Best Soundbars On 2024 – According to Expert Testing

If you find yourself somewhat disappointed with the sound quality of your TV, you’re not alone. Nowadays, most flat-screen TVs lack the space for powerful audio components, resulting in lackluster sound.

Fortunately, there is a simple solution. A soundbar offers an easy way to enhance the size and quality of your TV’s audio without the need for a large surround sound system, providing a home cinema-like experience.

When evaluating a soundbar, we consider various factors. These include the size and design of the soundbar, the ease of use and controls, as well as any additional features or audio presets it offers.

Naturally, we also assess the audio quality by testing it with different movies, games, and music. We pay close attention to how well the soundbar handles important elements such as bass and dialogue. Additionally, we push the volume to its limits to determine if the audio distorts at higher levels.

In this guide, we have compiled a selection of soundbars to cater to different budgets, scenarios, and features. Our categories include the top high-end soundbar, the best affordable Dolby Atmos soundbar, the finest compact soundbar, and our recommended choice for gaming.

Continue reading to find a quick overview of our best soundbars, or scroll down for a detailed summary of each soundbar. We provide the pros, cons, and links to our comprehensive reviews, which also compare them to other excellent soundbars available in the market.

If you have specific requirements, we have you covered as well. Don’t forget to explore our guides on the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, compact soundbars, and affordable soundbars. For those interested in more than just a soundbar, we also have a guide on the best surround sound systems.

Best Soundbars Reviews

1. Sony HT-A7000

If you’re searching for a soundbar that excels in both movies and music, we recommend taking a closer look at the Sony HT-A7000.

During our testing, we found that the audio delivery of this soundbar is precise and clear, with distinct voices and notably powerful bass considering it’s a single-bar unit. Its 7.1.2 channel Dolby Atmos and DTS:X performance also impressed us, providing an immersive experience with a great sense of height that surpasses a typical soundbar. However, its claims of virtual surround sound were not entirely convincing, which may be due to the need for nearby walls to bounce sounds off to the listening position (which we didn’t have in our setup).

The HT-A7000 also shines when it comes to music, offering excellent tonality, natural mid-range depiction, crisp highs, and punchy bass. We found that it performs exceptionally well with music in its Cinema mode, delivering a smoother vocal performance.

While there is an upgrade path available to add rear speakers and a subwoofer. However, the soundbar offers a plethora of features for its price, including various options for wired and wireless audio playback. It supports Chromecast, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth 5, Spotify Connect, and even Hi-Res Audio with DSD and the wireless LDAC format.

Moreover, the HT-A7000 supports Sony’s 360 Reality Audio format, allowing you to enjoy tracks in 3D audio from popular music streaming services like Tidal and Deezer. It also offers smart assistance with both Alexa and Google Assistant, although a separate compatible device is required for hands-free control.

In terms of design, the HT-A7000 stands out with its unique combination of materials and a reflective glass top surface. While this design may not appeal to everyone, we personally found it quite appealing. Additionally, it is a large soundbar, wider than the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max, but fortunately not as tall, making it compatible with most TVs.

2. Sonos Beam Gen 2

The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is an excellent choice for those who have limited space or a smaller TV. With its compact dimensions of 26-inches in width and just under 3-inches in height, it is one of the best soundbars available in its size category. This makes the Beam a perfect fit for small TVs up to 49-inches in size.

Similar to its predecessor, the Gen 1 Beam, the Gen 2 model is equipped with a tweeter, four mid-woofers, and three passive radiators. However, it does not have the upward-firing speakers for Dolby Atmos overhead channels like the Sonos Arc. Instead, the Beam utilizes digital processing to create an immersive audio experience.

One notable upgrade in the Beam (Gen 2) is the inclusion of HDMI eARC, which provides higher bandwidth and support for lossless audio formats such as Atmos. This enhances the audio performance and allows for a more immersive sound experience.

The soundbar offers various sound modes to choose from, including a night mode to reduce loud noises during evening hours and a speech enhancement mode to amplify dialogue. Additionally, it supports voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

In terms of sound quality, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) delivers exceptional balance and range. While it may not have the same level of dimensionality as the Sonos Arc, it still provides a surround sound experience that envelops you in sound.

3. SENNHEISER AMBEO Soundbar Max

The Ambeo is a substantial unit, measuring over a meter in length and weighing 18.5kg, making it unsuitable to be placed under a television unless it is wall-mounted. In comparison, the Devialet Dione, which is similarly priced, weighs 12kg, a weight we previously considered to be quite heavy. Surprisingly, the Ambeo is even heavier than some OLED TVs on their own.

Due to its size and weight, the Ambeo requires a considerable amount of space. However, its build quality is exceptional, offering a variety of inputs such as three HDMI ports, digital optical out, and aux-in. Additionally, it supports Google Chromecast and Bluetooth 4.2 for wireless connectivity.

The Ambeo Soundbar is an all-in-one solution that truly delivers on its promise of providing 5.1.4 channel immersive sound. The audio quality is outstanding, immersing the listener in a room with dynamic effects and robust sound that enhances the viewing experience of movies and TV shows. The system boasts a significant amount of bass for a single-bar setup, with impressive low-end extension and a rich soundstage. However, it is crucial to activate the Ambeo processing to fully appreciate the bar’s performance, as deactivating it can diminish the depth and height of the sound.

Supported audio formats include Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and MPEG-H. To optimize the Ambeo’s performance, a high-quality calibration microphone is included to tailor the soundbar’s audio profile to the room. It is important to note that calibration can only be done from a single listening point, emphasizing the need to be seated in the ideal position for the best possible audio experience.

4. SAMSUNG HW-Q990C

Our reviewer did not experience any sense of disappointment after testing the Q990C. Despite having the same number of channels as the Q990B, which is 11.1.4, this decision makes sense as it is more than sufficient to create an immersive soundscape for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks.

The subwoofer, known as the ‘Acoustic Lens’, continues to impress with its deep and powerful bass, never sounding compressed even at low frequencies. The rear speakers contribute to an exceptional sense of detail, resulting in a cohesive and balanced soundstage where positioning effects are accurately reproduced, whether they are overhead, in front, or to the sides of the viewer.

There are a few notable upgrades in terms of features. The SmartThings Hub has been added to the SmartThings app control, allowing users to connect the soundbar to other smart devices in their home. The Adaptive Sound mode has also been improved, making it more effective at identifying voices at lower volume levels. Additionally, there are enhanced auto-calibration tools available to optimize the speaker’s performance for your specific room.

The Q990C supports Samsung’s third-gen Q-Symphony technology, which combines the soundbar’s drivers with those of a Samsung TV’s speakers to create a more immersive audio experience. It also includes built-in Alexa voice recognition and AirPlay 2 for iOS users to easily cast audio to the soundbar.

In terms of design and connectivity options, not much has changed except for a lighter shade of black for the color. The soundbar still offers two HDMI inputs, a single optical audio input, and the HDMI input supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision formats. However, it is important to note that 4K/120Hz pass-through is still not supported, despite being supported by some games.

5. Razer Leviathan V2

The Leviathan V2 from Razer presents a more subdued appearance compared to some of the brand’s other products. However, the RGB lighting can be adjusted to suit the environment, adding a vibrant touch to gaming sessions. Despite being primarily constructed from plastic, the build quality is robust, with feet that can elevate the soundbar to direct audio towards the listener.

Instead of an HDMI port, there is only a USB audio input for connecting to a PC. Additionally, Bluetooth 5.2 allows wireless connectivity to devices other than PCs for audio playback through the soundbar. While the connectivity options are straightforward, the absence of a 3.5mm port, present in its predecessor, was somewhat disappointing. The Razer Audio app offers EQ presets like Bass Boost to tailor the sound to the specific game being played.

Regarding sound quality, our reviewer appreciated the rich, powerful bass produced by the soundbar and subwoofer combination. The expansive soundstage aided in pinpointing enemy locations, while the realistic sound effects enhanced the gaming experience. The inclusion of THX Spatial Audio, in contrast to Dolby Atmos found in the Panasonic SoundSlayer Gaming Speaker, heightened our awareness during gameplay.

Although music playback via Bluetooth was not as impressive as with dedicated wireless speakers, it remains satisfactory for casual use. The Pro version offers advanced spatial audio processing capabilities, providing an enhanced audio experience.

Can you explain the purpose of a soundbar?

Soundbars are sleek, typically rectangular, speaker systems with drivers aligned side by side that are intended to fit snugly beneath your TV or be mounted neatly on the wall. Due to the front-facing drivers, even basic, affordable soundbars generally provide more direct and crisp audio compared to a TV.

As televisions have become thinner, their built-in speakers have also decreased in size and are frequently located at the back or below the screen – not the most ideal placement as larger speakers facing forward will always deliver clearer and louder sound than small speakers pointing in a different direction.

Manufacturers have made attempts, with varying degrees of success, to enhance the audio output of their TVs. However, if you wish to enhance your TV sound quality, a separate speaker specifically designed for that purpose is necessary.

There are several options available to enhance your TV sound quality, ranging from budget-friendly to high-end, but a soundbar is one of the most straightforward solutions as they are typically compact and require minimal wiring. Additionally, they often come with added features like wireless streaming via Bluetooth or WiFi.