10 Best TV Soundbars

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.

The JBL Bar 1000 is a high-end soundbar designed to deliver a premium home theater experience. It features a robust 7.1.4 channel setup, which includes detachable surround speakers with up-firing drivers to create true Dolby Atmos and DTS:X 3D sound. This means you get immersive, room-filling audio that feels like you're right in the middle of the action. The detachable wireless surround speakers are a big plus, as they provide real surround sound without messy wires or complicated installation. The included 10-inch wireless subwoofer adds deep, powerful bass, enhancing movies and music with satisfying low tones.

With 880 watts of total power, this system is loud and clear enough to fill medium to large rooms easily. Connectivity options are solid, featuring wired, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and smart features like Alexa Multi-Room Music, AirPlay, and Chromecast built-in, allowing you to stream from a wide variety of sources effortlessly. The design is sleek and modern, with a compact footprint that fits well on a tabletop or mounted on a wall using the included brackets.

The system is quite heavy at nearly 19 kg, which could make setup tricky for some users. Also, the detachable surround speakers require AA batteries, which aren't rechargeable, so you'll need to keep spare batteries handy. Given its advanced surround setup and price point, this soundbar is better suited for those looking for a premium, immersive audio upgrade rather than casual listeners. If you want a wireless, powerful, and feature-packed soundbar that brings movie theater sound to your living room, the JBL Bar 1000 is a compelling choice.

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.