The Best Soundbars To Boost Your Tv Audio In 2025

Table of contents

• The post-CES soundbar outlook for 2025

• Best soundbars for 2025

• What to look for successful a soundbar

• Other soundbars we tested

• Best soundbar FAQs

The post-CES soundbar outlook for 2025

I typically travel retired of CES pinch a beautiful clear knowing of nan caller soundbars that are coming for nan year, but that wasn’t precisely nan lawsuit successful 2025. LG decided to transportation complete its astir premium soundbars from 2024, but it will adhd nan compact S20A this year. The institution only previewed nan exemplary astatine CES, truthful afloat specs are still forthcoming.

Samsung will erstwhile again support nan aforesaid wide creation and features for its top-end Q990 soundbar. However, nan institution is adding a fewer caller devices and it drastically reduced nan size of nan wireless subwoofer that comes successful nan box. Samsung does person 1 caller exemplary for 2025, the QS700F, that’s designed to beryllium connected a array aliases automatically set to being mounted level connected a wall. Details are scarce connected that soundbar for now and I expect a afloat spec expanse erstwhile nan institution is really to waste it.

Of nan large 3 TV companies, Sony is nan only 1 that didn’t denote immoderate location theatre cogwheel astatine CES. The institution has decided to attraction chiefly connected its automotive efforts astatine nan show recently, leaving TV and audio announcements for later successful nan year. The institution debuted multiple soundbar options successful 2024 and a four-speaker setup for nan surviving room successful nan Bravia Quad. That said, it wouldn’t astonishment maine if Sony released caller soundbars later successful nan twelvemonth since its astir caller models were only announced past April.

One institution I would support an oculus connected is Sennheiser. The original Ambeo model is astir six years aged and could usage a refresh. The institution has added medium and mini options to nan Ambeo lineup since then, but it would beryllium bully to spot a refined type of nan largest exemplary too. The original Ambeo soundbar is huge, truthful nary matter really bully it sounds, it will ever beryllium a reliable waste for immoderate people.

Although I deliberation it’s little likely, it’s besides imaginable that Sonos has caller soundbars this year. While nan company’s adjacent instrumentality will apt beryllium nan rumored set-top streaming box, nan Sound Motion tech wrong the Arc Ultra would connection a large betterment to bass capacity successful compact models for illustration nan Beam and Ray. The institution whitethorn bring Sound Motion to standalone speakers first, but it’s destined for those smaller soundbars eventually.

The champion soundbars for 2025

What to look for successful a soundbar

Features

When it comes to features, nan much you salary nan much you're going to get successful your caller audio system. Most affordable options ($150 aliases less) will amended your television's audio quality, but that's astir it. Step into nan $300 to $400 scope and you'll find all-in-one soundbars pinch things for illustration built-in sound control, wireless connectivity, Google Chromecast, AirPlay 2 and moreover Android TV. They're each adjuvant erstwhile you want to debar looking for nan distant control, but nan champion playback value is usually only successful nan apical tier and nan formats those premium soundbar systems support. I’m talking astir things for illustration Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and different high-resolution audio standards — essentials if you’re building a genuinely cinematic location intermezo setup. And not each Atmos soundbars are equal, truthful you'll request to look astatine nan finer specifications cautiously earlier you break into nan savings account. If you're looking for 1 of nan champion Dolby Atmos soundbars, size, channels and subwoofer options will beryllium important factors to consider. Some models moreover see a dedicated subwoofer to heighten bass performance, bringing an other punch to action scenes and soundtracks.

Ports

This is simply a large one. A batch of nan much affordable soundbars are constricted erstwhile it comes to connectivity options. They either connection an optical larboard aliases 1 HDMI jack and, if you're lucky, both. Things get somewhat amended successful nan mid-range section, but that's not ever nan case. The Sonos Beam, for example, is $449, but only has a azygous HDMI port. Even astatine nan higher-end, nan $899 Sonos Arc still only has 1 HDMI port. If you scheme to link aggregate devices for illustration a set-top box, gaming laptop aliases console straight to your soundbar for nan champion audio experience, you’ll want an action pinch astatine slightest 2 HDMI (eARC) inputs. HDMI connections are captious for supporting Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital audio formats, arsenic good arsenic high-res passthrough for HDR and 8K/4K content.

Channels

Another large point you’ll want to salary attraction to erstwhile looking for nan champion soundbar is channels. That’s nan 2.1, 7.1.2 aliases different decimal number that companies see successful merchandise descriptions. The first fig corresponds to nan number of channels. A 2 would conscionable beryllium near and correct while a much robust Atmos system, particularly 1 pinch rear situation speakers, could beryllium 5 aliases 7 (left, right, halfway and upward). The 2nd number refers to nan dedicated subwoofer, truthful if your caller soundbar comes pinch 1 aliases has them built in, you’ll spot 1 here. The 3rd numeral is up-firing speakers, important for nan immersive effect of Dolby Atmos. Not each Atmos-enabled units person them, but if they do, nan 3rd number will show you really galore are successful play and really they lend to nan wide soundstage.

Wireless

Most soundbars these days connection either Bluetooth, Wi-Fi aliases both. When it comes to Wi-Fi, that connectivity affords you luxuries for illustration sound power (either built-in aliases pinch a abstracted device), Chromecast, Spotify Connect and AirPlay 2. Depending connected your preferences, you mightiness beryllium capable to unrecorded without immoderate of these. For me, AirPlay 2 and Chromecast are essentials, but nan remainder I tin unrecorded without. Those 2 springiness maine nan expertise to beam euphony and podcasts from my go-to apps without having to settee for — aliases struggle pinch — a Bluetooth connection. For instance, Sonos speakers often connection seamless integration pinch iOS devices, making it easy to link and watercourse euphony wirelessly. If you’re looking for a wireless speaker that tin heighten your TV setup while besides offering elasticity for audio passim nan house, it's worthy considering a multi-room system.

Size

This 1 mightiness look evident but joke maine for a minute. Nothing is much soul-crushing than getting a pricey soundbar successful your surviving room only to observe you person to rearrange everything to find a spot for it. This was my plight erstwhile the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar arrived astatine my door. Yes, that speaker is absurdly ample (and heavy), and astir soundbars aren't astir arsenic big. I learned a valuable lesson: Make judge nan abstraction wherever you want to put a soundbar will accommodate nan point you're astir to walk hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars on.

Basically, it each comes down to nan TV you person (or are readying to get) and what nan superior extremity is for your living-room audio. Is it easiness of use? Do you want nan champion imaginable sound from a azygous speaker aliases speaker/sub combo? Do you conscionable want to beryllium capable to really perceive your TV better? Or do you want a afloat location intermezo acquisition pinch crisp vocals, thunderous heavy bass, and immersive situation strategy audio?

By paying attraction to each of those areas, you should person a bully thought of what to look for successful a soundbar, soundbar/subwoofer combo, Dolby Digital strategy aliases a much robust setup. With that said, we've put galore products done their paces astatine Engadget and person a fewer favorites for champion soundbar astatine various value points to get you started.

Other soundbars we tested

Sonos Arc

There’s nary uncertainty that the Arc is Sonos’ best-sounding soundbar, but it’s besides nan company’s astir expensive. With a caller exemplary based connected nan Arc rumored to beryllium connected nan way, it’s difficult to urge this merchandise complete nan likes of Samsung and Sony. The Arc useful good arsenic some a soundbar and a speaker, and nan instrumentality will fresh successful nicely pinch different Sonos cogwheel you mightiness already person for a multiroom setup. It only has 1 HDMI larboard though, wherever overmuch of nan title allows you to link streaming and gaming devices straight to their soundbars.

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus

I don’t deliberation Sennheiser’s medium-sized model offers capable to guidelines retired from nan much powerful Ambeo Soundbar Max aliases nan Ambeo Soundbar Mini. The Mini is much affordable and does a coagulated occupation pinch immersive audio successful its ain right. Like nan remainder of nan Ambeo lineup, there’s nary action for outer speakers arsenic you tin only adhd a subwoofer to nan soundbars. However, nan Ambeo Soundbar Plus does person RCA input, truthful you tin usage it pinch a turntable if you’re into vinyl.

Best soundbar FAQs

Is a soundbar amended than speakers?

It really depends connected what you’re after. A soundbar is decidedly a simpler, much compact solution compared to a afloat speaker setup. If you want amended sound than your TV’s built-in setup but don’t want to woody pinch aggregate speakers and wires everywhere, a soundbar is astir apt nan measurement to go. Some soundbars tin moreover present awesome situation sound effects, acknowledgment to features for illustration Dolby Atmos and virtual audio technology.

However, if you’re an audiophile aliases want existent situation sound for an at-home theatre experience, a multi-speaker setup pinch a receiver, situation speakers and subwoofer will springiness you a richer soundstage and much power complete your experience.

What relationship do I request for a soundbar?

Most modern soundbars link to your TV via HDMI ARC aliases eARC, which is nan easiest and champion action for achieving high-quality audio. If your TV supports this, each you request is an HDMI cable, and you’ll get not only awesome sound but besides immoderate other features for illustration controlling nan soundbar pinch your TV remote.

If HDMI ARC isn’t an action connected your TV, you tin usage an optical cable, which besides delivers coagulated audio quality. Some soundbars moreover connection Bluetooth aliases Wi-Fi connections for streaming music, and a fewer still person a 3.5mm aux jack for connecting to older devices.

Do each soundbars travel pinch subwoofers?

Not each soundbars travel pinch subwoofers, but galore do aliases astatine slightest connection 1 arsenic an optional add-on that you tin acquisition separately. A subwoofer is what gives you that deep, booming bass, truthful if you for illustration action movies aliases want a fuller sound for music, having 1 tin make a large difference. Some soundbars person a built-in subwoofer, but these mostly don’t supply nan aforesaid punch arsenic a abstracted one.