14 Best Soundbars We’ve Tested and Reviewed (2025): Sonos, Sony, Bose

14 Best Soundbars We’ve Tested and Reviewed (2025): Sonos, Sony, Bose Leave a comment

There are a variety of nice soundbars on the market, and we don’t have room to characteristic all of them. Listed below are some others you would possibly wish to contemplate.

LG’s S95TR for $1,000-1,300: LG’s 9.1.5-channel soundbar (8/10, WIRED Recommends) does not carry out in addition to Samsung’s flagship Q990 collection, however it might be a better option for these with newer LG TVs just like the C4, which might join wirelessly and use its audio system in tandem with the bar for extra immersion. It additionally helps gaming options like 120-Hz pass-through, however solely consists of one spare enter.

Vizio 2.1 Soundbar (SV210M) for $170: Vizio’s curvy little combo brings engaging worth, with strong sound high quality and a few cinematic punch from the teensiest subwoofer you’ll ever see. There’s no optical enter or distant included, however the Vizio app makes adjusting settings or swapping to Bluetooth easy sufficient. The principle disadvantage is that dialog typically (however not all the time) will get misplaced, decreasing the principle draw of an inexpensive soundbar. That stated, good musical chops and options like DTS Digital X enlargement make it price contemplating on sale.

Samsung HW-Q800C for $598: If Samsung’s HW-Q990C every part bar is simply too wealthy to your blood, the two-piece HW-Q800C (WIRED Recommends, 8/10) might be an excellent compromise. This bar affords an identical sound signature as Samsung’s flagship bars most of the identical options, packed right into a smaller bar-and-subwoofer combo for a notable low cost–particularly because it’s now virtually all the time on sale.

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini for $700: This pint-sized luxurious bar is nice for these with cash to burn in very small areas. Sennheiser’s built-in Ambeo virtualization know-how brilliantly throws sound throughout you for exhilarating TV and films, and affords superior options like help for Google Assistant and Alexa.

Sony HT-X8500 for $300: Sony’s HT-X8500 is getting more durable to seek out, however it’s nonetheless one in every of our favourite choices for these after a single bar with strong bass response and expansive sound, together with first rate Dolby Atmos virtualization. Whereas it is pricier than our prime bar, it is an excellent different for these after a bit extra, and value contemplating whereas it is nonetheless accessible.

Roku Streambar for $130: For those who’re after a soundbar that doubles as an excellent streaming machine, WIRED reviewer Adrienne So swears by the Roku Streambar. After she spent years with out one she was so impressed that she shouted it from the rooftops. Setup is straightforward, and since it consists of Roku’s easy streaming interface you’ll be able to stream films and reveals at as much as 4K HDR from nearly each streaming service. You too can add a Roku subwoofer or surround-sound audio system down the road. We encourage getting a sub.

Vizio Elevate M-Collection for $500: If you’d like full-featured Dolby Atmos and you want a little bit of aptitude, Vizio’s second Elevate bar is price contemplating. Drivers come out of the aspect and purpose towards your ceiling when Atmos content material is enjoying, giving it a nifty occasion trick to point out your friends. Sound high quality is strong too, and we just like the compact design and simple setup. Nevertheless, you’ll have to route some speaker cables for the rear surrounds.

The Yamaha SR-C30A for $276: This mannequin SR-C30A soundbar appears to be like very comparable certainly to the SR-C20A, and that’s as a result of they’re the identical factor the place dimensions, specification, and sound high quality are all involved. The distinction is that the SR-C30A ships with a compact (335 x 160 x 364mm) wi-fi subwoofer for some genuine Hollywood-style rumble and punch. —Simon Lucas

Sennheiser Ambeo Plus for $1,200: Given the value and the bodily dimensions of the soundbar—which does not even embody a subwoofer—the Ambeo Plus would possibly appear to be a poor deal. However because of its 400 watts of energy and its 9 fastidiously developed and much more fastidiously positioned speaker drivers, this Sennheiser is able to large, enveloping sound with a robust suggestion of the sonic top that Dolby Atmos soundtracks thrive on. By the use of an encore, it seems to be a massively succesful wi-fi speaker once you wish to hearken to some music, too. —Simon Lucas

The Polk React for $269: This soundbar works if you wish to get {surround} sound ultimately however don’t have the money proper now. The Alexa-enabled soundbar is ok by itself, with {surround} audio system and subwoofers accessible from Polk if you wish to improve.

The Vizio Elevate P-Collection for $700: That is an awesome-looking soundbar with aspect audio system that swivel skyward once you’re watching content material with object-based audio. It’s a nice-sounding bar, and that gimmick is neat, however there are higher choices for underneath $1,000.

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