New TVs are generally thin, which makes them look great on your wall or in your entertainment center. However, a slender frame isn’t an advantage for sound quality. Speakers typically need a lot of space to produce good audio (with a few unique technical exceptions, like expensive and rare electrostatic panel speakers or the actuators on certain high-end OLED TVs), and there simply isn’t much real estate in slim sets. This means that, as pleasing as the picture looks, your TV’s built-in speakers probably don’t sound too good. You need a separate sound system if you want loud, high-quality audio for your home theater that isn’t thin or tinny: You need a soundbar.
Soundbars are long, usually thin (but still thicker than your TV) speakers that incorporate stereo, left/right/center surround sound, or even Spatial audio in an easy-to-set-up device you plug into your TV’s HDMI or optical port. They’re add-on sound systems that don’t take up much more space than your TV but add much-needed power, range, and clarity to your audio experience.
You don’t technically need to stick to a soundbar for a simple audio system for your TV. Almost any Bluetooth speaker or one with an optical, RCA, or 3.5mm input (if your TV has a headphone jack) can greatly improve your audio experience, though its power and ability to produce a sound field might be better for smaller screens. It also might not fit as neatly under or in front of your TV. See our roundup of the best computer speakers for some ideas.
Klipsch Cinema 600
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Powerful audio performance with deep, theater-like sub-bass and crisp high-end definition | – No user-adjustable EQ |
| + Wireless subwoofer | |
| + Bluetooth streaming | |
| + Virtual surround mode sounds good | |
| + Can be expanded to a true 5.1 system |
Klipsch Cinema 600
The Klipsch Cinema 600 soundbar delivers theater-like rumble and excellent clarity for movies and music at a relatively affordable price.
د.إ 2,783.00
Why We Picked It
The Klipsch Cinema 600 is a reasonably priced and powerful soundbar that puts out a strong sound profile with rumbling bass and crisp treble. This 3.1-channel system isn’t Atmos-compatible, but you can expand it into a 5.1 setup with optional satellites.
Who It’s For
This is for users willing to pay a bit more for sound quality, but for whom surround isn’t a priority. The emphasis here is all on power and frequency response. It’s a strong value for $500, but because it’s a few years old, you might be able to get it for even cheaper.
Roku Streambar Pro
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Affordable | – Relatively weak bass response |
| + Solid audio performance | |
| + Lots of media streaming options | |
| + Remote with headphone jack |
Roku Streambar Pro
The Roku Streambar Pro is a capable stereo speaker that adds all of the capabilities of a 4K Roku media streamer to the mix, including a voice remote with a headphone jack.
د.إ 1,069.00
Why We Picked It
The Roku Streambar Pro (formerly the Roku Smart Soundbar) is a combination soundbar and Roku media streamer that plugs into your TV’s eARC port. It handles all sound output and offers the same streaming capabilities as a Roku Streaming Stick 4K. The device doesn’t sound especially impressive by itself, but you can always expand it with the Roku TV Wireless Speakers and Roku Wireless Bass or Bass Pro (formerly Roku Wireless Subwoofer) for a full surround experience.
Who It’s For
If you want to add Apple AirPlay to your home theater or just don’t like your TV’s current media streaming interface, the Roku Streambar Pro is a worthy solution. It’s an affordable, solid soundbar and enables surround expansion for not a lot of money.
Sonos Arc
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Large sound field with powerful bass, even without a subwoofer | – Expensive |
| + Supports Alexa and Google voice | – Only works with pricey Sonos subwoofer |
| + Can easily be expanded with satellites and a subwoofer | |
| + Dolby Atmos compatibility with angled tweeters |
Sonos Arc
The impressive Sonos Arc takes the best parts of the company’s other soundbars and combines them into one Dolby Atmos-compatible package.
د.إ 4,030.00
Why We Picked It
The Sonos Arc is pretty expensive for a single soundbar, but it packs enough power to produce a bass-filled, surround sound experience. This Dolby Atmos soundbar features angled tweeters that create a large sound field with height as well as breadth. And, as a Sonos speaker, it integrates into any Sonos multi-room system, plus supports expansion via Sonos One satellites and the Sonos Sub (or recently announced Sub Mini) for even more surround imaging and low-end thump. It also enables hands-free Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant commands.
Who It’s For
If you want big sound without plugging in and arranging multiple speakers around your room, this is one of your best bets. It’s especially appealing if you already have Sonos speakers elsewhere in your home. But even if you don’t, the highly capable soundbar works equally well with your Amazon Echo or Google Nest setup.
Vizio M51ax-J6
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Well priced for a system with a subwoofer and rear satellites | – Treble isn’t quite as crisp as it could be |
| + Good surround imaging with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support | – Small visual control panel on the remote |
| + Powerful bass |
Vizio M51ax-J6
The affordable Vizio M-Series 5.1 Sound Bar (M51ax-J6) combines a subwoofer and two rear satellites to produce powerful audio for movies and music.
د.إ 2,389.00
Why We Picked It
True surround sound with rear satellites can get a bit pricey, but Vizio’s system is surprisingly affordable. The package includes a three-channel soundbar, two satellites, and a subwoofer, which all work together with support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. It doesn’t have upward-firing drivers or other high-end features that can improve imaging from the sides and back, but we don’t expect that at this price.
Who It’s For
If you want a true surround sound system with rear satellites, but don’t want to spend a lot of money, this is one of the best options. It presents a strong value for its performance.
JBL Bar 9.1
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Powerful audio with thunderous bass depth | – Expensive |
| + Dolby Atmos drivers | – Large |
| + Wireless rear channel speakers | – Could use more precise EQ controls |
| + East setup |
The Bottom Line:
The JBL Bar 9.1 soundbar might be expensive, but it delivers powerful, thunderous audio with detachable rear channels for an immersive listening experience.
Why We Picked It
This spatial audio system is ideal for Dolby Atmos content because of the angled drivers on the main soundbar and the detachable satellites that enable both vertical and horizontal imaging. As a bonus, the satellites are completely wireless and connect to the sides of the soundbar for more powerful stereo sound when you want to listen to music. And then you can just pull them off and set them behind you when you want to watch a movie or play a game with Spatial audio.
Who It’s For
If you can splurge a bit and want a true Dolby Atmos experience with real rear channels that offer height, this is the soundbar to get. It’s particularly convenient if you don’t want to run multiple power cables behind your couch: Because the satellites are completely wireless, you don’t need to plug them in like with most systems.
Polk Audio Signa S3
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Powerful audio performance with deep bass and crisp highs | – No EQ |
| + Wireless subwoofer | – Lacks visual indicators for various audio modes |
| + Voice Adjust mode for clearer dialogue | |
| + Supports Chromecast audio and Google Assistant voice commands | |
| + Ships with both HDMI and optical cables |
Polk Audio Signa S3
Polk Audio’s Sigma S3 soundbar and subwoofer combo deliver a relatively powerful 2.1 audio experience for the price.
د.إ 1,720.00
Why We Picked It
This is another inexpensive 3.1-channel soundbar that offers solid performance with deep bass from its included wireless subwoofer. Its big distinction is built-in Chromecast support: This means you can stream music from your Android phone over Wi-Fi and get better audio quality than with Bluetooth-only competitors. If you prefer the convenience of Bluetooth, however, that’s also an option.
Who It’s For
If you’re an Android user who wants to play music on your soundbar as much as watch movies and TV, this might be an ideal pick. It’s inexpensive, offers strong audio, and Google Cast support unlocks hi-res streaming.
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Big sound field for its size | – Not much deep bass without optional subwoofer |
| + Full and crisp sound, from low-mids to highs | – No Bluetooth support |
| + Dolby Atmos audio sounds precise and immersive | – Trueplay audio tuning only available for iOS |
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
The second-generation Sonos Beam soundbar adds Dolby Atmos support and two more audio processing channels, for an impressive sound field that retains the previous model’s compact size.
د.إ 2,068.00
Why We Picked It
The Beam sits in the middle of Sonos’ soundbar lineup between the low-end Ray and the high-end Arc. It doesn’t sound nearly as good as the Arc, but it’s a capable soundbar that fits a modest (55 inches or smaller) TV quite well. The device supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and, if you have an iPhone, you can even use Sonos’ Trueplay tuning to automatically tweak the sound to fit your room. Its biggest weakness is mediocre bass response. Yes, you can get a Sonos subwoofer to go with it, but even the smaller Sonos Sub Mini costs slightly more than the Beam itself.
Who It’s For
If you want to improve your TV’s sound, add a voice assistant to your living room, and start building a Sonos multi-room system for less than $500, the Beam is a good choice. Its bass might be lackluster, but it still packs plenty of features for its price and probably still offers an improvement over your TV’s speakers in the low-frequency range.
TCL Alto R1 Roku TV Wireless Soundbar (TSR1)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Powerful, balanced sound | – Requires a Roku TV |
| + East to set up | – TV needs to be on in order to use the speaker |
| + Can be augmented with a Roku Wireless Subwoofer |
TCL Alto R1 Roku TV Wireless Soundbar (TSR1)
TCL’s wireless soundbar for Roku TVs, the Alto R1, is a simple way to add powerful stereo sound to your compatible TV, even if the speaker doesn’t support any surround sound standards.
د.إ 365.00
Why We Picked It
On paper, this soundbar is unimpressive: It’s stereo-only and requires a Roku TV. But, for its size and price, it offers powerful sound. And its wireless integration with Roku TVs means you only have to plug it into power. You can also augment it with Roku’s first-party subwoofers if you want more bass. Just as importantly, this soundbar is often on sale for well under its list price.
Who It’s For
Roku TV owners should give this soundbar a shot if they want better sound for not much money. We’ve regularly seen it available for around $100, and at that price, it’s a steal considering its commendable audio performance even without a subwoofer.
