There’s nothing worse than sitting down for movie night only to be greeted with muddy dialogue you can’t understand and tiny bass that lacks oomph. Even some of the most expensive TVs suffer from wimpy sound, with built-in speakers that lack depth and clarity. To improve performance, we suggest investing in a soundbar. The best soundbars can be a game changer for your home entertainment setup, making it easier to hear your favorite TV shows and movies while delivering a more immersive soundfield.
Our team has been reviewing audio products for over a decade, and we’ve used that experience to recommend the best soundbars for a variety of needs. Based on extensive testing, our top pick is the Samsung HW-Q990C. This powerful Dolby Atmos system spreads sound in all directions, complete with separate surround speakers and a wireless subwoofer. But if you want something with a more modest footprint, we recommend the midrange Yamaha YAS-209. This affordable soundbar is perfect for anyone who wants a simple yet versatile audio solution.
Below, you can browse all of our picks for the best soundbars of 2025. We have models for every budget and use case, from entry-level stereo soundbars to premium systems with 11.1.4 audio channels.
Editor’s note: Ryan Waniata contributed to the FAQ section in this guide.
Our top picks for the best soundbars
Best overall: Samsung HW-Q990C – See at Amazon
Best midrange: Yamaha YAS-209 – See at Amazon
Best on a budget: Vizio V-Series V21d-J8 – See at Walmart
Best all-in-one option: Sonos Arc Ultra – See at Amazon
Best overall
Samsung Q990C 11.1.4-Channel Soundbar System
This powerful 11.1.4 soundbar system has up-firing drivers, a dedicated subwoofer, and separate rear satellite speakers. It takes up more space than smaller options, but delivers the best Dolby Atmos performance we’ve heard in a system like this.
Samsung’s Q990C is the best soundbar for anyone who wants cinematic performance at a reasonable price. This powerful 11.1.4-channel system isn’t as space-saving as some of our other picks, but it fully engulfs you in sound from all directions.
Dolby Atmos support is one of the Q990C’s key features. This technology is designed to spread audio effects all around your room, including above your head. To accomplish this, the Q990C has four up-firing drivers to bounce sound effects off your ceiling, four side-firing drivers, a pair of dedicated rear speakers, a beefy subwoofer, and an array of additional drivers.
These components come together to fuel a killer sound system that places you directly into the action of your favorite movies, TV shows, and video games. But the Q990C isn’t just about raw power. During our testing, it also delivered excellent balance and natural transitions between speakers, helping it enhance a wide range of genres, from sitcoms and action flicks to jazz and hip-hop.
Ryan Waniata/Business Insider
The Q990C is also packed with additional features, like support for hands-free Alexa voice control. It’s compatible with all the major audio formats, including Dolby Atmos’ primary rival, DTS:X, as well as many high-resolution audio files. An HDMI eARC port, optical port, and a pair of HDMI inputs with 4K HDR passthrough are built in, so you get plenty of connection options. However, the HDMI inputs lack HDMI 2.1 support, so they can’t deliver 120Hz gaming signals from a PS5 or Xbox.
The soundbar is also designed to pair with many of the best Samsung TVs, like the S95D and S95F 4K OLED, via a feature called Q-Symphony. This lets you use your TV’s speakers as part of a combined audio system with the Q990C. The soundbar still sounds fantastic without this mode engaged, but it’s a cool bonus for Samsung TV owners.
Buyers should note that Samsung sells updated versions of this soundbar, including the new Q990F. The latest model adds a few features, including HDMI 2.1 support for 4K/120Hz passthrough. The Q990F also has a more compact subwoofer with a revised design. The Q990F impressed us during a hands-on demonstration, but given the current price difference between models, the cheaper Q990C is a better value while it remains in stock.
Read our Samsung HW-Q990C Soundbar review.
Visit our guide to all the best Dolby Atmos soundbars.
Best midrange
Yamaha YAS-209 Soundbar
Yamaha’s YAS-209 is a convenient 2.1-channel soundbar with great sound quality, a wireless subwoofer, and a reasonable price.
The YAS-209 isn’t as immersive as pricier soundbar models, but it delivers good audio quality for the money and includes a wireless subwoofer for dedicated bass. This is the type of classic, space-saving audio setup many think of when shopping for a soundbar, and it makes for a nice, no-fuss upgrade to built-in TV speakers.
The 2.1-channel system delivers native stereo playback with left and right separation. It also has DTS Virtual:X processing to create a simulated surround sound effect. It’s not as convincing as more expensive systems that feature side-firing audio drivers or actual rear speakers, but it does a decent job. With or without virtual surround, the system provides clear and balanced audio for various types of content.
The YAS-209 connects to your TV using its HDMI ARC port, and the soundbar has a handy HDMI-in port that supports passing through video at up to 4K resolution at 60Hz with HDR (but not Dolby Vision) from a connected device, like a gaming console or Blu-ray player.
An optical audio port is also featured for older TVs without HDMI ARC, and you can wirelessly stream music via Bluetooth or WiFi. Thanks to its built-in microphones, the YAS-209 has integrated support for Amazon Alexa, enabling voice control for functions like volume.
This model has been around for several years, and it’s missing some advanced features like Dolby Atmos support that you’d find on some newer options, but it’s still hard to beat the overall value that the YAS-209 offers. The audio quality here is great for the price, making this one of the best soundbars available for under $500.
Best for budget shoppers
Vizio V-Series V21d-J8
With a simple design and decent audio performance, Vizio’s V-Series is a great pick for buyers looking to spend less.
The Vizio V-Series V21d-J8 is a simple 2.1-channel soundbar built for buyers on a budget. It doesn’t offer advanced audio performance or Dolby Atmos support, but this affordable bar still delivers a decent upgrade over the built-in speakers found on most midrange TVs.
The soundbar has integrated woofers, meaning you’ll get two main channels for left and right stereo sound plus a little extra bass, even though the system doesn’t have a separate subwoofer unit. Vizio also uses DTS Virtual:X processing to simulate surround and height effects. The tech employed here is nowhere near as convincing as what you’d get on a high-end soundbar like the Sonos Arc Ultra, but it still expands the device’s soundstage.
Standing out from the typical boxy design we see on most soundbars, the V-Series has angled sides that slope down to create a hexagonal profile. Buttons for various controls, including volume, source, Bluetooth audio, and power, rest on the side of the bar.
The soundbar has an HDMI ARC port for easy connection to modern smart TVs, and you also get an optical audio port if your TV doesn’t have an HDMI connection. There’s no HDMI video passthrough, but you can hook up older audio sources to the bar’s 3.5mm auxiliary port.
The V-Series supports Bluetooth for wireless playback, making it easy to stream music from your smartphone, but you can’t stream via WiFi. An included remote handles all your needs for adjusting volume, accessing basic equalizer options, and toggling various modes.
Check out our guide to all the best budget soundbars.
Best all-in-one option
Sonos Arc Ultra Soundbar
The Sonos Arc Ultra carries over everything we loved about the original Arc soundbar while offering bigger bass, improved Dolby Atmos immersion, and cleaner dialogue. It’s pricey, but few stand-alone soundbars can match its performance.
In many ways, the Sonos Arc Ultra is the quintessential all-in-one soundbar. It offers a slick design, immersive Dolby Atmos audio performance, and a simplified setup that gets you up and running in minutes — all from a single bar that rests in front of your TV.
The Arc Ultra doesn’t come with a separate subwoofer or rear speakers, but it still delivers impressive sound without them. This model is the successor to the standard Sonos Arc, and the Ultra offers a nice upgrade in bass and overall clarity.
To accomplish its beefier performance, the Ultra uses Sonos’ new Sound Motion driver, which packs powerful woofers into a compact space while freeing up room to add additional tweeters in other parts of the bar. With 14 drivers total, including both side- and up-firing ones, the Arc Ultra provides a 9.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos experience that surrounds you in a dome of sound. You can even stream Atmos music from supported services like Amazon via the Sonos app.
The app also lets you tune the sound, connect to other Sonos speakers, and initiate the brand’s TV Swap feature. TV Swap lets you transition to private listening when paired with Sonos Ace headphones. Though many users ran into issues with a Sonos software update last year, many of those problems have been corrected. The app still isn’t perfect, but our reviewer didn’t encounter any major hiccups and didn’t find the app’s flaws to detract from the overall value of the Arc Ultra.
Tyler Hayes/Business Insider
The Arc Ultra’s minimalist design is appealing, but it does have some downsides. Like its predecessor, it has limited inputs. There’s no spare HDMI connection or optical port, though you can buy an optical adapter. And though standard DTS 5.1 audio is supported, the Arc Ultra does not support DTS’ 3D surround sound format, DTS:X.
On the plus side, the Arc Ultra does add one notable feature that was missing from the original Arc: Bluetooth support. It also has a new Advanced Speech Enhancement mode that can emphasize dialogue without affecting the quality of other sound effects.
The Arc Ultra’s $999 asking price is a bit high, but we think its performance justifies its cost. With excellent sound and many modern features, it’s one of the best soundbars we’ve reviewed and a convenient way to upgrade your audio setup.
Read our Sonos Arc Ultra review.
Check out our guide to the best Sonos soundbars.
How we test soundbars
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To determine the best soundbars, our reviewers test various factors, including audio quality, format support, connectivity options, and smart features. We’ve been covering home theater products for more than a decade and use that experience to inform our testing parameters.
We also evaluate factors like overall value, build quality, aesthetics, and ease of use. After all, convenience is a big advantage of choosing a soundbar over a more traditional speaker system. The best soundbars should be simple to set up and integrate into your entertainment setup.
When reviewing soundbars, we evaluate low-, mid-, and high-frequency performance using a mix of test movies and shows across different genres. We also pay attention to how easy it is to hear dialogue using multiple settings, and we test audio at numerous volume levels to ensure the soundbar can get loud without losing quality.
We also listen to various music tracks that have been selected to showcase different frequencies. This helps us determine if the soundbar sounds tinny or distorted and maintains good sonic detail and instrumental definition for various styles, such as rock, pop, acoustic music, and hip-hop.
Beyond specific demo material, we use each soundbar we test in our daily TV watching, gaining a sense of how the bar performs in general use. For more information about our testing process, check out our breakdown on how we review tech products.
What to look for in a soundbar
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When shopping for a soundbar, pay close attention to various specs, including size and the number of audio channels supported.
Entry-level soundbars tend to be smaller and limited to basic two-channel stereo sound, while more expensive soundbars are larger and support more channels for surround sound. Some models consist of a single soundbar unit, others include a separate subwoofer, and some even have extra rear speakers. Bigger, multi-speaker soundbar systems will deliver the best audio performance, but they’ll take up more room.
All of the best soundbars support basic stereo PCM and Dolby Digital audio formats at the very least. But if you want a more immersive experience, you should look for soundbars that support DTS Virtual:X or true spatial audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
The best soundbars have HDMI ARC or eARC ports to connect to your TV, but it’s also nice when models include additional wired options like optical and 3.5mm to connect to older TVs or additional audio components. Extra HDMI ports to pass through video from connected devices like a Blu-ray player or gaming console are also great, but shouldn’t be expected on entry-level models.
Bluetooth music streaming is common on many of the best soundbars, but options supporting WiFi streaming will deliver even better sound quality. If you want a soundbar that can double as a smart speaker, you should find one with built-in microphones and Alexa or Google Assistant.
How do I connect a soundbar?
Ryan Waniata/Business Insider
Most soundbars we test connect to a TV with an HDMI cable via an HDMI ARC or eARC port. This is the most convenient connection type and the only way to source high-quality formats like Dolby Atmos from your TV directly. In most cases, the HDMI ARC connection also allows you to use your TV remote to control a soundbar’s volume and power, reducing clutter.
Even if you’re using a TV that’s several years old, there’s a good chance it supports HDMI ARC. You can find out by checking your TV’s input section and looking for an HDMI port labeled “HDMI ARC” or “HDMI eARC.”
Check out our guide to the best HDMI cables for our top recommendations to use with soundbars and TVs.
If your TV does not allow for an HDMI ARC or eARC connection, you must use an alternative connection like an optical digital port. This still allows for good sound quality but doesn’t support 3D audio formats like Dolby Atmos. In that case, you may also want to consider upgrading your TV.
Entry-level 4K TVs with HDMI ARC can now be purchased for about $500 or less, depending on size. Check out our TV buying guides for top recommendations across different price ranges:
Soundbar FAQs
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Are soundbars worth it?
Even cheap soundbars deliver better audio quality than the speakers you’ll find built into most displays. To keep costs down and ensure that the speakers fit within a flat-screen design, TVs usually include small drivers and poor placement that can result in thin, muddy sound. The best soundbars add more dimension, clarity, and bass to your TV-watching experience.
Soundbars can also improve the definition of dialogue and other effects for those with hearing issues. That’s especially true for soundbars with a dedicated center channel, where most dialogue and other important movie and TV sound effects are directed.
What size soundbar should I get?
Size is an important factor to consider when shopping for a new soundbar. Many single-unit soundbars are built with a width of around 25 inches, while some ultra-compact models can be as small as 14 inches wide. On the other end of the spectrum, high-end soundbar models can be as big as 50 inches wide.
Generally speaking, bigger soundbar models deliver better sound quality since they can incorporate more speaker drivers with larger dimensions. But smaller bars are often cheaper, more convenient, and easier to set up.
If you plan to put your soundbar on an entertainment console with your TV, you should measure that area before purchasing. This way, you can ensure that the soundbar you choose won’t be too wide to rest on your TV stand and that its height won’t block your display.
Can soundbars do surround sound?
Many of the best soundbars can support multiple audio channels for surround sound. These channels refer to how many directions sound can be sent through the device.
Entry-level soundbars often support two channels for basic left and right stereo playback, but many midrange and high-end models support surround sound with five or more channels. These channels generally include a center channel for dialogue and rear channels via extra audio drivers, satellite speakers, or virtualization techniques.
Channel specifications are listed as a string of up to three numbers separated by decimal points. The first number represents how many standard ear-level channels are included (left, right, center, surrounds). The second number indicates if the device includes a dedicated low-frequency channel or a separate subwoofer for extra bass. The final number indicates how many height channels are included for Dolby Atmos support.
Buyers who just want a simple upgrade from their TV’s integrated audio will likely be satisfied with a compact 2.0 or 2.1 soundbar system. But if you’re looking for a more complete home theater experience, you’ll want to opt for a 5.1 surround sound system or above.
For more recommendations, check out our complete guide to the best surround sound systems.
What is Dolby Atmos?
Dolby Atmos is an immersive surround sound format that uses object-based audio mixing. In practice, this means that sounds can be more precisely positioned around your room, with effects placed in all directions, including overhead. For instance, when rain falls from the sky or a helicopter flies overhead, you can actually hear the sound coming from above.
Dolby Atmos soundbars can use one of two methods to create overhead sound effects. The first involves audio processing to create a simulated sense of height from regular ear-level speakers. The second method uses up-firing drivers angled up instead of forward to bounce sound effects off your ceiling. Good up-firing drivers provide a much more convincing sense of overhead sound than audio processing can produce alone.
For more specifics, see our What is Dolby Atmos explainer.
Do I need a subwoofer?
A subwoofer can be an integral part of your cinematic and musical experience. Due to basic physics, soundbars alone can’t offer the deep bass frequencies you’d get from a subwoofer. If you’re looking for earth-rattling thunder, hefty boom from explosions, and powerful bass beats, you’ll want to consider a soundbar that either includes a subwoofer or, at the very least, allows you to add one later.
For our top recommendations, check out our guide to the best soundbars with subwoofers.
What are the top soundbar brands?
Several audio brands make excellent soundbars, but certain companies are better at specific performance tiers than others.
Vizio, Roku, TCL, and Hisense are solid companies to consider when shopping for an entry-level soundbar. Meanwhile, brands like Yamaha, Sonos, and Bose offer several great midrange and upper-midrange soundbars. Samsung and Sony offer reliable soundbars across a range of budgets, but sell particularly good high-end models. Sennheiser is also a good brand to keep in mind if you’re looking for a premium soundbar.
