Sound bars are easy to set up. In addition, they are affordable and offer much better sound quality than an integrated standard TV speaker. This is what helps them make them more popular than bigger home theater speakers, subwoofers and AV Receivers, even if they offer extra clear sound. There are several soundbar options, but all offer better audio quality than the TV’s speakers. With a plethora of options available, finding the best sound bar can be tricky, but this best sound bar guide can help you eliminate noise.
To test the quality of each sound bar listed below, we compared them to similarly priced models with a combination of music and movies. We also take into account features like the number of HDMI ports and if the sound bar has multiroom, high resolution audio, Bluetooth, surround sound or Dolby Atmos. We have options for wireless soundbar aficionados and people who literally want to connect their soundbar to their existing audio system and immediately start watching their favorite TV shows.
From solid base bars to Atmos speakers with Alexa, this is CNET’s lineup of the best sound bars available starting at $ 100 and up. This list is updated regularly as new products become available and tested.
Read More: Soundbar Buyer’s Guide
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If you want to get rid of your TV speakers, we suggest you start here. Our longtime favorite, the Vizio SB3621n-E8 has been essentially replaced by the new V21. The subwoofer may be smaller in the latest model, but this bar still has great sound, in addition to offering HDMI connectivity and a much easier to understand input screen. This is the best soundbar value we’ve tested this year. Read our review of the Vizio V21.
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If your price range is limited, by less than a C note, the Creative Stage sound bar offers a lot of new features, including HDMI connectivity and a subwoofer. But what’s even more remarkable is that it sounds better than most of its ultrabudget competitors, with a wired subwoofer that fills the room with great bass. It comes with a variety of modes, making this soundbar speaker especially suitable for music, concerts (now that we can’t see them live) and games. Excellent sound quality for players and film fans. Read our Creative Stage review.
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Although it may not have many features compared to some competitors, the only thing that the JBL Bar 2.1 Deep Bass has is also the most desirable: sound quality. The JBL comes with a large subwoofer that goes as deep as it claims, adding a real sense of dynamics that are lacking in cheaper bars. If you want to make your TV the second best option after cinema, this is one of the most affordable ways to do that. Read our review of Deep Bass JBL Bar 2.1.
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The Yamaha YAS-209 offers excellent sound quality in a compact sound bar. The addition of Amazon Alexa is useful, allowing this intelligent voice control sound bar to stream music and microphones to work well in noisy environments. The DTS Virtual: X soundbar implementation offers a rich effect that resembles surround speakers. The wireless subwoofer is more articulate and offers more headroom than the competitor, and also excellent, Polk Command Bar. However, the YAS-209 does not use the company’s MusicCast system, so it does not sync with other Yamaha speakers. . Read our review of the Yamaha YAS-209.
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The Vizio SB36512-F6 proves that you don’t have to spend a lot to get a high quality sound bar that can handle the latest Dolby Atmos soundtracks and get multiroom sound. The Vizio SB36512-F6 is a fully immersive 5.1.2 sound system for the price of an AV receiver and its height channels do a solid job of bringing in the Atmos effects. You can also stream music from any Google Chromecast-enabled audio app, such as Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio and Google Play Music. Read our review of the Vizio SB36512-F6.
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The main attraction of the Vizio Elevate may be its tall motorized speakers, but as soon as you overcome the novelty, you will find that the speaker system also has excellent sound. The separate submarine and height-activated rears really help to put you ahead of the Sonos Arc sonically. With Dolby Atmos, DTS: X and integrated Chromecast, multiple HDMI and Bluetooth inputs, the only thing Vizio doesn’t offer is support for Apple AirPlay. Read our review of the Vizio Elevate P514A-H6.
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If you simply need to have the fewest boxes and remotes in your home and still demand the best Atmos quality sound performance you can, this Sennheiser speaker is your thing. It is a single unit, without a subwoofer, but it is capable of creating the most realistic surround and overhead sound effects we’ve ever heard. It is also fully controlled by remote control. It is not cheap sound equipment, but it is comparable in price to a complete set of surround speakers without high volumes and with 85% of great sound and performance. Read our Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar review.
Also consider
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If you are looking for a speaker that can make music and also play the last episode of Ted Lasso, Polk Signa S3 has a lot to offer. It’s great for streaming, as it has built-in Chromecast, as well as Bluetooth and an HDMI input. Read our review of Polk Signa S3.
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If you are interested in setting up a multiroom sound system, a Sonos sound bar system is still the best option. Sonos Arc is the company’s best sound bar and includes Dolby Atmos playback, a class-leading music ecosystem and a choice of Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa built into the bar itself. The sound bar system sounds great with music and movies, and adding a pair of Ikea Symphonisk shelves should really boost your home theater sound experience. The Arc sounds much larger than the cheaper Beam, which needs a $ 700 subwoofer to make it comparable in terms of sound.
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While we really like the Roku Smart Soundbar, the Roku Streambar does essentially the same job for $ 50 less. With a full integrated 4K HDR Roku streamer and a single voice remote controlling everything, this bar offers audio and video in one simple bar. Setup is a breeze; just add to a TV with a simple HDMI connection. Sound quality was acceptable for size and price, and you can add a $ 129 wireless subwoofer for more power. Read our review of Roku Streambar.
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If you are looking for a single bar that is even cheaper than the Sonos Arc, the Zvox SB500 is a great option for people who still value sound quality. This speaker offers several sound mode options, more compact bass and better sound than most other single speaker options. Although Sonos’ Wi-Fi streaming may be missing, the Zvox still includes Bluetooth connectivity for streaming audio from your phone or tablet. Read our review of the Zvox SB500.