Best soundbars in 2023

As much as we would all love to have seven speakers and a subwoofer pointed directly at our ears while watching one of the many iterations of Batman out there, that particular home theater scenario is not quite attainable for most. Whether it’s a matter of space or budget, some of us must devise a smaller setup. Luckily, the best soundbars solve that problem with rear speakers and a subwoofer to offer a surround sound experience; others just provide excellent audio, which is good enough for you not to miss a full home theater system.

To that end, we’ve included a number of options. Some will give you that aural immersion — even offering the Dolby Atmos experience — while others will have your bank account thanking you without sacrificing too much in the audio department. There’s even one that can take the place of a streaming device. No matter what you need, there’s something here for you.

The Sonos Arc might be a single unit without extra rear speakers or subwoofer, yet it still provides exceptional three-dimensional audio with Dolby Atmos technology. It also has a surprising amount of low-end for a stand-alone soundbar, and you can add a subwoofer later. Overall, it sounds phenomenal, with more than enough power to forget more complicated home theater setups.

Unfortunately, this soundbar has a few issues, such as no HDMI passthrough on hand. Also, Sonos uses Trueplay tuning to adjust the audio to whichever room its respective product is sitting in, which is a great feature but requires an iPhone to make use of it. Most of us know someone with an iPhone, so that’s not necessarily the biggest hurdle to make this soundbar sound its best. Also, since this is a Sonos product, you can include the Arc in a multi-room setup with other products from the company’s lineup.

Source:Bang&Olufsen

Bang & Olufsen Beosound Stage

Premium pick

The best when money is no object

The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Stage brings an audio quality consistent with the company’s other premium-sounding products. That is to say that it sounds great for movies as well as for music. There’s plenty of connectivity on hand, so you can center a whole entertainment system around it as well, though, as with all things B&O, it costs about a month’s rent.

Pros

• Gorgeous minimalist design
• Dynamic, stellar sound
• Plenty of connectivity

Cons

• Very pricey
• For full immersion, need to buy additional speakers

It’s no surprise that the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Stage sounds amazing, and you’ll be happy to know that it sounds just as good for music as it does for the latest Sandra Bullock movie. More surprising is that the company has taken a page out of the Sonos playbook and made it capable of integrating with other B&O speakers for a multi-room setup or even for a more surround sound type of setup.

The soundbar is extremely expensive, and getting extra speakers for that spatial audio will add an additional cost that most won’t want to spring for. But, if you can splurge, this well-designed minimalist-looking soundbar is worth consideration, especially since it has enough connectivity to be used as the center of an entertainment center. It even includes an HDMI 2.1 eArc passthrough port, so you can connect that next-gen console and still get 4K at 120Hz performance on your fancy TV.

Source:Creative

Creative Stage V2

Best value

For when you want great sound on a budget

$100

$110

Save

$10

Considering the low price of the Creative V2, it really has no business being as good as it is, from the relatively solid sound quality to the fact that you don’t have to pay extra for a subwoofer. It’s pretty stripped-down with no spatial audio on hand, but that’s a small compromise.

Pros

• Very reasonably priced
• Decent connectivity
• Comes with a subwoofer

Cons

• Slim on features
• Dust magnet

This is a fairly stripped-down affair, as you won’t see features like Dolby Atmos or voice assistant support. Plus, its glossy finish is a bit of a dust magnet. But at least the Creative Stage V2 has a decent amount of connectivity, including an HDMI arc port, optical-in, and Bluetooth connectivity. Again, considering the price, the Creative Stage V2 offers a lot more than you would expect.

Source:Samsung

Samsung HW-Q700B

Best soundbar for Samsung TVs

For those who want to take advantage of Samsung-related features

The Samsung HW-Q700B is powerful, with plenty of clarity, and, just as importantly, it supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS for an immersive home theater experience. The soundbar comes with some amazing features, though some, like Q Symphony, require pairing the soundbar with a relatively new Samsung TV.

Pros

• Massive, detailed sound
• Supports multiple types of spatial audio
• Can use speakers from Samsung TVs for even bigger sound

Cons

• No side-firing speakers
• Some proprietary features

If you own a Samsung TV made within the last few years, there may not be a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q700B, as it can use the TV’s speakers in conjunction with its own speakers via the Q Symphony feature for a massive sound. Even without that, its support for Dolby Atmos and DTS means you’ll get a massive and immersive listening experience, which can be heightened if you choose to invest in some additional rear speakers.

And there are some great features available such as wireless TV connectivity, 4K and HDR-supported HDMI connectivity, and voice assistant support if you own an Amazon Echo device. The HW-Q700B also has adaptive sound modes to cater to whatever type of media you’re consuming, whether it’s sports, news, or a blockbuster movie.

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam

Best value Dolby soundbar

For when you want Dolby Atmos on a budget

$250

$400

Save

$150

The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is mostly as simple as can be. There’s no app, just enough ports for a smaller setup, and the remote has only the essential buttons. For something as simple as this soundbar, it has automatic calibration to deliver surprisingly good sound and spatial audio. Granted, part of its setup is a pain, and there’s no sub-out for extra rumble, but considering the price, it’s a pretty good package.

Pros

• Automatic calibration
• Not too expensive
• Solid sound and spatial audio

Cons

• Setup up can be a pain
• No sub-out

The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is fairly simplified compared to the competition (the remote has the most minimal amount of buttons possible, and there’s no app), but it’s a nice soundbar thanks to automatic calibration. Using that feature can bring its Dolby Atmos support to life for the kind of immersive experience anyone would want from their TV-watching experience.

That simplicity works against the soundbar in some instances, however. For example, the soundbar comes with just a handful of inputs, so you can’t connect many sources to it. You also can’t add a subwoofer if you want more low-end. More importantly, any setup beyond plug-and-play is a frustrating guessing game, especially connecting it to Wi-Fi. At least the soundbar supports multiple voice assistants (if you have a corresponding smart hub) and multi-room setups via Chromecast Built-in or Alexa Multi-Room Music. There’s also AirPlay support on hand.

Bose Smart Soundbar 600

Best small premium pick

When you have the budget but not the space

The Bose Smart Soundbar 600 might be a little pricier compared to smaller format soundbars, but it’s worth the price. It offers great spatial audio thanks to its upward-firing speakers, and it’s easy to set up. While it’s a bit light on bass and only has one HDMI port, that’s to be expected from such a compact model.

Pros

• Perfect for smaller setups
• Has up-firing speakers for Dolby Atmos
• Easy to set up

Cons

• Only One HDMI port
• Light on bass
• Only supports Dolby Atmos spatial audio

Although you have to deal with the typical issues one would find with a smaller soundbar on the Bose Smart Soundbar 600, it’s still a fantastic soundbar. Sure, the bass response is nothing to write home about, and it only comes with one HDMI port, so if you are hoping for more, you should look at a larger option.

Still, the Bose Smart Soundbar 600 sounds pretty good for its size, plus it includes some immersive Dolby Atmos spatial audio thanks to its upward-facing speakers. Additionally, setting up all its features via an accompanying app is pretty easy. You can also use the app to control settings on the soundbar if you don’t feel like reaching for the remote. Of course, being a Bose product with an uncommon feature like upward-firing speakers, it’s pricier than a lot of the competition.

Source:Polk

Polk MagniFi Mini AX

Best small soundbar with subwoofer

When you want rumble but have limited space

Yes, the Polk MagniFi Mini AX is a bit pricey for such a small soundbar, and its Dolby Atmos leaves something to be desired. But, overall, this diminutive soundbar actually sounds great, helped along by its wireless subwoofer. It’s also attractive, but you’ll want to be careful with placement as it’s tall enough to block the IR receiver on your TV.

Pros

• Excellent sound in a small package
• Wide variety of sound modes, including vocal boost and night viewing
• Sleek design not seen on most of the competition

Cons

• Taller-than-normal size can block some IR receivers
• No HDMI passthrough
• Dolby Atmos support is lackluster

Many small soundbars are a definite upgrade from TV speakers, but generally not more than that. However, that’s not the case with the Polk MagniFi Mini AX, as it actually has pretty impressive audio for its size. It also has plenty of rumble because of an included subwoofer, and although it has Dolby Atmos support, that’s middling. Still, there are a variety of sound modes to help you make the most of your TV’s audio.

The design on the Polk MagniFi MiniFX is somewhat unusual, coming in an attractive package on the taller side — it’s tall enough to potentially block the IR receiver on your TV. So, if you decide to grab it, be careful with your placement. At least the subwoofer, which is also a bit unique with its tall and thin look, is wireless.

Source:Roku

Roku Streambar

Best soundbar with built-in OS

When you need a streaming device as well as a soundbar

If you need a soundbar and stream box, the Roku Streambar is an incredible value proposition, especially considering the amount of volume available and the audio quality. It’s a bit light on bass, can get overblown when turned all the way up, and has a narrow soundstage, but you can always fix that by investing in some of Roku’s wireless speakers and subwoofer.

Pros

• Surprisingly loud with good audio
• Built-in Roku OS
• Expandable

Cons

• Soundstage is limited
• Light on bass
• Can get overblown at higher volumes

The Roku Streambar has a lot going for it, starting with the fact that it has full Roku functionality built in. It’s also a solid small form-factor soundbar with plenty of volume and solid audio performance. It even supports 4K and HDR; however, don’t expect something like Dolby Atmos included here.

There are limitations due to its size (and likely low price), such as its amount of bass, narrow soundstage, and the fact that it loses definition when turned all the way up. But considering that you can buy wireless speakers and a subwoofer to pair it with for not a lot more money, those are not dealbreakers. In fact, you can turn the Roku Streambar or its big brother, the Streambar Pro, into the center of a 5.1 surround sound system if you so wish.

What should I look for in a soundbar?

When it comes to soundbars, you should start by considering the size of your setup. For example, if you have a small TV, such as 40 inches or below, you might be better off with some of the smaller offerings included here. If you have a larger TV (and a larger room for your setup), a full-length model will not only look good, but it’ll also give the amount of volume to match that large screen.

Once you’ve figured out how big or small you want to go, consider your budget, as the more expensive you go, the more features you’ll get — plus, typically better and more detailed audio. On the other hand, if you’re on a budget, you can get a stand-alone unit without a subwoofer. If you do choose a stand-alone unit, it’s better to get one with the ability to add a subwoofer later on, whether through wireless pairing or a sub-out port.

Additionally, you might have to pay extra for some features, such as Dolby Atmos. Although it is a great feature that adds immersion, that doesn’t mean you’ll care for it, especially since not everything is mixed in to take advantage of it. If you’re mostly watching old movies and shows (ten years old or more), you probably won’t hear much of a difference. However, if you want to get the most engrossing experience possible, get Dolby Atmos or DTS support. Also, consider options that let you add rear speakers if they aren’t already bundled.

The best of the best

The Sonos ARC is probably the best overall soundbar right now. It has stellar sound even without a subwoofer, which can be added later on, and it can be tuned to whichever room you use it in for the best possible result. The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Stage is another stellar option with a fantastic sound — it just happens to cost four to five times the price of everything else on this list. At least it comes with that B&O Danish aesthetic. On the other side of the spectrum, if you’re on a budget, the Creative Stage V2 offers a lot in terms of value and performance.

Source:Sonos

Sonos Arc

Best overall

The best soundbar for most people

While the Sonos Arc has a few limitations — no HDMI passthrough and the Trueplay tuning feature is iOS only — this soundbar is truly a wonder. First and foremost, it sounds great, with plenty of power behind it. It also offers exceptional spatial audio and plenty of low-end in a single all-in-one package.