Finest Soundbars for 2023 – CNET

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Most TVs go away lots to be desired when it comes to audio high quality, and all will be improved with a soundbar improve. Even the finest TVs with spectacular footage usually include subpar audio system, which is why it is value investing in a separate devoted speaker on your TV. Soundbars are a way more reasonably priced various to house theater audio system and AV receivers, whereas nonetheless offering highly effective and immersive audio, and so they’ll take up lots much less room in your home as nicely. That can assist you discover one of the best one on your wants, we have rounded up one of the best soundbars of 2023.

For those who’re trying to spend the least sum of money to get good sound, then each the Inventive Stage and the Roku Streambar provide glorious values. For those who’re a film lover, then a soundbar with a wi-fi subwoofer, such because the Vizio V21, will show you how to get essentially the most out of motion movies. Taking this one step additional, the Vizio M512a-H6 with Dolby Atmos help is a wonderful purchase and the most suitable choice for spatial audio on a funds. But when, however, you need one of the best that cash should buy, then the Sennheiser Ambeo will provide you with one of the best sound we have ever heard in a soundbar.

For those who’re on the hunt for one of the best soundbar 2023 has to supply, we have rounded up some glorious audio system ranging from $100. This record is up to date periodically as we check new fashions.

Finest soundbars in 2023

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Easily supplanting our previous favorite, the JBL Bar 2.1 Deep Bass, the Klipsch Cinema 400 adds great design and an even bigger wireless subwoofer. Sound quality is still king, though, with a real sense of dynamics and excellent music replay. If you want to make your TV the next best thing to a movie theater, this is one of the most affordable ways to do it.

Key features

Number of channels: 2.1
Wireless subwoofer: Yes
Connections: Bluetooth, 3.5mm, optical, HDMI, USB, subwoofer out
Dolby Atmos: No

Read our Klipsch Cinema 400 review.

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If you’re looking to ditch your TV speaker, this is where we suggest you start. The subwoofer may be smaller than usual for the brand, but this audio bar still sounds great, as well as offering HDMI connectivity with ARC and a much easier-to-understand input display. The Vizio V-Series 2.1 is the best soundbar value we have tested in the last few years.

Key features

Number of channels: 2.1
Wireless subwoofer: Yes
Connections: Bluetooth, optical, HDMI, USB
Dolby Atmos: No

Read our Vizio V21 review.

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For less than a C-note, the Creative Stage soundbar offers a bunch of previously unheard-of features, including HDMI connectivity with an HDMI ARC port and a subwoofer. But what’s even more remarkable is that this affordable soundbar sounds better than most of its ultrabudget competition; its wired subwoofer fills the room with great bass. It has a variety of audio modes, making this soundbar speaker especially suited to music, concerts and gaming. Excellent sound quality for gamers and movie fans alike.

Key features

Number of channels: 2.1
Wireless subwoofer: Yes (wired)
Connections: Bluetooth, 3.5mm, optical, HDMI (ARC)
Dolby Atmos: No

Read our Creative Stage review.

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Sonos

Sonos’ new entry-level soundbar offers a lot for the money including the company’s excellent multiroom music system onboard. A two-channel soundbar with Dolby Digital decoding, the Ray is roughly two-thirds the size of the Sonos Beam, yet it delivers a surprisingly wide soundstage.

While it doesn’t support Dolby Atmos surround sound or have an HDMI port to connect to your TV (you connect it to your TV with an included optical cable), we were impressed with the sound quality for music and movies. You can pair it with a couple of other Sonos speakers like the Ikea Symfonisk, or even the new Sonos Sub Mini, to create a surround sound system.

Key features:

Number of channels: 2
Wireless subwoofer: No
Connections: Wi-Fi, optical
Dolby Atmos: No

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A true step up from the preceding soundbars, the Vizio M512a-H6 is the most cost-effective way to get true Dolby Atmos playback. This surround system includes the main soundbar with up-firing height speakers built in, a 6-inch subwoofer and two wired rear speakers. That’s a lot of parts, but they were easy to set up and we were impressed with the overall build quality. Most importantly, it offers excellent performance with movies, including real Atmos effects we could hear, as well as music. The M512a-H6s lacks Chromecast and AirPlay streaming, but still earns our hearty recommendation both for home cinema fans and for people looking to listen to their favorite album (whether in Atmos or not).

Key features

Number of channels: 5.1.2
Wireless subwoofer: Yes
Connections: Bluetooth, 2 x 3.5mm, optical, HDMI in/out, USB
Dolby Atmos: Yes

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If you simply must have the least number of boxes and remotes in your living space and yet demand the best Atmos quality sound performance you can get, this Sennheiser speaker is your baby. It’s a single unit, without a subwoofer, but it’s able to conjure up the most realistic overhead and true surround-sound effects we’ve ever heard. It’s also controlled entirely via remote control. It’s not a cheap piece of sound equipment but it’s comparable in price to a full set of surround speakers without the bulk and with 85% of the great sound and performance. It’s now been joined by the cheaper Ambeo Soundbar Plus.

Key features

Number of channels: 5.1.4
Wireless subwoofer: No
Connections: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm, RCA, HDMI (ARC), Subwoofer out
Dolby Atmos: Yes

Read our Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar review.

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If you’re interested in setting up a multiroom sound system, a Sonos soundbar system is still the best option. The Sonos Arc is the company’s best soundbar and includes Dolby Atmos playback, a class-leading music ecosystem and Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa built into the bar itself. The soundbar system sounds good with music and movies, and adding a pair of Ikea Symphonisk bookshelves should really boost your home theater sound experience. The Arc sounds a lot bigger than the cheaper Beam TV sound, which needs the $700 subwoofer on top to make it comparable in terms of sound.

Key features

Number of channels: 3.0.2
Wireless subwoofer: No
Connections: HDMI, Wi-Fi
Dolby Atmos: Yes

Read our Sonos Arc review.

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The Yamaha YAS-209 offers excellent sound quality in a compact soundbar. Built-in Amazon Alexa voice control is useful, allowing this smart soundbar to stream music, and the mics work well in loud environments. The soundbar’s implementation of DTS Virtual:X virtual surround sound offers a rich effect reminiscent of surround speaker sound. Two HDMI connections are included, one with HDMI ARC. This smart soundbar’s wireless subwoofer is more articulate and offers more headroom than the competing, and also excellent, Polk Command Bar. However, the Yamaha soundbar YAS-209 doesn’t use the company’s MusicCast system, so it won’t sync up with other Yamaha speakers.

Key features

Number of channels: 2.1
Wireless subwoofer: Yes
Connections: Bluetooth, optical, HDMI in/out, Wi-Fi
Dolby Atmos: No

Read our Yamaha YAS-209 review.

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The Vizio Elevate’s main draw may be its motorized-height speakers, but once you get over their novelty you’ll find that the speaker system also sounds great. The separate sub and height-enabled rear speakers really help pull this Vizio soundbar ahead of the Sonos Arc sonically. With Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Chromecast built in, multiple HDMI inputs and Bluetooth, the only thing the Vizio doesn’t provide is Apple AirPlay support.

Key features

Number of channels: 5.1.4
Wireless subwoofer: Yes
Connections: Bluetooth, Wi-fi, 2x 3.5mm, optical, 2x HDMI in/1x HDMI out, USB
Dolby Atmos: Yes

Read our Vizio Elevate P514A-H6 review.

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While we really like the Roku Streambar Pro, the Roku Streambar does essentially the same job for $50 less. With a full-fledged 4K HDR Roku streamer built in and a single voice remote controlling everything, this bar gives you audio and video in one simple bar. The Roku soundbar setup is a breeze; just add to a TV with a simple HDMI port connection. This affordable soundbar has sound quality that’s acceptable for the size and price, and you can add a $129 wireless subwoofer for more punch.

Key features

Number of channels: 2
Wireless subwoofer: No
Connections: Bluetooth, optical, HDMI, USB
Dolby Atmos: No

Read our Roku Streambar review.

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Also tested

Polk Signa S3 ($299): For those who’re on the lookout for a speaker that may do music in addition to play the newest episode of Ted Lasso, then the Polk Audio Signa S3 has lots to supply. It is nice for streaming, because it has Chromecast inbuilt along with Bluetooth and an HDMI enter. Learn CNET’s evaluation of the Polk Signa S3.
Zvox SB500 ($400): For those who’re on the lookout for a single audio bar that is even cheaper than the Sonos Arc, the Zvox SB500 is a good possibility for individuals who nonetheless prize sound high quality. This speaker presents a number of sound mode choices, tighter bass and higher sound than most different single-speaker choices. Whereas it could lack the Sonos’ Wi-Fi streaming, the Zvox nonetheless contains Bluetooth connectivity for streaming audio out of your telephone or pill. Learn CNET’s evaluation of the Zvox SB500.

How does CNET check soundbars?

CNET follows a rigorous, unbiased analysis course of for all of our soundbar testing. We check soundbars starting from easy stereo audio system during to Dolby Atmos programs. Our audio lab features a Samsung QLED tv (with HDMI eARC), an Apple TV 4K streamer, a Microsoft Xbox Sequence X and an Oppo UDP-205 4K Blu-ray participant. Related soundbars are in contrast aspect by aspect with totally different content material, together with motion pictures, music, TV reveals and video games. We grade the sound high quality of every by evaluating speech readability, dynamics, bass response and musical playback.

Soundbar FAQs

Why do I would like a soundbar?

In contrast with the sound that comes out of your TV, soundbars are essentially the most economical manner to enhance sound high quality. TV audio system face downward so a number of element is misplaced, and a devoted soundbar could make speech extra comprehensible. Spending as little as $100 on a soundbar can enhance your TV-watching expertise tenfold.

How do I select a soundbar?

Crucial consideration when selecting a soundbar is how a lot you wish to spend. There are nice soundbars at each value stage, from $100 and up, although should you’re paying over $500 it could be extra worthwhile to save lots of for an AV receiver and audio system. Single-bar programs are nice for smaller TVs whereas a soundbar-and-subwoofer combo is nice for a front room. Learn extra in our soundbar shopping for information.

How do I join a soundbar to my TV?

Relying on the age of your TV, there are three important methods to output to a soundbar: analog (3.5mm headphone or RCA), digital optical and HDMI. Before you purchase a soundbar be sure it accepts the identical connections current in your TV. The most typical enter on soundbars is now HDMI, and in case your TV is lower than 5 years outdated it must be appropriate, however it’s value double-checking.

The place do I place my soundbar?

Soundbars are designed to be positioned in entrance of the TV on a TV stand or different furnishings. Most are lower than 2 inches tall in order that they will not block both your tv’s infrared distant port or the display screen itself. Some soundbars can be wall-mounted and include brackets within the field. Third-party kits for wall-mounting soundbars are additionally obtainable.

Can you utilize any soundbar with any TV?

With solely a handful of exceptions you should utilize any soundbar with any TV, although it does generally assist to match TV and soundbar manufacturers. Many new soundbars use HDMI ARC to channel the audio out of your TV via the soundbar, so if each gadgets have one in all these ports that is all you want. Some older soundbars use an optical connection and most TVs provide these as nicely.

The exception? Roku TV Wi-fi Audio system and Samsung SoundConnect. The previous makes use of a proprietary wi-fi connection, and lacks an HDMI port, so that you want a Roku TV (and never a Roku streamer) to make use of it. The second can be proprietary between Samsung soundbars and TVs, although the soundbar often presents HDMI for connection to different manufacturers.

Can you utilize a soundbar to play music?

Music performed via your TV nearly all the time sounds higher when you’ve got a soundbar linked. Many soundbars have Bluetooth, which means you do not want the TV on to take heed to your tunes. Usually a soundbar with a wi-fi subwoofer is finest for music as it is going to assist reproduce dynamics in addition to deep bass.