The best soundbars for 2023: TV audio upgrades for all budgets

One of the best soundbars is essential if you’ve invested in a big TV and its speakers aren’t living up to its visuals. With one of the top soundbars, you get bigger, forward-facing speakers that deliver better speech clarity and immersion in movies. The best bit is they’re sleek and slim, often fitting below your TV on a cabinet or mounted on the wall. 

Some TVs may not need a soundbar, but plenty of the best TVs you can buy today need an external soundbar for better audio – especially cheaper ones. Many of the best soundbars come in three styles: all-in-one units with just a single soundbar, soundbars with subwoofers, and soundbars with subwoofers and rear speakers for surround sound. The first is ideal for people who want a minimal setup, the second is great for big sound on a budget, and the third is perfect if you want a real home theater audio experience. 

In expensive soundbars, you’ll find features like wireless connectivity, which can be used in multi-room speaker setups, while cheaper soundbars play the audio from your TV when linked via either an HDMI or optical digital connection. We’ve tested hundreds of soundbars and speaker systems over the years, including elite units with Dolby Atmos 3D sound, through to bargain soundbars that boost your sound. 

Written by

Written by

Matt Bolton

Matt is TechRadar's Managing Editor for Entertainment, and has over a decade of experience in tech publishing. He has been writing about the latest TVs and soundbars since 2017. This month, he helped to overhaul this guide to make it easier for you to find which soundbar best suits your needs, and get the essential info about it.

The quick list

In a hurry but need to find the best soundbar for you? Take a look at our quick list below which covers a soundbar that will suit every budget and situation. You can still check out more detailed reviews of each soundbar below. 

The best soundbars of 2023

The best overall soundbar

The Samsung HW-Q700B is all the soundbar that most people will need, delivering a giant upgrade on the sound that any TV can produce, including Dolby Atmos height channels, at a very reasonable size and price.

You get 3.1.2 channels of sound, which means left, right and center channels at the front, bass from a wireless subwoofer, and two upfiring Dolby Atmos height channels. The end result is audio that's truly impressive for the price – in our full review, we said "It’s able to deliver crisp dialogue (which has long been a strong point of Samsung’s better bars), but can slam hard when the action demands it. It can also cut a rug with streamed Bluetooth music."

Its size is ideal for 55-inch to 77-inch TVs, and it could work for 48-50-inch TVs, but check the measurements of yours – it's a bit weird if your soundbar is wider than your TV.

It's great for features too, offering a 4K HDR HDMI passthrough port so you don't lose the use of one on your TV (though it's doesn't support 4K 120Hz passthrough), as well as Bluetooth, AirPlay 2 and Chromecast for audio streaming. It also has Samsung's Q-Symphony tech, which means if you have a compatible TV, it can combine its speakers with the TV's for even bigger sound – but this only works with certain Samsung models. Even without that, though, we still awarded it five stars… it's just nice if you can use it.

We rate this so highly because it's simply the most cinematic sound you can get for this price – but obviously, it has limitations compared to more expensive models. It doesn't deliver strong side-firing virtual surround, and there are no rear speakers out of the box, but you can but them separately and add them if you want.

Read our full Samsung HW-Q700B review

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The best budget soundbar

We think the Sony HT-G700 hits an excellent sweet spot for features, price and the scale of its sound. It's a soundbar and wireless subwoofer combo, and the soundbar is a good size for TVs of 48 inches and up.

As we've come to expect from Sony, there's more to this soundbar than just stereo, as good as that is. It supports both the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X elite surround sound formats (which is not something that's guaranteed with even more high-end soundbars), and Sony uses its excellent sound processing and acoustic wizardry to create a real wall of sound that stretches way beyond the limits of your TV screen, but with convincing positioning and direction of specific sounds.

Sony hasn't forgotten about the basics, though. The subwoofer gives it depth in bass that something like the Sonos Arc can't match on its own, and speech is really clear even in busy action soundtracks – and that's without the speech-boosting mode turned on.

Downsides? There aren't any dedicated upfiring channels, so we found the Atmos performance a little lacking compared to our Sony AV amp with its dedicated Atmos speakers. And if we're being really picky we'd say that it's also slightly less dynamic for sudden explosions and swelling soundtracks than the likes of the Sonos Arc or JBL Bar 1300X – but it's a lot cheaper than either. 

Although impressive for the price, it doesn't quite hit top of the list as best for most people as the Samsung HW-Q700B just beats it in terms of overall sound quality and built-in features for not a lot more money.

Read our full Sony HT-G700 review

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The best soundbar for Atmos surround sound

The Samsung Q990C really is the best complete soundbar package around. With 11.1.4 channels split across the main bar, subwoofer and two compact rear speakers, the Q990C excels with Dolby Atmos playback and provides a powerful and immersive experience, be it movies or music. 

Even when the Samsung Q990C is being pushed to its limits, it maintains an excellent quality sound without distorting. We said in our review that "Even the most shrill trebles manage to avoid sounding harsh or exposed," and that the "bass from the subwoofer is deep, enthusiastic and reactive."

The Q990C also brings with it a couple of extra unique features, with the main being an update to the Q Symphony technology. This enables Samsung-compatible soundbars and TVs to communicate (even wirelessly) and work together to use all the available speakers between both systems to create an even bigger, bolder sound – which it succeeds in doing.

However, with this amazing package comes a higher price tag. Prices continue to drop slowly since its release, but it still sits at the premium end of the market, hence why it doesn't top our list. But, if you are after the complete Dolby Atmos experience from your soundbar and you have a bigger budget, the Samsung Q990C is the absolute best choice.

Read our full Samsung HW-Q990C review

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The best compact Atmos soundbar

The Bose Smart Soundbar 600 is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a budget soundbar that can really deliver. It pumps out big Dolby Atmos sound, but all from a relatively small package. At 27 inches wide by 2 inches high and 4 inches deep, it’s a fairly sleek and compact design for an all-in-one unit and a perfect choice for smaller homes or screens.

During our review, we noted that dialogue clarity is excellent, and while it doesn’t hit the low bass notes that other soundbar systems with an included subwoofer manage, it offers up consistently exciting sound when watching movies and TV. 

There’s lots more to love here, too. Onboard streaming features, including AirPlay 2 and Chromecast, are plentiful, app-based setup is a breeze, and everything is packaged here in an attractive all-in-one form factor. This soundbar impressed us during testing, but its price also makes it excellent value. 

Read our full Bose Smart Soundbar 600 review

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The best soundbar for gaming

You might be wondering how there can be a best soundbar for gaming; let us explain. If you're a gamer and find yourself with both the PS5 and Xbox Series X, on a large number of TVs you will often find you only have two HDMI 2.1 ports. One of these will be dedicated to eARC, the HDMI audio channel, leaving you with just one HDMI port for both consoles if you want the full 4K 120Hz experience. 

Some manufacturers are introducing these HDMI 2.1 ports as inputs onto their soundbars, so what sets the Sony HT-A7000 apart from the rest here is that the two HDMI 2.1 ports not only passthrough at 4K 120Hz, which is perfect for gaming but, thanks to a firmware update, support VRR and ALLM to get the most of the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

The HT-A7000 also has excellent, clear dialogue levels that will suit any dialogue heavy video games and movies and features 360 Reality Audio music, which gives a room-filling sound when listening to music that we said in our review gives a "clear idea of where all the instruments are located."

Admittedly, with an optional subwoofer and rear speakers to purchase, there is more the HT-A7000 can do and its built-in bass levels don't quite hit the same levels as other soundbars like the Sonos Arc. But, in terms of gaming, the HT-A7000 covers gaming features better than any other soundbar.

Read our full Sony HT-A7000 review 

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The best Sonos soundbar

The Sonos Arc isn't cheap, but if you're already a fan of Sonos then we think you're going to love the way this soundbar delivers really impressive Dolby Atmos sound.

The Sonos Arc draws on Dolby’s latest TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus sound codecs to deliver the best quality lossless audio found on cutting-edge Blu-ray discs and some of the leading streaming services. Crucially, that also includes Dolby Atmos support, and while the reflected height and side channels aren't as pronounced as some of the soundbars here can manage, they're still impressive, and the range of precision of the Arc is superb.

We also liked the simple setup, which involved just a couple of steps on the smartphone app, and as you'd expect it's easy to hook it up to other Sonos speakers. The minimalist cable connections and all-in-one system construction add to this no-fuss feeling and streamlined aesthetic – though it's a real shame that there's no HDMI passthrough.

Within the Sonos family, the Arc is undoubtedly top. Although the Sonos Ray and Sonos Beam (later in our list) have their own strengths, the Sonos Arc has incredible soundscape contained within one bar that the other Sonos bars can't quite achieve, although as we said, you will need to pay extra for the Arc to get this quality difference. But note that it's much taller than most Sonos soundbars – check whether it may be too tall for your TV before buying!

Read our full Sonos Arc review

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The soundbar perfect for music

It may not be the biggest or most powerful soundbar, but in terms of music performance, we found that the Sonos Beam captures a balance musically that makes it perfect for music.

In our review we found when listening to Little Simz's Woman "the bass sounds deep and well-controlled, while synth strings are warm and rich." This balance across bass and treble and clear vocals make the Beam ideal for getting the best out of your music. 

The Sonos Beam is also compatible with hi-res audio files, meaning that through streaming sites such as Tidal, you'll get higher quality versions of your favorite songs played back through the Beam's impressive speakers – and at a moderate price range, the Beam often outdoes its rivals in terms of musical performance.

You can hook it up to one of Sonos' subwoofers if you're looking for more bass in your music, but the Beam's built in speakers provide a rich sound that make it an ideal choice for those who are looking for their soundbar to double as a speaker.

Read our full Sonos Beam (Gen 2) review 

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The best soundbar for flexibility

The JBL Bar 1300X provides a fantastic level of flexibility. With Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support and a big, beefy sound aided by its larger than average subwoofer, its the connections and features packed into this soundbar that make it so versatile compared to other soundbars on the market. 

There are multiple HDMI inputs here, meaning you can connect a stack of extra sources without worry, and the system’s rechargeable rear speakers can also be used as portable Bluetooth speakers. That might be a "so what?" feature for some people, but to us it's a design flex that heightens the Bar 1300X's overall value.

We think the JBL Bar 1300X would suit anyone looking for a powerful and immersive soundbar option, but particularly those who are after the visceral excitement that the best home theater systems effortlessly deliver, while also being relatively easy to setup and not becoming a burden on your living room.

Although the JBL Bar 1300X doesn't take up too much space, it is designed to fill larger rooms with sound so we wouldn't recommend it in smaller homes. This soundbar also isn't going to suit serious gamers. While there are multiple HDMI ports here, none of them have 4K 120Hz pass-through to support that resolution and frame rate when playing games on PS5 or Xbox Series X, a feature you can find on our choice on the best soundbar for gaming, the Sony HT-A7000. 

However, the rechargeable rear speakers that can also be used as bluetooth speakers, number of HDMI ports, easy setup and immersive sound make this such a flexible soundbar. (Note: in some countries, you get the JBL Bar 1300 – without the X – which has a smaller 10-inch subwoofer driver instead of the 12-inch in the X version. This is a relatively small difference, and doesn't alter our overall opinion.)

Read our full JBL Bar 1300X review

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How to choose the best soundbar

There are several things to consider when you’re looking for the best soundbar.

The first is the size. You’ll want to make sure that your soundbar fits under—or next to, depending on your set-up—your TV. For example, the long Sonos Arc soundbar is designed specifically for large screens, so won’t look right with a smaller 50-inch TV. You’ll need to know the size of your current TV and the size of the space you have to fit it and compare those figures to the dimensions listed alongside the soundbar you want to buy.

You’ll also want to consider whether you need a Dolby Atmos speaker or not. Dolby Atmos is surround sound technology, placing sounds and voices all around you so that whatever you’re watching or listening to is more immersive. The thing is, Dolby Atmos-enabled soundbars tend to be more expensive. You’ll need to weigh up whether Dolby Atmos sound is worth it for you. Otherwise, consider a capable but cheaper option, like the Yamaha SR-C30A, our choice for best cheap soundbar. 

Another thing you’ll want to watch out for is the kind of connection you need. You’ll find most modern soundbars have HDMI connectivity, but there's also optical connectivity—so what's the difference? These are two ways that audio is passed from your TV to your soundbar, but HDMI passes high-resolution audio, including Dolby Atmos. 

If you want a premium, immersive listening experience you’ll want to be sure you have an HDMI connection to use from your soundbar and an HDMI ARC (that's audio return channel) port on your TV for it to connect to.

But this means one of your TV's HDMI ports is used up by the soundbar, so some bars come with HDMI 'passthrough' ports, meaning you can connect a console/set-top box/etc to the soundbar, and it passes the visuals back to your TV. If your TV has few HDMI ports, you'll want a soundbar with this feature.

There’s more to think about, but getting the size, audio features and connectivity nailed down early on should make finding the best soundbar for you much easier.

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