Bagging the right soundbar can really take your entertainment at home to the next level. Whether you’re a movie buff, a competitive gamer, or just love to spin some tunes after work, having the right one can make whatever you’re watching, playing, or listening to even more immersive.
Where do you even start though? Well, right here! We’ve put together some top soundbar picks, perfect for different budgets and preferences. From affordable options, right through to those packed full of the latest tech. So, sit back and listen to this…
Best soundbar
This is obviously going to be pretty subjective, but if you’re looking for a solid all-rounder, the Sonos Beam is a great shout. It’ll give you nice punchy bass and clear dialogue. Plus, you can control it with your voice too – so, if you’re comfy on the sofa and can’t be bothered to get up and find the remote, you don’t have to.
That comes in handy in other areas too. The beam can be slotted straight into your smart home setup (hey Alexa!), and it even supports popular streaming services. Letting you play your favourite playlists, pods and more when you’re entertaining friends, or just cleaning the house.
Best budget soundbar
Want to boost your sound, but don’t want to break the bank? Go for the JBL Bar 2.0. While it might be small compared to a lot of other soundbars, you shouldn’t underestimate it. It still manages to pump out rich and clear sound with whatever you’re watching or listening to – whether that’s your favourite TV show or the latest rock record. Speaking of music, with built-in Bluetooth, you can stream all your audio wirelessly. Meaning you don’t have to mess about with any annoying extra wires here. And that’s always a bonus.
Best Dolby Atmos soundbar
While it’s probably the most expensive on this list, you get way more bang for your buck with Sony’s HT-A7000. Quite literally too. This beast uses Dolby Atmos tech to create a powerful 3D field of sound, with dialogue, effects and music coming at you from all angles. You’ll literally feel the rumble of explosions in the distance, while fighter jets whizz from left to right during high octane dogfights. It’s about as real as your home sound is going to get right now.
Best soundbar for TV and movies
If you’re a proper film fanatic, you’re going to want to recreate the cinema experience at home. And the LG S65Q helps you do exactly that. With DTS Virtual:X audio, it’ll put you slap bang in the middle of the action. While the 400 watts of power and included wireless subwoofer will fill your room with accurate, lifelike sound during every single scene. We’d give it an Oscar if we could!
Best soundbar for gaming
For boss level gaming sound, we’d recommend the Samsung HW-Q800C. Thanks to wireless Dolby Atmos, you’ll every single crack, bang, whoosh and whack in cinematic 3D surround sound. It’ll seem like the action onscreen is happening right next to you in the living room. What’s more, your current TV speakers get an upgrade too. Samsung Q-Symphony means that top quality sound hits you from not just your soundbar, but the speakers too. Gunning down those alien hordes has honestly never sounded so good.
Best soundbar with subwoofer
What’s better than a soundbar? How about a soundbar AND a subwoofer! Sony’s HT-S40R gives you both in one excellent audio package. Adding a subwoofer to your setup makes everything you watch or play sound absolutely huge. This sub properly recreates any low-pitched sounds – think the deep roar of a lion or a thunderstorm rolling in on the horizon. It also adds an extra dimension to your audio mix too. While a soundbar shoots out front heavy sound, the sub takes care of that broader, deeper level that you feel just as much as you hear.
Best compact soundbar
Haven’t got much space in your place? No worries. Panasonic’s Wireless Compact soundbar is exactly what it says on the tin. With its small, discreet design, it’ll sit nicely on your TV stand or even slot right in under the frame of the telly itself. Especially if it’s also a Panasonic one. That’s because their clever engineering eggheads made it the perfect size to fit in the gap. They’re all about the fine details over there.
Best Bluetooth soundbar
Tangled wires behind the telly are the nightmare of most TV owners. But with a Bluetooth soundbar, you won’t even get to that point. On the Bose Smart Soundbar 600, you’ll be streaming everything wirelessly from your devices – whether that’s using the telly, or your phone and tablet.
And that makes it especially good for music too, as you can easily play radio stations and tunes straight from your favourite streaming platforms. Vocals sound clear with every chorus, while the rich bass will definitely make you want to get your groove on – just avoid any embarrassing dad dancing!
So, now you’ve found yourself a great soundbar. But how do you connect it to your telly? Here’s everything you need to know about connecting a soundbar.