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OVERVIEW
Most soundbars are compact and self-contained, so they may be placed in front of or below your television. The best speakers are those that can fill a room without the addition of surrounds or subwoofers. There are, however, frequently options to upgrade to a more complete surround system if necessary, or there are multi-box systems that link wirelessly, preventing trip hazards brought on by cords.
If you're wondering why a specific model—like isn't on our list—because it's we don't support it. You can be sure that we've assembled the finest of what's currently available because we frequently add new models to our buying guide and update our ratings to reflect new software releases
Last update on 2023-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API
How to select the optimal soundbar:
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Size
Before making a purchase, there are a few things to consider. Consider the measurements of your television to determine the size of your new soundbar. You don't want it to be dwarfed by the screen but pairing a big bar with a little TV may appear odd, like a tiny head resting on too broad shoulders. Examine the specifications and compare the width of the bar to that of your television. If you must set the soundbar in front of your TV, you don't want it to obscure half the screen, and upward-firing drivers require a clear line of sight to your ceiling to be effective.
Some soundbars have external subwoofers for additional low-end extension and back speakers for surround sound effects, while others are compatible with other speakers from the same manufacturer. If floor-shaking bass is a top priority for you, then you should investigate these models.
VIZIO 2.0 Home Theater is an outstanding, future-proofed, all-in-one performer with excellent integration
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Functionality and connection.
Numerous contemporary soundbars have ARC and eARC-enabled HDMI connections that support high bandwidth multichannel audio codecs as well as optical inputs for older televisions. If your TV supports ARC/eARC, you'll be able to adjust the volume of your soundbar using its remote. Consider whether having a separate physical remote for the soundbar is vital to you, or whether you're okay using a smartphone app to adjust settings.
SAMSUNG 2.1ch A550 delivers a refined sound and excellent Dolby Atmos interpretation
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Bluetooth connection and wifi streaming
Like as Airplay 2, Spotify Connect, and Chromecast are available on the vast majority of contemporary soundbars. Some additionally have microphones with voice assistant compatibility or capabilities. If you have external devices such as gaming consoles or a 4K Blu-ray player, look for HDMI passthrough connectors that might make your setup more versatile.
If you want to choose a soundbar that creates an immersive home theater experience, you should prioritize models that are compatible with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio. Some soundbars do this virtually through processing, while others have upward-firing speakers to create height effects. If you are interested in the latter, keep in mind that the outcome will be more effective if you have low ceilings to reflect the sound and that the top of the soundbar must be exposed and set away from the TV screen.
If you value high-quality 3D audio, you should ensure that both your TV and possible soundbar support Dolby TrueHD and eARC. The ARC standard can support Dolby Atmos, but only in its lossy Dolby Digital Plus version, whereas Dolby TrueHD can give full-fat, lossless Dolby Atmos in all its splendor.
Consider the stuff you'll be watching and the sources you'll be connecting. If you just use Freeview, many of these technologies will be superfluous. But if you're streaming services like Netflix, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video in 4K HDR, you'll want to extract the highest audio quality possible to ensure that your material sounds as amazing as it looks. Check out our article on how to choose and set up a soundbar for a comprehensive overview.
- Best soundbar under 800
- Best soundbar for watching movies
- Best soundbar under $1000 with dolby atmos
Each item on our list of the best soundbars under 600 has a list of available connectivity options next to it. Most soundbars can be connected to your TV by optical or HDMI cords, with HDMI often being preferable.
Finally, make sure that your TV's internal speakers are off in the audio settings so that you don't experience any strange audio fluttering, and choose the best locations for your speakers and subwoofer.
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