Business

Best Soundbars 2024

October 3, 2024

Soundbars can elevate the sound experience of your TV, which makes watching movies or playing games on a console far more enjoyable by adding deep basses and making dialogue clearer. Multiple speaker units can not only amplify the volume and depth to the audio, but it can also add multiple dimensions, allowing you to hear elements you may have never noticed before. Our top pick, the Samsung HW-Q990D offers a versatile speaker setup and a “tap to play” feature to transfer your music from a Samsung phone to the soundbar.

The best soundbars can transform your home theater with deep, rumbling bass and clear dialogue … [+] during your movies, TV shows and more.

Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailer

We also evaluated several other soundbars for various requirements and price brackets. Each of the options listed below offers something unique and special, like the Sonos Beam, a budget-friendly speaker that still packs powerful bass for your action movie nights. Otherwise, if you want an easy-to-use soundbar system, the Roku Streambar 4K is a great choice, too. While most of these options also work with devices besides your TV, such as a Hi-Fi audio system or your phone via Bluetooth, you can also look at some other form factors in our listings for the best smart speakers and the best outdoor speakers.

Best Soundbar Overall: Samsung HW-Q990D
Best Budget Soundbar: Roku Streambar 4K
Best Standalone Dolby Atmos Soundbar: Sonos Arc
Best Budget Dolby Atmos Soundbar: Sonos Beam
Best Soundbar For The Hearing Impaired: Bose TV Speaker
Best Compact Soundbar For Small Spaces: Polk Magnifi Mini AX

Size: 48.5 x 2.7 x 5.4 inches | Channels: 11.1.4 with subwoofer and two rear speakers | Inputs: HDMI, optical audio | Subwoofer: Yes | Wireless: Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect | Spatial audio: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X

Pros:

Includes soundbar, subwoofer and two rear speakers
Output automatically adjusts based on type of audio and room size
Powerful and immersive Dolby Atmos sound performance

Cons:

Very expensive
No support for Google Chromecast

The Samsung HW-Q990D may be expensive, but it combines a powerful soundbar with a capable subwoofer and two wireless rear speakers. It’s basically a complete surround sound experience in a box with the soundbar at its core. These components work together to produce a deep, cinematic soundscape that sounds fantastic whether you’re watching movies, playing music or gaming. Its 11.1.4 speaker configuration has four up-firing channels between the main soundbar and rear speakers, as well as side-firing speakers on the angled edges of the soundbar and rear speakers that work together to create a spatial audio experience throughout the room. That means that it can support the latest and greatest spatial formats, like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. The system has built-in Amazon Alexa voice controls and works with Samsung’s SmartThings app. With the Active Voice Analyzer, you can also hear dialogue more clearly during your movies and TV shows, too.

It also uses Q-Symphony to work with supported Samsung TVs to provide even greater spatial impact. The Adaptive Sound mode selects the best settings based on an ongoing analysis of the sound output from the content you’re watching (or listening to). You can also choose from the system’s audio presets to optimize the sound for a particular type of content, such as Sports, News, Game Mode Pro, Music or Movies. Plus, if you have a Samsung phone, you can transfer your audio from your phone straight to the sound system with a tap.

Pros:

Built-in Roku 4K streaming device transforms your TV into a smart TV
Excellent sound quality
Great value

Cons:

No Dolby Atmos support

The Roku Streambar 4K is one of the most affordable soundbars on the market with a balanced and clear sound output. It serves as the starting point for a more diverse 4.1- or 5.1-channel surround sound system, since you can add extra components, such as the Roku Wireless Bass Pro subwoofer ($180) or Roku Wireless Speakers ($150). The 14-inch wide Streambar delivers powerful audio without the extra peripherals, using its four 1.9-inch full-range drivers, despite its compact build. It has integrated 4K Roku streaming capabilities, but as a tradeoff for its price, it lacks Dolby Atmos. The included voice remote is incredibly easy for controlling your TV, the soundbar and your streaming activities. (You can also use the Roku mobile app on your phone as a TV and soundbar remote control.)

When you want a private listening experience when watching your favorite shows, the Streambar 4K supports all Bluetooth headphones and earbuds. Between the sound quality and the functionality, this is one of the best deals you’ll find for home theater audio under $150.

Size: 45 x 3.4 x 4.5 inches | Channels: 5.0.2 | Inputs: HDMI 2.1, ethernet | Wireless: Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect | Spatial audio: Dolby Atmos

Pros:

Superior spatial audio
Enhanced dialogue sounds crystal clear

Cons:

No additional HDMI input

The Sonos Arc soundbar has 11 internal speakers specially tuned to produce immersive surround sound audio without requiring a multi-speaker system. You just need the soundbar—no separate subwoofer or satellite speakers. If you want to add more, however, Sonos sells the Sub (Gen3) for $749. You can start small and add more oomph as your budget allows. Like other Sonos speakers, you can also connect multiple speakers to create a whole-home audio system. You can also hook the soundbar up with a pair of Sonos Ace headphones and seamlessly reroute the audio through them so you don’t wake up the entire house while blaring Mad Max: Furiosa on the soundbar.

Designed for use with TVs 49-inches and greater, simply connect the Arc to the TV with an HDMI cable (necessary for Dolby Atmos transmission) and follow the on-screen configuration steps on the companion mobile app. If you prefer to mount the Arc on a wall, Sonos sells an optional mounting kit. The Arc supports HDMI eARC, which gives better bandwidth compared with traditional HDMI ARC, supports the audio output from the latest console game systems and full-resolution audio from compatible TVs. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer additional inputs, so you can’t connect source devices like game consoles directly to the soundbar itself. The Arc supports Dolby Atmos spatial audio content and has built-in Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice controls. During our testing, we found this soundbar to get great frequency responses, and its smart features like the aforementioned pairing with the headphones make it a compelling soundbar in its price range.

Size: 25.6 x 2.7 x 3.9 inches | Channels: 3.0 (more optional) | Inputs: HDMI | Wireless: Apple Airplay 2, Spotify Connect, Wi-Fi | Spatial audio: Dolby Atmos

Best for: Getting spatial sound from a cheaper, smaller soundbar.

Pros:

Excellent audio quality
Wireless audio support
Sleek and stylish design

Cons:

Not as expansive as some others
No Chromecast

Sonos has a history of building quality soundbars at a relatively low price, and the second-generation Sonos Beam proves why. The Sonos Beam isn’t as expensive as other options, like the Sonos Arc, but it still supports Dolby Atmos. It also supports additional speakers like a Sonos Sub (Gen 3) and other Sonos speakers that can be used as surround sound speakers—if you’re willing to pay for them.

On top of supporting spatial sound at a lower price, you can use both Alexa and Google Assistant, plus it supports AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect, so you can integrate it into the rest of your wireless home audio setup. That is, however, unless you use Google Chromecast, as it’s not compatible with this soundbar. Additionally, while it has Dolby Atmos, to truly get the spatial audio experience you’re going to want to buy all those extra Sonos speakers to use with the Beam, which will take it firmly out of “budget” territory. But during our testing, as a standalone soundbar, we felt it punched above its weight class, thanks to that immersive audio at a lower price point. Plus, because it’s smaller, it’s great for getting Dolby Atmos in smaller spaces such as a living room in an apartment.

Amazon

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max

Born and raised in Canberra, Australia, I lived in France and Minnesota before eventually landing in sunny California. I’ve written for a range of online publications, including Digital Trends, Business Insider, and TechRadar, and while my expertise lies firmly in tech, I’m always looking for a new writing challenge. When I’m not writing about tech, I can usually be found producing new music, nerding out over the latest Marvel movie, or figuring out how I can make my home smarter. I write for Forbes Vetted. If you buy something using a link on this page, Forbes Finds may receive a small share of that sale.

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I am on a mission to help consumers squeeze the most value out of their old tech products. As a tech journalist based in India with over eight years of reviewing, I have been exposed to the fast-paced and innovative Asian tech industry and have witnessed numerous generations of not just phones, tablets and laptops, but a whole lot of products that work with touchscreens (smart faucets, to name one). Besides Forbes Vetted, I contribute to Digital Trends.

When I’m not fiddling with the latest pieces of tech, you can find me delduing myself by playing the wrong notes to my favorite guitar solos.

“,”linkedIn”:”https://www.linkedin.com/in/tusharmehta28/”,”metaDescription”:”I am on a mission to help consumers squeeze the most value out of their old tech products. As a tech journalist based in India with over eight years of reviewing, I have been exposed to the fast-paced and innovative Asian tech industry and have witnessed numerous generations of not just phones, tablets and laptops, but a whole lot of products that work with touchscreens (smart faucets, to name one). Besides Forbes Vetted, I contribute to Digital Trends. When I’m not fiddling with the latest pieces of tech, you can find me delduing myself by playing the wrong notes to my favorite guitar solos.”,”name”:”Tushar Mehta”,”primaryBlogNaturalId”:”blogAuthorId/blog/author/blog-4983″,”primaryChannel”:{“id”:”channel_94″,”channelId”:”channel_94″,”channelName”:”Forbes Vetted”,”url”:”/vetted”,”showAds”:false,”showLicenseOptions”:false,”showSpreadsheetButton”:false,”enableComments”:false,”hexValue”:”#eb6262″,”secondaryHexValue”:”#ffa0a0″,”showQotd”:false},”slug”:”tmehta”,”timestamp”:1718111231501,”twitterName”:”thetymonbay”,”type”:”Contributor”,”url”:”https://www.forbes.com/sites/tmehta/”,”webSite”:”https://athenil.com/”,”disabled”:false,”division”:”FC”,”shortBio”:”Millenial tech jouralist swayed by cutting-edge gadgets.”,”mediumAvatar”:”https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/666829ba98bffee4f64c717f/62×0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=512&cropY1=104&cropY2=616″,”largestAvatar”:”https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/666829ba98bffee4f64c717f/400×0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=512&cropY1=104&cropY2=616″,”displayType”:”Contributor”,”chanSecColor”:”#eb6262″,”showAuthorTypeDisclaimer”:true}],”editedBy”:{“id”:”643f068616b21c0313868fca”,”naturalId”:”blogAuthorId/blog/author/7236197″,”allowEmail”:false,”authorType”:”individual”,”avatars”:[{“size”:136,”image”:”https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/65c66facafb64a68682c6ad8/136×0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=1080&cropY1=0&cropY2=1080″},{“size”:40,”image”:”https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/65c66facafb64a68682c6ad8/40×0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=1080&cropY1=0&cropY2=1080″},{“size”:400,”image”:”https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/65c66facafb64a68682c6ad8/400×0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=1080&cropY1=0&cropY2=1080″},{“size”:62,”image”:”https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/65c66facafb64a68682c6ad8/62×0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=1080&cropY1=0&cropY2=1080″}],”blogName”:”Forbes Vetted”,”description”:”

I’m a tech journalist living and working in New York City. As a Midwestern transplant, I worked at the University of Iowa English Department before diving head-first into tech journalism. I have spent over five years learning everything there is to know about consumer technology with a special focus on home entertainment.

My bylines include ZDNET, PCMag, Decider, Lifewire, NBC, and many more. After hours, you can find me packing my tech and grabbing my boarding passes, reading the latest nonfiction releases, or gaming on my MSI Stealth rig.

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Size: 49.8 x 5.3 x 6.7 inches | Channels: 5.1.4 | Inputs: HDMI eARC, 3x HDMI 2.0, Bluetooth, USB, Ethernet, aux-in | Wireless: Apple AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Spatial audio: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, 360 Reality Audio

Pros:

Rich, detailed sound that’s consistent across all your content
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X spatial audio
Optimizes audio for your listening room

Cons:

Large and expensive
Lacks HDMI 2.1 inputs

The Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max likely costs nearly as much (or more) than your TV. However, its brilliantly tuned suite of 13 individually powered drivers creates impressive virtual surround sound and spatial audio with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X content. Its built-in “subwoofer” channel produces impressive low-frequency audio, and if you really want a dedicated subwoofer, you can add one later thanks to its standard subwoofer output. The Ambeo’s room correction software tunes the drivers to your room for optimized performance. The Ambeo measures 49.8 x 6.7 x 5.3 inches, tall enough that you may need to mount your TV so it can clear the soundbar.

As one might expect from Sennheiser, the Ambeo is also an excellent music companion. It supports streaming from a variety of sources, and it capably handles hi-resolution audio formats, including FLAC and ALAC, as well as Tidal Connect and multiple other ways to stream your favorite audio content. The addition of HDMI eARC lets you source lossless audio from compatible TVs, though its three HDMI inputs only support HDMI 2.0. This is a premium sound system with a price to match, and for fine-tuned listeners who want splurge-worthy audio quality, it’s worth the investment.

Size: 23.4 x 2.2 x 4 inches | Channels: 2.0 | Inputs: HDMI, optical audio | Subwoofer: Bass Module 500 (sold separately) | Wireless options: Bluetooth

Pros:

Great for enhancing dialogue clarity
Easy to operate
Affordable

Cons:

No surround sound or spatial audio
Limited features

The Bose TV Speaker soundbar is an option if all you want is a simple soundbar that produces quality audio with little fuss. The audio output from this soundbar can give a huge boost over the speakers built into your TV, but it does not compare to the audio quality you’d experience from a higher end soundbar, such as the Sonos Arc of Bose Smart Soundbar 900.

But its standout feature is its dialogue mode, which makes spoken words a lot easier to hear—especially when music and sound effects are also playing. Using its Bluetooth connectivity, you can easily stream music, audiobooks and podcasts to the soundbar as well from a smartphone, tablet or computer. However, it lacks virtual surround sound or spatial audio support.

Amazon

Polk Magnifi Mini AX

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When I’m not fiddling with the latest pieces of tech, you can find me delduing myself by playing the wrong notes to my favorite guitar solos.

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Pros:

Easy setup
Compact design
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support

Cons:

No upfiring speakers
Bulky subwoofer

The Polk MagniFi Mini AX bundles one of the most compact soundbars with a separate subwoofer. Its small size does not hamper its ability to produce impressive audio with deep bass at volumes loud enough to fill a small- to mid-size room. Like other soundbars, the MagniFi Mini AX’s Voice Adjust feature enhances dialogue clarity. The soundbar and subwoofer combo support Dolby Atmos and DTS:X spatial audio content. Together, these components create an expansive soundstage with simulated surround sound.

For true surround sound, add a pair of Polk SR2 wireless speakers for $199 (sold separately). Thanks to its design, this soundbar fits well in a bedroom, dorm room or small living room.

Why Trust Forbes Vetted

Forbes Vetted has a diverse team of reviewers and audio experts who have assembled numerous guides to help you buy the best audio gear, including the best noise-cancelling headphones, the best Dolby Atmos soundbars and more.

The best soundbars listed above have been tested by Forbes contributors Christian de Looper and Tushar Mehta.
Looper is also a music producer, which is a testament to his expertise in testing and using myriad audio products. In addition to being a music producer, he as a degree in music technology. He has written plenty of guides for Forbes Vetted, including the best wireless headphones, the best noise-canceling headphones and the best outdoor speakers.
Mehta has several years of experience testing an array of audio tech products, including speakers, wireless earbuds and soundbars. He also has tested the best workout headphones.
The best soundbars in the list above were reviewed by Tech editor Rebecca Isaacs, who oversees technology-related coverage at Forbes Vetted and reviews the best tech products across various categories: speakers, tablets, TVs, headphones and more.
The list is frequently updated to ensure we add new products based on our testing and remove older ones. It was last updated by Mehta in October 2024 to include the Roku Streambar 4K and incorporate new FAQs to help you make a more informed buying decision.

How We Chose The Best Soundbars

We started our research on soundbars by identifying the most popular models from reputable brands like Samsung, Bose, Sonos and others, prioritizing options with outstanding customer reviews of no less than 4 out of 5 stars.

From there, we narrowed down our list by comparing each soundbar by its size and performance across key features like its channels, inputs, wireless capabilities, spatial audio and whether or not it comes with a subwoofer.
To streamline our list further, we tapped our staff for their favorite soundbars. Three of our soundbar picks come personally recommended by our team after putting them to the test in their own homes.
Because everyone has different preferences and budgets when it comes to shopping for a soundbar, we included options that cater to a variety of needs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Samsung HW-Q990D, which impressed us with its sound quality. With the HW-Q99oD, you also get an elaborate sound set up, including two rear-mounted speakers and subwoofer for an enthralling surround sound.

But there are others, too, that don’t require you to spend hundreds to boost your home theater’s audio. The Roku Streambar 4K is a great option if you want to enhance your audio without paying four figures. At less than $150, it’s a great option for most homes.

Is A Surround Sound System Better Than A Soundbar?

“>

Is A Surround Sound System Better Than A Soundbar?

Soundbars and dedicated surround sound systems have their individual benefits. A soundbar takes up less space and has a more diverse speaker set compressed within a smaller area. Many soundbars also come with predefined surround sound algorithms that simulate an immersive audio experience.

A surround sound system, on the other hand, is more diverse and can comprise numerous speaker units for specific frequencies. These speakers can be set up in different directions relative to the TV or a large screen, resulting in a truer home theater experience. However, this would also require special equipment and dedicated wiring for low fidelity, which, along with the high-end speakers, can up your investment by several thousand dollars.

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max

Polk Magnifi Mini AX

Why Trust Forbes Vetted

How We Chose The Best Soundbars

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is A Surround Sound System Better Than A Soundbar?

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