firing subwoofer, providing ample oomph to enhance the sound and give it a grand feel despite its small size.
Big sound can come in small packages, and the Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX delivers amazing rumble and voice clarity for movies and shows, but it isn’t the best for music with weak treble.
Much work went into the design, with classy fabric wrapping the rounded edges, and responsive buttons for volume and other audio controls on the top if you don’t want to use the included remote. The back houses the eARC-compatible HDMI, optical, USB, and 3.5mm audio port, giving you a wide range of connection options.
Big sound can come in small packages, and the Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX delivers amazing rumble and voice clarity for movies and shows, but it isn’t the best for music with weak treble. It punches well above its weight, considering its size and price, and offers impressive value because of its design and connection options.
Samsung HW-Q990C
4. Best soundbar with rear speakers
True surround sound
Samsung’s HW-Q990C includes wireless rear speakers and a standalone subwoofer to offer a true surround sound experience for movies and shows.
- True 11.1.4ch surround sound
- DTS:X compatibility
- Q-Symphony to sync with TV speakers
- Expensive
- No HDMI 2.1 passthrough
Samsung’s HW-Q990C is for buyers willing to pay for uncompromising sound because it offers True 11.1.4ch quality from its soundbar, two rear speakers, and a subwoofer. It’s worth it for the unrivaled immersion offered by the Hi-Res audio with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compatibility and because it’s easy to set up, with all the speakers pairing wirelessly instead of needing pesky cables.
Samsung HW-Q990C: Sounds familiar
This flagship Atmos soundbar delivers the same peerless performance as previous generations, but with extra features.
For a high-end soundbar, the HW-Q990C has discrete styling in Titan Black, with angled corners and a mesh grille. Connection options include two eARC HDMI ports and an optical port, and you can easily manage your content and adjust the settings with the included remote and Alexa voice compatibility. Unlike most soundbars, you can configure the HW-Q990C to sync with your TV speakers via Q-Symphony for even more depth to your sound.
True surround sound is the best way to enjoy movies and shows, and the Samsung HW-Q990C brings the cinema into your home with audio from all angles and integration with your TV’s speakers. However, its high cost limits its accessibility to connoisseurs who aren’t worried about the price because they get years of quality entertainment for a once-off fee.
Samsung HW-S800B
5. Best soundbar with a subwoofer
Another dimension to the experience
The Samsung HW-S800B has stunning looks with an elegant slim design and delivers in the sound department with a standalone wireless subwoofer for some low-end kick.
- Slimline design
- Includes a subwoofer
- Great price
- Single HDMI port only
- No eARC
The Samsung HW-S800 has an eye-catching slimline 45.6 x 1.49 x 1.57-inch design that manages to cram in nine drivers despite the minimal space, and it comes with a 9.37 x 9.48 x 9.37-inch standalone subwoofer for low-end bass. Setting it up is easy because the subwoofer connects via Bluetooth to offer 3.2.1ch Dolby Atmos sound, and it can also sync with your TV’s speakers via Q Symphony.
Samsung HW-S800B: Super-slim Atmos soundbar
The Samsung HW-S800B soundbar is ideal for anyone who wants something lifestyle-friendly, discreet and impressive sounding.
Alexa voice assistant compatibility is standard, and you can also control the soundbar with the included remote or SmartThings app. Streaming from devices is easy with built-in Spotify Connect, Apple Airplay 2, and Wi-Fi, but physical connections are limited to a single Mini HDMI port that requires an adapter and lacks eARC functionality.
Not many soundbars can match the slick yet functional appearance of the Samsung HW-S800, and the included wireless subwoofer takes it to the next level in terms of performance. The single Mini HDMI might be a drawback for some buyers, but most won’t mind because they’ll stream from their smartphones and tablets.
Bose Smart Soundbar 600
6. Best budget soundbar
Budget Bose
The Bose Smart Soundbar 600 is an excellent choice for most buyers because its reasonable price is accessible to everyone, and its compact size can fit anywhere.
- Compact size
- Great price
- Punchy sound
- Wall mount costs extra
- Single HDMI port
Bose makes Dolby Atmos sound accessible to most buyers with the compact 2.20 x 23.7 x 4.09-inch Smart Soundbar 600 that can fit in any home and comes at a fantastic price. Inside the all-black body and covered by a stylish metal grille are five drivers offering detailed sound, with one at each end for width, a single center channel, and two upward-firing speakers for height.
It’s easy to adjust the EQ and other settings through the Bose app … and offers big sound in a tiny package with all the other features you’d expect, like voice assistant compatibility, app control, and Dolby Atmos.
Connectivity is decent for a compact soundbar with one eARC-compatible HDMI and an optical port for older TVs. Bose never disappoints, and the Soundbar 600 offers Airplay 2, Spotify Connect, and Chromecast for easy streaming, and it’s easy to adjust the EQ and other settings through the Bose app. Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility is also standard if you prefer to use voice commands.
The Smart Soundbar 600 from Bose offers big sound in a tiny package with all the other features you’d expect, like voice assistant compatibility, app control, and Dolby Atmos. It has decent bass, considering its lack of a dedicated subwoofer, and you won’t mind paying for the additional wall mount because of the soundbar’s fantastic price.
The bottom line: Which is the best soundbar?
The Bose Smart Ultra is the best soundbar because it offers fantastic sound quality in a classy design. Buyers looking for extra bass can try Sennheiser’s Ambeo Plus because it includes two four-inch subwoofers and has stunning looks. Polka’s Audio MagniFi Mini AX offers the best value because it offers brilliant sound in a compact size without costing much.
Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar
Editor’s Choice
How did we choose the best soundbar?
Our team tests TVs, speakers, and other entertainment devices and has hands-on experience with all the models listed here. They picked the best based on sound quality, features, and value.
- Sound quality: All the options listed here have great sound quality for shows and movies, with some options including standalone subwoofers and rear speakers for an immersive experience.
- Extra features: Add-ons often bump up the price of soundbars, and whether they’re worth it or not depends on your budget and requirements.
- Price: Our list has a variety of models at every price point, so it’s easy to find the right one for you. You can’t go wrong with any of our options, and even the budget-friendly picks are a huge upgrade over standard TV speakers.
Which soundbar brand is best?
Many companies make good soundbars, with Bose, Samsung, and Sennheiser having a wide range of options to suit every buyer and are rated as some of the best.
Do soundbars sound better than a TV?
Modern TVs are very thin and don’t have space for big speakers or subwoofers. Soundbars have better audio quality than most TVs because they include multiple drivers to direct the sound in multiple directions and often include a subwoofer for added bass.
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