How to Choose the Right Soundbar (2024): Size, Price, Surround Sound, and Subwoofers

Most soundbars besides connection optical audio inputs for older TVs without HDMI ARC support, but you'll privation to cheque to marque definite (or you could conscionable upgrade to a caller TV too!). We urge sticking to soundbars with HDMI ARC astatine a minimum. It's a overmuch simpler connection, and it's the minimum request for sending 3D audio formats that usage tallness channels similar Dolby Atmos oregon DTS:X.

Most soundbars enactment wireless streaming via Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth. Higher-quality models whitethorn besides supply spare HDMI inputs to plug successful root devices straight and walk video done to your TV similar a accepted A/V receiver. What you request depends wholly connected your usage case, but for astir people, a elemental HDMI transportation for HDMI ARC/eARC volition suffice. These cables are usually included successful the box. If not, present is an affordable cablegram we like.

Surround dependable is precisely what it sounds like—you're surrounding yourself with sound. It tin marque movies, games, oregon unrecorded sports consciousness much realistic. The champion situation soundbars usage dedicated rear situation speakers. Others usage integer audio processing, sometimes mixed with side-firing drivers to make a virtual situation effect. Some virtual situation systems tin beryllium effective, but they can't regenerate the existent immersion of dedicated situation dependable speakers.

The aforesaid goes for 3D dependable formats with tallness channels similar Dolby Atmos oregon DTS:X. While nary soundbars we've tested usage ceiling-mounted speakers, the champion models spot up-firing drivers successful some the soundbar and rear situation speakers to afloat submerge you erstwhile playing supported content.

If you're considering existent situation speakers, you'll privation to look into utilizing stands to spot them down your sitting area. You'll besides privation to see whether to get wireless speakers (which inactive usually necessitate a powerfulness outlet) oregon wired speakers that request to link backmost to the bar.

Many Wi-Fi-ready soundbars feature astute assistants, multiroom audio connectivity, and different bells and whistles. If you’ve already got a astute adjunct you love similar Alexa oregon Google Assistant, support this successful caput erstwhile shopping. You mightiness not request a astute talker successful your surviving country if you extremity up with a astute soundbar instead. Conversely, if you don’t privation those features, you tin prevention immoderate wealth by avoiding soundbars with each the fancy stuff. For example, Klipsch soundbars thin to skip Wi-Fi and astute features to absorption connected dependable prime and other components instead.

$100 oregon Less

You tin find small, fund soundbars successful this terms range, and they’re still amended than the speakers successful your TV. They tin beryllium a bully enactment if your fund is tight, but they're astir utile for TVs successful smaller spaces similar bedrooms oregon kitchens.

$100 to $400

This is simply a bully terms scope for astir non-surround soundbars. Look for recognizable brands similar Samsung, Vizio, Sony, Polk, LG, Bose, Klipsch, and Sonos. You usually don't privation to acquisition a soundbar successful this terms scope without a wireless subwoofer included, though Sonos and Bose person soundbars successful this scope that dependable beauteous good, and travel with precocious networking features. You tin besides find soundbars with existent situation dependable speakers beneath $400, but astir of them aren’t the champion for genuinely immersive sound. Similarly, galore bars volition connection Dolby Atmos and/or DTS:X “support,” but the effect volition beryllium constricted unless they connection dedicated up-firing drivers.

$400 to $1,000

This is the terms class wherever you’ll commencement to spot high-quality situation soundbars with subwoofers, existent outer speakers, and Dolby Atmos support. At this range, you'll besides commencement to spot precocious features similar Wi-Fi streaming, multiroom audio, spare HDMI inputs, and the quality to adhd wireless situation dependable speakers and subwoofers later. Depending connected your usage case, thing astatine this level should connection tons of extras, aggregate audio components, oregon both.

For superior euphony fans, this is besides wherever you tin get into prime powered/active bookshelf speakers. These all-in-one stereo systems connection overmuch higher fidelity and musicality than astir soundbars, and often travel with versatile connectivity similar HDMI ARC, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Brands similar KEF, SVS, and Klipsch are presently among our favorites.

More Than $1,000

At this price, you’ll spot the biggest, boldest soundbar systems with the astir imaginable speakers for tallness and situation audio. These are aimed astatine those with the currency to physique retired a small location theatre system but without the country oregon patience for systems that necessitate tons of wiring and discrete components similar an A/V receiver. If you're going overmuch higher, I'd see a true, traditional location theatre system with speakers, amps, and a receiver, oregon audiophile-grade talker systems similar the KEF LS50 Wireless bookshelf series.

Virtually each well-known electronics brands marque decent soundbars. Our favorites see Samsung, Sonos, Bose, Polk, Vizio, Klipsch, Yamaha, JBL, Sony, Sennheiser, and a fewer others. Try to sojourn a store that has galore soundbars to audition. You'll beryllium amazed however antithetic they tin sound. Be definite to cheque retired our Best Soundbars usher for our favorites.