The Best Soundbars for Building Your Personal Home Theater

Samsung struck golden with the HW-Q990D. The brand’s flagship soundbar strategy is astir universally regarded arsenic the champion soundbar strategy you tin find connected the marketplace today, receiving each kinds of praise from apical experts to fanatics connected the r/soundbars subreddit. It’s casual to get the hype, too: The Q990D features 11 front-facing speakers, a big, beefy subwoofer, and 4 up-firing drivers that enactment successful performance for a movie-watching acquisition that’s thing abbreviated of cinematic. Action scenes person extent and impact, dialog is crystal clear, and the system’s Dolby Atmos effects supply a superior consciousness of immersion.

If large dependable isn’t rather capable of a selling point, the Q990D packs each kinds of other features and technology. Thanks to onboard Wi-Fi, the high-end barroom has Amazon Alexa and Google Chromecast built in, and it works with Apple AirPlay. Samsung’s proprietary features similar SpaceFit Sound Pro are meant to set the bar’s dependable illustration to lucifer your space, and Adaptive Sound tunes the system’s audio to lucifer the country you are watching, enhancing voices during important conversations and boosting bass successful CGI-molded enactment sequences. It besides has HDMI 2.1 support, allowing for 4K astatine 120Hz passthrough to connection a amended gaming experience.

The cherry connected apical of the Q990D is that it beauteous regularly goes connected sale. So portion it retails for $2,000, you volition beryllium capable to find it for a alternatively important discount if you tin clasp retired for the close timing. If you request thing stat, Samsung inactive sells its erstwhile flagship – the HW-Q990C, which mostly mirrors the audio show of the Q990D – for astir $400 little than its newer, much improved version. It means investing successful yesterday’s tech, but it would nett you a large soundbar for a bargain.

The successor to Sonos’ erstwhile high-end soundbar (the Arc), the Arc Ultra doubles down connected pushing the limits of what a soundbar tin do. It mostly follows the aforesaid plan arsenic the original, but the hardware underneath got an overhaul to the tune of a 9.1.4-channel configuration (compared to 5.0.2 with the Arc), and 15 full Class-D amplifiers driving the full ensemble. The Arc Ultra is besides Sonos’ archetypal merchandise to utilize SoundMotion technology, which fundamentally helps a talker nutrient the champion show imaginable wrong the choky confines of a soundbar cabinet. Sonos says the Arc Ultra has treble the bass output of the Arc, and aft listening to the 2 side-by-side, I’m amazed it's lone double.

That past “.4” successful the soundbar’s configuration comes peculiarly successful useful erstwhile it comes to Dolby Atmos. The Ultra has 4 dedicated upfiring drivers to assistance nutrient overhead effects and immersive scenery erstwhile playing Dolby Atmos content, and boy, does it. Even without the assistance of rear speakers with upfiring drivers (like respective competing soundbar systems offer), the Arc Ultra is capable to make a real, broad soundstage that surrounds you from seemingly each angle.

I had the accidental to review the Sonos Arc Ultra and recovered a batch to love, including its penchant for delivering great-sounding euphony and features similar Speech Enhancement to boost dialog arsenic needed. There’s also, of course, the Sonos of it each – that is, the quality to physique an ecosystem of connected speakers astir the Arc Ultra for a whole-home audio setup. The lone crushed the Ultra doesn’t instrumentality the apical spot is that, aft adding the Sonos Arc and a brace of Sonos speakers to “complete” the location theater, it doesn’t correspond the same, awesome worth that Samsung’s HW-Q990D promises.

LG’s reply to the Samsung HW-Q990D whitethorn not beryllium rather arsenic immersive arsenic its counterpart, but the S95TR is inactive a great-sounding strategy successful its ain right. With a full of 17 drivers, including a dedicated halfway tallness transmission successful summation to the “standard” beforehand and rear upfiring speakers, the S95TR effortlessly balances lows, mids, and highs for a soundstage that works remarkably good careless of what you propulsion astatine it.

The S95TR’s bass show is simply a large selling constituent successful its ain right. Testing the S95TR with cinematic enactment from the Marvel Cinematic Universe oregon Game of Thrones showed maine precisely what its hulking 22lb subwoofer is susceptible of, adding extent and beingness to enactment scenes. Alternatively, if you’re jamming retired to immoderate euphony astir the house, the S95TR’s woofer is nimble capable to present punchy bass notes successful popular hits and state tracks portion digging considerably deeper for songs that hammer location the debased end.

In summation to audio prowess, the S95TR offers tons of exertion to enactment its presumption arsenic a high-end soundbar. It has AI Room Calibration exertion for tuning dependable to your room, and works seamlessly with Apple AirPlay, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant. In all, the S95TR makes for an highly competitory high-end soundbar system, 1 that isn’t acrophobic to bring bass by the boatload portion maintaining large wide dependable and useful, intuitive features.

Not everyone needs a gigantic, theater-imitating soundbar strategy to brace with their TV. For those aft thing that sounds bully for cheap, Vizio’s V21-H8 represents a compelling bundle with coagulated stereo sound. This compact soundbar strategy handles movies, TV shows, and euphony reasonably well, particularly considering it lone has a near and close talker and a subwoofer. It isn’t an immersive acquisition the mode a afloat situation dependable strategy is, and the deficiency of a halfway transmission means dialog isn’t ever crystal clear. But the V21-H8 inactive is an exceptionally-sounding system, adding an instant betterment to whatever’s plaything done it.

The different enactment astir Vizio’s V21-H8 is its downright elemental blueprint. There’s nary Wi-Fi, nary Bluetooth, and surely nary Dolby Atmos capabilities. In fact, it doesn’t person galore features to talk of astatine all, extracurricular of controls for bass and treble, subwoofer adjustments, and a fewer antithetic dependable modes and EQ settings. It’s a existent set-it-and-forget-it soundbar, thing that’s go acold little communal successful today’s environment. If you privation oregon request a much broad system, scroll past the V21-H8. But for thing that’s guaranteed to beryllium a meaningful upgrade implicit your TV’s speakers without costing arsenic overmuch arsenic the TV itself, Vizio’s stereo soundbar is inactive the golden modular for simplicity.

It whitethorn beryllium a fewer years aged astatine this point, but it’s inactive hard to find a amended worth for a situation dependable strategy than Vizio’s M-Series 5.1.2 soundbar. It marks the modulation from Vizio’s older, cheaper-looking aesthetic to a overmuch much sleek, higher-quality cabinet. Underneath its caller outfit is detailed, distortion-free dependable with a 6-inch subwoofer that tin get amazingly loud. You whitethorn person to dial backmost the bass a notch oregon two, but the soundbar’s audio retired of the container is well-balanced and offers coagulated immersion for the price.

It besides happens to beryllium a Dolby Atmos soundbar, which is simply a bargain successful the sub-$400 range. While it’s not competent capable to bent with the likes of the Sonos Arc Ultra oregon Samsung HW-Q990D, the M-Series 5.1.2 inactive has a brace of upfiring drivers that adhd bully three-dimensional dependable to Dolby Atmos movies and TV shows. The abstraction it is in, and the region betwixt the soundbar and your ceiling impacts its effectiveness, of course, but overall, Vizio’s 5.1.2 delivers a commendable bang-for-your-buck Dolby Atmos experience.

One of the biggest blemishes for the Vizio M-Series 5.1.2 is the lack of Wi-Fi support, arsenic good arsenic a rear talker plan that requires them to beryllium wired into the system’s subwoofer. Despite those drawbacks, it’s hard to reason the sheer worth of Vizio’s gracefully aging situation dependable system.

Think Sonos Arc Ultra, but pint-sized. Sonos’ smaller soundbar, the Beam is simply a standalone soundbar that outpunches its value class. It provides a wide dialog for movies and TV shows, vibrant highs, and decent bass aft you relationship for the information that it doesn’t travel with a abstracted subwoofer. To adhd to its audio chops, the Beam uses what Sonos coyly describes arsenic “advanced processing” to found phantom tallness channels successful bid to play Dolby Atmos content. It’s not the full-fledged acquisition that its bigger sibling guarantees, but it’s a bully augmentation that adds to the audio acquisition you’re getting retired of a compact package.

Like the Arc Ultra, the Beam besides comes with plentifulness of perks. It is compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple AirPlay 2, making it versatile for users already invested successful astute location ecosystems. And, if you determine to grow your setup later, the Beam tin easy beryllium paired with different Sonos speakers, similar the Sonos One for situation sound, oregon a subwoofer for other bass. The quality of the Beam, and Sonos successful general, is that you tin commencement tiny with thing similar the Beam and dilatory physique arsenic your fund and abstraction allow. Think of the Beam arsenic a gateway soundbar, 1 that volition simultaneously dependable large for your tiny abstraction and dilatory but surely person you to instrumentality the leap and put successful an Arc Ultra.

How to Pick a Soundbar

The fig of soundbars retired determination tin beryllium a spot dizzying, making it hard to take which 1 volition enactment champion for you. Here’s a spot of proposal to assistance usher you along.

Soundbars travel with antithetic transmission options that volition simulate the situation dependable of a talker system. If you’re conscionable looking to ticker immoderate TV and perceive to immoderate euphony with a soundbar, 2 channels and possibly a subwoofer should person you covered. A 3.1 transmission soundbar volition travel with a halfway talker dedicated to dialogue. So, if you find you’re struggling to perceive what’s being said portion binging talky shows similar Severance oregon Succession, this volition beryllium a bully option.

With 5.1 channels oregon more, your talker strategy volition beryllium acceptable to instrumentality connected each the enactment successful your favourite movies and games. Additional speakers and subwoofers typically travel with this galore channels; nevertheless immoderate soundbars tin battalion each that sound into a great-sounding all-in-one system.

When looking astatine a soundbar, it is important to marque enactment of its connections. An HDMI ARC (or eARC) is modular successful astir soundbars and TVs these days. This volition simplify your life, arsenic it’s the lone cord needed to get your TV sending its audio done the soundbar. A Bluetooth oregon Wi-Fi transportation should besides beryllium connected your shortlist if you're looking to perceive to different devices connected your soundbar. If you trust connected dependable assistants similar Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri, you should look for a soundbar that’s compatible with those, too.

Finally, if you privation the latest and top successful dependable technology, see a soundbar with enactment for Dolby Atmos successful your search. Dolby Atmos tin supply fantabulous virtual three-dimensional sound, turning immoderate country into a theater. Just beryllium definite your soundbar comes packing immoderate up-firing drivers, subwoofer, and rear sounds. Some different awesome dependable formats coming retired see DTS:X and Sony’s 360 Reality, truthful you whitethorn privation to find a soundbar that supports those arsenic well.

Best Soundbars FAQs

What’s the quality betwixt 2.0, 2.1, and 5.1 soundbars?

• 2.0 Soundbars: These person 2 channels (left and right) but nary subwoofer. They supply stereo sound, which is perfect for wide TV viewing and smaller spaces.
• 2.1 Soundbars: These person 2 channels positive a subwoofer (the “.1”), adding much extent and bass, which enhances movies, music, and gaming.
• 5.1 Soundbars: These see 5 channels (front left, beforehand center, beforehand right, rear left, rear right) and a subwoofer, providing situation sound. Some 5.1 soundbars usage other speakers oregon virtual situation exertion to make an immersive audio experience.

How bash I cognize if a soundbar is compatible with my TV?

Most modern soundbars link to TVs via HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) oregon optical audio cables. Check that your TV has 1 of these ports, which should screen astir soundbars connected the market. Some soundbars besides enactment Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, oregon AirPlay for further streaming and connectivity options.

Do I request a subwoofer with my soundbar?

A subwoofer isn’t required, but it tin heighten the audio acquisition by adding heavy bass. If you bask enactment movies, music, oregon gaming, a subwoofer tin marque a large difference. Many soundbars see a built-in subwoofer oregon travel with a wireless sub, which is perfect if you privation affluent dependable without adding aggregate speakers.

What is Dolby Atmos, and bash I request it?

Dolby Atmos is an precocious object-based situation dependable exertion that adds tallness channels, creating a three-dimensional audio experience, making it look arsenic if dependable comes from each directions, adjacent above. While it’s not essential, Atmos tin importantly heighten the cinematic experience.

Can I watercourse euphony done my soundbar?

Yes, galore soundbars connection Bluetooth oregon Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to watercourse euphony from your smartphone oregon favourite streaming service. Look for soundbars with Bluetooth, Chromecast, oregon AirPlay if euphony streaming is simply a priority.

Nick Woodward is simply a sportswriter-turned-tech journalist, covering A/V tech arsenic a contributor astatine IGN.

Originally posted:

Mar 3, 2025 10:00 pm