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
JBL’s new Dolby Atmos soundbar range, includes a flagship system to rival Samsung and Sonos that replaces one of our favorite soundbars
JBL's new range of Dolby Atmos soundbars is packed with features: Samsung and Sonos better take note.
The best soundbars for all budgets, all tested by us
Updated From budget-friendly bars to Dolby Atmos wonders, the best soundbars make it easy to get a serious TV audio upgrade.
Marshall Heston 120 review: a stunning debut soundbar with fantastic Dolby Atmos audio for movies and music alike
Marshall’s first ever soundbar supplies quaking bass and awesome Atmos for movies, making it a top-tier all-in-one option.
3 years, 17 bass drivers, and Jason Momoa on repeat: Marshall’s audio engineers tell us how they made its first-ever soundbar stand out
Marshall’s audio engineers talk us through the highlights and challenges of developing the company’s first ever soundbar
I tried Marshall’s first soundbar, which rivals the Sonos Arc Ultra with an amp-inspired design and huge Dolby Atmos sound
Marshall is heading into the world of TV soundbars with a $1,000 rival to Sonos.
‘I’ve been deaf since birth. What is “natural” sound?’ The inside story on how Sonos developed its new AI speech enhancer in partnership with a major hearing loss charity
From working with Hollywood sound designers to awkward questions in studies – here's how Sonos built an AI mode with humans in mind
Exclusive: Sonos launches its first AI-powered sound mode to enhance speech
A free upgrade for the Sonos Arc Ultra Dolby Atmos soundbar arrives today – but not for any other models so far.
I tested two mid-range Dolby Atmos soundbars side-by-side, and the battle for your money has never been more competitive
The Sonos Beam and Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 are two mid-range Dolby Atmos soundbars. How do they compare?
