Best soundbar reviews: The 5 Best All-In-One Soundbars – Spring 2023: Reviews
The 5 Best All-In-One Soundbars – Spring 2023: Reviews
- Table of Contents
- Intro
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Best Soundbar
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Best Upper Mid-Range
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Best Mid-Range
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Best Budget
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Best Integrated Sub
- Notable Mentions
- Recent Updates
- All Reviews
- Discussions
Updated Jun 12, 2023 at 09:09 am
By Becca Fischer
If you don’t have a lot of space in your living room, a standalone soundbar is a great option to upgrade your TV speakers. These setups are designed to offer an immersive listening experience without the need for a dedicated subwoofer or satellite speakers. Thanks to side-firing and up-firing drivers built into the bar, many all-in-one setups can play surround and Dolby Atmos content.
We’ve tested over 175 soundbars; below, you’ll find the best soundbars without subwoofers to buy. You can see our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, and the best small soundbars.
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Best All-In-One Soundbar
Sonos Arc
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Mixed Usage
7.6
Dialogue/TV Shows
7.9
Music
7.5
Movies
7.4
Channels
5.0.2
See all our test results
The best all-in-one soundbar that we’ve tested is the Sonos Arc. This premium standalone setup is a great choice for listening to all sorts of audio content, from music to movies to TV shows, and it provides an immersive sound right to the comfort of your living room.
You can enjoy a clear and detailed sound with support for advanced audio formats like Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital, which are commonly found on most streaming services. Its wide and immersive soundstage brings sound effects to the space around your room, so you feel like the action on screen is happening all around you, too.This soundbar has many features to make the most of your listening experience. As with most premium setups, it has a room correction tool designed to optimize sound based on your room’s unique acoustics— it’s called Trueplay. The feature is only available with iOS devices, but Android users can use bass and treble adjustments to manually control the bar’s sound instead. If you’re an avid Android user looking for a similar option with room correction available on both Android and iOS devices, check out the Bose Smart Soundbar 900. It’s another premium standalone bar with a wide and immersive-sounding soundstage, though it doesn’t reproduce as much low-bass as the Sonos.
See our review
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Best Upper Mid-Range All-In-One Soundbar
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
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Mixed Usage
7.4
Dialogue/TV Shows
7.6
Music
7.4
Movies
7.2
Channels
5.0
See all our test results
Want a more affordable all-in-one soundbar? Check out the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). This versatile setup is the latest version of the Sonos Beam and keeps the same small design as its predecessor, but it adds support for Dolby Atmos content that’s often found on different streaming platforms.
As a result, you can take advantage of more immersive object-based formats, even if you don’t have the space in your setup for a larger standalone bar. Despite its small size, it still offers a wide sound thanks to its side-firing speakers that beam sound throughout your room.You’ll find a similar selection of sound enhancement features compared to the Sonos Arc. Like most premium bars, there’s a room correction feature, which Sonos calls Trueplay, via the app on compatible iOS devices. With it on, vocals and lead instruments reproduce pretty clearly, and there’s a touch of extra boom in the bass to bring action-packed scenes to life. If you want to customize it, bass and treble adjustments are available. That said, given its small size, it’s little surprise that it doesn’t get as loud as the Arc, and its Atmos performance isn’t quite as impressive. Still, it’s a solid pick for those without a lot of space who want a premium bar.
See our review
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Best Mid-Range All-In-One Soundbar
Sonos Ray
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6.
3Dialogue/TV Shows
7.0
Music
6.7
Movies
5.5
Channels
2.0
See all our test results
The Sonos Ray is a standalone soundbar that’s a more affordable alternative to our top picks. This 2.0 setup, released in 2022, is ideal for those listening to stereo content, including most music and TV shows. Overall, this bar is very well-built, with a small and compact design that’ll take up less space in your setup compared to our top picks. As with the other Sonos products on our list, it’s also compatible with your wider Sonos ecosystem, meaning you can easily spread your favorite tunes throughout multiple rooms in your home.
Of course, as a small bar, it doesn’t get as loud as our top picks, and its performance with movies isn’t quite as impressive.
Plus, it doesn’t bring much rumble in the bass. If you want a similarly-priced all-in-one bar with a little more bass, check out the Bose TV Speaker. Like the Ray, it’s a small 2.0 bar that’s great for music and dialogue-focused TV shows. It lacks room correction, though, and if you own existing Sonos products, you may prefer to add the Ray to your existing ecosystem. Still, they’re both great choices, and if you don’t watch Atmos content, you may find they’re a better value than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2).See our review
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Best Budget All-In-One Soundbar
Sony HT-S100F
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6.3
Dialogue/TV Shows
7.
2Music
6.4
Movies
5.6
Channels
2.0
See all our test results
The Sony HT-S100F is the best budget all-in-one soundbar we’ve tested. It offers a solid upgrade over your existing TV speakers for an affordable price, so it’s a great entry point for users who’ve never owned a soundbar before. It’s less premium than the Sonos Ray but still solid and well-built. As a 2.0 bar, it’s ideal for stereo content, which includes most music and TV shows. Dialogue is clear in the mix, and there’s even an enhancement tool to make it easier to follow along with the action on screen.
With a small and compact design, this soundbar is ideal for those who don’t have a ton of space in their living room setup. You can even use it in front of your computer, which is handy.
That said, the bar’s sound enhancement features are limited. Unlike the Sonos, there’s no room correction tool, meaning it sounds slightly different depending on the room you’re in. Without bass and treble adjustments, you can’t manually compensate for this. Still, it’s worth checking out if you’d rather get a simple, plug-and-play bar.See our review
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Best Standalone Soundbar With An Integrated Subwoofer
Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX
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Mixed Usage
8.0
Dialogue/TV Shows
8.5
Music
7.6
Movies
7.
8Channels
5.1.4
See all our test results
Are you a bass lover? If so, you’ll want to check out the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX. It comes with an integrated subwoofer, and it’s one of the only bars we’ve tested that can reproduce a deep and extended low-bass without the need for a dedicated sub. As a result, it’s a great choice for smaller spaces or anyone who doesn’t have room for a bulky subwoofer. The bar is still quite large and heavy, but it packs a punch, especially in the overall sound quality.
This soundbar is great for listening to everything from music to movies to TV shows—and its virtual surround feature called AMBEO 3D is a handy way to enhance your listening experience. It offers a wide, immersive sound, with plenty of rumble in the bass during action-packed scenes. There’s even a room correction mode, like the other premium bars on our list, and a graphic EQ to manually customize its sound across the range.
It’s a unique bar with a powerful performance overall. That said, given its size and price, bass lovers might find it’s a better value to add on a separate sub to the Bose or the Sonos instead.See our review
You can enjoy a clear and detailed sound with support for advanced audio formats like Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital, which are commonly found on most streaming services. Its wide and immersive soundstage brings sound effects to the space around your room, so you feel like the action on screen is happening all around you, too.
As a result, you can take advantage of more immersive object-based formats, even if you don’t have the space in your setup for a larger standalone bar. Despite its small size, it still offers a wide sound thanks to its side-firing speakers that beam sound throughout your room.
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Plus, it doesn’t bring much rumble in the bass. If you want a similarly-priced all-in-one bar with a little more bass, check out the Bose TV Speaker. Like the Ray, it’s a small 2.0 bar that’s great for music and dialogue-focused TV shows. It lacks room correction, though, and if you own existing Sonos products, you may prefer to add the Ray to your existing ecosystem. Still, they’re both great choices, and if you don’t watch Atmos content, you may find they’re a better value than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2).
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That said, the bar’s sound enhancement features are limited. Unlike the Sonos, there’s no room correction tool, meaning it sounds slightly different depending on the room you’re in. Without bass and treble adjustments, you can’t manually compensate for this. Still, it’s worth checking out if you’d rather get a simple, plug-and-play bar.
8
It’s a unique bar with a powerful performance overall. That said, given its size and price, bass lovers might find it’s a better value to add on a separate sub to the Bose or the Sonos instead.Notable Mentions
- Sony HT-A7000:
The Sony HT-A7000 is a premium 7.1.2 setup with Dolby Atmos support. It provides a pretty immersive sound and has extra features like room correction. However, it can’t give the same immersive feeling as the Sonos Arc with Atmos and surround sound content.
See our review - Sony HT-A5000:
The Sony HT-A5000 is a 5.1.2 setup. It can playback surround sound and Dolby Atmos content, though its sound isn’t quite as clear or real as what you get with the Sonos Arc.
See our review - Samsung HW-S60A:
The Samsung HW-S60A is a small soundbar with many sound customization features, including a graphic EQ. However, compared to the Sonos Beam (Gen 2), it doesn’t support Dolby Atmos content and lacks room correction.
See our review
However, compared to the Sonos Beam (Gen 2), it doesn’t support Dolby Atmos content and lacks room correction.Recent Updates
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Jun 12, 2023:
Confirmed product picks. Minor text updates for clarity. -
Apr 14, 2023:
Confirmed product picks. Minor text updates for clarity. -
Feb 14, 2023:
Confirmed that our picks remain relevant and widely available; minor updates to the text for clarity. -
Dec 16, 2022:
Replaced the Vizio M Series M213ad-K8 with the Sonos Ray as the ‘Best Mid-Range’ pick.
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Oct 18, 2022:
Replaced the TCL Alto 8i with the Vizio M Series M213ad-K8.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best all-in-one soundbars and the best soundbars without subwoofer add-ons for most people to buy. We factor in the price (a cheaper soundbar wins over a pricier one if the difference isn’t worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no soundbars that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to choose for yourself, here’s the list of all our standalone soundbar reviews. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. No soundbar is perfect. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.
The 7 Best Dolby Atmos Soundbars – Spring 2023: Reviews
- Table of Contents
- Intro
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Best Soundbar
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Best Upper Mid-Range
-
Best Mid-Range
-
Best Budget
-
Best Soundstage
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Best Small
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Best For Large Rooms
- Notable Mentions
- Recent Updates
- All Reviews
- Discussions
Updated May 17, 2023 at 08:52 am
By Becca Fischer
Dolby Atmos is an object-based surround sound format that supports height channels, which means sound can come from above your head.
It results in an even more immersive listening experience since, depending on your home theater setup, you can hear sounds coming from all directions. Many 4k Blu-rays and even some streaming services like Netflix support Dolby Atmos—but not all soundbars do. The ones that do tend to be more expensive than most, but if you’re after a more natural listening experience, they’re worth considering. Soundbars usually use up-firing speakers to simulate an illusion of height by bouncing the sound off the ceiling and back to the listener. It won’t be as accurate or immersive as down-firing speakers with a more traditional home theater setup.
We’ve tested over 170 soundbars, and below, you’ll find the top Dolby Atmos soundbars to buy. See our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best soundbars for music, and the best soundbars with a subwoofer.
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Best Dolby Atmos Soundbar
Samsung HW-Q990C
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Mixed Usage
8.
5Dialogue/TV Shows
8.8
Music
8.5
Movies
8.4
Channels
11.1.4
See all our test results
The Samsung HW-Q990C is the best soundbar with Dolby Atmos we’ve tested. This premium 11.1.4 soundbar replaces last year’s Samsung HW-Q990B, offering even better sound quality for your favorite audio formats. With two discrete satellites, sound effects spread around your living room, resulting in a clear and real feel that makes it seem like the action is happening all around you. Its sub brings plenty of rumble in the bass for intense scenes, and it has a more even and controlled sound compared to last year’s model. Dialogue is clear in the mix, too, so it’s easy to follow along with the conversation on screen.
This soundbar stands out from the crowd thanks to its wide array of sound enhancement features, including room correction, to optimize its audio reproduction based on your room’s unique acoustics. If you prefer to adjust the sound manually, there’s even a 7-band graphic EQ on hand. You can also check out other premium Dolby Atmos models like the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers and the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module, which are handy if you already own products in their respective ecosystems. Both offer better stereo soundstage performances but don’t have as many customization tools as the Samsung model. As a result, it’s the more versatile pick overall.
See our review
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Best Upper Mid-Range Dolby Atmos Soundbar
Samsung HW-Q930B
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Mixed Usage
8.
2Dialogue/TV Shows
8.4
Music
8.1
Movies
8.1
Channels
9.1.4
See all our test results
If you want a great Dolby Atmos soundbar at a more affordable price, check out the Samsung HW-Q930B. It offers a similar Atmos performance to the Samsung HW-Q990C, with a wide and immersive sound that makes it feel like you’ve been dropped into the heart of your favorite movies and TV shows. It also comes with two satellite speakers to bring a more clear and real representation to sound effects, like helicopters flying over your head. The dedicated sub isn’t as premium-looking as Q990C’s, but it still brings plenty of thump and rumble. It’s also customizable—you’ll find the same 7-band graphic EQ to customize its sound across the range.
While this soundbar offers many of the same features as its more premium cousin, there are a few differences to remember. First, this bar is a 9.1.4 setup, meaning that it has two fewer surround channels. Also, it doesn’t offer the same even sound right out of the box. You notice a bit more boom in the bass, which muddies voices and lead instruments. Again, you can adjust this a bit, but that’s not ideal for everyone. If you want the best from the minute you plug in your soundbar, the Q990C is the way to go. Still, the Q930B is a versatile setup that shines with everything from movies to music to TV shows, and its more affordable pricing may make it a better value, depending on your listening needs.
See our review
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Best Mid-Range Dolby Atmos Soundbar
Vizio Elevate
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Mixed Usage
7.
9Dialogue/TV Shows
8.2
Music
7.8
Movies
7.8
Channels
5.1.4
See all our test results
The best mid-range Dolby Atmos soundbar we’ve tested is the Vizio Elevate. It’s a premium bar available at a more affordable price than our top picks, and although it doesn’t offer as many features, it’s still a solid choice for listening to Dolby Atmos content. Its unique design comes with sides that automatically rotate upwards when you watch DTS:X or Dolby Atmos content, resulting in a wide, immersive soundstage that stretches sound to the walls of your living room. You can turn the feature on when you watch other types of content. Also, it comes with two rear speakers, so you get the impression that sound effects are coming from accurate locations in the room around you, all matching the action on your screen.
A sub also brings the thump and rumble in the bass, bringing action-heavy scenes and intense movie scores to life.It’s a versatile option, meaning you can enjoy music, podcasts, and TV shows. Its default sound is pretty balanced, especially in the mids, where most voices and lead instruments reproduce, and the sub brings a little extra boom in the bass range that emphasizes bass-heavy genres like EDM. You won’t find a room correction feature, so it sounds slightly different depending on your room. Its bass and treble adjustments can make up for it a bit, but you don’t have a graphic EQ to customize across the range. If you’re looking for a customizable bar at a similar price point, you can check out the Samsung HW-Q900A. It’s a versatile alternative that comes without satellites, which is good if you don’t have a lot of space. However, the tradeoff is obvious with surround sound, as you don’t get the same immersive feel as the Vizio.
See our review
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Best Budget Dolby Atmos Soundbar
Vizio M Series M512a-H6
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Mixed Usage
8.
2Dialogue/TV Shows
8.4
Music
8.0
Movies
8.1
Channels
5.1.2
See all our test results
If you’re shopping on a budget, check out the Vizio M Series M512a-H6. This 5.1.2 setup has a versatile overall performance and shines with Dolby Atmos content. Despite its wallet-friendly price, it can still replicate a more cinematic feel in the comfort of your home, with a wide and immersive soundstage that brings the action to the space around your couch. Place its two rear speakers beside you, and sound effects become more accurately placed in the room around you, all matching the action onscreen. These rear speakers lack up-firing drivers, though, and there aren’t rotating sides to expand its soundstage, so it doesn’t feel quite as immersive as the Vizio Elevate.
As a result, it doesn’t feel quite as clear or as real as our top picks.That said, the bar is still a good value. It comes with the same sound enhancement features as the more premium Elevate, including subwoofer level as well as bass and treble adjustments to control its sound. Its default sound is quite balanced, so you may not need these tools. Overall, voices and lead instruments are clear and present in the mix with your favorite songs, and dialogue is detailed and easy to follow. The sub brings the rumble in the bass, so you feel the excitement in action-packed movie scenes. Overall, it’s a great value pick.
See our review
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Best Dolby Atmos Soundbar For Soundstage
Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module
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7.
4Dialogue/TV Shows
7.5
Music
7.4
Movies
7.4
Channels
4.1.4
See all our test results
Dolby Atmos content is mixed to make it seem like the action on screen is happening all around you as if you’ve been dropped right in the middle of the action in your favorite movie. The Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module is one product on the market that’s taking advantage of this technology to offer a truly immersive listening experience. You might not consider it a soundbar in the traditional sense, given its unique design that forgoes the standard “bar” in favor of a small control box and four discrete surround speakers that you can move around your room based on your preferences.
That said, it offers one of the best soundstage performances on the market—and the flexible design of the speakers means that you can move their placement around your living room to create the best possible sound.Overall, this setup’s representation of Dolby Atmos content gives a clear and real feel. Thanks to its unique design, audio stretches around you, so you feel immersed in your movie from all angles. Sound effects come from accurate, pinpoint locations, especially those above you, like helicopters flying overhead. You can get the setup on its own, but adding the dedicated subwoofer adds a little more rumble in the bass range, providing the best possible experience. However, compared to our top picks, you’ll notice that there isn’t quite as much low-bass reproduced. You still feel some thump in action-packed scenes, but it doesn’t quite shake the floor for a full cinematic feel, which is disappointing. That said, if you love the design and want a wide soundstage, it might be a fair trade-off for your needs.
See our review
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Best Small Dolby Atmos Soundbar
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
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Mixed Usage
7.4
Dialogue/TV Shows
7.6
Music
7.4
Movies
7.2
Channels
5.0
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Whether you live in a small apartment or have a cramped living space, a more compact soundbar is a great way to enhance your Atmos experience without taking up a lot of room. The best we’ve tested is the Sonos Beam (Gen 2), a premium soundbar with built-in voice assistant support that measures less than 26 inches in width.
If you’re familiar with the original Sonos Beam, you’ll recognize that the bar keeps its same sleek design with one major difference—the second generation supports Atmos content. As a result, you can enjoy your favorite Atmos movies and TV shows with an immersive sound.Despite its small size, the bar achieves a wide and encompassing soundstage thanks to psychoacoustic principles, which make it seem like sound stretches well past the edges of the bar itself. Sound effects stretch around you, and the result is comparable to some of the more premium options on our list. If you want a more cinematic feel, bass lovers can add to the setup and make the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers. Even with all the add-ons, the bar doesn’t get as loud as the Sonos Arc and doesn’t achieve as much height in the soundstage. Still, this small bar packs a punch.
See our review
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Best Dolby Atmos Soundbar For Large Rooms
Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.
2 eARCSearching
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Mixed Usage
7.9
Dialogue/TV Shows
8.2
Music
7.7
Movies
7.8
Channels
9.2.4
See all our test results
The shape and size of your living room impact how you perceive sound. If you have a larger, more open living room, you’re in luck—some options on the market are designed to spread sound evenly throughout your space to bring that cinematic feel to every corner of your living room. The Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 eARC is the best we’ve tested. Its unique design offers two subwoofers and four satellites that you can position horizontally or vertically, depending on your needs.
The additional subwoofer ensures an even bass reproduction throughout your space, without any “holes” in the soundstage to take away from the immersive feel. Similarly, the extra satellites mean sound effects spread throughout your room for a cinematic feel.This soundbar is the next generation of the Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2Ch, and it adds eARC support so you can stream more advanced formats like DTS:X, often found on Blu-rays. You won’t find a traditional room correction feature like the Samsung HW-Q990C since there’s no microphone to measure your room’s unique acoustics. Still, you can use its Spatial Surround Elevation tool to customize its performance to your room, choosing between three different size-based presets to adjust its sound. The sound quality is very good, and voices are pretty clear in the mix. That said, its overall sound is boomy right out of the box due to the extra emphasis in the bass. You can switch it up, but you don’t have as many customization tools as our top picks.
If you have a big space to fill with sound, it’s a solid pick.See our review
5
2
9
A sub also brings the thump and rumble in the bass, bringing action-heavy scenes and intense movie scores to life.
2
As a result, it doesn’t feel quite as clear or as real as our top picks.
4
That said, it offers one of the best soundstage performances on the market—and the flexible design of the speakers means that you can move their placement around your living room to create the best possible sound.
If you’re familiar with the original Sonos Beam, you’ll recognize that the bar keeps its same sleek design with one major difference—the second generation supports Atmos content. As a result, you can enjoy your favorite Atmos movies and TV shows with an immersive sound.
2 eARC
The additional subwoofer ensures an even bass reproduction throughout your space, without any “holes” in the soundstage to take away from the immersive feel. Similarly, the extra satellites mean sound effects spread throughout your room for a cinematic feel.
If you have a big space to fill with sound, it’s a solid pick.Notable Mentions
- Sony HT-A7000 with Speakers + Bass Module:
The Sony HT-A7000 with Speakers + Bass Module is a 7.1.2 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content. It’s a premium bar, but compared to other models like the Samsung HW-Q990C, its Atmos performance isn’t as impressive, and you don’t get the same immersive feel.
See our review - Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX:
The Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX is a large, standalone setup that can reproduce a very extended low-bass thanks to its integrated subwoofers. However, its large, bulky design can be inconvenient for some users, and it may not be worth the value compared to other premium setups like the Samsung HW-Q990C.
See our review - Vizio SB46514-F6:
The Vizio SB46514-F6 is a versatile 5. 1.4 soundbar with Atmos support that’s a good alternative to the Vizio Elevate, though its soundstage isn’t as wide and immersive-sounding.
See our review - TCL Alto 8i:
The TCL Alto 8i is the most affordable Dolby Atmos soundbar we’ve tested. That said, its Atmos performance is pretty disappointing, with a boomy, muddy sound quality that overwhelms most sound effects. If you’re on a tight budget, it’s better than nothing, but it certainly doesn’t take advantage of the format like our top picks.
See our review
1.4 soundbar with Atmos support that’s a good alternative to the Vizio Elevate, though its soundstage isn’t as wide and immersive-sounding.Recent Updates
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May 17, 2023:
Replaced the Samsung HW-Q990B with the next generation Samsung HW-Q990C. -
Apr 11, 2023:
Verified product picks. Minor text updates for clarity.
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Feb 10, 2023:
Ensured that product picks are still relevant; minor updates to the text for clarity. -
Dec 14, 2022:
No changes in product picks after verifying their accuracy and availability. -
Oct 24, 2022:
Replaced the Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2Ch with the Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 eARC.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best Atmos soundbars for most people to buy. We factor in the price (a cheaper soundbar wins over a pricier one if the difference isn’t worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no soundbars that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to choose for yourself, here’s the list of all our reviews of soundbars sorted by their Atmos performance. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. No soundbar is perfect. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.
Soundbar reviews and tests | Online Magazine
The third iteration of the Bowers & Wilkins soundbar, the Panorama 3, features Dolby Atmos capabilities, a first in the Bowers & Wilkins portfolio. The history of the Panorama series began in 2009, and the name does not come from a consonant term, but from the merger of the cult names of the golden age of cinema – Panavision and Cinerama.
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New rival Sonos Arc
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The new DHT-S517 TV pairing audio system features a seven-speaker 3.1.2 configuration (pair of tweeters, a pair of midrange drivers, a center channel and two height speakers, facing up) and support for immersive sound format Dolby Atmos.
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Soundbar or headphones? The theme of New Year’s gifts is continued by Sennheiser, which shares ideas on what to give to loved ones and how to create a festive mood for yourself and others.
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Bluesound has updated the Pulse Soundbar+ with new audio settings for realistic cinematic sound and support for Dolby Atmos.
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The creators of the Roon platform announced the expansion of the list of partners and the emergence of new devices with Roon Ready certificates.
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A new home speaker system Bar 5.0 with Multibeam technology and support for Virtual Dolby Atmos is presented in Russia. The novelty creates a surround sound space without additional components, using side and top speakers, as well as the effect of sound reflection from surrounding objects, walls and ceiling.
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Sennheiser AMBEO soundbar now supports Sony 360 Reality Audio
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Thinking about buying a turntable? We’ll show you how to connect it to almost any system
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Sales of the SR-B20A, a compact soundbar with virtual surround sound, built-in subwoofer and Clear Voice technology, have started in Russia.
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Yamaha’s newest soundbar, the SR-C20A, fits that description. The audio system will please both movie lovers and avid gamers – thanks to surround sound, powerful bass and compactness of the device itself.
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A soundbar is, first of all, a utilitarian thing: it takes up little space, but gives noticeably better sound than the TV itself. However, in recent years, manufacturers have been trying to turn soundbars into full-fledged audio systems without losing their main advantage – compactness.
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High-quality multi-room soundbar
Read more , Spotify, Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz and other compatible services).
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The International Specialized Press Association has published a list of audio and video components that, according to journalists, have become the best in the 2020/2021 season.
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The Harman Kardon Citation brand is included in the list of brands united in the Harman Luxury Audio Group (LAG) – along with ARCAM, JBL Synthesis, Lexicon, Mark Levinson and Revel.
The transition was completed shortly after the release of several new Citation models – a soundbar, a wireless subwoofer and a small, also wireless, desktop speaker.
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This compact and relatively inexpensive solution brings out the features of a multi-channel movie soundtrack and plays music from a variety of sources, including wireless. But as they say, there are nuances…
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AI-based smart voice control technologies and online music streaming are at the forefront of home audio today. And Yamaha has made it all available to the masses with its popular new entry-level soundbars. So get ready to ask and listen, watch and be surprised.
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The model is equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules and supports streaming technologies that allow you to play content from home network sources, as well as from the Internet. Its strict and discreet design with a thin body is compatible with any interior: the soundbar can be placed on a cabinet in front of the TV or mounted on the wall.
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A new level of sound quality for your TV.
Dolby Atmos Soundbar Buyer’s Guide: An overview of the best available on the market
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What Hi-Fi? 2019. Considerable dimensions and price: will the quality of the Sennheiser soundbar be up to par?
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The new Denon soundbars, DHT-S516H and DHT-S716H, are premium devices. They are based on the popular HEOS Bar and HEOS HomeCinema soundbars with built-in Wi-Fi and HEOS multi-room technology, but with improved design and connectivity, and support for voice control from Google and Amazon.
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In August, Harman Kardon introduced the Citation 500 smart speaker. The company recently announced a whole series of Citation speakers, including a soundbar and even floorstanders.
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The Yamaha YAS-209 is an updated version of the YAS-207 soundbar that delivers DTS Virtual:X surround sound.
The model, announced this summer, is equipped with a wireless subwoofer, making it easier to place the kit in the interior.
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Soundbars are designed to enhance the sound of your TV while taking up very little space. They do not become too bright part of the interior, like stereo pairs, and do not require much preparation and special location, like home theaters, but in terms of sound quality they are still limited by their physical parameters. In other words, a compromise, but a convenient solution, and convenience can be called the main advantage of the tested Harman Kardon Enchant 1300.
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Usually, when we start testing narrow and long “lifestyle” soundbars, we initially tune in to the fact that we are dealing with a special class of sound devices intended for an audience that does not require special “high-fi” realism from the sound. But familiarity with the Harman Kardon Enchant 1300 has done irreparable damage to our conservative ideas about how “narrow and stylish” soundbars can sound.
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The Sonos name has been around for many years
synonymous with multi-room audio, and already
It’s hard to say who actually came first.
In any case, the company noticed
promising trend for a long time
to competitors and is largely responsible
for the current state of the market.
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Denon is famous for its AV receivers
and microsystems, repeatedly
receiving an Award, but the company
produces a wide range
products from soundbars to subwoofers
and from amplifiers to wireless speakers –
which can be connected
to a multi-room system using
HEOS applications.
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Sales of Harman / Kardon wireless soundbars of the Enchant series have started in Russia. “Surround yourself with sound. Not with speakers, ”the manufacturer urges. And it offers a complete wireless solution: built-in Chromecast support gives you high-quality playback of your favorite music through one compact device.
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Collecting all the accolades within just a few months of being on the market, Polk Audio’s new soundbar has revolutionized the idea of what compact DC systems can do in one box. It is this version called MagniFi MAX SR that we will consider in this article.
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One of the world’s leading manufacturers of Hi-Fi equipment and home theater equipment announced the release of the ultra-slim DHT-S316 soundbar, which allows you to expand the acoustic capabilities of your TV and get surround sound when watching movies and TV programs.
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There are two ways to organize multi-room systems: build your own mesh network or use Wi-Fi.
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Sometimes the most advanced audiovisual technologies remain unavailable to a wide range of customers for a long time. But thankfully, a user-friendly multi-room system like HEOS didn’t stay in the upper echelons. Now we’ll take a look at the possibilities offered by the most compact small home theater kit, which is offered at a very affordable price.
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Onkyo announced in early August 2018 that it will release a free firmware update that will bring Deezer HiFi support to many of its AV receivers and network audio devices.
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As I have already written many times, soundbars are not only made by very lazy or niche manufacturers these days. DALI does not belong to either the first or the second, but there is certainly a highlight in the DALI Kubik One model, and moreover, there is more than one.
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Polk Audio’s MagniFi series of soundbars (including the MagniFi Mini, MagniFi MAX and MagniFi MAX SR) are already capable of performing speech commands today. To do this, you need to use the Google Assistant application installed on your smartphone or Google Home speaker, and also have a multi-room audio system throughout the house based on a wireless Wi-Fi network.
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The Klipsch range is extensive, from headphones and desktop Bluetooth speakers to professional monitors and THX-certified cinema speakers.
It’s no surprise that this legendary American brand has launched soundbars as one of the most sought-after home audio categories. The model to be discussed now is not a simple one. Compact Klipsch RSB-3 is the youngest model in the line and its distinguishing feature is that it is made in the form of a monoblock. Like older models, it is designed to improve the sound of flat TVs.
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There are many multi-room technologies: some are found only in devices of one brand, while others are not limited to a single manufacturer. The second is DTS Play-Fi – Pioneer and Onkyo have released an update that adds support for this technology to some 2016 and 2017 receivers, as well as multi-room speakers.
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The term “ecosystem” comes from biology and, it would seem, has a very distant relation to electronics. But for some audio components it can be rightfully applied. After all, in ancient Greek “ekos” means a dwelling, and “settlement” in it of intellectual blocks, united in a home network, opens up a lot of new opportunities.
Which we will demonstrate now with just two components – HEOS Bar and HEOS Subwoofer. Sounding very convincing without a subwoofer, in 3.1 format it can add a lot of new sensations to watching your favorite movie
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The soundbar is traditionally considered a compromise solution for home theater, designed to save space and delight the eye. A miniature, relatively inexpensive option and did not seem worthy of attention. Acquaintance with MagniFi Mini from Polk Audio began, to be honest, without much enthusiasm and hope for some kind of revelation.
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Soundbars often sound best when placed on the wall below the TV. But practice shows that most modern TVs are installed on their own stand on a rack or on furniture – and it was for this case that the Playbase was designed.
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The Heos HomeCinema system is not just a new level for Heos, it is a new segment where Denon has brought wireless technology and multi-room functionality.
For those who save space and appreciate modern technology, this system can be a good compromise between a full-fledged home theater and a separate wireless multi-room system.0003
A universal solution for those who do not want to clutter up their apartment with a set of speakers, bother with an AV receiver, but at the same time appreciate good sound (albeit not as voluminous as in a full-fledged cinema), and also do not hesitate to listen to music from a phone or via networks. A real British universal soldier
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High sound pressure and overload capacity are among the soundbar’s strengths. The middle is adequately drawn, the very extreme top is slightly muffled. In general, the sound is quite natural, but the subwoofer seemed somewhat boomy. To minimize this effect, it is worth experimenting a little with the position of the bass machine in room 9.0003
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An excellent line of speakers, an Amp amplifier, a Link preamp and a new soundbar provide a complete solution for anyone who needs a flexible and versatile system that can compete with the strongest competitors.
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Sonos’ wireless speaker base, backed by proprietary cloud service, makes expanding your home theater experience amazingly easy. If you choose to equip your PLAYBAR with additional speakers and a subwoofer, all you have to do is unpack, power up and activate via the Sonos Controller app.
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An important element of the solution is a remote wireless subwoofer (it can be placed in any convenient place). The subwoofer is equipped with its own digital amplifier (D-class), a pair of 5.25” speakers capable of pumping deep enough bass.
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Soundbars have grown in popularity over the last couple of years. This is not surprising: TVs are getting thinner, there is less and less space for speakers, and sound quality is expectedly declining. What to do? Not everyone will decide to clutter up the room with a full-fledged multi-channel speaker set. A good alternative to it can be a soundbar.
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As expected, the sound field is quite voluminous; it has space between objects, and when they move, it is easy to track the trajectory.
The stand is capable of high volume and will easily fill a large room.
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The Denon DHT-S514 is a very successful soundbar with a powerful subwoofer that complements the sound of the system well. The Denon matched the components well, and rich and deep bass complemented the transparent mids and pleasant highs. Movie mode provides great surround sound when playing multi-channel movie tracks.
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For this kind of device, the Monitor Audio ASB-2 delivers an extremely convincing sound that is almost devoid of obvious flaws. Regardless of the connection method and the selected content, the sound of the soundbar can be considered simply exemplary.
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Enhance the sound of your flat-panel TV without compromising on clean interior design – the Denon DHT-T100 succeeds in this challenge.
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Cambridge Audio Minx TV plays just fine. Switching the audio signal from the TV to the stand gives the impression that stuffy ears suddenly cleared: the whole world around began to sound open, clear and truly voluminous.
This is exactly the effect we expected – and Minx TV did not disappoint us.
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The LS-T10 aims at multiple things – big stage, rich lows, clear highs – but it fails to balance them all.
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That we’re more excited about Denon’s dancing LEDs than its sound speaks for itself. Pleasant and harmless sound does not stand out against the general background. I would recommend this AC only to those for whom ease of use is most important.
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This is a well-designed and innovative soundbar with an excellent virtual surround sound effect that cannot be obtained from other equipment without more significant costs. Sonos also made it really easy to set up and installed best-in-class digital music software in the panel.
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The soundbar makes it easy to immerse yourself in a movie or music, and plays so well that you can easily forget about the size of the device. So the SB26 is definitely a worthy contender for your TV spot.
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Four things distinguish Denon DHT-T100 from most budget soundbar systems: a “full” form factor, the ability to act as a TV stand, the absence of an external subwoofer and … more canonical, “christoma” stereo sound.
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Adding to the ASB-2’s other talents, the richness and intensity of the sound is even more impressive. This level of musicality is quite unusual for a soundbar.
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Panorama 2 is noticeably better than its predecessor, and the sound quality surpasses the competition; the increased equipment and more focused sound fully justify the high price.
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Panorama 2 sounds so solid that it’s almost impossible to use a subwoofer. Of course, good low-frequency support has never bothered anyone, especially in a home theater, but we must admit that this soundbar is quite capable of coping with low-frequency effects without outside help.
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Superb bass – deep, clear and crisp. In the chase scene from Terminator 3, there is a complete feeling that you are sitting in the same car with the characters.
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This page contains soundbar reviews and tests from experts around the world. We have collected for you only verified information provided by leading specialized publications. The authors of the best Hi-Fi magazines professionally test products and provide you with honest and objective data, based on which you can compare products of interest to you and make a choice. We value your time, so we provide only the most relevant and useful information about soundbars. Our goal is to help you make the right decision and choose the product that best suits your needs.
review and rating of the top 4 models under 30,000 ₽
Daniil Venediktov
stopped turning up the volume in dialogues
Author profile
Manufacturers of budget TVs often save on built-in acoustics
90 004 In most cases, two speakers are responsible for the sound from the TV 8 or 10 watts.
With such power, you won’t be able to enjoy all the sound effects when watching blockbusters or the sound of all the notes of music on streaming services or YouTube. If you want to improve the sound quality and not spend a lot of money, you should buy a soundbar.
Its main advantage is its small size and balance between price and power. And most inexpensive models are easy to place on a shelf or cabinet that you have taken under the TV.
Our recommendations
| Budget | Compact |
|---|---|
| LG SJ2 | Sharp HT-SBW160 |
| The best option to not spend a lot, but significantly improve the standard TV speakers | Ideally fits where every square centimeter counts, and you want to watch movies with good sound |
|
In “M-video” – from 14 999 R; in DNS — from 14 999 Р |
In “Eldorado” – from 19 999 R; in Sbermegamarket — from 19 999 R |
| Best Choice | Surround sound |
|---|---|
| Samsung HW-A55C | TCL TS8132 |
| The best model in its category without alternatives: brand, power, dialogue center speaker | Surround without additional surround speakers |
| In DNS — from 29 999 Р | In DNS — from 22 199 Р |
Budget
LG SJ2
The best option not to spend a lot, but to significantly improve the standard TV speakers
V “M-video” – from 14 999 R;
in DNS – from 14 999 R
Compact
Sharp HT-SBW160
Ideally fits where every square centimeter counts, and you want to watch a movie with good sound
Eldorado – from 19 999 R;
in Sbermegamarket-from 19 999 p
Optimal choice
Samsung HW-A55C
The best model in its category without alternatives: brand, power, central dialogue speaker
in DNS-from 29999 R
Surround
TCL TS8132
Surround without additional surround speakers
V DNS – from 22199 R
But we We distort and do not embellish reviews.
The choice of specific things does not depend on whether we receive a commission.
Product reviews in Tinkoff Magazine are independent. We make a verdict based on reviews of things and devices that we carefully studied, or how these things performed during editorial tests.
For reviews, we either request goods from the manufacturer for a test, or buy them ourselves, or study reviews in other publications and user opinions. Our reviews are subjective, but honest and expert: opinions are written by authors who have more than one review behind them. The editorial team of Tinkoff Magazine double-checks the texts, proofreads them and conducts fact-checking.
All prices are at the time of publication of the material, but we update them periodically to keep the reviews up to date.
Budget Soundbar – LG SJ2
A 2.1 soundbar with a passive subwoofer is a good option to replace weak regular TV speakers. The total power is 160 watts: a stand-alone wireless subwoofer has 100 watts, and two 30 watt speakers are located in the main panel.
These speakers are enough for a living room to make special effects in games and noisy blockbusters feel more voluminous.
The design of the soundbar is very solid, but the manufacturer saved on materials. The main panel is made of plastic, while the subwoofer is made of plastic and MDF. Because of this, distortions from body vibrations appear at high volumes – it is better not to twist the sound to the maximum.
The device is connected via bluetooth or optical cable, but the latter is not included in the package. With a wireless connection, the sound may experience a slight delay – in films this is not critical and easy to compensate for, but in games it will cause a lot of inconvenience.
There is also a 3.5 mm AUX audio input and a USB connector – you can play music from a USB flash drive or connect a smartphone via a wire. A significant disadvantage of the model is the lack of a common HDMI connector, you will have to buy an optical cable.
/yandex-station2-review/
Yandex-station 2 review with Alice: the best smart home control speaker so far under the TV.
How much it costs:
- in M-video – from 14,999 R;
- in DNS – from £149.99
Alternative. JBL Cinema SB140 2.1 soundbar – costs a little more, and less power is declared, but this model has more modern connectors for connecting.
The soundbar itself is also plastic, but it connects to the TV via HDMI ARC – the cable is included and transmits sound in a higher quality than optics. Due to the lower power, the soundbar rattles less, but for a small living room it will be enough. The subwoofer is wired here, but it does not need a separate outlet.
There is also a USB connector, but only a technical one, for updating software – it will not play music from a flash drive.
An interesting feature is that the remote control has a “Voice” button that can be pressed at moments of unintelligible dialogues, and the soundbar will switch to a special mode with amplifying the frequencies of the human voice.
How much:
- in M-video — from 12,999 R;
- in Sbermegamarket — from 12 999 R.
Compact soundbar — Sharp HT-SBW160
Stylish 2.1 soundbar with a compact wireless subwoofer that will fit in a nightstand under the TV. A power of 360 W is declared, and only two speakers of 30 W each fall on the main panel.
There is neither an extended frequency range nor a dedicated center channel for a clearer voice. Support for Dolby Digital is declared, but there is no talk of surround sound, the sound is only stereo.
This is an option for small rooms where there is no room for a larger subwoofer system on the floor. The whole set fits into a regular TV cabinet and still creates a more expressive sound than the speakers of almost any TV.
There is an HDMI ARC connector, a digital optical input and a 3.5 mm AUX for connecting a smartphone or a smart speaker like Yandex Station.
/best-tv-55/
Best 55″ TVs
Price:
- in Eldorado – from 19 999 R;
- in “Sbermegamarket” – from 19 999 R.
Alternative. The Samsung S60T is a stylish compact 3.1 soundbar in a fabric case without a separate subwoofer at all. There is a center channel for intelligible speech, horn speakers for stereo sound, and built-in low-frequency woofers on the rear panel. Reflecting from the wall, the bass is quite noticeable, albeit not very clear.
Actually, this model has been discontinued and replaced by the newer S60A – it looks the same, but it has more speakers and surround sound support. For some reason, in Russia you can only buy an older one – it is worse than the next model, but for small rooms it will do just fine.
How much it costs:
- on Yandex Market – from 28 659 R.
Optimal soundbar – Samsung HW-A55C
loudspeaker for clearer and more intelligible transmission of dialogues.
The total power is 310 W: there are as many as six speakers of 30 W in the main panel, and the rest falls on a separate subwoofer for rich bass.
Declared support for Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS Virtual X standards. There is a separate mode for games with minimal audio delay.
The soundbar can be connected via bluetooth, HDMI or optical cable, but the latter is not included in the package. There are two HDMI ports at once: the main one is marked with the letters ARC and is needed to output sound from the TV. Devices like a DVD player or game console are connected to the second one, if there were not enough connectors on the TV, but the 4K signal will not pass through the soundbar, only Full HD without HDR. Additionally, there is a USB port for listening to music from a flash drive.
Wireless subwoofer – can be placed anywhere in the room where there is a free socket. It is important not to place it on the carpet and close to the furniture, as this will distort the low frequencies.
The rear panel has a slot for connecting the Samsung SWA-9 additional wireless speaker adapter100S. They can be purchased separately and placed behind the sofa to create a full-fledged surround sound effect.
/best-cheap-tv/
The best TVs under 20,000 R
The main material is plastic, the subwoofer is made of MDF. At very high volumes, rattling and distortion are noticeable, but most of the time the soundbar is comfortable to use at 30-50% volume.
An interesting feature: the remote control is the same as many Samsung TV models, but by connecting the soundbar via HDMI ARC, you can do without it so as not to get confused.
Price:
- in DNS – from $299. 2 is a 3.1.2 audio system with Wi-Fi wireless connectivity. You can stream music both from a smartphone using Bluetooth, and from a home PC via a local network.
The main feature is surround sound without rear speakers. Two of the five speakers in the main panel are directed upwards so that sound waves bounce off the ceiling and create a surround effect for the listener.
This soundbar can handle Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD. In the initial and middle segments, this is not so common.
TCL TS8132 is equipped with HDMI 2.1 eARC. It can pass through a 4K video signal with HDR and perceives high quality audio tracks well. There are also USB, Ethernet (RJ-45) and AUX 3.5 mm ports.
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Best smart speakers: 7 models for every budget
You can control the volume of the soundbar through the Google Home app, and you can also cast the sound stream from your smartphone to the soundbar via Google Chromecast.
How much it costs:
- in DNS – from 22 199 R.
How to choose a soundbar
Here are a few parameters that you should pay attention to when choosing.
Number of channels. Understanding the numbers that are in the name of each soundbar:
- 2. 0 – stereo system, which consists of the right and left channels;
- 2.1 – a subwoofer has been added to the stereo system, it is responsible for a richer and more tangible bass;
- 3.1 – added a speaker in the center, which is usually responsible for improving the clarity of dialogues;
- 4.1 – 2.1 added two separate speakers behind the listener, which create the effect of space;
- 5.1 – Optimal home theater system with center channel, subwoofer and rear surround speakers;
- 5.1.2 – A more modern version of the 5.1 with additional upward facing speakers. Such systems are designed for Dolby Atmos surround sound.
Number of speakers. May not match the number of channels. Each channel can have up to three speakers – then each pair is responsible for different frequency ranges to increase the detail and clarity of sound. The more speakers, the better, as a rule.
But sometimes an expensive device with three good drivers sounds cleaner than a budget one with 5-7 mediocre ones. Virtual surround sound. It was possible to make surround sound in a budget soundbar without a lot of speakers due to virtual sound technology – HRTF. It deceives the ear: it makes the usual stereo surround, taking into account the peculiarities of the interaction of sound waves with the human body.
Engineers have studied how our perception changes depending on which side the sound source is on, what is the volume balance between the left and right channels when the noise comes from the side, behind or, for example, slightly left of the center. And then they reproduced this effect for the soundtrack of the film, anatomically correct “rotating” and placing various noises in space, while the head remains motionless, and the speakers are only in front.
Depending on the manufacturer and the quality of the soundbar, the realism of the virtual surround sound varies.
But sometimes the effect is very convincing. /top-smart-tv-box/
Best TV boxes: 6 options
Subwoofer. Due to the small size of soundbars, bass reproduction suffers, so you need to look at the presence of a subwoofer – it is better if it is separate, rather than built-in.
Separate subwoofer can be wireless or wired – you should take this into account when placing it. To get good bass quality, its power should be one and a half to two times the power of the soundbar, then the bass will not disappear at high sounds.
The unit should be placed on a flat, hard floor to ensure that the bass is clear and even. If you put it on a TV stand, the wobbly wooden surface will only increase the shaking and vibrations.
The sub should not be placed in a corner: the bass will hum and hum, bouncing off two walls. It is better to place it next to the TV, at a distance of 10-15 cm from the wall.
Power. Formally, the maximum volume depends on the power of the audio system, but this parameter is not important for this reason.
For a quiet apartment, 30-40% of the volume of even the simplest soundbar will be enough, but more powerful models will be able to produce cleaner, clearer sound without rattling and distortion. To determine the minimum power, there is a simple formula: 100 W for every 20 m². But here, the more, the better, since the volume can not be turned up to the maximum, but the advantages of better equipment will be felt in any case.
Body material. Wood and MDF are good because they absorb sound and do not resonate. Resonance and chatter degrade sound quality.
But all budget models are made of plastic. This is not critical if the soundbar has a good build quality and at least 80% volume, the case does not start to buzz and rattle.
Connection and connectors. Modern soundbars can be connected to the TV via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or cable.
Wireless is simple: it’s convenient and cables don’t spoil the view. But, there is a significant disadvantage: there may be disconnections, sound delays, and the quality of the audio stream is reduced due to compression for transmission over the air.
The most common wired connection standard is HDMI. But for this, the TV must have an HDMI ARC connector – ordinary ports can only receive a signal, not give it away. Here are what connectors can be:
- HDMI ARC is a legacy format based on HDMI 1.4. Soundbars with such a port cannot play modern surround sound standards like DTS X or Dolby Atmos and pass video through them at a resolution greater than 1080p;
- HDMI eARC – The latest format based on HDMI 2.0 or 2.1 with four times the bandwidth and support for all current video and audio formats;
- SPDIF or Tostink – an optical output similar in quality and capabilities to HDMI ARC, that is, it supports only the basic Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS standards. Such a connection does not take up valuable HDMI ports on the TV, but an optical cable is almost never included in the kit, and you will have to buy it in addition;
- analog AUX – regular 3.
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0 – stereo system, which consists of the right and left channels; 
But sometimes an expensive device with three good drivers sounds cleaner than a budget one with 5-7 mediocre ones. 
But sometimes the effect is very convincing. 
For a quiet apartment, 30-40% of the volume of even the simplest soundbar will be enough, but more powerful models will be able to produce cleaner, clearer sound without rattling and distortion. 
It strongly favors bass and mids, with a bit of a drop-off in treble response. The opening acoustic guitar plucks get plenty of lower-frequency resonance, but there isn’t quite enough high-end finesse to bring out all the texture in the strings. When the track properly kicks in, the bassline stands out with the guitar strums and hi-hat poking through the mix, leaving the vocals to settle a bit in the background. You can probably massage a more balanced sound by playing with the bass and treble levels of the soundbar, but, out of the box, it leans low.
The Arc costs twice as much, however, and can’t provide the same surround experience because it lacks rear satellites. 
1 Sound Bar (M51ax-J6) combines a subwoofer and two rear satellites to produce powerful audio for movies and music.
Back when I was using only my TV speakers, it always seemed like the audio balance was very off – scenes that were primarily dialogue would be whisper quiet while action scenes would be blaringly loud. So, I set out to fix that issue by getting myself a soundbar, which did help quite a bit but didn’t solve it entirely. The quest to fix this issue permanently seems to lie with multi-speaker/surround sound setups, so I was hopeful that Vizio’s new M-Series 5.1 Home Theater Soundbar would do the trick.
No matter how you want to use the M-Series system, Vizio has you covered with the accessories and cables that come in the box, which is always nice to see.
As I started watching the freshly-released Lord of the Rings 4K remasters, I noticed that the sound bar and surround speakers were emitting a popping noise every few seconds.
The subwoofer was placed too close to my wireless router, which is in my living room right next to my TV because I rent and that’s the only place I have a coaxial hookup. Vizio told me that moving the subwoofer at least six feet away from my router – previously the router was right in between the soundbar and subwoofer, about three feet from both – should solve the issue.
There’s no option to hardware the two components if wireless isn’t working out. Thankfully, being in a small space without a ton of layout options doesn’t pose more of an issue besides considering your router and subwoofer placement. While Vizio’s setup diagrams show the two surround speakers placed directly behind the seating area, I don’t have any room behind my couch as it’s up against the wall. So, instead of putting the speakers behind my couch, I simply stuck them in the corners of the living room opposite the soundbar and the surround sound effect still worked just fine.
You might want to give the system a pass if you live in a complex where you share a wall with someone else, but you can also adjust treble, bass, mids, and even your surround sound and subwoofer balance using the remote that comes packed with this system. The remote comes with a built-in display that tells you what you’re adjusting, and a column of LED lights on the soundbar itself will show you the level of whatever setting you’re changing.
Connection to the network is carried out via Wi-Fi or via an Ethernet connector. 
The song’s guitar sound and vocals had a full, warm quality, a rich tone that was detailed but not sharp. The dialogue in the films was also clear and positioned. 
The former aims to recreate a high quality home theater experience in a more usable form factor. Whether it’s a passive L/C/R soundbar like GoldenEar’s SuperCinema 3D Array or a powered multi-channel model like Focal’s Dimension, these soundbars are usually more substantial in both size and price. The second is an entry-level soundbar that is sold at your local big box store. This type of soundbar has much more modest goals: to be better than the crappy speakers in a flat-panel TV while taking up as little space as possible. 
Whether I used it in my closed family room or in a large, wide open living room with movies or music, the SB4551 filled the room with sound. 
Good dynamics, clean treble and solid bass paired well together for everyday music streaming, and that’s what this soundbar is likely to be used for. And you can’t discount the convenience of being able to stream music to the SB4551 from virtually any source. 
However, many of these options are two-channel soundbars that lack the dedicated center channel and separate surround speakers you get with the VIZIO SB4551. Most of them have Bluetooth, but lack HDMI inputs and video pass-through. 
This functionality is being controlled by the smart speaker or soundbar in the Bose Music app. Note, you cannot connect a pair of headphones to the Bose TV Speaker for synchronized audio/video grouping.
It will also turn on the Bose TV Speaker if the speaker is off and put it into the Bluetooth source.
You can connect the optional Bose Bass Module 500 or Bose Bass Module 700 to the Bose TV Speaker via a wired connection. This requires the Bose Bass Module Connection Cable or a standard 3.5 mm cable (sold separately).
It greatly improves your TV sound and helps with dialogue intelligibility. The Solo 5 system does not include any built-in virtual assistant functionality. The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 does that and much more — including built-in voice control from Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. It provides a wide soundstage (a lot wider than the bar itself) and brings your music and movies to life by immersing you in the sound. You will hear sounds coming from places where there are no physical speakers. The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 also includes ADAPTiQ audio calibration technology, which adjusts the sound of the soundbar to best fit your room, no matter the shape or furnishings. So it always sounds its best.
You will be prompted to run ADAPTiQ after you download the Bose Music app and start the setup process. If you skip running ADAPTiQ during the initial setup process — or change your room significantly after initially running ADAPTiQ — you can go back into the app and do it again. Initiate ADAPTiQ and follow the prompts in the app.
Line-of-sight is not required between the remote and the soundbar because it does not use IR. Instead, the remote uses Bluetooth Low Energy to communicate with the soundbar and then the soundbar blasts IR commands to control your other devices.
It also enables one-touch access to entertainment, enabling you to turn on multiple devices and select an input with one button press. However, not all devices respond to these commands. In particular, cable and satellite boxes may not respond to HDMI commands. The customer still can control devices that do not respond to HDMI commands by programming the Bose Soundbar Universal Remote (included with the Bose Smart Soundbar 700).
Give it a try, just say “Hey Google”, or “Alexa” and ask a question.
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The Bose TV speaker is compatible with the Bose Bass Module 500 and Bass Module 700 sold separately, as is the Bose Bass Module connection cable. 
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1.2-channel sound system 
This premium soundbar comes with some new and unique features, including Auto EQ and Apple AirPlay 2 connectivity. The balanced sound profile of the Samsung Soundbar is suitable for many different types of audio content. It also supports Dolby Atmos content, and the included surround speakers provide an immersive special effects movie experience. 
The device comes with Trueplay, which allows iOS users to optimize the audio response of the system based on the acoustics of the room. It supports Dolby Atmos content and has a wide soundstage that allows you to fully immerse yourself in a movie or music. 
0-channel soundbar that is very popular with today’s plug-and-play speakers and enthusiasts. You can upgrade your Denon soundbar with Denon Home Subwoofer and Denon Home 150, 250 and 350 satellite speakers (all sold separately). The 4.0-channel speaker array is packaged in a compact chassis and impresses with its reasonably smooth sound signature. best soundbars 2022 
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These earbuds are usually less expensive than the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless and have been on sale lately. Although their ANC system isn’t quite as powerful as the Bose’s in reducing ambient noise like bus engines or office chatter, they still deliver an excellent overall performance. Since they’re an Apple product, they also offer a couple of ecosystem-unique features worth checking out if you already own a MacBook or an iPhone, like Spatial Audio for a more immersive audio experience and an h3 chip for seamless pairing with other Apple devices.
Their ANC performance is comparable, but they’re bulkier and less comfortable.
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Once you ensure a good fit, they deliver a touch of extra thump, rumble, and boom, while vocals and instruments are bright and sparkly. You can even fine-tune their sound using their companion app’s graphic EQ and presets. However, if comfort is a top priority, you’ll want to consider the Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless instead. Their smaller, more lightweight design ensures you can wear them for long periods without experiencing fatigue. Their ANC also offers excellent overall performance, but it doesn’t block out as much of the low rumble of car engines as the Google headphones.
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Despite their affordable price tag, they offer as many features as the Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wireless and even have a better overall noise isolation performance. Their adaptive ANC easily reduces bass range noise like plane engine rumbles, making them a solid choice for travel. They also do an excellent job cutting out mid to high-pitched sounds, like office chatter and the hum of an AC unit. These versatile buds also come with features like multi-device pairing and LDAC codec support, which is good if you like to stream Hi-Res content.
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They effectively block out mid-range noise like background chit-chat and computer fans and also do an okay job of reducing bass-range noise like rumbling engines.
However, their ANC doesn’t cut down quite as much ambient noise, and their continuous battery life is shorter.
This means there is plenty of tech packed into the QuietComfort Earbuds, and that has led to a pair of buds that are pretty stocky in appearance.
The winged eartips boast a smooth, matte finish, too, helping heighten the impression of quality.
Bose did at least address this in the QuietComfort Earbuds II by blessing them with a more on-par total of 24 hours, but this won’t help the originals last any longer!
Double-tap to play/pause and answer. Touch and hold your finger on the left earbud to skip a track or check the battery level. 
There’s a richness to the sound which you’re immediately drawn to, and lyrics flow effortlessly as the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds keenly extract every last ounce of detail.
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These are primarily working tools, not accessories. The noise-absorbing headphones considered in our rating do not have any technological filling, only passive sound isolation. If you are thinking about how to choose anti-noise headphones, then here are their main options. 
There is no technological “stuffing” there. And they look simple – a working tool, not a fashion accessory. 
All of them are measured in dB. If, in general, everything is clear with the suppressed noise level – this is the volume with which the headphones can, in principle, cope, then the acoustic efficiency may raise questions. 
Divide the resulting value by 2. Subtract this from the background noise and get the level that the headphones will provide. That is, if you have a background in your workshop, for example, 90 dB (which is often the case), and headphones give 27 dB of efficiency, we get: 90 – ((27-7) / 2) = 80 dB. From the noisy workshop “we get to the noisy street.” 
Howard Thunder T1F $40 
Acoustic efficiency: 29 dB, foldable headband. Pretty versatile soundproof headphones: suitable for the home workshop, and for industrial work, and even for the office. 
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