Trusted Reviews is supported by its audience. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Learn more.

Best Soundbar: Upgrade your TV audio

In This Article

As TVs get thinner, it becomes harder to get good sound from them and that means investing in the best soundbar.

A soundbar is an easy way to improve the quality of your TV audio without investing. To cover a wide range of options, we’ve gathered a range of soundbars for different budgets, scenarios and features to help you in your search. Whether it’s a compact soundbar, one for gaming, a full-sized unit or a soundbar that comes with rear speakers, we’ve got several options for you to look at.

There’s plenty we look at to determine which gets on this best soundbar list. The size and design; controls and ease of use, and any additional features or audio presets onboard; as well as the sound quality, which is uppermost in our consideration.

We watch a range of movies, play games and listen music to determine how well the bass and midrange are integrated, as well as high frequencies and dialogue. If it’s a stereo soundbar we’ll pay attention to clarity and detail, while with immersive soundbars we’ll assess how well it creates a sense of space and height.

If you’re looking for something more specific, we’ve got our guides for thebest Dolby Atmos soundbars, thebest small soundbarsand thebest cheap soundbars. Those who want to fill their room with sound should consider our guide to thebest surround sound systems.

Best soundbar at a glance

How we test

Soundbars were created to boost TV sound quality – which means we end up watching a lot of TV. We play everything – news reports for voices, movies for scale and effects steering – to ensure that the soundbars that come through the doors at Trusted Reviews are given a proper challenge. We’ll play different genres of music, too, since a good soundbar should be capable of doubling-up as a great music system.More complex soundbars feature network functionality for hooking up to other speakers and playing music around the home, so we test for connectivity issues and ease of use. We cover the spectrum of models available, everything from cheap soundbars costing less than £100 to those over £1000, to ensure our reviews benefit from our extensive market knowledge. Every product is compared to similarly priced rivals, too.

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max

Pros

Cons

We rate theSennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Maxas the best soundbar you can buy, and it costs a lot too, $2199 / £2199 to be exact.

The Ambeo is over a metre long and weighs 18.5kg. It steadfastly refuses to sit beneath a telly unless the TV is wall-mounted. The similarly pricedDevialet Dionetips the scales at 12kg, and we considered that to be fairly heavy. The Ambeo is heavier than someOLED TVs.

Which means it needs a fair amount of space but for its size and heft the build quality is excellent with a good selection of inputs that includes threeHDMIports, digital optical out and aux-in. Wirelessly there is support forGoogle Chromecastand Bluetooth 4.2.

The Ambeo Soundbar is an all-in-one effort, and one of a few we’ve tested that lives up to its claims of offering 5.1.4 channel immersive sound. It sounds absolutely sensational, firing effects around a room and generating power and muscle to make films and TV shows sound their exciting best. We found there to be a substantial level of bass for a single-bar system, with a good level of extension to the low end and in addition, plenty of depth and nuance to the soundstage it creates. But you’ll want to make sure the Ambeo processing is switched on, as we found the bar’s performance lost a sense of depth and height with it off.

There’sDolby Atmos,DTS:X, and the less well known MPEG-H are the main audio formats supported. To calibrate the Ambeo’s performance, it has a high-quality calibration microphone that matches the profile of the soundbar’s sound to a room, although it can only perform this from a single listening point. That means you want to be sitting in the right place at all times for the best experience possible.

There’s competition from theBang & Olufsen Beosound Theatre, but that’s even more expensive. If the size of the Ambeo Max is off-putting, there is the smaller (and less expensive)Ambeo Soundbar Plusfor £1299 / $1299.

Reviewer:Steve MayFull Review:Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max

Samsung HW-Q990D

Pros

Cons

TheQ990Danother belter of a wireless home cinema system from Samsung, tweaking and refining the performance of the predecessor, theQ990C.

There’s still no increase in channel count, which sticks at a massive 11.1.4 channels (the most of any soundbar). As has been the case with previous flagship soundbars, the power and dynamism of its speakers makes this a soundbar system that delivers intensity, impact and ‘bite’, with a dynamic range that adds to the excitement of the visuals on screen.

The ‘Acoustic Lens’ subwoofer continues to deliver some of the deepest rumbles we’ve come across in the soundbar world, but it feels more balanced and integrated into the frequency range thanks to the Space Fit Pro calaibration system. The rear speakers offer a fantastic sense of detail to create a soundstage that’s cohesive and balanced; positioning effects accurately around the soundstage whether they be overhead, behind the listening position or to the sides.

Its music performance has been improved, the tone is warmer than previous models, the subwoofer much better integrated into the performance.

If you have a compatible Samsung TV, there’s support for the Q-Symphony technology that combines the soundbar’s drivers with that of a Samsung TV’s speakers to create a bigger sound that places effects where they’re meant to be onscreen.Alexa voice recognitionis built-in, and for iOS users there’sAirPlay 2to cast audio to the soundbar.

The design and connectivity options are essentially the same as before. Connections include two HMI inputs and a single optical audio input, with the HDMI input able to pass throughHDR10+andDolby Visionformats, as well as 4K/120Hz pass-through.

There’s competition from theJBL Bar 1300, but we feel the Samsung offers a clearer and better immersive audio performance. Samsung also offers theHW-Q930D, though thta features just the 9.1.4 channels of sound.

Reviewer:John ArcherFull Review:Samsung HW-Q990D

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus

Pros

Cons

TheAmbeo Soundbar Plustakes everything we liked about theAmbeo Max, and puts it into a much more friendly form factor.

It’s still a fairly long soundbar and as such is best paired with 65-inch TVs and larger. Our reviewer felt the design and build quality was excellent, the Ambeo Plus looks smart without necessarily hogging the attention from what’s on screen. It comes with two HDMI inputs to pass-through audio/HDR, but for a soundbar priced as much as it is, we were disappointed that there was no support for gaming features such as 4K/120Hz.

The system is described as a 7.1.4 system, with upfiring and side-firing speakers to create a wide and spacious presentation. The sound quality we found to be very impressive, dynamic, musical, and detail rich, it is reminiscent of the bigger Ambeo Max. Bass is surprisingly powerful for a one-box system, and the Ambeo processing really does expand the soundstage and place effects from the left, right, centre and above in convincing fashion.

Bass can be increased with support for an additional four Ambeo subwoofers, but bass here digs deep and with punch for a cinematic performance. With music it’s also capable, converting stereo tracks with width and plenty of nuance. There’s no provision to add surround speakers to this unit, so it is a very front-heavy presentation.

In terms of features the Ambeo Plus supports the immersive formats such as Atmos,DTS:X, 360 Reality Audio, and MPEG-H. You can also stream overAirPlay,Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Chromecast, andBluetooth, giving the user plenty of ways to play audio. There’s alsoAmazon Alexabuilt-in for those who want to place the soundbar within a smart system.

Reviewer:Steve MayFull Review:Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus

Bang and Olufsen Beosound Theatre

Pros

Cons

When it comes to extravagant products there are few better than Bang & Olufsen, and with their supporting Beosound Theatre, they’ve attempted to create anAtmos barwith no compromises.

And in our view they’ve succeeded. There are still constraints and limitations given that the Beosound Theatre is a one-box system that still needs rear speakers to create the enveloping effect ofDolby Atmosimmersive sound, meaning the soundstage is front-heavy. It doesn’t have the same reach and wraparound effect theSennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Maxcan produce with its digital processing.

But the bass performance is thunderous for any one-box sound system. Our reviewer commented the Theatre was the most dynamic sounding soundbar they had ever heard. The energy and drive it gives soundtracks is excellent, and it seamlessly blends midrange and sub-bass frequencies with confidence. Dialogue clarity is excellent, and the soundbar is particularly good at delivering music. While it’s a excellent bar for movies and music, with games it’s weak at localising effects within the soundstage, making it tougher to figure out what’s around you.

DTS:Xisn’t supported, which is a disappointment, but there are plenty of ways to send audio wirelessly to the bar throughChromecast,AirPlay 2and Spotify Connect, with app support that allows the EQ to be adjusted and audio modes to enable. The bar is also able to measure your listening space and optimise its performance for the best possible sound.

The design is certainly not understated, with the Beosound Theatre primarily built to integrate withLG C2 OLEDbut can be partnered with any other TV. The width of the bar can be adjusted to match the size of the screen, with a modular design that allows it to be upgraded over time. And around the back is a generous array of connections with fourHDMI ports, including one that supports 4K/120Hz frame rates.

The Beosound Theatre is eye-wateringly expensive at £5590 / $6890 but it is a class-leading effort in terms of build quality and design, offering up a superb sonic performance.

Reviewer:Steve MayFull Review:Bang & Olufsen Beosound Theatre

Wharfedale Vista 200S

Pros

Cons

If the expense of a soundbar like theSennheiser Ambeo Maxcauses your eyes to water, the presence of an affordable soundbar with a dedicated subwoofer might be more attractive. In that case theWharfedale Vista 200Sis a highly recommended option.

We found the bar’s design to be attractive in appearance and the construction durable. The black finish and glossy top surface doesn’t scream a cheap soundbar despite the Vista 200S’s affordable price. With a width of 900mm it’s tailored to partner televisions up to 65-inches in size, and that it boasts a slim for factor also means you won’t be living in fear of the soundbar blocking the picture.

In terms of features, we observed there wasn’t much to grapple with aside from its active wireless subwoofer that has a side-firing 165mm driver with 60W of power. If you want wireless connectivity or immersive audio, you’d be better off seeking the smaller but more expensiveSonos Beam Gen 2. We did note the three preset EQ settings for media playback are provided in Movies, Music and News to optimise the soundbar’s sound for those types of content.

We found the sound quality for the price was especially good, with the 200S putting in a great performance across the frequency range with a top-end that didn’t suffer from a lack of detail, plus some punchy bass thanks to the active subwoofer. We also observed that the Vista 200S could get rather loud without sounding harsh or compressed due to its 120W of built-in amplification. It also dealt with dialogue well, even without a dedicated centre speaker, and if you’re interested in playing music through this bar, then it delivers on a smooth and clear performance.

There are cheaper soundbars, such as theSharp HT-SBW202, as an alternative but we haven’t come across another soundbar that offers as much performance-per-pound at this price the Wharfedale.

Reviewer:Steve WithersFull reviews:Wharfedale Vista 200S

Sonos Arc

Pros

Cons

With its range of connectivity, streaming support and upfiring speakers, theSonos Arcis one of the most outsanding options below £1000.

The Arc represented the first time Sonos waded into theDolby Atmoswaters and we found the bar’s soundstage was full of plenty of height and width in testing, putting in a crisp performance with good control of the top end, alongside a detailed presentation of the mid-range and low-end.

Our reviewer found the transition between mid-range and low-end was not the most fluid, hampering the overall cohesion of the Arc’s presentation. It plays music well, although again the blend of bass and mid-range did cause it to lack conviction at times.

The lack of bass is an issue that hampers several Atmos single-bars such as theBowers & Wilkins Panorama 3, but at least with the Arc a subwoofer can be added. With theEra 300available a full Dolby Atmos home cinema system can be created if that’s of interest.

The Arc featuresHDMI eARC, which means you’ll need a TV with an eARC port to wring the best possible Atmos performance. Wirelessly there’sAirPlay 2(Sonos still omitsBluetoothfrom its spec), and in the S2 app there’s the ability to place the Arc within amulti-roomsystem with other Sonos speakers. The S2 app also provides access to streaming services in Spotify,Tidal,Deezer, Qobuz as well as the Sonos Radio service. Those with an iOS device can take advantage of theTrueplay featurethat optimises audio playback to any room.

Design wise, the Arc is is keeping with Sonos’ recent design language, its minimalistic look available in black or white. It’s over a metre long but quite discreet in profile. The Arc is a very good Dolby Atmos soundbar but not without limitations, and its lack of all-round DTS support means this isn’t the best choice for home cinema enthusiasts with older DVDs and Blu-rays with DTS soundtracks. If you’re in need of DTS support, we’d recommend theSennheiser Ambeo Plusas an alternative.

Sonos has launched theArc Ultra, which we presume will replace the original Arc in time. We’ll be reviewing that model soon, so keep an eye out for it on the website.

Reviewer:Simon LucasFull review:Sonos Arc

Samsung HW-Q700C

Pros

Cons

Samsung’s soundbar line-up acts as a perfect complement to their TVs, and theHW-Q700Cstrikes an impressive balance between performance and value for its asking price.

An upgrade over theHW-Q700B, it supports bothDolby AtmosandDTS:Xcompatible and features an HDMI input that supports 4K HDR passthrough if you’ve run out of inputs on your TV. Samsung exclusive features include Q Symphony, which allows the soundbar to work in tandem with the TV’s speakers for a bigger soundstage. Our reviewer very much enjoyed its implementation on this bar.

It features several other ways to fire audio at it includingAirPlay 2for iOS users,Bluetooth supportand Spotify Connect integration through Samsung’s SmartThings app that corrals other smart home devices to speak to each other. There’s also voice support inGoogle AssistantandAmazon Alexa.

We found dialogue clarity to be excellent, making it easy to follow what’s been said when the action on screen gets busy. The upfiring height drivers perform a great job of expanding the soundstage, the sense of ambient space makes the action feel more believable.

The crossover point between the main unit and the subwoofer is smoothly done, and the sub itself puts in a punchy, hard-hitting performance with low frequencies to create plenty of impact. Bass delivery is punchy, weighty, and forceful providing plenty of slam where required.

It could arguably be a little more subtle, lacking the detail and clarity of theHW-Q800C. It has been replaced by the HW-Q700D but that’s only served to reduce the price. You can get this soundbar for less than £300, which makes it an absolute bargain.

Reviewer:Steve MayFull Review:Samsung HW-Q700C

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Pros

Cons

For those with limited space or a smaller TV, theSonos Beam (Gen 2)is one of the best soundbar available in its size.

The Beam (Gen 2) measures 26-inches in width and just shy of 3-inches in height. For reference, our best overall soundbar, theSennheiser AmbeoSoundbar Maxis almost twice that size. This makes the Beam ideal for small TVs, with any up to 49-inches in size a suitable fit.

Similar to theGen 1 Beam, the Gen 2 is equipped with a tweeter, four mid-woofers and three passive radiators. It has none of the upward-firing speakers for the overhead channels forDolby Atmosfound on theSonos Arc. Instead, the Beam uses digital processing to create an immersive experience.

Unlike the original, the Beam (Gen 2) featuresHDMI eARC, which offers higher bandwidth and support for lossless audio formats such as Atmos.

There are a number of sound modes to choose from including a night mode to cut out loud noises in the evenings and a speech enhancement mode to boost dialogue. The soundbar also supports voice commands withAmazon AlexaandGoogle Assistant.

When it comes to sound quality, we found the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) performs with excellent balance and range. It doesn’t have the dimensionality of the Sonos Arc, but it positions sound in a way that it feels as though it’s wrapping around you. Our reviewer also felt that bass levels impressed, though they don’t have the same weight and depth as those produced by the larger Arc.

Nevertheless, the Beam manages to deliver a good sense of cinematics, a clean and balanced sound and thus remains the best choice for smaller TVs and rooms, just beating out the likes of the similarly pricedBose Smart Soundbar 600andDenon Home 550 Soundbar, and is a cheaper option than theSennheiser Ambeo Mini.

Reviewer:David LudlowFull review:Sonos Beam Gen 2

Razer Leviathan V2

Pros

Cons

TheRazer Leviathan V2is a soundbar designed for gamers, intended to amp up gaming sessions with a bar and subwoofer combo. At $249.99 / £229.99, it’s within the affordable realm of the soundbar market, and a worthwhile option not just for gaming, but also with music too.

The appearance of the Leviathan V2 is toned down compared to some of Razer’s other products, although the RGB lighting scheme can summoned and customised to fit the environment, bringing a cascade of colour to gaming sessions. We found the build quality to be sturdy enough, despite being predominantly made from plastic, with feet that can angle the soundbar upwards to fire audio towards the listening position.

There is noHDMIport, just a USB audio input to connect to a PC, and wirelessly there’s Bluetooth 5.2 if you want to connect the Leviathan V2 to a device other than a PC and play audio through the bar. It’s a simple enough state of connections, though we found it to be a little disappointing that there’s no 3.5mm despite its predecessor including it. The Razer Audio app features EQ presets such as Bass Boost to help customise the sound to match the game being played.

And in terms of the sound, our reviewer enjoyed the warm, punchy bass of the soundbar/subwoofer combo, with the spacious soundstage helping to identify where enemies where, plus the sound of bullets flying past helped immerse us better within the game. There is THX Spatial Audio as opposed toDolby Atmos, which thePanasonic SoundSlayer Gaming Speakerfeatures, and we found the addition of spatial audio brought more heightened awareness to the games we played.

Playing music over a Bluetooth connection wasn’t as good as a wireless speaker, it’s perfectly serviceable if you’re expectations aren’t too high. There is the Pro version that supports some clever spatial audio processing, and you canread our impressions.

Reviewer:Gemma RylesFull review:Razer Leviathan V2

We also considered…

A powerful, modular surround sound system

The latest Ambeo is only Mini in some ways…

An all-in-one soundbar that digs deep and goes wide

A compact soundbar at a cheaper price than you might expect

The biggest little soundbar you can buy

A few tweaks and a cheaper price for Samsung’s mid-range Atmos/DTS:X bar

We’ve reviewed

294

Sound Bar

FAQs

Our recommendation would be the Wharfedale Vista 200S. It can be found for a few pounds under £200 and is great with both movies and music. We found it to be superb value.

If you’re short on space or prefer not to have a subwoofer as part of the package, then the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is an excellent choice with its wide soundstage and detailed performance with voices. If you have room for a bigger bar, either the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Mini or Sony HT-A7000 would be fine options.

If you’re after a soundbar to go with a Sony OLED then the HT-A7000 is an excellent choice. With compatible Bravia XR TVs it can function as a centre channel speaker within a surround sound system; and the user interface is integrated better with faster access to quick settings.

You might like…

Comparison specs

Kob began his career at What Hi-Fi?, starting in the dusty stockroom before rising up the ranks to join the editorial and production team as the Buyer’s Guide editor. Experienced in both magazine and …

Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.

Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.

Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.

We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.

Why trust our journalism?

Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.

Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.

Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.

We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.