10 Best TV Soundbars

The Sonos Arc Ultra is a premium soundbar designed to deliver an immersive 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos surround sound experience, creating rich, multi-dimensional audio that fills the room. Its advanced Sound Motion technology precisely places sounds around you, making movies and music more engaging. A standout feature is the AI-powered Speech Enhancement that clarifies dialogue, ensuring you won’t miss important words during shows or movies. The design is sleek and unobtrusive, fitting well in most living rooms without drawing attention away from your TV.

In terms of connectivity, it includes Bluetooth, WiFi, Apple AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect, providing flexibility for streaming music or connecting to your TV via a single HDMI eARC cable. Setup is straightforward with the Sonos app offering step-by-step guidance, and the Trueplay feature allows you to fine-tune sound based on your room’s acoustics. Smart controls are robust, enabling use of your TV remote, touch controls on the soundbar, Sonos Voice Control, and Amazon Alexa for easy adjustments. Although it doesn’t have a built-in subwoofer, you can add a Sonos Sub and rear speakers to enhance bass and create a complete surround sound system.

The Arc Ultra is fairly large and weighs over 12 pounds, which may be a consideration if space is limited or a smaller setup is preferred. It also carries a higher price point compared to more basic soundbars, making it ideal for those seeking a top-tier audio experience and willing to invest accordingly. For a powerful, feature-rich soundbar with excellent sound quality and smart features, especially for Dolby Atmos content, this model is a compelling choice.

The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus is a solid choice for anyone looking to upgrade their TV sound without complicated setup. It features a 3.1 channel configuration, which means you get three speakers plus a built-in subwoofer for decent bass, making it better than basic stereo soundbars. Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support add a sense of depth and surround sound, helping sounds feel more immersive, especially in movies and sports. One standout feature is the dedicated center channel that makes dialogue clearer, so you won’t miss what characters are saying even during loud scenes.

Connectivity is straightforward, with HDMI eARC/ARC for easy syncing with most TVs, plus Bluetooth for streaming music from your phone. It also includes multiple sound modes like Movie, Music, Sports, and Night to optimize audio depending on what you’re watching or listening to. The design is compact and stylish, measuring about 94 cm wide, which fits well under most TVs without taking up much space. The soundbar is Fire TV ready, allowing you to control both your TV and soundbar with a single remote, simplifying use if you have compatible devices.

A downside is that while the built-in subwoofer provides decent bass, it may not satisfy those who want deep, powerful low-end tones — a separate subwoofer might be preferred in that case. Also, the 3.1 channel setup is good but not as immersive as larger surround sound systems with more speakers. This soundbar suits users who want a neat, easy-to-install upgrade with clear dialogue and enhanced audio for everyday TV watching and casual music streaming, especially if they already use Fire TV devices.

The JBL Bar 1300X is a powerful 11.1.4-channel soundbar designed to deliver an immersive home theater experience. It stands out with real Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support combined with JBL's MultiBeam technology, creating detailed 3D surround sound. The detachable wireless surround speakers are a major convenience, allowing you to enjoy true surround sound without extra cables. Its 1170-watt output power ensures loud and clear audio that fills a room well. The 10-inch wireless subwoofer adds deep, precise bass, enhancing movies and music alike.

Connectivity is modern and versatile, featuring built-in Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Chromecast, and Alexa multi-room support, letting you stream from over 300 services easily. HDMI eARC support with 4K Dolby Vision passthrough means it integrates smoothly with high-end TVs, maintaining video quality.

The soundbar’s design is sleek but quite large and weighs around 59 pounds, which might be a consideration if space or mounting options are limited. It comes with a universal remote and supports easy sound calibration through the JBL One app, which helps optimize audio in your room. The PureVoice technology improves dialogue clarity, making it easier to hear voices over action scenes. While the JBL Bar 1300X isn’t waterproof and requires a power outlet, it covers all the bases for anyone wanting a high-end, wireless surround sound setup with smart features. It’s especially suitable for users who want a powerful, immersive sound system with flexible placement and seamless streaming options, but those with smaller rooms or tighter budgets might find it bulky or expensive.