Don't Want to Spend Big Bucks for a Surround-Sound System? These Soundbars Are a Great Alternative.

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7 days ago

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A soundbar is a must-have sound upgrade for almost any new TV. Due to their ultra-thin design, today's television sets can't physically accommodate large speaker units, frequently falling short in delivering a sound that's worthy of the beautiful visuals they provide. High-quality speakers need space, which, unlike old-school sets whose tube screen made them double as large pieces of furniture, modern TVs don't offer.
Thankfully, a soundbar bring better sound for your onscreen content. These products' multiple speaker units and wireless connectivity also make them great for enjoying audio content without powering up your TV.
Because ultra-thin TVs have long been the standard for mainstream consumers, today's market is jam-packed with soundbars in all price points—from affordable to premium. Between form factors, hardware specs, and audio capabilities, there's a lot to consider. To help you find the best soundbar for your needs and budget, I spent months testing high-rated models from leading brands.
The Best Soundbars in 2025
Best Overall: Sonos Arc Ultra
Best Value: Klipsch Flexus CORE 200
Best Budget: Polk Audio Signa S2
Best Compact: Bose Smart Soundbar
Best for Audiophiles: Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8
How I Tested Soundbars
I've been testing audio gear, including soundbars, since 2011. To put the ones on this list through their paces, I spent weeks with each one as my primary source of home audio entertainment, connecting it to my TV.
I streamed movies, series, and live sports, especially Dolby Atmos-enhanced content, from Netflix, Prime Video, Max, and Hulu, among other leading platforms. Of course, I also streamed an eclectic selection of music to every soundbar.
In addition to scrutinizing the bass, treble, and mid-range audio capabilities of each product, I paid particular attention to its dialogue clarity. I looked for options to adjust both the sound and the voice delivery in each device.
With all of the above in mind, enjoy better sound at home with one of the soundbars I vouch for below.Arc Ultra
$999.00 at amazon.com
The Sonos Arc Ultra—the audio brand's range-topping soundbar—is the best for most consumers, with exceptional audio performance across the board, straightforward setup, and intuitive controls. As a Sonos product, the Arc Ultra easily integrates into an existing setup of speakers from the same manufacturer. Better yet, linking the device to a Sonos Sub and a pair of rear Era 100 or Era 300 speakers can create a full surround sound system that rivals your local movie theater.
Equipped with fourteen audio drivers, the Sonos Arc Ultra performed up to the heavy expectations set by its price tag. I was equally impressed by its powerful bass output, crisp treble, and dialogue clarity. I like that the soundbar can seamlessly connect to the excellent Sonos Ace headphones to deliver multi-dimensional sound without disturbing others.
Using the app, I was also able to adjust the sound and treble intensity, as well as enhance the speech by choosing from four levels. Achieving the right placement for the speaker was intuitive as well. The Sonos app utilized my phone's built-in microphones to tailor the soundbar's sound for my living room. The process took only a couple of minutes.
Sonos offers the Arc Ultra in black or white. The optional speakers for expanding the setup are available in matching colors.Flexus CORE 200
$549.99 at amazon.com
The Klipsch Flexus CORE 200 is the best pick for buyers who want a soundbar for under $500. The product lacks Wi-Fi connectivity, unlike my pricier suggestions, which is a downside. Still, its agreeable price, stylish looks, and solid audio performance make it worthy of your attention.
Sound-wise, the first thing that impressed me about the Klipsch Flexus CORE 200 was its thunderous bass, powered by a duo of 4-inch subwoofers. Their low-end output brought a welcome touch of excitement to any on-screen content, from films to video games, making it more engaging. Needless to say, I loved listening to bass-heavy downtempo tracks on the soundbar over a Bluetooth link.
The Klipsch Connect companion app offers a robust selection of sound customization tools, including a graphic equalizer and an option to enhance scenes with dialogue. A night mode is also available, which tones down the bass to minimize disturbance to others. Given the low-end power of the Flexus CORE 200, the functionality is a welcome addition to its feature set.
You can expand the Flexus CORE 200 into a surround sound system via an additional Klipsch subwoofer and surround sound speakers, all while keeping your budget in three-digit territory. The subwoofer features a 10-inch speaker that perfectly complements the soundbar's already powerful bass.Signa S2
$199.00 at amazon.com
The Polk Audio Signa S2 is the soundbar to get if you are looking for a TV audio upgrade on a tight budget. For roughly $200, it offers an impressively slim profile and great sound for the money. Unlike the rest of my picks, the affordably priced Signa S2 comes with a bundled wireless subwoofer, which adds value to the package.
When it comes to audio performance, the Polk Audio Signa S2 predictably falls short compared to more expensive soundbars. The product lacks Dolby Atmos support and the upward-facing audio drivers required for a true spatial audio experience.
That said, the device's four built-in audio drivers produce respectable, though less immersive, virtual surround sound that's infinitely more enjoyable than what other TVs' onboard speakers offer. The same goes for the entertaining bass rumble from the included subwoofer.
I like the low-key design of the Polk Audio Signa S2 soundbar, as well as its compact and intuitive bundled remote control. The essential accessory's convenient buttons include dedicated keys for adjusting the bass and the voice clarity.Smart Soundbar
$549.00 at amazon.com
The Smart Soundbar by Bose is my top pick for small spaces. Measuring just a tad over 27 inches wide, the product has an impressively compact footprint without skimping on features and performance. Of course, the Smart Soundbar is also upgradeable into a surround sound system via an optional bass module and surround speakers.
The device's five-speaker setup includes a pair of upward-facing units for multi-dimensional Dolby Atmos sound. Experiencing the latter while streaming enhanced content made me feel like I was using a bigger soundbar. Thanks to proprietary Bose technology, the soundbar made standard audio content sound more entertaining, if not quite as captivating as Dolby Atmos sound.
In addition to impressing me with sound that belies its size, the Bose offering excelled at clearly reproducing scenes that included dialogue. Enabling a dedicated AI mode for voice enhancement in the Bose app helped significantly with this challenging task. The app also helped me customize the sound and connect more speakers to the Smart Soundbar.
Another reason I recommend the Bose Smart Soundbar is its excellent set of wireless connectivity features. The Wi-Fi-enabled device can stream from any smartphone, computer, or tablet, thanks to Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, and Google Chromecast support.BRAVIA Theater Bar 8
$848.00 at amazon.com
Sony's Bravia Theater Bar 8 soundbar, in addition to providing cinema-grade sound to complement any TV, can also stream audio in lossless formats. This standout feature makes the product a particularly exciting upgrade option for audiophiles who plan to use their soundbar as a high-fidelity standalone speaker, rather than just an essential TV companion. The Bar 8 can even eke out more detail from lower-quality audio through sophisticated upscaling technology.
Of all the soundbars I tested, the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 offered the highest level of detail, with 11 onboard speakers and spacial-mapping technology that mimics a surround-sound system setup. Plus, it was easy to optimize sound for my space via the app.
Unsurprisingly, the Bravia Theater Bar 8 integrates particularly well with Sony's latest TVs. If you already own one, it's your best bet. Budget and space permitting, you can expand the Bar 8 into a surround sound system by adding a subwoofer and rear speakers. The pricier Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9 is an even better option for audiophiles. Its wider footprint and 13 integrated speakers bring an even more powerful sound that's worth the premium, especially if you set it up in a larger space.
What to Consider
Sound
Dolby Atmos is the most important audio feature to look for in a soundbar. The spatial audio experience you'll get will make any Dolby Atmos-enhanced content you watch, from blockbuster movies to live sports, more lifelike. The audio standard is widely available on all streaming services, so don't skip it unless you are shopping on a super tight budget.
Look for a soundbar with upward-facing audio drivers to get the best Dolby Atmos experience. Some lower-cost models can deliver virtual Dolby Atmos without the upward-firing speakers, but I really recommend spending a bit more to get a properly equipped option. The extra hardware makes a big difference.
Speaking of hardware, the number of speakers a soundbar packs is also important to consider while shopping. More audio drivers naturally result in a bigger and more detailed sound with a wider soundstage. Don't settle for less than four audio drivers in a soundbar, even if you are shopping on a tight budget.
The channel configuration of a soundbar, although undeniably technical, is also a crucial factor in making a purchasing decision. The essential spec is showcased via three numbers, separated by dots. The first number shows the number of front-facing speakers a soundbar has, the second one measures the downward-facing bass drivers, while the third displays the quantity of upward-facing units (if any).
The more audio channels a soundbar has, the more immersive its sound will be. The channel count reflects the number of perceived directions the sound will reach you. Having experienced products across the price spectrum, I can confirm that more expensive soundbars with more audio channels sound noticeably more engaging.
Size
When not wall-mounted, soundbars should be placed right in front of a TV and underneath its screen, with the second option being the most commonly used setup among consumers. The width of a soundbar is particularly important in such scenarios, so be sure to measure your TV unit to confirm it fits before making a purchase. I learned the importance of this task the hard way a while back.
Full-size soundbars measure around 50 inches in width, making them perfectly suitable for a big-screen TV with a 65-inch or larger panel, including 75- and 85-inch options. Smaller ones would suffice if your TV has a 55-inch or smaller screen, or you don't want to overspend on an upgrade.
Connectivity
HDMI is the default wired connectivity option for all soundbars, regardless of their price tag. Connecting them to a TV is as easy as plugging their bundled cable into its eARC HDMI connector.
Fancier soundbars at higher price points feature HDMI 2.1 passthrough connectivity, which allows consumers to connect, say, a high-powered gaming console directly for a more enjoyable sound experience.
Wi-Fi connectivity is mandatory for a high-end soundbar. It allows the product to stream higher-quality audio and link with other speakers in a multi-room setup. Soundbars with Wi-Fi also support Apple AirPlay 2 and/or Google Chromecast wireless protocols, making it super easy to stream audio from a phone, tablet, or computer.
Additional Features
A companion app is standard for most new soundbars. Only budget-friendly ones lack one, but their lower cost makes up for the omission. An app makes setting up a soundbar, customizing its sound, and keeping it up to date with updates easy.
I prefer using an app to control a soundbar over a bundled remote control. The essential accessory is curiously not included with Sonos soundbars, but I didn't miss it.
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