The best soundbars for 2023

It's nary concealed that nan built-in speakers successful astir TVs are trash. They don't task capable sound retired to nan beforehand truthful you tin perceive good — particularly subtle details. Thankfully, you don't person to splurge for a five-speaker (or more) surround-sound system to amended your sound experience. In astir surviving rooms, a azygous soundbar and possibly a subwoofer tin coax amended sound from your TV. To thief you determine nan champion bargain for you, we've compiled a database of everything to look for erstwhile searching for nan champion soundbar for you, on pinch a database of nan apical picks for a scope of budgets.

What to look for successful a soundbar

Features

When it comes to features, nan much you salary nan much you're going to get. Most affordable options ($150 aliases less) will amended your television's audio quality, but that's astir it. Step into nan $300 to $400 scope and you'll find a smart soundbar pinch things for illustration built-in sound control, wireless connectivity, Google Chromecast, AirPlay 2 and moreover Android TV. They're each adjuvant erstwhile you want to debar looking for nan distant control, but nan champion sound value is usually only successful nan apical tier and nan formats those premium soundbar systems support. I’m talking astir things for illustration Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and different high-resolution audio standards. These are what you'll want to look for if genuinely immersive sound is what you crave for your surviving room setup. And not each Atmos soundbars are equal, truthful you'll request to look astatine nan finer specifications cautiously earlier you break into nan savings account.

Ports

This is simply a large one. A batch of nan much affordable soundbars are constricted erstwhile it comes to connectivity options. They either connection an optical larboard aliases 1 HDMI jack and, if you're lucky, both. Things get somewhat amended successful nan mid-range section, but that's not ever nan case. The Sonos Beam, for example, is $449, but only has a azygous HDMI port. If you want to link your set-top box, gaming console and much straight to your soundbar for nan champion imaginable audio, you'll apt want to look for an action pinch astatine slightest 2 HDMI (eARC) inputs. HDMI connections are basal for things for illustration Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and different high-res and immersive audio formats. And with nan HDMI 2.1 spec, soundbars tin support HDR, 8K and 4K/120 passthrough to make these speaker systems an moreover amended companion for a crippled console.

Channels

Another large point you’ll want to salary attraction to erstwhile looking for nan champion soundbar is channels. That’s nan 2.1, 7.1.2 aliases different decimal number that companies see successful merchandise descriptions. The first fig corresponds to nan number of channels. A 2 would conscionable beryllium near and correct while a much robust Atmos system, particularly 1 pinch rear outer speakers, could beryllium 5 aliases 7 (left, right, halfway and upward). The 2nd number refers to nan subwoofer, truthful if your caller soundbar comes pinch 1 aliases has them built in, you’ll spot a 1 here. The 3rd numeral is up-firing speakers, important for nan immersive effect of Dolby Atmos. Not each Atmos-enabled units person them, but if they do, nan 3rd number will show you really galore are successful play.

Wireless

Most soundbars these days connection either Bluetooth, WiFi aliases both. When it comes to WiFi, that connectivity affords you luxuries for illustration sound power (either built-in aliases pinch a abstracted device), Chromecast, Spotify Connect and AirPlay 2. Depending connected your preferences, you mightiness beryllium capable to unrecorded without immoderate of these. For me, AirPlay 2 and Chromecast are essentials, but nan remainder I tin unrecorded without. Those 2 springiness maine nan expertise to beam euphony and podcasts from my go-to apps without having to settee for — aliases struggle pinch — a Bluetooth connection.

Size

This 1 mightiness look evident but joke maine for a minute. Nothing is much soul-crushing than getting a pricey soundbar successful your surviving room only to observe you person to rearrange everything to find a spot for it. This was my plight erstwhile the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar arrived astatine my door. Yes, that speaker is absurdly ample (and heavy), and astir soundbars aren't astir arsenic big. I learned a valuable lesson: Make judge nan abstraction wherever you want to put a soundbar will accommodate nan point you're astir to walk hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars on.

Basically, it each comes down to nan TV you person (or are readying to get) and what nan superior extremity is for your living-room audio. Is it easiness of use? Do you want nan champion imaginable sound from a azygous speaker aliases speaker/sub combo? Do you conscionable want to beryllium capable to really perceive your TV better? Or do you want to move your surviving room into an immersive location theatre strategy pinch situation sound?

By paying attraction to each of those areas, you should person a bully thought of what to look for successful a soundbar, soundbar/subwoofer combo aliases a much robust setup. With that said, we've put galore products done their paces astatine Engadget and person a fewer favorites for champion soundbar astatine various value points to get you started.

The Best Soundbars

Best premium soundbar: Sony HT-A7000

Sony has a agelong way grounds of fantabulous high-end soundbars and its latest is different great-sounding product. The A7000 is simply a robust Dolby Atmos soundbar, tin of immersive 7.1.2 audio acknowledgment to Sony’s 360 Sound Mapping, Sound Field Optimization, vertical situation exertion and S-Force Pro beforehand surround. There’s a batch of tech astatine activity here, and I haven’t moreover mentioned 360 Reality Audio aliases DSEE Extreme upscaling, some useful erstwhile it comes to listening to music. Speaking of audio, you’ll person nan action of utilizing Chromecast, Spotify Connect aliases Apple AirPlay 2 to nonstop your tunes to nan A7000.

Two HDMI eARC inputs mean you tin hook up aggregate streaming boxes aliases gaming consoles. And acknowledgment to HDMI 2.1 support, you tin expect 8K and 4K/120 passthrough to your television, truthful nan A7000 is simply a awesome action for gamers. This soundbar is costly astatine $1,198 and it doesn’t travel pinch a abstracted subwoofer (though it does person 1 built in). However, Sony does springiness you aggregate options for some a sub and rear outer speakers. The SA-SW3 sub is $298 while nan SA-SW5 is $699. For rear speakers, nan SA-RS3S is $350 while nan genuinely wireless (and overmuch amended looking) SA-RS5 set is $598. If you’re looking to prevention immoderate money connected nan soundbar itself, Sony offers nan HT-A5000 for $999 (although we’ve seen it connected waste for $798 recently). It packs nearly each of nan aforesaid bells and whistles arsenic nan A7000, only successful a 5.1.2-channel configuration.

Runner-up premium soundbar: Sonos Arc

The apical extremity of Sonos’ location theatre lineup was good overdue for a refresh by nan clip nan institution introduced the Arc successful 2020. This unit replaced the Playbar that debuted successful 2013, offering directional sound via Dolby Atmos support arsenic nan main upgrade. The Arc sports a much modern design, stellar sound value and each of Sonos’ smarts – including nan expertise to automatically calibrate to your surviving room and erstwhile you adhd much Sonos speakers.

The $899 value doesn’t see a sub, but nan Playbar didn’t travel pinch 1 either. And sadly, Sonos doesn’t see a 2nd HDMI input for straight connecting devices different than your TV. As is typically nan lawsuit pinch nan company’s wares, description gets costly quickly arsenic the wireless sub is $749 and satellite One speakers are $219 each. However, nan operation of nan Arc and a sub will get you beautiful acold sound-wise, moreover if they are abstracted purchases. Plus, nan company's wireless subwoofer, nan Sub Mini, useful good pinch this premium soundbar, and it clocks successful astatine $429.

Read our Full Review of Sonos Arc Soundbar

Another premium soundbar: Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3

Bowers & Wilkins introduced its first Dolby Atmos soundbar backmost successful March, filling a void successful nan company’s existing location theatre lineup. The Panorama 3 has a 3.1.2-channel configuration, but it packs 13 full speakers – including 2 subwoofers – and 400 watts of sonic power. For that reason, nan institution doesn’t deliberation you’ll request a dedicated sub. Indeed, nan Panorama 3 does connection ample bass, but it’s not astir connected nan level arsenic a standalone unit. This smart soundbar does person a low-profile, refined creation alongside sound capabilities, “hidden until lit” touch controls and support for aptX Adaptive, Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect. Most importantly, it’s presently disposable for $200 little than nan original MSRP astatine $799.

Best midrange soundbar: Sonos Beam

Solid sound quality? Check. Dolby Atmos? Yep. Compact and easy to group up? Uh huh. Compatible pinch different Sonos products for a much robust system? You betcha. The first-gen Sonos Beam has been 1 of our favorites since it arrived successful 2018, but location was 1 point it didn’t have: Dolby Atmos. That was nan large summation to the 2021 model, though it’s a spot constricted since nan Beam doesn’t person immoderate upward-firing speakers. Sonos manages to make things look much directional by tweaking audio timing and wave alternatively of adding much drivers. The caller Beam still only has nan 1 HDMI larboard which intends you won’t beryllium connecting a gaming console aliases set-top container straight to this. It besides intends that if you person an older TV pinch an optical jack, you’ll request an adapter.

Read our Full Review of Sonos Beam Soundbar

Runner-up midrange soundbar: Samsung HW-Q700B

Samsung’s mid-range Q700B will costs you $700, but it comes pinch a bundled subwoofer. This exemplary besides supports wireless Dolby Atmos connectivity pinch nan latest Samsung smart TVs complete WiFi and nan 3.1.2-channel configuration includes up-firing speakers for due immersive sound. The Q700B supports Q-Symphony which allows you to usage some nan soundbar and your TV speakers for a much robust situation sound setup connected immoderate 2021 and 2022 Samsung TVs. SpaceFit Sound automatically calibrates nan soundbar/sub combo to a room, Adaptive Sound optimizes audio for circumstantial contented types and Tap Sound allows you to nonstop tunes from a Samsung telephone to nan Q700B pinch a elemental tap. HDMI eARC connectivity is present arsenic well, and truthful is sound control, AirPlay, Chromecast and a gaming-specific sound mode.

Another midrange soundbar: Sonos Ray

Sonos’ latest bid for champion soundbar whitethorn beryllium its astir affordable to date, but astatine $279, it’s not precisely a fund pick. Especially erstwhile you see location are cheaper options that travel pinch a subwoofer. Still, nan compact creation doesn’t bid a batch of abstraction successful beforehand of your TV aliases connected your TV stand, making it a awesome action for smaller surviving spaces. The Ray is easy to group up and provides awesome sound value for some TV and music. There are immoderate trade-offs erstwhile it comes to nan immersive quality of nan audio, but it’s a bully action for upgrading your TV sound pinch minimal fuss.

Read our Full Review of Sonos Ray Soundbar

Best fund soundbar: Vizio V21t-J8

If you’re looking for a measurement to amended your TV sound connected a budget, Vizio has immoderate high-quality options. With the V21t-J8, you get a 2.1-channel setup successful a compact soundbar and 4.5-inch wireless sub combo for $160. This would beryllium a awesome prime if you don’t want your add-on TV speaker to return up a batch of space. There’s nary WiFi connectivity, but that’s really nan only sacrifice erstwhile it comes to nan basics. HDMI ARC/eARC and optical connections nexus to your tv while a 3.5mm aux jack and Bluetooth let you to play euphony from your telephone aliases different device. DTS Virtual:X compatibility offers immoderate of nan effect of situation sound without a bigger portion aliases further speakers.