Top 10 Best Soundbars
As TVs get thinner, the space for built-in speakers also gets small, and sound quality suffers. The soundbar will produce a fuller sound with clear voices, ... read more...rich sound, and some solid bass, giving you a more immersive experience with your TV. Anyone who owns the best TVs should consider buying a soundbar. The soundbar is slim and fits perfectly in your TV. Not only do they look great, but they make a difference to the way you experience sound. Let's take a look at the best soundbars available today.
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The Samsung HW-Q90R tops the list of the best soundbars because of its simple but very expensive sound quality. If you're looking to enjoy brilliant fidelity sound for your home cinema setup, this is the soundbar for you.
Featuring Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, this soundbar comes with rear speakers and upward speakers for a truly immersive sound that works just as well for music streaming as it does for movies. As for connectivity, you get two HDMI inputs, one HDMI output with eARC, optical digital audio inputs, and USB, as well as options for WiFi and Bluetooth, so you can easily stream music from your smartphone or tablet via the soundbar. The Q90R works with Alexa, so you can use your voice to control it through the smart speaker. However, this feature is not built-in, so you cannot control smart devices in your home with just the soundbar.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 1226 x 83 x 136mm (W x H x D)
- Speaker configuration: 7.1.4
- Power: 512W
- Connections: 2 x HDMI inputs, 1 x HDMI output with eARC, optical digital audio input, USB (service only), Bluetooth, and WiFi
Advantages:
- Fantastic audio quality
- Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
Disadvantages:
- Expensive
Buy now: https://www.richersounds.com/samsung-hw-q90r.html
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If you're wondering about choosing a soundbar, then a reasonably priced option like the Majority K2 might be the best option for you. This great soundbar only costs $80, but it has some serious audio software that will dramatically improve the quality of your TV's sound. You'll get crisp, clear sound and explosive action from this soundbar.
It's also fully packed with the latest smart technology, including Alexa functionality and Bluetooth connectivity, so you can connect your smartphone or tablet to play music through it. It also looks great in black or white it's sure to blend into your home entertainment setup no matter what. The bass is a bit weak, especially considering the size of the subwoofer that the K2 comes with, but it will still outperform your TV speakers on the front, and this is the only problem with this soundbar.Specifications:
- Dimensions: 30 x 2.1 x 2.7 inches
- Speaker configuration: Stereo
- Power: 12V ~ 1A
- Connections: Optical, RCA, HDMI
Advantages:
- Great sound quality
- Cheap
- Bluetooth and Alexa capable
Disadvantages:
- Weak bass
Buy now: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Majority-K2-Bluetooth-Sound-Bar-Wireless-Subwoofer-Home-Audio-System-TVs-Smart-TVs-Monitor-Flat-Screen-Gaming-Theater-RCA-HDMI-ARC-Optical-USB-Connec/459003202
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The Polk Audio Command Bar is another option, with plenty of connectivity options and an easy setup for just under $250.
This super-smart soundbar comes with Alexa built-in directly, which means you can ask it questions, help it read the news, control your smart home devices, pretty much anything Amazon Echo can do. Along with integrating into the Amazon ecosystem, Polk Audio Command Bar is designed to work with Amazon Fire TV devices, with a dedicated HDMI input for your TV streaming device. Other inputs include a SPDIDF, a TOSLINK optical input, and a micro-USB port.
The Command Bar has one of the best physical remotes, with separate volume, subwoofer, and dialogue controls, so you can fine-tune the sound depending on what you're listening to. Dialogue is particularly good, although serious audiophiles may find the bass a bit lacking. At this price, you’ll struggle to find any serious issues with this clever soundbar.Specifications:
- Dimensions: 43 x 14.5 x 14.4 inches (W x H x D)
- Speaker configuration: N/A
- Power: N/A
- Connections: 1 x SPDIDF, 1 x HDMI, 1 x TOSLINK, 1 x micro-USB connection, 1 x HDMI output with Audio Return Channel (ARC), Bluetooth
Advantages:
- Built-in voice assistant
- Great for dialogue
Disadvantages:
- Bass could be better
- Virtual surround sound is lacking
Buy now: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089HY2K1R/ref=asc_df_B089HY2K1R1643583600000?tag=georiot-us-default-20&ascsubtag=toptenreviews-row-1196012535626721300-20&geniuslink=true
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If you are an audiophile on a budget, you can refer to the Sony HT-X8500 Soundbar, which comes with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X virtual surround sound, as well as a built-in subwoofer for bass boost. It's also excellent value at just under $300. The cost is particularly impressive when you consider that Dolby Atmos soundbars are often twice as expensive, and with their sleek construction, it looks more expensive than it is.
It's worth noting that, with no upward drivers, this HT-X8500 creates the illusion of surround sound using Sony's Vertical Sound Engine technology. Nonetheless, the immersive audio provided here is impressive. The inclusion of a built-in subwoofer means it can easily sound your parties and movie nights. In terms of connectivity, it's versatile with one HDMI input, one HDMI output, one analog audio in/out, Ethernet, one optical audio input, Bluetooth and WiFi.Specifications:
- Dimensions: 890 x 64 x 96 mm
- Speaker configuration: 2.1
- Power: N/A
- Connections: 1 HDMI input, 1 HDMI Out (ARC), analog audio in/out, Ethernet, optical audio in, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Advantages:
- Integrated subwoofer
- Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
Disadvantages:
- No upfiring drivers
Buy now: https://electronics.sony.com/audio/soundbars/all-soundbars/p/htx8500
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It's not the prettiest soundbar, but it's possibly one of the best sounding models out there, particularly if you plan to use the soundbar to listen to music and watch movies often.
The Q Acoustics M4 sounds truly brilliant, with a high level of sound fidelity that will let you hear details in your music that you've never noticed before. Its expansive soundstage is bolstered by well-balanced bass frequencies that don't overwhelm mid-high notes.
Movies sound just as good, with clear dialogue and rumblings of vibrating bass adding to the excitement. There is no surround sound here, though it's a full stereo setup. So anyone looking for a truly immersive sound will want to look for models that support Dolby Atmos. There's no HDMI input, so you'll need to rely on the soundbar's optical input to connect it to your TV. Otherwise, you have Bluetooth connectivity, 3.5mm audio input, and an analog RCA input if you want to connect directly to the TV.Specifications:
- Dimensions: 1,000 x 90 x 142mm
- Speaker configuration: 2.1
- Power: 100W
- Connections: 1 x HDMI, 1 x digital optical, 1 x 3.5mm, Bluetooth
Advantages:
- Great audio fidelity
- Easy to use
Disadvantages:
- No surround sound
- No HDMI input
Buy now: https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/2254437160
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The Sonos Beam is a cute soundbar with a compact design, ideal for tiny homes and small TVs.
Sonos is famous for its sonic power, and the Beam is no exception. It has an amazingly detailed and precise soundstage that will fill your living room with ease. The Sonos app lets you tailor the soundbar to the size of your room, so you'll find that it sounds great no matter where you place it. You don't have a subwoofer included, so bass chiefs may want to buy a Sonos Sub to boost those lower frequencies. There's also no Dolby Atmos for a surround sound experience, but for under $400, that's not a huge surprise.
One of the big selling points of the Sonos Beam is the built-in Alexa and Google Assistant. That means you can control your soundbar hands-free no matter which smart ecosystem you prefer.Specifications:
- Dimensions: 68.5 x 651 x 100 mm
- Speaker configuration: 3.1
- Power: N/A
- Connections: 1 x Digital Optical-In, 1 x HDMI-in
Advantages:
- Alexa and Google Assistant built-in
- Compact design
Disadvantages:
- No Dolby Atmos
Buy now: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D494MV1?tag=georiot-us-default-20&th=1&psc=1&ascsubtag=toptenreviews-row-2580001309433241600-20&geniuslink=true
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The Vizio SB3621n-E8M is one of the best soundbars if you're on a tight budget. At under $100, it's a great option for anyone looking to experience the world of soundbars before committing to a pricier model without simplifying sound quality.
With the 2.1 configurations, you won't get the immersive surround sound that soundbars with more speakers provide, but it does come with a 5.4-inch wireless subwoofer to boost the all-important bass frequencies. It might not fill a huge living room, but in a smaller space, this soundbar will have no problem with volume. It is missing a couple of the important connections, such as an HDMI port and Wi-Fi connectivity. However, it does have an auxiliary input, a USB port, and Bluetooth connectivity.Specifications:
- Dimensions: 36 x 3.2 x 2.2 inches
- Speaker configuration: 2.1
- Power: 100W
- Connections: 1 x USB, 1 x audio line-in, 1 xdigital audio input (coaxial), 1 x digital audio input (optical), Bluetooth
Advantages:
- Very affordable
- Clear dialogue
Disadvantages:
- No HDMI ports
- Lackluster virtual surround sound
Buy now: https://www.ebay.com/p/2170008662
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If you need to fit your soundbar into a small space, the Yamaha YAS-207 is a good choice. Despite its compact frame, it still packs six speakers in the soundbar and comes with a 6.25-inch wireless subwoofer. As well as this, the YAS-207 sports DTS Virtual:X, which provides an immersive sound that's as tall as it is wide.
When you test this soundbar then will be impressed by the clarity of the Clear Voice setting, which enhances dialogue in your movies and TV shows.
While it doesn't come with creature comforts like a built-in voice assistant or WiFi connectivity, you'll get most of the connectivity options you need, including an HDMI port, a 3.5mm aux input, and Bluetooth. HDMI connections support 4K and HDR video pass-through. So the YAS-207 won't degrade the quality of your video playing through a streaming box or UHD Blu-ray player. There's also Bluetooth for wireless streaming from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. So you can use it for music, radio, and podcasts, as well as TV.Specifications:
- Dimensions: 930 x 60 x 108 mm
- Speaker configuration: 2.1
- Power: 100W
- Connections: 1 x HDMI input, 1 x HDMI output, 1 x Digital optical, 1 x Analog Audio, Bluetooth
Advantages:
- Compact
- Great virtual surround sound
Disadvantages:
- No Wi-Fi
- No voice assistant
Buy now: https://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio_visual/sound_bar/yas-207/index.html
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If you rich, the Sennheiser Ambeo 3D soundbar is the thing to buy. With no less than 13 separate drivers, this powerful soundbar is packed with immersive audio technologies, including Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Sennheiser's proprietary 'virtual 3D' sound system.
WiFi and Bluetooth mean it can easily double as a music player, as well as a speaker to enhance your home cinema setup, which it will do easily, thanks to its incredible audio fidelity.
It's worth noting that, despite its $2,500 price tag, the Ambeo 3D Soundbar doesn't support aptX for Bluetooth and can only stream over WiFi via Google Home. However, if you're primarily concerned with sheer sonic power and that price doesn't put you off, this Sennheiser soundbar could be a brilliant investment to boost your TV's built-in speakers.Specifications:
- Dimensions: 1265 x 135 x 171 mm
- Speaker configuration: 5.1.4
- Power: 500W
- Connections: Digital coaxial in, Digital optical in, HDMI 2.1 output (eARC), 3 HDMI 2.0a In, Audio in 3.5 mm jack, Bluetooth
Advantages:
- Dolby Atmos
- Brilliant audio
Disadvantages:
- Very expensive
- Big and heavy
Buy now: https://www.richersounds.com/sennheiser-ambeo.html
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If you're a fan of versatility, the Denon HEOS Bar might be for you. Multiple HDMI ports mean that the soundbar can act as an HDMI switcher hub. So you can attach anything from a streaming box to your PS4.
Also, all those HDMI inputs are 2.0a, you can switch 4K, and Dolby Vision sources set it up for you to play in any format you can think of, including non-audio lost data. Nine drivers and virtual surround sound modes create a powerful, immersive soundstage, eliminating the need for a physical 5.1 speaker setup. You may experience a bit of lag when switching between inputs, but that's not a big deal, especially when the audio quality is this good.
The Denon HEOS bar doesn't come cheap. Consider the $799 price tag for that superb sound quality.Specifications:
- Dimensions: 72 x 1100 x 148 mm
- Speaker configuration: 3.0
- Power: N/A
- Connections: 4 x 4K HDMI Input, 1 x HDMI Output, 1 x Coaxial Input, 1 x Optical input, 1 x Ethernet, 3.5mm audio input, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Advantages:
- Lots of connection options
- Great sound
Disadvantages:
- Some switching delay
Buy now: https://www.denon.com/en-au/shop/amplifiersmrs/heosbar