A soundbar is a long, thin speaker designed to sit just in front of or below your television, to provide much bigger, clearer and more immersive sound than a TV alone can manage. Today’s flat and thin TVs don’t have much space for powerful speakers, so their sound is often thin and unsatisfying. Adding a soundbar can just make people’s voices clearer – or it can create a home theater experience.
Soundbars come in different sizes, with different levels of features, aimed at different budgets. You can get small ones suitable for TVs of 32 inches that just add louder, clearer sound, for example. You can get mid-sized ones that start from being cheap and simple, but will range up to options with virtual surround sound. And you can get big soundbars suitable for TVs of 55 inches and up that deliver a huge audio upgrade, usually with Dolby Atmos 3D sound.
Pretty much all soundbars either connect over HDMI ARC to a compatible HDMI port on your TV, or over an optical digital connection. HDMI ARC means you can control them from your TV’s remote with no extra steps, so is usually the preferred option – and it’s the only way to get Dolby Atmos. Some soundbars come with subwoofers for better bass, or even rear speakers to deliver a true surround-sound experience.
Latest about Soundbars
I love these cheap Hisense and Sony soundbars, but which one’s better?
Both the Hisense HS214 and Sony HT-SF150 offer excellent value, but only one can win this battle between two audiovisual giants.
I'm amazed by the Bose Smart Soundbar’s features for the money, and am also impressed with its Dolby Atmos sound
The Bose Smart Soundbar is packed to the brim with features. It sounds pretty good too, though it’s not cheap.
This super-cheap Sony soundbar is one of the best budget options I’ve ever tested
The Sony HT-SF150 soundbar delivers enhanced dialogue and width at an enticing price.
I tested Amazon’s Fire TV Soundbar Plus system, and it’s wireless 5.1 surround sound without the expense or fuss
The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus is easy to set up and use. Its price is affordable, but a bit higher than expected.
Sonos may have finally fixed its app’s biggest remaining problem
The latest fix to the Sonos smartphone app appears to have solved a particularly irritating issue.
I spent a month testing the 11.4.6-channel Nakamichi Dragon, and it’s a Dolby Atmos soundbar on steroids
Nakamichi’s pricey Dragon is an 11.4.6-channel beast that's more like a full home theater system than a soundbar.
I heard Philips' super-small new Dolby Atmos soundbar, and the sound is way bigger than I imagined
Minimal soundbar, maximal sound.
The best Dolby Atmos soundbars 2025
Updated Our picks of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, for small or large TVs, and a range of budgets.
