The very best soundbars can fully rework your TV setup, turning flat, lifeless audio into one thing that really sounds cinematic. Whether or not you are watching blockbuster motion pictures, listening to music or gaming, soundbar delivers clearer vocals, deep bass and higher total playback than most built-in TV audio system ever might.
In 2025, there’s a soundbar for each sort of dwelling leisure setup — from compact all-in-one items to full encompass methods with subwoofers and rear audio system. Some prioritize simplicity and glossy design, whereas others are filled with immersive options like Dolby Atmos and good voice controls. Regardless of your finances or your house, we’ve picked the most effective soundbars you should buy proper now to assist elevate your audio expertise.
Desk of contents
The post-CES soundbar outlook for 2025
I usually come out of CES with a fairly clear understanding of the brand new soundbars which can be coming for the 12 months, however that wasn’t precisely the case in 2025. LG determined to hold over its most premium soundbars from 2024, however it should add the compact S20A this 12 months. The corporate solely previewed the mannequin at CES, so full specs are nonetheless forthcoming.
Samsung will as soon as once more preserve the identical total design and options for its top-end Q990 soundbar. Nonetheless, the corporate is including a number of new instruments and it drastically diminished the scale of the wi-fi subwoofer that comes within the field. Samsung does have one new mannequin for 2025, the QS700F, that’s designed to sit down on a desk or mechanically modify to being mounted flat on a wall. Particulars are scarce on that soundbar for now and I anticipate a full spec sheet when the corporate is actually to promote it.
Of the large three TV corporations, Sony is the one one which didn’t announce any dwelling theater gear at CES. The corporate has determined to focus primarily on its automotive efforts on the present just lately, leaving TV and audio bulletins for later within the 12 months. The corporate debuted a number of soundbar choices in 2024 and a four-speaker setup for the lounge within the Bravia Quad. That stated, it wouldn’t shock me if Sony launched new soundbars later within the 12 months since its most up-to-date fashions have been solely introduced final April.
One firm I might control is Sennheiser. The unique Ambeo mannequin is sort of six years outdated and will use a refresh. The corporate has added medium and mini choices to the Ambeo lineup since then, however it might be good to see a refined model of the biggest mannequin too. The unique Ambeo soundbar is big, so regardless of how good it sounds, it should all the time be a tricky promote for some folks.
Though I feel it’s much less doubtless, it’s additionally potential that Sonos has new soundbars this 12 months. Whereas the corporate’s subsequent gadget will doubtless be the rumored set-top streaming field, the Sound Movement tech contained in the Arc Extremely would supply an enormous enchancment to bass efficiency in compact fashions just like the Beam and Ray. The corporate could convey Sound Movement to standalone audio system first, nevertheless it’s destined for these smaller soundbars finally.
The very best soundbars for 2025
Picture by Billy Steele / Engadget
Top: 2.95 inches | Width: 46.38 inches | Depth: 4.35 inches | Ports: 1 x HDMI Out, 1 x Ethernet | Channels: 9.1.4 | Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth, HDMI | Model: TV unit, wall mount | Max wattage: 110W
Learn our full Sonos Arc Extremely evaluate
At $999, the Arc Extremely is an expensive addition to your lounge, and enlargement solely will get costlier from right here. Nonetheless, Sonos provides vital upgrades over the Arc in a number of key areas. First, due to new Sound Movement tech, the Arc Extremely has much more low-end tone by way of elevated bass efficiency. Added bass makes this a greater speaker for music whenever you’re not watching TV. That improve additionally allowed the corporate to reconfigure its mid-range drivers and tweeters, increasing the soundbar’s dimensional sound and immersive talents.
The on-board controls have been relocated and up to date, which can be an enchancment – as is the addition of Bluetooth connectivity. The expanded speech enhancement function comes with a level of customization and there are actually two choices for room calibration. Plus, you’ll get all the things that’s nice about Sonos merchandise: multiroom setups and crisp, clear audio high quality.
- Improved bass efficiency
- Crisp, clear and immersive sound
- Expanded Speech Enhancement
- Appropriate with Ace headphones
- Nonetheless only a single HDMI port
- Growth stays dear
- Massive footprint
$999 at Sonos
Sony
Top: 3 inches | Width: 51 inches | Depth: 5 inches | Ports: 2 x HDMI In, 1 x HDMI Out, 1 x Optical, 1 x Anologue, 1 x USB-A | Channels: 7.1.2 | Assistant assist: Google | Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth, HDMI | Model: TV unit | Max wattage: 500W
Sony has a protracted observe report of wonderful high-end soundbars and its newest is one other great-sounding product. The A7000 is a strong Dolby Atmos soundbar, able to immersive 7.1.2 audio due to Sony’s 360 Sound Mapping, Sound Subject Optimization, vertical encompass know-how and S-Power Professional entrance encompass. There’s a whole lot of tech at work right here, and I haven’t even talked about 360 Actuality Audio or DSEE Excessive upscaling, each useful with regards to listening to music. Talking of audio, you’ll have the choice of utilizing Chromecast, Spotify Join or Apple AirPlay 2 to ship your tunes to the A7000. The general soundstage is immersive, with wonderful readability for each TV exhibits and music.
Two HDMI eARC inputs imply you possibly can hook up a number of streaming packing containers or gaming consoles. And because of HDMI 2.1 assist, you possibly can count on 8K and 4K/120 passthrough to your tv, so the A7000 is a superb possibility for avid gamers. This soundbar is dear at $1,198 and it doesn’t include a separate subwoofer (although it does have one inbuilt). Nonetheless, Sony does offer you a number of choices for each a sub and rear satellite tv for pc audio system. The SA-SW3 sub is $298 whereas the SA-SW5 is $699. For rear audio system, the SA-RS3S is $350 whereas the really wi-fi speaker (and a lot better trying) SA-RS5 set is $598. In case you’re trying to avoid wasting cash on the soundbar itself, Sony provides the HT-A5000 for $999 (though we’ve seen it on sale for $798 just lately). It packs almost all the similar bells and whistles because the A7000, solely in a 5.1.2-channel configuration.
- Dolby Atmos assist and 360 Sound Mapping
- Works with AirPlay 2
- Contains two HDMI eARC ports
- Costly
- Would not embrace a separate subwoofer
$1,098 at World Extensive Stereo
Sennheiser Shopper Audio
Top: 10 inches | Width: 70 inches | Depth: 6.5 inches | Ports: 1 x HDMI Out, 1 x USB-A | Channels: 7.1.4 | Assistant assist: Google, Alexa, Siri | Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth, HDMI | Model: TV unit | Max wattage: 250W
Learn our full Sennheiser Ambeo Mini evaluate
Whereas that is probably the most compact of Sennheiser’s Ambeo soundbars, the Mini stays within the premium class for 2 causes. First, you’ll have so as to add a subwoofer to maximise its potential, which provides one other $600. Secondly, the Mini is already $700, so a whole bundle places you at a comparable place to flagship items from the competitors. After getting each although, the Ambeo Mini is really spectacular for a small soundbar.
The principle function is Sennheiser’s spatial Ambeo know-how that first debuted on the large Ambeo Soundbar Max in 2019. With it, the corporate offers extra immersive sound with a mixture of driver placement and 3D virtualization. On the Mini, the audio profile is extra reliant on virtualization than the larger Ambeo soundbars due fewer audio system inside. Nonetheless, you’ll nonetheless get a virtualized 7.1.4-channel speaker setup that works nicely for motion pictures and music. That’s, as long as you splurge for the Ambeo Sub too.
- Compact design
- Glorious readability
- Nice bass
- Straightforward setup
- Costly
- No bundled sub
- Ambeo impact is restricted
- One HDMI port
$700 at Macy’s
Engadget
Top: 3.94 inches | Width: 25.63 inches | Depth: 2.68 inches | Ports: 1 x HDMI Out, 1 x Ethernet | Channels: 5.0 | Voice assistant: Google, Alexa | Connectivity: WiFi, HDMI | Model: TV unit, wall mount | Max wattage: 220W
Learn our full Sonos Beam evaluate
Stable sound high quality? Test. Dolby Atmos? Yep. Compact and straightforward to arrange? Uh huh. Appropriate with different Sonos audio system for a extra sturdy system? You betcha. The primary-gen Sonos Beam has been one among our favorites because it arrived in 2018, however there was one factor it didn’t have: Dolby Atmos. That was the large addition to the 2021 mannequin, although it’s a bit restricted because the Beam doesn’t have any upward-firing audio system. Sonos manages to make issues appear extra directional by tweaking audio timing and frequency as a substitute of including extra drivers. The brand new Beam nonetheless solely has the one HDMI port which implies you received’t be connecting a gaming console or set-top field on to this. It additionally implies that in case you have an older TV with an optical jack, you’ll want an adapter.
- Comparatively compact design
- Good sound for its dimension
- Helps Dolby Atmos
- One consists of one HDMI port
$449 at Sonos
Billy Steele for Engadget
Top: 2.0 inches | Width: 45.67 inches | Depth: 4.72 inches | Ports: 1 x HDMI in, 1x HDMI out, 1 x Optical, 1 x Ethernet | Channels: 3.1.2| Voice assistant: Google Assistant | Connectivity: Bluetooth, WiFi, HDMI | Model: TV unit, wall mount, shelf | Max wattage: 320W
Learn our full Samsung HW-QS700F soundbar evaluate
If design issues to you, the QS700F is the best-looking soundbar on this record. Plus, Samsung outfitted it with an orientation function that mechanically adjusts the audio output whenever you wall mount it. There are many different useful instruments too, however probably the most enticing ones, like room calibration, require a Samsung TV. Nonetheless, the audio efficiency right here is nice for smaller areas, the place the constraints of three.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos are excusable.
- Computerized orientation adjustment
- Crisp and balanced sound
- Refined design
- Straightforward setup
- 3.1.2-channel audio constrains film sound
- Room calibration and different main options solely work with Samsung TVs
$468 at Amazon
VIZIO
Top: 7.68 inches | Width: 24 inches | Depth: 2.28 inches | Ports: 1 x Optical, 1 x USB | Channels: 2.1 | Voice assistant: None | Connectivity: Bluetooth, HDMI | Model: TV unit, wall mount | Max wattage: 156W
In case you’re searching for a manner to enhance your TV sound on a finances, Vizio has some high-quality choices. With the V21t-J8, you get a 2.1-channel setup in a compact soundbar and 4.5-inch wi-fi sub combo for $160. This might be an excellent selection if you happen to don’t need your add-on TV speaker to take up a whole lot of house. There’s no Wi-Fi connectivity, however that’s actually the one sacrifice with regards to the fundamentals. HDMI ARC/eARC and optical connections hyperlink to your tv whereas a 3.5mm aux jack and Bluetooth permit you to play music out of your cellphone or one other gadget. DTS Digital:X compatibility provides a number of the impact of encompass sound with out a larger unit or extra audio system.
- Compact design
- Contains wi-fi subwoofer
$90 at Amazon
What to search for in a soundbar
Options
With regards to options, the extra you pay the extra you are going to get in your new audio system. Most inexpensive choices ($150 or much less) will enhance your tv’s audio high quality, however that is about it. Step into the $300 to $400 vary and you will find all-in-one soundbars with issues like built-in voice management, wi-fi connectivity, Google Chromecast, AirPlay 2 and even Android TV. They’re all useful whenever you wish to keep away from searching for the distant management, however the most effective playback high quality is often solely within the prime tier and the codecs these premium soundbar methods assist. I’m speaking about issues like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and different high-resolution audio requirements — necessities if you happen to’re constructing a really cinematic dwelling leisure setup. And never all Atmos soundbars are equal, so you will want to take a look at the finer particulars fastidiously earlier than you break into the financial savings account. In case you’re searching for among the finest Dolby Atmos soundbars, dimension, channels and subwoofer choices shall be vital elements to contemplate. Some fashions even embrace a devoted subwoofer to reinforce bass efficiency, bringing an additional punch to motion scenes and soundtracks.
Ports
This can be a huge one. Numerous the extra inexpensive soundbars are restricted with regards to connectivity choices. They both supply an optical port or one HDMI jack and, if you happen to’re fortunate, each. Issues get barely higher within the mid-range part, however that is not all the time the case. The Sonos Beam, for instance, is $449, however solely has a single HDMI port. Even on the higher-end, the $899 Sonos Arc nonetheless solely has one HDMI port. In case you plan to attach a number of units like a set-top field, gaming laptop computer or console on to your soundbar for the most effective audio expertise, you’ll need an possibility with not less than two HDMI (eARC) inputs. HDMI connections are crucial for supporting Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital audio codecs, in addition to high-res passthrough for HDR and 8K/4K content material.
Channels
One other huge factor you’ll wish to take note of when searching for the most effective soundbar is channels. That’s the two.1, 7.1.2 or different decimal quantity that corporations embrace in product descriptions. The primary determine corresponds to the variety of channels. A two would simply be left and proper whereas a extra sturdy Atmos system, particularly one with rear encompass audio system, may very well be 5 or seven (left, proper, middle and upward). The second quantity refers back to the devoted subwoofer, so in case your new soundbar comes with one or has them inbuilt, you’ll see one right here. The third numeral is up-firing audio system, vital for the immersive impact of Dolby Atmos. Not all Atmos-enabled items have them, but when they do, the third quantity will inform you what number of are in play and the way they contribute to the general soundstage.
Wi-fi
Most soundbars as of late supply both Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or each. With regards to Wi-Fi, that connectivity affords you luxuries like voice management (both built-in or with a separate gadget), Chromecast, Spotify Join and AirPlay 2. Relying in your preferences, you would possibly be capable of dwell with out a few of these. For me, AirPlay 2 and Chromecast are necessities, however the remainder I can dwell with out. These two give me the flexibility to beam music and podcasts from my go-to apps with out having to accept — or wrestle with — a Bluetooth connection. As an illustration, Sonos audio system usually supply seamless integration with iOS units, making it simple to attach and stream music wirelessly. In case you’re searching for a wi-fi speaker that may improve your TV setup whereas additionally providing flexibility for audio all through the home, it is price contemplating a multi-room system.
Dimension
This one might sound apparent however humor me for a minute. Nothing is extra soul-crushing than getting an expensive soundbar in your lounge solely to find it’s important to rearrange all the things to discover a spot for it. This was my plight when the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar arrived at my door. Sure, that speaker is absurdly giant (and heavy), and most soundbars aren’t almost as huge. I realized a useful lesson: Be sure that the house the place you wish to put a soundbar will accommodate the factor you are about to spend a whole lot (if not 1000’s) of {dollars} on.
Mainly, all of it comes right down to the TV you have got (or are planning to get) and what the first purpose is to your living-room audio. Is it ease of use? Would you like the very best sound from a single speaker or speaker/sub combo? Do you simply need to have the ability to truly hear your TV higher? Or would you like a full dwelling leisure expertise with crisp vocals, thunderous deep bass, and immersive encompass system audio?
By being attentive to every of these areas, it is best to have a good suggestion of what to search for in a soundbar, soundbar/subwoofer combo, Dolby Digital system or a extra sturdy setup. With that stated, we have put quite a few merchandise by means of their paces at Engadget and have a number of favorites for finest soundbar at varied value factors to get you began.
Different soundbars we examined
Sonos Arc
There’s little question that the Arc is Sonos’ best-sounding soundbar, nevertheless it’s additionally the corporate’s most costly. With a brand new mannequin based mostly on the Arc rumored to be on the way in which, it’s troublesome to suggest this product over the likes of Samsung and Sony. The Arc works nicely as each a soundbar and a speaker, and the gadget will slot in properly with different Sonos gear you would possibly have already got for a multiroom setup. It solely has one HDMI port although, the place a lot of the competitors permits you to join streaming and gaming units on to their soundbars.
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus
I don’t suppose Sennheiser’s medium-sized mannequin provides sufficient to face out from the extra highly effective Ambeo Soundbar Max or the Ambeo Soundbar Mini. The Mini is extra inexpensive and does a strong job with immersive audio in its personal proper. Like the remainder of the Ambeo lineup, there’s no possibility for satellite tv for pc audio system as you possibly can solely add a subwoofer to the soundbars. Nonetheless, the Ambeo Soundbar Plus does have RCA enter, so you should utilize it with a turntable if you happen to’re into vinyl.
Finest soundbar FAQs
Is a soundbar higher than audio system?
It actually will depend on what you’re after. A soundbar is certainly an easier, extra compact resolution in comparison with a full speaker setup. If you need higher sound than your TV’s built-in setup however don’t wish to take care of a number of audio system and wires in all places, a soundbar might be the way in which to go. Some soundbars may even ship spectacular encompass sound results, due to options like Dolby Atmos and digital audio know-how.
Nonetheless, if you happen to’re an audiophile or need true encompass sound for an at-home theater expertise, a multi-speaker setup with a receiver, encompass audio system and subwoofer gives you a richer soundstage and extra management over your expertise.
What connection do I want for a soundbar?
Most trendy soundbars connect with your TV by way of HDMI ARC or eARC, which is the simplest and most suitable choice for reaching high-quality audio. In case your TV helps this, all you want is an HDMI cable, and also you’ll get not solely nice sound but additionally some further options like controlling the soundbar together with your TV distant.
If HDMI ARC isn’t an possibility in your TV, you should utilize an optical cable, which additionally delivers strong audio high quality. Some soundbars even supply Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connections for streaming music, and some nonetheless have a 3.5mm aux jack for connecting to older units.
Do all soundbars include subwoofers?
Not all soundbars include subwoofers, however many do or not less than supply one as an elective add-on that you could buy individually. A subwoofer is what provides you that deep, booming bass, so if you happen to like motion motion pictures or need a fuller sound for music, having one could make an enormous distinction. Some soundbars have a built-in subwoofer, however these typically don’t present the identical punch as a separate one.
