Any tv you purchase right now could have onboard audio system, however each single one could be improved with the addition of a great-sounding soundbar. With the proper mannequin, you get the advantages of a house theater system or AV receiver with out having to run messy wires or take up as a lot area. I’ve examined a whole lot of merchandise from big-name manufacturers over time that can assist you uncover the most effective soundbar to your wants. With Black Friday approaching there are many offers accessible on soundbars, and undoubtedly extra to return. From low cost and cheerful fashions to these filled with options like Dolby Atmos, Bluetooth, built-in streaming, multiroom audio and immersive encompass sound, listed here are my picks for the most effective soundbars of 2025.Best soundbar of 2025 Like
Immersive sound with DTS Virtual:X that emulates a encompass system
Versatile connectivity with 4 ports and Bluetooth compatibility
Powerful bass and expressive midrange with 2.1 channel audio
Four EQ presets for diverse listening
Don’t like
Subwoofer is small and never very articulate
Voice assistant connection not tremendous helpful and troublesome to function
Some sound distortion at louder volumes
What makes it stand out: The Vizio 2.1 Soundbar (SV210M) is a superb soundbar for the cash. This stereo soundbar includes a fashionable design with rounded edges and is paired with a wi-fi subwoofer that is so small it needs to be straightforward to discover a place for it. Despite its compact 30-inch width, the Vizio delivers room-filling sound — if I closed my eyes, I could not inform the place the speaker was, which is an achievement for a price range mannequin. For music and flicks, this soundbar is all that many individuals will want. The tiny sub can put out some damage when wanted, dealing with explosions with spectacular energy. It’s an absolute winner.Perfect for these listeners:The Vizio 2.1 is good for anybody with a restricted area and price range, because of its compact soundbar and wi-fi subwoofer for beneath $200. Music lovers will respect its pure and enjoyable contact with their favourite songs whereas nonetheless with the ability to hit deep bass notes. Movie dialogue positively sizzles, and sound impact copy is uncooked and untamed (in a great way). With impressively-performing listening modes for each music and flicks, the Vizio 2.1 Soundbar is all that many individuals will want.Consider alternate options if: If you have got an older TV with out HDMI connections, you may have to look elsewhere; the Vizio 2.1 lacks analog or optical connections. Home theater lovers in search of true Dolby Atmos results shall be disenchanted — whereas it could possibly learn Dolby Atmos and DTS indicators, it could possibly’t produce real top results. The soundbar additionally lacks a bodily distant management, offloading setting modifications to the Vizio Mobile app, which requires a Bluetooth connection first. Audiophiles preferring a “direct mode” for music listening ought to observe that the soundbar bounces pontificate your partitions, even when set to Music mode. Full Review.
Dolby Atmos NoConnections Bluetooth, optical, HDMI in/out, Wi-FiWireless subwoofer YesNumber of channels 2.1 Like
Excellent sound in a compact measurement with articulate, punchy subwoofer
Feature-packed, together with Amazon Alexa and 6 media-specific presets (music, TV, film, sports activities, gaming and stereo)
Onboard DTS Virtual:X for simulated encompass results
Easy setup and use with companion Yamaha Sound Bar Controller app and an intuitive, massive distant
Don’t like
Uses LED lights which might be troublesome to learn as an alternative of on-screen show
Surround sound is simply OK, with solely two channels of drivers
What makes it stand out: The Yamaha YAS-209 packs in all the pieces I anticipate from a midpriced soundbar: ease of use, highly effective output ranges and a capability to replay each films and music to a excessive normal. The soundbar gives an immersive expertise with films, because of DTS Virtual:X, and higher separation of devices and a broader stereo impact (in its Stereo mode) in comparison with rivals. The wi-fi subwoofer demonstrates higher articulation with music tracks, avoiding the bloated sound that some rivals can produce. As Yamaha’s first sensible speaker, it implements Amazon Alexa successfully — the microphones work properly even in loud environments, and it is capable of hear instructions with out shouting.Perfect for these listeners: The YAS-209 is good for these in search of a midrange soundbar with glorious efficiency for each films and music. Home theater lovers will respect the DTS Virtual:X for simulated encompass results from a single bar. Those who need connectivity choices will discover HDMI, optical digital and Bluetooth, plus Ethernet and Wi-Fi for Spotify Connect. It’s good for individuals who need the comfort of voice management, because it incorporates two microphones to be used with Amazon Alexa. The truth that you may ask Alexa for a music — and have it sound higher than just about any smaller sensible speaker — makes it significantly interesting for music lovers who’ve embraced sensible dwelling expertise.Consider alternate options if: If you are invested within the Apple or Google ecosystems you may be disenchanted, because the Yamaha solely works with Amazon Alexa. There’s additionally no AirPlay 2 or built-in Chromecast. The subwoofer is sort of massive at roughly 16 inches sq. and 7.5 inches huge, making it probably intrusive in smaller areas. Those preferring visible suggestions when adjusting settings could be pissed off by the dearth of a show, and the tiny LEDs on prime which might be too small to see from throughout the room. Finally, music purists would possibly observe that its Music mode provides reverb to vocals and fewer separation between devices than its Stereo mode, and it could possibly sound barely compressed throughout advanced musical passages. Full Review.
Like
Excellent sound with two midwoofers and two tweeters that function waveguide to focus excessive frequencies outward
Compact, engaging design that is available in two colours (black and white)
Simple connection and straightforward setup
Unmatched multiroom system for all-over sound
Don’t like
No HDMI connection
Lacks additional options like voice assistant or Dolby Atmos functionality
No designated distant management (should management with telephone or TV distant)
What makes it stand out: The Sonos Ray is the closest factor but to a Sonos One speaker in soundbar type, and that is excessive reward. Despite its compact 22-inch width and easy design, the Ray delivers sound that belies its bodily dimensions. The key to this efficiency lies in its proprietary tweeters with waveguides that focus excessive frequencies outwards, permitting it to supply a surprisingly huge soundstage. The vocals sound tremendous crisp, and each the highs and bass are full. It delivers a good, contained sound and gives respectable dialog copy. At $279, it is a part of the thrilling pattern towards reasonably priced audio gear that really sounds good. Perfect for these listeners: The Sonos Ray is good for individuals who primarily use their soundbar for music, because it performs significantly properly with this content material, typically even outshining the costlier Sonos Beam. The Ray makes an ideal complement to a bed room TV and would additionally work properly to improve a tv in a smaller front room. Those who need to begin constructing a Sonos multiroom system will discover the Ray a wonderful entry level, because it contains all of the streaming capabilities that make Sonos the gold normal of multiroom audio system. It options dozens of streaming providers and connections with Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect. People preferring simplicity will respect the simple optical connection and lack of pointless options.Consider alternate options if: The Sonos Ray is not for everybody, significantly these searching for essentially the most bang for his or her buck in pure dwelling theater efficiency. The Ray lacks HDMI connectivity, which appears an odd omission given that just about each new soundbar — even the $80 ones — now contains an HDMI port. While most TVs have an optical output, this connection limits the soundbar to Dolby Digital sound codecs. The Ray additionally does not embrace a voice assistant like Alexa or Google Assistant in-built (although you’ll be able to management it utilizing a separate sensible speaker). Those in search of highly effective bass results ought to contemplate alternate options with separate subwoofers, because the Ray sounds positively anemic in comparison with speaker programs. The Speech Enhancement function can be fairly refined in comparison with rivals, which provide quite a few ranges of voice enhancement and are simpler for making dialog extra comprehensible. Read our Sonos Ray overview.
Like
The Flexus Core 100 gives nice sound from a single bar
The soundbar is surprisingly loud and dynamic
It has no actual competitors to talk of
Don’t like
There aren’t any Atmos results regardless of being suitable
It comes with minimal options
Its three inch top may block TV’s IR port
What makes it stand out: Klipsch has made a few of the greatest soundbars accessible and, in its first collaboration with stablemate Onkyo, the corporate continues its dream run. At $350 (or $298 for walnut), the Flexus Core 100 has settled right into a intelligent area of interest between the Sonos Ray and Beam. It’s a wonderful single-bar system with loads of bass and extraordinary dynamics. If you need muscular sound in a single soundbar for beneath $400, the Core 100 is the place to get it.Perfect for these listeners: The Flexus Core 100 is compact and would go well with smaller areas, and whereas that is good for individuals who do not desire a soundbar, it is also good to have the choice. Even and not using a sub, the Flexus Core 100 supplied loads of bass slam and was loud sufficient for small to medium-sized rooms.Consider alternate options if: The Flexus Core soundbars come and not using a subwoofer, and including one tacks an additional $350 or extra onto your invoice. Also, whereas I like the 100, the bigger 200 does not impress as a lot for the additional outlay. If you are spending $350 on this single bar, you may contemplate the Sonos Ray or Beam — which additionally function multiroom music — or the superb Yamaha YAS-209, which comes with a sub, and is best for films. Read our Klipsch Flexus Core 100 overview.
Like
Great sound for films and music
One of essentially the most engaging soundbars accessible
Don’t like
Streaming ecosystem not as strong as Sonos
It not contains Google Assistant
What makes it stand out: Bose is an innovator in beam-forming sound, which may make results sound like they’re popping out of the corners of your room. The Smart Ultra has a few of the greatest immersion in any soundbar on the value. Its Dolby Atmos integration signifies that top results are additionally well-placed above you, and there is loads of kick from the onboard “subwoofers.”Perfect for these listeners: The Bose Smart Ultra is the most effective single soundbar I’ve examined for beneath $1,000, and it sounds nice whether or not you are listening to music or watching a film, and it isn’t half-bad wanting both. Consider alternate options if: There are loads of choices at $1,000, together with the Sonos Arc Ultra, which features a extra strong streaming ecosystem and is cheaper to improve with the addition of the Ikea Symfonisk as rears. Read our Bose Smart Ultra overview.
Dolby Atmos NoConnections Bluetooth, 3.5mm, optical, HDMI ARCWireless subwoofer Yes (wired)Number of channels 2.1 Like
Ultra-affordable choice
Tiny, industrial design that is user-friendly and excellent for small areas
Four ports, together with USB for MP3s and Bluetooth connectivity
Clear sound with accessible bass and treble changes
Don’t like
Lacks true low-bass and stereo separation
Limited sound projection and quantity resulting from smaller measurement
What makes it stand out: The Creative Stage delivers a compelling mixture of sound high quality and options at an ultra-affordable value. It contains each a separate subwoofer and an HDMI ARC enter, one thing that is unparalleled at this value. The system comes with a complete distant management, which incorporates 4 sound modes and impartial quantity management for the sub. The Creative’s separate sub actually helps deliver out the most effective in films and video video games, and whereas it will not be essentially the most articulate mannequin, it digs comparatively deep. When set to gaming mode, the Creative system was capable of sustain with gunfire, explosions and spatial cues with out folding into a tough ball of distortion.Perfect for these listeners: The Creative Stage is very well-suited for PC players who need to make each penny depend. It actually excels as a desktop or gaming system, creating a greater stereo picture at 3 toes versus a couch-based 6 toes. Its compact dimensions make it ideally suited for smaller areas and TVs for these on a good price range — its sound will trounce the built-in audio system of nearly any TV. The connectivity choices make it versatile for numerous setups: it contains Bluetooth wi-fi, an optical enter, HDMI ARC and even a USB port for taking part in MP3s from an exterior drive. People sharing partitions or flooring with neighbors will respect the flexibility to independently modify the subwoofer quantity for extra thoughtful listening.Consider alternate options if: Those searching for a main TV soundbar for common to massive dwelling rooms ought to look elsewhere, because the Stage does not play as loud as you may want in a front room atmosphere. Due to the bodily size restrictions of the cupboard, it gives little stereo separation when heard from a sofa — it is all vocals and principally mono at that distance. The subwoofer is tethered by an 8-foot cable that, whereas good for going beneath a desk, is not lengthy sufficient to be efficient when positioned alongside a sofa in a front room setup. Music lovers would possibly discover the Creative much less participating than rivals, and whereas it does properly with films and TV reveals in comparison with programs and not using a soundbar, it could possibly’t compete with its rivals’ capability to go a lot louder with out dropping management. Full Review.
Factors to contemplate when selecting a soundbarEveryone’s audio wants are completely different, so you should definitely contemplate your distinctive preferences, area and listening habits. Use this information to navigate the choices and discover the most effective soundbar for you. If you want somewhat additional assist, take a look at my full information to find out how to purchase a soundbar in 2025. FundsThe most necessary consideration when selecting a soundbar is understanding how a lot you’ll be able to spend, and I’ve discovered there are nice soundbars at each value, beginning at $100. If you are searching for extra premium, feature-packed fashions, be ready to spend so much extra — upwards of $3,000. I do have one rule of thumb: Once the value of a soundbar exceeds $500, it’s possible you’ll discover it extra worthwhile to save lots of for an AV receiver and audio system. If you are a film buff, contemplate splurging on options like Dolby Atmos to deliver the theater expertise dwelling. Music lovers will need to prioritize audio copy and multiroom or wi-fi streaming to fill their area with sound. Gamers ought to search for soundbars with devoted gaming presets that improve dialogue readability and directional audio cues.Room measurementConsider your room’s measurement and format. Smaller areas, like bedrooms and workplaces, could be overwhelmed by high-wattage soundbars with separate subwoofers. Single-bar programs are nice for smaller rooms and TVs, as their size permits for built-in stereo sound whereas nonetheless being compact. Larger rooms or dwelling theater setups will profit from extra strong soundbars with further audio system and subwoofers to supply that booming encompass sound.Also take into consideration the place you may place it — will it sit on an leisure console, be mounted on a wall or match beneath your TV? Be certain that your soundbar can bodily match within the desired area by checking the size and mounting capabilities. Audio format compatibilityMatch your soundbar’s audio format to the content material you get pleasure from most. Here are a couple of of crucial audio codecs and their use circumstances to contemplate when selecting a soundbar:Dolby Atmos for 3D soundscapes with top channels that create immersive experiences good for film buffsDTS:X for object-based audio that adapts to your particular speaker setup, ideally suited for dwelling theater enthusiastsPCM (Pulse Code Modulation) for uncompressed digital audio generally discovered on Blu-ray discs and gaming consolesDolby Digital 5.1 for conventional encompass sound with 5 audio system and a subwoofer, the usual for DVD content materialBluetooth audio codecs (AAC, aptX, LDAC) for wi-fi streaming with various ranges of high quality, important for music streaming from cell devicesCheck your TV’s connection choices (HDMI ARC/eARC, optical) to make sure compatibility with the soundbar you select.How CNET assessments soundbars At the AV lab in New York, I check soundbars towards quite a lot of reference tools. Ty Pendlebury/CNETCNET follows a rigorous, unbiased analysis course of for all of its soundbar testing. In the CNET AV lab, I do comparative testing, pitting related soundbars towards one another facet by facet.I consider the sound efficiency of every soundbar with a number of various kinds of content material, together with films, music, TV reveals and video games. I exploit a number of check scenes, primarily from motion films, together with the opening of Mad Max: Fury Road for playback of the spatial audio normal Dolby Atmos for soundbars that help it. I additionally use the Thanator assault scene of Avatar (26:53) to check a system’s dynamics and element retrieval. CNET’s devoted audio lab in downtown New York features a collection of current televisions (with HDMI eARC), plus an Apple TV 4K streamer and Roku Ultra streamer, a Microsoft Xbox Series X and an Oppo UDP-205 4K Blu-ray participant. I additionally use Roon music software program to stream to particular person units or the Oppo participant as wanted. From prime: Sony UXP-700 Blu-ray participant, AVPro 8×8 4K UHD Matrix Switch and Oppo BDP-203 Blu-ray participant. When it involves music, I exploit a number of CNET check tracks, which yow will discover right here in a Tidal or Spotify playlist. Tracks comparable to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ Red Right Hand, with its deep bass notes and tenor vocals, assist decide a system’s capability to trace male voices specifically, with out sounding congested. The music additionally helps with uncovering hidden particulars and the relative dynamics a speaker is able to. Using each kinds of content material — films and music — I then grade the sound high quality of every soundbar. I consider traits comparable to speech readability, dynamics/quantity, bass response and musical playback. Other soundbars we have examined Sonos Arc Ultra ($1,099): The high-end Sonos Arc Ultra has even higher bass than the earlier mannequin, and it is nice for music specifically. Yet it is not as expansive-sounding as earlier than and it prices greater than the unique, in addition to its most important rival: the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar. Read my overview of the Sonos Arc Ultra. JBL Bar 500 ($600): Alongside Klipsch, JBL has lengthy had a status for being a rock ‘n’ roll model with an enormous sound and even larger cupboards. During my assessments, the JBL Bar 500 fulfilled each elements of the transient by pairing glorious sound with one of many largest subwoofers I’ve ever seen with a soundbar. Yet, whereas it contains each HDMI and networked music streaming, the JBL is lacking Dolby Atmos top audio system — which is disappointing for the value. You can save your self some huge cash by getting the even bigger-sounding Klipsch Cinema 400 as an alternative. Polk Signa S3 ($300): If you are searching for a speaker that may do music in addition to play the most recent episode of The Last of Us, then the Polk Audio Signa S3 has so much to supply. It’s nice for accessing streaming providers, because it has Chromecast built-in along with Bluetooth and an HDMI enter. Read my Polk Signa S3 overview.Sony HT-S2000 ($298): Better in some methods than the competitors and worse in others, the Sony HT-S2000 boasts a greater bass response than the Sonos Beam. For its unique value of $500, it missed quite a lot of the options of its single-bar competitors, particularly Dolby Atmos compatibility and Wi-Fi streaming. It can now be discovered on sale for nearer to $300. See the way it stacks up towards the Sonos Beam in our Sony HT-S2000 Soundbar vs. Sonos Beam comparability. Zvox SB500 ($400): If you are searching for a single audio bar that is even cheaper than the Sonos Arc, the Zvox SB500 is a superb choice for individuals who nonetheless prize sound high quality. This speaker gives a number of sound mode choices, tighter bass and higher sound than most different single-speaker choices. While it might lack the Sonos’ Wi-Fi streaming, the Zvox nonetheless contains Bluetooth connectivity for streaming audio out of your telephone or pill. Read the Zvox SB500 overview. Sennheiser Ambeo Max ($3,000): The Sennheiser Ambeo is the most effective encompass expertise I’ve had from a single speaker. Without rears, the Sennheiser could make voices hover excessive of your head, even when it nonetheless cannot persuade you that issues are behind you. Soundbar FAQ HDMI vs. optical: Which connections do I need? Depending on the age of your TV, there are two most important methods to output to a soundbar: Digital optical and HDMI. Both HDMI and optical cross digital audio out of your TV to your soundbar. Both are higher than analog (the purple and white cables, or RCA). Both can cross multichannel audio, like Dolby Digital. Both cables could be had fairly low cost.The greatest distinction is that HDMI can cross higher-resolution audio, together with the codecs discovered on streaming providers comparable to Dolby Atmos and DTS HD Master Audio. These codecs cannot be transmitted throughout optical.The backside line? Use HDMI when you’ll be able to. The cables are low cost, and having only one wire simplifies setup. If you’ll be able to’t, optical is okay. If your TV or soundbar does not have HDMI, it could possibly’t make the most of the high-resolution audio codecs from streaming providers anyway. On the opposite hand, Dolby Digital is surprisingly good, and except you have got respectable gear, you in all probability will not hear a lot (if any) enchancment with Dolby Atmos and DTS HD MA.Before you purchase a soundbar, make sure that it accepts the identical connections that exist in your TV. The most typical enter on soundbars is now HDMI-ARC, and in case your TV is lower than 5 years outdated, it needs to be suitable, but it surely’s value double-checking. Do I want Bluetooth or Wi-Fi on my soundbar? If you propose on taking part in music via your soundbar, wi-fi streaming via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is a must have. Wireless streaming permits you to play music from a mess of sources — like Spotify in your telephone, or iTunes in your laptop — through your soundbar. Higher-end soundbars normally have each Wi-Fi and Bluetooth streaming, however most price range and mid-range choices have one or the opposite.Bluetooth is the simplest solution to wirelessly stream audio to your soundbar. It works with the music saved in your machine and any music app, plus it is platform-agnostic — nearly all iOS, Android and Windows telephones and tablets have built-in Bluetooth. Likewise, nearly each soundbar in the marketplace options Bluetooth, and if it does not you should buy an adapter like these made by Belkin or Logitech. Still, Wi-Fi gives a number of upgrades to Bluetooth together with the flexibility to pay attention in a number of rooms and even management it with Google Assistant or Alexa. Wi-Fi streaming typically sounds higher, too, as its larger bandwidth permits for uncompressed audio (in contrast to Bluetooth). That stated, most individuals will not discover a distinction in most conditions.So, in case you prioritize comfort and fast connections from a number of units, Bluetooth works properly. But if sound high quality is your main concern, Wi-Fi streaming is usually superior. Do I want separate audio system with my soundbar? If you are searching for the best doable resolution to enhancing TV sound, a stand-alone soundbar is the proper place to start out. If you are critical about sound high quality although, including separate audio system to your soundbar is the easiest way to go. You can combine and match in accordance with your wants, and it is simpler to improve as soon as new codecs are available — you will not want to switch all the pieces if you wish to add 8K video functionality, for instance. Many retailers provide a soundbar-subwoofer bundle to jumpstart your speaker setup. If you are not able to improve to a full speaker system simply but, search for a soundbar with a number of HDMI ports. That manner you’ll be able to join further audio system to the soundbar once you’re prepared.We have a full piece designed that can assist you decide between a soundbar and speaker system, in case you want a bit extra assist. Whichever choice you select, you’ll by no means have the ability to return to tinny, little TV audio system ever once more.