We tested dozens of soundbars to find the best options for boosting your TV’s audio, from budget-friendly picks to high-end Dolby Atmos systems.
Seattle: Looking for better TV sound without the clutter of big speakers? We tested many soundbars to find the best ones for different needs and budgets.
Soundbars are like sound computers for your TV. They make voices clearer and add boom to explosions in movies. Some are small and simple, while others have many speakers that bounce sound off your ceiling for a movie theater feel called Dolby Atmos.
We tested bars from big names like Sony, Samsung, and Sonos, plus some you might not know yet. Some bars are wireless, meaning you can put speakers anywhere in your room. Others are simple and cheap but still make TV sound better.
You can spend as little as $128 for a basic bar from Vizio that makes voices clear and has good bass. Or go up to $3,500 for Yamaha’s flagship system with wireless speakers. Most people spend between $300 and $1,500.
Some bars work better with certain TVs. For example, if you have a new LG TV, their S95TR series connects wirelessly and uses your TV speakers too. Samsung bars have lots of connections for game consoles.
The Sonos Arc Ultra Dolby Atmos bar sounds excellent, but Sonos had software problems in 2024 that made some customers unhappy. Bluesound from Canada saw this as a chance and made their Pulse Cinema bar, which now supports Dolby Atmos height effects.
For small spaces or tight budgets, try the $210 Zvox AccuVoice bar if you can’t hear voices well on TV. Or the tiny Vizio 2.1 bar with an even tinier subwoofer that costs just $170.
Remember that Dolby Atmos bars need special up-firing speakers to bounce sound off your ceiling. Regular soundbars only point sound forward. Also, some fancy speakers need charging between uses since they work wirelessly.