How to Choose the Best Soundbar for Your TV

This article goes over the main features you should know about when choosing a soundbar for your TV. I also list My Recommended Soundbars below so you can choose the best soundbar within your price range.

If you want a soundbar with all the features and best audio quality, it's wise to get a higher-end soundbar. High-end soundbars can make a big difference when completing your home theater experience, but an entry-level and mid-range soundbars can still be much better than the speaker on a TV.

Soundbars can support multiple audio formats, but it also depends on the audio source for which audio format the soundbar will be using. There are four most common surround sound formats: Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, DTS, and DTS:X. You don't need to worry about your TV having support for these audio formats since only the soundbar and the audio source needs them. Below are the differences between each kind.

Dolby Digital: This widely-used format provides a higher bandwidth sound that handles five discrete audio channels for surround sound and a subwoofer channel.

DTS: A higher-quality alternative to Dolby Digital, with a higher bitrate and less compression.

Dolby Atmos: Gives a sense of height with dedicated upward-firing drivers to produce a realistic surround sound effect.

DTS:X: Has upward-firing drivers to produce height for realistic surround sound effects, similar to Dolby Atmos. DTS:X allows you to manually adjust individual sound objects for added flexibility, such as raising the volume of voices.

When looking at soundbars, you'll notice the number of channels each has. Channels refer to the number of speakers the soundbar has. Having a soundbar with more channels can improve the range of audio and enrich the surround.

For example, for a 7.1.2-channel soundbar, the first number means the number of speakers. The second number is the number of subwoofers in the soundbar or externally. The last number indicates the number of upward-facing speakers which enhance the surround sound effect.

Many soundbars have Bluetooth capability built-in so that you can connect your phone or other Bluetooth devices to the soundbar wirelessly. Bluetooth can be a great bonus to control the audio in your room easily.

Some TVs also support Bluetooth audio to wirelessly connect your TV's audio to a soundbar without an extra cable. While using Bluetooth makes a cleaner appearance, I recommend using either the HDMI or optical audio cable to achieve the best audio quality.

You may also want to get a subwoofer to add additional bass for deeper-sounding audio. Standalone soundbars don't always come with a distinct bass sound and feel, so having the option to add a subwoofer can be a good choice.

If a soundbar doesn't support a subwoofer wirelessly or has a subwoofer included, make sure the soundbar has a subwoofer output if you plan to purchase one separately.

An additional option is to get wireless rear surround speakers. Wireless surround speakers are for adding a broader dimension to the audio when compared to a standalone soundbar. Many soundbars virtually create the surround sound effect, but physically having the additional speakers can enhance the experience.

If you use wireless speakers, the audio signal can reach the speakers wirelessly if supported. Wireless speakers can either be powered by a wire (for power only) or battery-powered, which can be recharged when needed. Having the wire or charging the speakers can be a downside for some people, but it is a good option for some room layouts or other situations.

Some soundbars have voice enhancement features that can improve the audio clarity and volume of voices. Typically, this allows you to adjust the volume of the voices to your preference. This feature can be beneficial for people who have a hard time hearing voices or movies that have voices that blend in with other background audio.

The easiest way to connect a soundbar to a TV is by using an optical audio cable. These fiber-optical cables connect the optical audio output on a TV to the optical input on the soundbar. The downside to using an optical connection is that it doesn't support Dolby Atmos or DTS:X.

For best audio quality, you can instead connect an HDMI cable from the soundbar to your TV's HDMI ARC/eARC output to transmit the audio from your TV.

Keep in mind that you may have to adjust the audio settings on your TV for the soundbar to work correctly in either case.

If the soundbar supports HDMI video pass-through, you can connect your devices (blu-ray, cable box, or game console) directly to the soundbar via an ARC/eARC-supported HDMI cable. The cable will pass through the video to your TV while decoding the audio on your soundbar.

Video pass-through is a good option if a surround-sound soundbar has this functionality since they usually have surround-sound decoding built-in for better quality audio. When using HDMI ARC, it's expected that you'll be able to control your soundbar volume with your TV remote.

• Bose Model 838309-1100 TV Soundbar

  Driver Count:	3
  Optical Input:	YES
  HDMI Input:	YES
  Wireless:	Bluetooth

• The Bose model 838309-1100 soundbar features a compact design with two angled full-range drivers and a center tweeter that enhances speech clarity for improved dialogue.

• This soundbar supports Bluetooth, HDMI, and optical audio connections with built-in Dolby decoding. The voice enhancement features and multiple connectivity options provide excellent flexibility and accessibility.

• YAMAHA SR-C20A Sound Bar

  Driver Count:	3
  Optical Input:	YES
  HDMI Input:	YES
  Wireless:	Bluetooth

• The Yamaha SR-C20A soundbar delivers impressive audio with its built-in subwoofer and virtual surround sound technology, producing rich, powerful sound despite its slim 23-inch design.

• This soundbar supports both Dolby Digital and features Clear Voice technology for enhanced dialogue clarity. It offers versatile connectivity through HDMI ARC, Bluetooth, optical audio, and 3.5mm aux input.

• The included Sound Bar Remote app allows smartphone control via Bluetooth, and the soundbar includes wall-mount keyhole slots for flexible placement options.

• VIZIO M-Series 2.1 Channel Sound Bar

  Driver Count:	6
  Optical Input:	YES
  HDMI Input:	YES
  Wireless:	Bluetooth

• The Vizio M-Series 2.1 all-in-one soundbar packs six speakers with separate tweeters and woofers, plus dual 3-inch built-in subwoofers for impressive bass without requiring an external subwoofer.

• It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X for immersive, three-dimensional audio with virtual surround sound that places audio above and around you.

• The soundbar offers multiple connection options including HDMI eARC, Bluetooth, and optical audio, with support for 4K HDR and Dolby Vision pass-through. Its space-saving design at just over two inches tall fits seamlessly into any room.

• Bose TV Speaker Soundbar

  Driver Count:	2
  Optical Input:	YES
  HDMI Input:	YES
  Wireless:	Bluetooth

• The Bose TV Speaker Soundbar delivers clear dialogue and wide spatial sound with two angled full-range drivers. Built-in Dolby decoding provides enhanced audio capabilities for a more realistic listening experience.

• This soundbar supports HDMI-CEC for automatic power-on when connected to compatible TVs and is Roku TV Ready certified for seamless integration. It offers HDMI ARC, Bluetooth, and optical audio connectivity with optional Dialogue Mode and bass boost features.

• Polk Audio Signa S4 Sound Bar

  Driver Count:	7
  Optical Input:	YES
  HDMI Input:	YES
  Wireless:	Bluetooth

• The Polk Audio Signa S4 soundbar features a 7-driver array including two midrange drivers, two tweeters, a dedicated full-range center channel, and two up-firing drivers for overhead Dolby Atmos effects.

• This Dolby Atmos 3.1.2 certified soundbar includes a wireless 5.9-inch subwoofer for powerful bass. Polk's patented VoiceAdjust technology allows independent dialogue volume control, while BassAdjust controls both soundbar and subwoofer bass levels simultaneously.

• The soundbar supports HDMI eARC, Bluetooth, optical audio, and 3.5mm aux input with compatibility for 8K TV video pass-through. Night Mode reduces bass and enhances dialogue without raising overall volume.

• Sonos Arc Smart Soundbar

  Driver Count:	11
  Optical Input:	NO (need adapter)
  HDMI Input:	YES
  Wireless:	WiFi

• The Sonos Arc Smart soundbar features eleven precisely engineered internal speakers, including two dedicated upward-firing height channels, creating a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos experience with multidimensional spatial audio.

• Fine-tuned by Oscar-winning sound engineers, the Arc delivers crystal-clear dialogue with optional Speech Enhancement. Trueplay tuning technology uses iOS devices to analyze room acoustics and optimize EQ for precise sound placement.

• The soundbar supports HDMI eARC, Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, and requires an adapter for optical audio connections. It integrates seamlessly with the Sonos ecosystem for multi-room audio and automatic TV audio switching.

• Sony HTX8500 2.1-Channel Soundbar

  Driver Count:	3
  Optical Input:	YES
  HDMI Input:	YES
  Wireless:	Bluetooth

• The Sony HTX8500 soundbar delivers a 2.1 channel system with built-in dual subwoofers and Vertical Sound Engine technology that transforms stereo audio into simulated 7.1.2 channel surround sound.

• This soundbar supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X with five dedicated sound modes: Theater, Game, Sports, Music, and News. The compact design measures just 890mm wide and 64mm tall.

• It features HDMI eARC, Bluetooth, and optical audio connectivity with 4K HDR pass-through supporting 18Gbps bandwidth, HDCP 2.2/2.3, and both HDR10 and Dolby Vision compatibility.

• Sony HT-A5000 5.1.2-Channel Sound Bar

  Driver Count:	9
  Optical Input:	YES
  HDMI Input:	YES
  Wireless:	WiFi, Bluetooth

• The Sony HT-A5000 5.1.2-channel soundbar delivers powerful surround sound with support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. It can be expanded with optional wireless subwoofer and rear speakers for complete home theater immersion.

• This soundbar features HDMI 2.1 pass-through supporting VRR and ALLM for gaming, along with 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz video with Dolby Vision compatibility. The broad soundstage and robust low-end provide impressive single-box performance.

• Multiple connectivity options include HDMI eARC, Bluetooth 5.0, optical audio, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, and Spotify Connect. The comprehensive wireless capabilities and 8K video pass-through make it highly versatile.

• SAMSUNG HW-Q950A 11.1.4-Channel Soundbar

  Driver Count:	22
  Optical Input:	YES
  HDMI Input:	YES
  Wireless:	WiFi, Bluetooth

• The Samsung HW-Q950A 11.1.4-channel soundbar delivers true three-dimensional audio with 22 speakers across the main bar, wireless subwoofer, and included rear speakers. The four up-firing channels create realistic overhead effects for complete immersion.

• This soundbar supports Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, DTS, and DTS:X with Auto EQ room correction and Q-Symphony technology for synchronized audio with compatible Samsung TVs.

• Connectivity includes HDMI eARC, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, optical audio, and Alexa built-in voice assistant. It supports 4K video pass-through and offers SpaceFit Sound+ auto calibration for optimized room acoustics.

• Sony HT-A7000 7.1.2ch 500W Dolby Atmos Sound Bar

  Driver Count:	11
  Optical Input:	YES
  HDMI Input:	YES
  Wireless:	WiFi, Bluetooth

• The Sony HT-A7000 7.1.2-channel soundbar features Vertical Sound Engine and S-Force Pro Front Surround technology that converts stereo audio into expansive surround sound with impressive overhead height effects.

• This 500-watt soundbar supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X with 360 Spatial Sound Mapping when paired with optional Sony speakers. The premium build quality and powerful drivers deliver superior soundstage performance compared to the HT-A5000.

• It offers HDMI 2.1 eARC with VRR and ALLM support for gaming, Bluetooth, optical audio, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, and Spotify Connect. Compatible with 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz video pass-through with Dolby Vision.

Want to learn more about TVs? Check out the articles in my TV series:

• Best TV Display Types
• TV Resolution Explained - 8K UHD vs. 4K vs. QHD vs. FHD
• Choosing the Best TV for Your Room
• Best TV for Playing PlayStation 5 Games
• What Type of TV Is Best for Gaming?
• Ultimate Guide to Samsung QLED TVs
• Best Type of TV for Bright Rooms
• What Type of TV Has the Best Refresh Rate & Response Time?
• What Type of TV Has the Best Viewing Angle?
• Do LED TVs Have Backlight Bleed?
• How to choose the best soundbar for your TV