Soundbars

A soundbar is a long, thin speaker designed to sit just in front of or below your television, to provide much bigger, clearer and more immersive sound than a TV alone can manage. Today’s flat and thin TVs don’t have much space for powerful speakers, so their sound is often thin and unsatisfying. Adding a soundbar can just make people’s voices clearer – or it can create a home theater experience.
Soundbars come in different sizes, with different levels of features, aimed at different budgets. You can get small ones suitable for TVs of 32 inches that just add louder, clearer sound, for example. You can get mid-sized ones that start from being cheap and simple, but will range up to options with virtual surround sound. And you can get big soundbars suitable for TVs of 55 inches and up that deliver a huge audio upgrade, usually with Dolby Atmos 3D sound.
Pretty much all soundbars either connect over HDMI ARC to a compatible HDMI port on your TV, or over an optical digital connection. HDMI ARC means you can control them from your TV’s remote with no extra steps, so is usually the preferred option – and it’s the only way to get Dolby Atmos. Some soundbars come with subwoofers for better bass, or even rear speakers to deliver a true surround-sound experience.
Latest about Soundbars

Hi-fi legend KEF unveils its first Dolby Atmos soundbar, and this is one to get excited about
By Carrie Marshall published
KEF's first Atmos soundbar promises a "transcendent" spatial audio experience

The best Dolby Atmos soundbars: home theater upgrades for all budgets
By Matt Bolton last updated
Updated Our picks of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, for small or large TVs, and a range of budgets.

The best soundbars for all budgets, all tested by us
By Matt Bolton last updated
Updated From budget-friendly bars to Dolby Atmos wonders, the best soundbars make it easy to get a serious TV audio upgrade.

Samsung HW-Q990F review: a phenomenal soundbar system that solidifies Samsung's place atop the Dolby Atmos soundbar food chain
By James Davidson published
The Samsung HW-Q990F delivers an unforgettable home cinema experience, and while not wholly different from its predecessor, it's still a Dolby Atmos marvel.

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 review: good sound and big bass from a slim Dolby Atmos soundbar
By James Holland published
The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 is a bit pricey, but it’s got good overall sound quality and great bass for a 3.1.2-channel system.

I test soundbars for a living – here are 3 Dolby Atmos models I’d recommend without question
By Harry Padoan published
I’ve tested a ton of Dolby Atmos soundbars, and these 3 models are easily among the best I’ve ever used.

The Sonos Ray is the ideal budget soundbar for cheap or older TVs – its lack of a key modern feature is actually crucial
By Matt Bolton published
Dodge the HDMI limitations of cheap and older TVs with a soundbar that makes optical work seamlessly

I’ve tested a ton of cheap soundbars, but this budget-friendly Sony banger is my top pick – here's why
By Harry Padoan published
I’ve reviewed a wide range of cheap soundbars, but this affordable option from Sony remains my absolute favorite.
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