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Best Soundbars 2024 – Top 5 Picks For the Ultimate Audio ExperienceBest Soundbars
Choosing the best soundbars can fix a lot of your TV sound problems. Can’t understand what’s being said on your TV? A soundbar’s dialog settings can help. Do big movies lack the big sound to match the big pictures? A good soundbar will make movie soundtracks come alive.
All the soundbars we mention below can match the performance of today’s bright big screen images. We spend a lot of time testing soundbars at home, just like you would use them. We rate them on how easy they are to set up and use every day, the quality of the dialog sound, power output, design, and of course, how well they create a surround sound experience for everyone listening.
Keep reading to find the right soundbar for you. And remember, you can find more info in our detailed standalone reviews, which cover installation, customization, and performance. Just follow the link at the end of each product summary to learn more.
Our Top picks
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
1. Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 – Best dedicated soundbar with Dolby Atmos
Specifications:
Pros
- Lively, muscular and expansive movie sound
- Properly accomplished with music
- Useful touch controls and app
Cons
- Dolby Atmos effect not as pronounced as some
- Close rivals cost less
The Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 is a soundbar solution from a well-known Hi-Fi brand. This speaker setup includes left, right, and center channels that fire forward, and two built-in subwoofer drivers for low-frequency cinematic rumble. There’s no separate subwoofer provided. It supports Dolby Atmos with two up-firing drivers to add a sense of height when streaming compatible soundtracks.
The powerful amplifier of the Panorama 3 easily manages large dynamic changes in movie soundtracks and is expressive and clear when it comes to music. It’s very well-balanced and consistent with all types of music and movie content. Dolby Atmos content is projected well in all directions for an immersive listening experience. The Bowers & Wilkins soundstage has a real width, and there’s a genuine feeling of movement as effects move from one side of the stage to the other. Soundtracks are delivered with plenty of confidence and style.
2. Yamaha YAS-209 – Best value soundbar with wireless subwoofer
Specifications:
Pros
- Clear and intelligible dialog
- Excellent for music
- Alexa voice control
- Comes with a wireless subwoofer
Cons
- No Dolby Atmos support
- Subwoofer can lack power
- Only 1 HDMI input
The YAS-209 soundbars, launched in 2019, are designed to offer good features at a low cost. The package includes a slim main soundbar and a wireless subwoofer to enhance the bass. While its main purpose is to improve TV audio, it also works well as a music system and comes with Alexa voice assistant. This smart and flexible combination makes movie soundtracks feel alive with a strong and full sound, especially when 3D Surround mode is on. The dialogues in movies are clear and have a good depth. We wish it had more than one HDMI port, but even with that, the YAS-209 offers a lot for its price. Get it while it’s still available
3. Samsung HW-Q990B – Best 5.1 home theater package
Specifications:
Pros
- Impressive Dolby Atmos
- Two HDMI inputs
- Easy to set up
- Sleek design
Cons
- Missing UI and streaming apps
- Weak 5.1 surround
- Troubling disconnecting issues
The Samsung HW-Q990B is like the modern version of the old home theater in a box packages. When you buy one, you get an 11.1.4 surround sound system that is powerful and stylish, and also easy to set up and install.
If you enjoy loud soundbars and don’t have neighbors to consider, you’ll love it. With a stated total power output of 656W, it’s hard not to be amazed by this speaker’s output. The Adaptive Sound feature uses built-in microphones to adjust the output based on your environment, and it can enhance the height speakers. In terms of sound clarity and depth, there’s a lot to appreciate here. It delivers detailed audio and impressive Dolby Atmos sound. Check out where it stands on our best Dolby Atmos soundbars page.
While it may not have all the features we’d like at this price point, if you’re in the market for a powerful soundbar that can shake the room, the Samsung HW-Q990B is worth trying out in your home theater.
4. Sonos Arc – Best Sonos soundbar overall
Specifications:
Pros
- Clear vocals and focused sound
- Strong, Sonos-quality bass
- Alexa and Google Assistant built-in
Cons
- Full Dolby Atmos requires add-on surrounds
- Takes up quite a bit of space on a TV stand
The Sonos Arc is a really good soundbar from Sonos. It has a nice curved shape that looks good in your living room. It makes your TV sound better. Sonos doesn’t say what the sound setup is, but it sounds great. It gives strong bass and clear high sounds for your favorite movies and TV shows. The Sonos Arc doesn’t have height speakers for Dolby Atmos content built-in. But, you can add two Sonos Era 300 rear speakers to get the full experience.
The Arc can change its sound to fit the room it’s in with Sonos’ TruePlay technology. This makes sure the sound quality is the best it can be. It also has voice control with Alexa and Google Assistant. This makes it one of the smartest soundbars you can get. If you have a big space for watching movies or listening to music, the Sonos Arc is a good choice. It’s a good place to start for a system that can play movies and music in multiple rooms.
5. Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar – A great Dolby Atmos soundbar with AI-enriched sound
Specifications:
Pros
- Slim and sleek design
- Dolby Atmos support
- Alexa voice assistant built in
- Nicely balanced sound with most content
- Automatic room correction
Cons
- AI Dialogue can be too harsh
- Not so great for music
- Poor bass quality at times
The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar is a top product from Bose. It uses AI and Dolby Atmos to make the sound feel real. Like the Bose Smart Soundbar 900, the Ultra model also has features like multiroom audio, built-in voice assistant, and options to add wireless Bose surrounds and a wired subwoofer. It costs $899, the same as the bigger Sonos Arc. It uses machine learning and AI to give you the best sound for your TV room.
Setting up the Bose is simple. It works really well with Dolby Atmos movies, giving a feeling of height when needed. The bass is strong with most TV shows, but adding a subwoofer can make movie soundtracks even better. You can add things like the Bose Bass Module 700 ($849) and Bose Surround Speakers 700 ($599). But without these, the strong bass can make the sound unclear, so it’s not the best speaker for people who love music.
In short, the Bose has lots of features and is a good choice if you already use Bose products. But the Sonos Arc is better at the same price.
How To Choose The Best Soundbar For You
FAQS
What Is A Soundbar?
A soundbar is a type of speaker that can be placed on a table or mounted on a wall. It’s usually long and rectangular, and it’s designed to go under or beside your TV.
Why Do I Need A Soundbar?
Using a soundbar is a great way to make your TV sound better. It can give you surround sound without the need for extra speakers.
What Are The Different Types Of Soundbars?
There are two main types of soundbars: wired and wireless. Wired ones connect to your TV with a cable, while wireless ones connect without wires. Some soundbars can do both.
What Are The Benefits Of A Soundbar?
The main benefits of a soundbar are better TV sound and surround sound without extra speakers.
How Do I Choose The Right Soundbar?
When choosing a soundbar, consider your room size, TV type, and budget. You should also decide if you want a wired or wireless soundbar, and if you want one with a subwoofer.
Will The Soundbar Improve The Audio Quality Of Sound?
Yes, a soundbar can make your TV sound better because it produces sound in a more advanced way than regular speakers.
How Do I Connect My Soundbar To TV?
You can connect a soundbar to your TV in a few ways, like using an HDMI cable, optical cables, or Bluetooth.
How Do I Install A Soundbar?
Installing a soundbar is usually easy. Most come with the necessary cables and instructions. You just connect the soundbar to your TV and turn it on. Some soundbars can also be mounted on the wall.
Why Is The Sound Quality Poor?
If your soundbar doesn’t sound good, make sure it’s connected to the TV and your input source. If it’s not connected, it won’t make any sound.
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