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I watch too much TV to waste time rewinding shows just to hear what someone mumbled over my TV’s weak speakers. I used to use a pair of HomePod Minis connected to my Apple TV for louder (and better) audio. It worked fine, but Apple’s AirPlay could be unreliable at times. Since hooking a soundbar up to my TV, shows and movies have never sounded better.
Soundbars are compact arrays of speakers — usually housed all together — that are designed to produce better audio than your TV alone is capable of. Elliot Fishkin, founder of Innovative Audio Video Showrooms in New York City, notes that there are two distinct categories for soundbars. Consumer-grade soundbars from companies like Sonos and LG are meant to be all-in-one replacements for a home-theater system that take up less room. While he says that nearly all soundbars in this category will sound better than your TV’s speakers, you can also get true audiophile-quality soundbars that sound even better. Those soundbars are still great for replicating the theater experience, but they cost significantly more and require additional hardware, such as an amplifier, so I’ve focused on consumer-grade soundbars for this guide. That said, there are still a lot of differences in features and quality among the consumer-level soundbars you can buy today. Some feature all-in-one designs that pack multiple speakers and subwoofers into one case, while others may come with a separate subwoofer for more resonant bass.
If you’re simply looking to get better dialogue and sound effects than your TV’s built-in speakers can provide, almost any soundbar will do. On the other hand, if you’d like to get as close to a true home-theater experience as possible without adding a bunch of speakers, receivers, and cables to your setup, a quality soundbar can offer some approximation of that in a smaller package.
To find the best soundbars for every type of home and viewer, I tested five popular soundbars by watching Interstellar and an episode of Foundation on each and listening to the same playlist I use for testing Bluetooth speakers. I also spoke with two audio experts and some Strategist staffers to get their recommendations.
Updated on July 29, 2025
I rewrote this guide with all-new testing and new picks, including the Marshall Heston 120 as the best soundbar for listening to music.
Our top picks
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What we’re looking for
Dolby Atmos
Soundbars are meant to offer as close to true, immersive sound as can be achieved in a single package. This is done through a series of strategically positioned speakers inside the soundbar to point sound in various directions, creating a simulated surround-sound system by reflecting sound off objects in your room, as well as with digital signal processing to virtualize the effect. Many soundbars — including most that we recommend — accomplish this using Dolby’s Atmos technology.
Of course, re-creating that sort of setup at home would be quite costly, but to get a closer approximation, you’ll need a separate subwoofer and satellite speakers (above or behind you). Some companies, like Sonos, sell proprietary subwoofers and satellites, while others can work with third-party options, though you may need to use cables. A few we recommend have subwoofers included.
Channels
Every soundbar has a series of numbers (like 5.1.2) that indicates where its channels, or speakers, are. In some cases, those are actual, physical speakers within the soundbar, while in others, it may indicate virtual ones created by digital signal processing. The first number indicates the number of main speakers, and the second notes the number of subwoofers. So a soundbar with five speakers and two subwoofers would be a 5.2 sound system. In the case of a soundbar with five speakers, one subwoofer, and two upward-facing speakers, the soundbar’s channels would be noted as 5.1.2.
The channel number also indicates what sorts of formats it’s best suited for. For instance, soundbars with two or three front-facing channels will be adequate for boosting dialogue but not much else. For live sporting events or listening to music, a soundbar with three front channels will provide a center channel to separate voices from sound effects. If you want to get close to surround sound and feel like things are actually moving across the screen, you’ll want a bar with at least five main channels and one subwoofer.
Additional components
While most of the soundbars we recommend pack all their channels into a single package, some come with separate subwoofers or rear channels for better immersion. Those extra parts will take up more space in your room, but if you’re willing to make that trade-off, there’s a clear improvement in soundbars with dedicated subwoofers versus those included in the bars themselves. I’ve noted which soundbars have these parts included and which have options available for an additional purchase.
Inputs
If you don’t want to use a separate remote to control your soundbar’s volume, make sure you get one with eARC support. Soundbars with eARC (as well as the older ARC standard) connect directly to your TV, rather than something like an Apple TV, Roku, or PS5, and send any sound from your TV to the soundbar. As a result, you can control the power and volume from your device’s remote (if it has one) rather than the soundbar’s. While we recommend one basic model that supports HDMI ARC, we think models with eARC are preferable since it will allow you to get lossless audio. Some soundbars also have additional inputs, such as USB for updating firmware or in some cases playing media, as well as analog inputs like RCA or optical for hooking up subwoofers and additional speakers.
Wireless capabilities
Soundbars can be used as speakers for just playing audio, too. You can do this by using the apps on your streaming device, but that’ll require you to keep your TV on while you’re playing music. Instead, you can get a soundbar with the ability to stream audio over AirPlay, WiFi, or Bluetooth. Some soundbars can even stream music directly from a streaming service using features likeTidal Connect.
Dimensions
Soundbars can take up quite a bit of room, so be sure to get one that’ll fit on your TV stand (and you may want a height-adjustable stand so that the soundbar doesn’t block your TV) or on your wall, if you choose to mount it.
Remote
Most soundbars with HDMI Arc or eARC support will allow you to control their volume right from your TV or streaming device’s remote. Still, a standalone remote can come in handy if you’re using your soundbar for listening to music or other audio-only media, or if your TV’s remote is on the fritz.
Mounting kit
If you don’t have a TV stand, you’ll need somewhere to place your soundbar. Not all soundbars come with the necessary brackets and on-device holes for mounting to the wall, but most do. I’ve noted which ones come with a kit.
Best soundbar overall
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Dolby Atmos: Yes | Channels: 9.1.4 | Additional components: None | Inputs: HDMI eARC | Wireless capabilities: Bluetooth, AirPlay, Spotify, Tidal, Apple Music | Dimensions: 46.38” x 4.35” x 2.95” | Remote: No | Mounting kit: Yes
If you want a soundbar that looks great and can be wirelessly paired with other speakers, get the Sonos Arc Ultra. Its sound is immersive and impressively clear, and the Arc Ultra’s ability to pair with other Sonos speakers will make it easy to upgrade your setup. And don’t just take my word for it: Several Strategist writers use the Arc Ultra, and it’s one of B&H Photo senior technologist Mark Steinberg’s top recommendations. “I like every single Sonos speaker,” he says. “The calibration is great, you can move them around, and the speakers last and last.” He notes that in the several years that he’s been recommending Sonos gear to customers, he’s received very few complaints or requests for repair.
Just like most Sonos speakers, this one sounds excellent. It has 14 channels across its body, which is easily enough to fill a room. Highs and mids come through clearly, even at loud volumes, and the bass is powerful without being overbearing. Dialogue in TV shows and movies was easy to discern and never got overpowered by sound effects or music. Even faint sound effects were easy to distinguish. Because it doesn’t have a separate subwoofer like the Polk or JBL, though, its bass is weaker. It’s mostly noticeable when listening to bass-heavy music, but it’s true when watching movies as well.
On its own, the Arc Ultra’s array of speakers does a surprisingly good job of replicating true surround sound without any additional speakers. That said, because it’s a Sonos, you can connect this soundbar to larger package with those additional components) to actually create an immersive environment. That means you’ll have to spend extra money on gear, but you also get all the perks of the Sonos ecosystem, like direct integration with music streaming services and seamlessly syncing audio across all your home’s speakers.
Additionally, Sonos’s app (which has improved since its controversial relaunch last year) is the best way to aggregate music across multiple services. If you like to switch between Apple Music and Spotify, you can access both from within the Sonos app, rather than having to toggle between each specific app. You can also pair with the Arc Ultra over Bluetooth, if that’s your preference.
I prefer the Marshall Heston’s amp-inspired look, but although the Arc Ultra’s understated aesthetic won’t draw as much attention as the Marshall’s, its cylindrical design looks just as nice. That said, it’s quite wide — 46 inches — so be sure it’ll fit on your TV stand or wall before buying it.
Strategist senior writer Michael Zhao has been using this soundbar since April, and notes that its surround sound is excellent for watching Formula 1 races. “I watch NBA basketball, too, which is nice because the commentary comes through clearly,” Zhao says. He’s also a fan of Sonos’s TruePlay feature, which calibrates the speakers based on your room, and says it’s worth the couple minutes of setup to get things right.
Best less-expensive soundbar
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Dolby Atmos: Yes | Channels: 3.1.2 | Additional components: Subwoofer (included) | Inputs: HDMI eARC, Optical, USB-A | Wireless capabilities: Bluetooth | Dimensions: 41.2” x 3.7” x 2.4” | Remote: Yes | Mounting kit: No
Polk’s Signa S4D doesn’t have all the smart features of the Arc Ultra, and it isn’t as customizable as the JBL Bar 1000, but its sound is quite impressive for watching movies and listening to music given its price. It’s loud, details are easy to distinguish, and its speakers are effective in replicating some of the effects of surround sound despite not having any satellite speakers. The standalone subwoofer provides more powerful bass than the Sonos or Marshall alone are capable of (though you can connect subwoofers to both). Because it has a separate subwoofer, the bass was a tad much at times when watching movies, but the included remote made that easy to adjust on the fly.
One of my favorite things about the Polk — which the Arc Ultra and Heston 120 both lack — is the line of LED dots on the front of the bar that indicate the current volume level. The indicator remains lit, so you can see the current volume even when you’re not actively adjusting it. It can’t be turned off, which may be irksome to some, but it’s faint enough to go unnoticed while you’re watching something.
I do wish that, like the Sonos and Marshall, this soundbar supported WiFi connectivity for features like Spotify Connect. You can still stream music to it over Bluetooth or via your streaming service’s app on your TV, but it’s not as convenient as what other soundbars we recommend have to offer.
Best even less-expensive soundbar
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Dolby Atmos: No | Channels: Not listed | Additional components: No | Inputs: HDMI Arc, USB 2.0, Optical | Wireless capabilities: AirPlay, Bluetooth, WiFi, Alexa, Google Home | Dimensions: 2.4” x 9.6” x 3.5” | Remote: Yes | Mounting kit: No
If your TV’s in a small room or you just want better sound without losing precious space, get Roku’s Streambar SE. Like other soundbars, the Streambar SE will also play audio from other devices connected to your TV, such as a Playstation 5. It’s a fraction of the size of the Ultra, and it has a Roku streamer built right in to make your setup even more compact. It isn’t as loud as the Polk owing to its size, and its sound isn’t as bright as the Arc Ultra’s, but it sounds notably better than what a TV alone will offer, and it can get much louder without the audio sounding muffled.
Best soundbar for music
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Dolby Atmos: Yes | Channels: 5.1.2 | Additional components: None | Inputs: HDMI eARC, RCA (Mono, Stereo), USB-C | Wireless capabilities: AirPlay, Bluetooth, WiFi, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect | Dimensions: 43.3” × 5.7” × 3.0” | Remote: No | Mounting kit: Yes
The Heston 120 is Marshall’s first soundbar, and a strong entry in this category. It has nearly everything that makes the Arc Ultra great — including Atmos support and booming, vibrant sound — plus a gorgeous design that’s inspired by Marshall’s classic guitar amps.
Where most soundbars have a hard plastic shell, the Heston is wrapped in a faux-leather material that echoes the feel of Marshall’s high-end guitar equipment. On the top, there’s a set of dials that feel just like the ones you’d find on an amp. They’re far more satisfying to toggle than the touch controls on the Sonos Arc Ultra, and they give the Heston a unique look that will add more character to your home theater than other soundbars.
Each of the three dials — there’s one for volume, bass, and toggling inputs — has a red LED ring wrapped around it, but they aren’t visible from the front. This means that if you’re using your TV or streaming device’s remote to adjust the volume from your couch, you won’t actually see how much you’ve adjusted the volume like you can with the Polk’s front-facing LEDs. The top panel also has three shortcut buttons you can program to launch your favorite playlists, and a toggle for different equalizer settings like Movie, Music, and Night.
As for audio quality, the Heston’s highs and mids sound equally as bright and loud as the Arc Ultra’s, but its bass is slightly punchier. If you want even more powerful bass, the Heston has RCA inputs to connect a traditional subwoofer to it; the Arc Ultra doesn’t offer that (instead, you’d have to buy a pricey Sonos subwoofer).
Best surround-sound soundbar
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Dolby Atmos: Yes | Channels: 7.1.4 | Additional components: Subwoofer, rear speakers | Inputs: HDMI eARC, USB-A | Wireless capabilities: Bluetooth, AirPlay, WiFi, Alexa, Google Chromecast | Dimensions: 47” x 2.2” x 4.9” | Remote: Yes | Mounting kit: Yes
The JBL Bar 1000 gets closer to true surround sound than any other soundbar we recommend. It’s the only one with detachable speakers that you can turn into rear channels for a more theaterlike experience. The left and rightmost speakers on the Bar 1000 can be removed — they’re about six inches wide — and placed anywhere you’d like (JBL recommends putting them behind you) since they’re rechargeable. Since they’re physical, satellite speakers when disconnected, this soundbar does a better job than any other we recommend at creating true surround sound. That said, they’re wireless, so you’ll need to be sure they’re charged, but simply attaching them back to the main soundbar for a few hours will recharge them.
JBL makes some of our favorite Bluetooth speakers and wireless earbuds, so it’s no surprise that the Bar 1000 sounds great. Mids and highs come through with plenty of detail, and the included wireless subwoofer is more powerful than the one that comes with the Polk. Because the subwoofer connects to the soundbar wirelessly, though, there can be a bit of delay between the audio coming out of the soundbar and what’s emitting from the subwoofer.
Of all the soundbars I’ve tested, the Bar 1000 is the tallest among them — it’s nearly two inches taller than the Polk — which might be a dealbreaker for some people. I didn’t find it obstructive enough to be bothersome (I could still read subtitles), but it will block more of your TV than the Sonos, Marshall, or Polk.
Our experts
- Elliot Fishkin, Founder of Innovative Audio Video Showrooms in New York City
- Mark Steinberg, Senior Technologist at B&H Photo
- Michael Zhao, Strategist Senior Writer
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