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

There are so many great soundbars out there and we don’t have room to feature them all Here’s something else you might want to consider.

LG’s S95TR for $1,000-1,300: LG’s 9.1.5-channel soundbar (8/10, Wired recommends) doesn’t perform as well as Samsung’s flagship Q990 series, but may be a better choice for beginners. C4 like LG TVwhich can connect wirelessly and use its speakers in sync with the bar for more immersion. It also supports gaming features like 120-Hz pass-through, but only includes one additional input.

Vizio 2.1 Soundbar (SV210M) for $170: Vizio’s curvy little combo comes at a tempting price, with solid sound quality and some of the cinematic punch of the most juvenile subwoofer you’ve ever seen. It doesn’t include any optical input or remote, but the Vizio app makes it easy enough to adjust settings or swap over Bluetooth. The main drawback is that dialogue is sometimes (but not always) lost, reducing the main draw of a cheap soundbar. That said, good musical chops and features like DTS Virtual X expansion make it worth considering for sale.

Samsung HW-Q800C $598: If Samsung’s HW-Q990C bar of everything is too rich for your blood, the two-piece HW-Q800C (Wired recommends, 8/10) may be a good compromise. This bar offers the same sound signature as Samsung’s flagship bars, with many of the same features, packed into a small bar-and-subwoofer combo for a significant discount—especially since it’s almost always on sale now.

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini for $700: This pint-sized luxury bar can shine in a small space for those with the money. Sennheiser’s built-in Ambeo virtualization technology brilliantly casts sound around you for TV and movies, and offers advanced features like support for Google Assistant and Alexa.

Sony HT-X8500 for $300: Sony’s HT-X8500 is getting harder to find, but it’s still one of our favorite options for expansive sound with solid bass response and decent Dolby Atmos virtualization after a single bar. While it’s pricier than our top bar, it’s a great option for those after a little more and worth considering while it’s still available.

Roku Streamer for $130: If you’re after a soundbar that doubles as a great streaming device, Wired reviewer Adrienne So swears by the Roku Streambar. After he spent years without one he was so impressed that he shouted it from the rooftops. Setup is easy, and it includes Roku’s simple streaming interface, so you can stream movies and shows up to 4K HDR from almost every streaming service. You can add a Roku subwoofer or surround-sound speakers down the line. We encourage Getting a sub.

Vizio Elevate M-Series $500: If you want full-featured Dolby Atmos and you like a bit of flair, Vizio’s second Elevate bar is worth considering. When Atmos content is playing the drivers pop out from the sides and aim at your ceiling, making for a nifty party trick to show off to your friends. Sound quality is solid, too, and we like the compact design and easy setup. However, you will need to route some speaker cables for the rear surround.

The Yamaha SR-C30A costs $276: This model SR-C30A soundbar looks very similar to the SR-C20A indeed, and that’s because they’re the same thing as far as dimensions, specifications and sound quality are concerned. The difference is that the SR-C30A ships with a compact (335 x 160 x 364 mm) wireless subwoofer for some authentic Hollywood-style rumble and punch. –Simon Lucas

Sennheiser Ambeo Plus for $1,200: Given the soundbar’s price and physical dimensions—which don’t even include a subwoofer—the Ambio Plus might look like a bad deal. But thanks to its 400 watts of power and its nine carefully developed and more carefully positioned speaker drivers, these Sennheiser Dolby Atmos soundtracks are capable of big, enveloping sound with a strong suggestion of rich sonic height. By way of an encore, it turns into a massively capable wireless speaker when you want to listen to some music. – Simon Lucas

Polk responded at $269: This soundbar works if you want to eventually get surround sound but don’t have the cash right now. While the Alexa-enabled soundbar itself is fine if you want to upgrade, surround speakers and subwoofers are available from Polk.

Vizio Elevate P-Series $700: It’s a great-looking soundbar with side speakers that turn skyward when you’re watching content with object-based audio. It’s a nice-sounding bar, and that gimmick is neat, but there are better options under $1,000.