Compared to conventional home theater speaker arrangements, soundbars have a few benefits: they typically occupy less room, are simpler to assemble, and are frequently less expensive. There is a soundbar model for everyone, whether you want one that can connect your old MP3 player or one that supports Dolby Atmos. Nevertheless, not every soundbar is made equally; some offer superior sound quality. Whether you want to stream straight from your smartphone or connect it to your smart TV, you’ll want something that works well with your current gadgets and sounds excellent if you watch a lot of TV or listen to music at home. Your favorite TV series’ speech can be reproduced by the best soundbar.
QUICK LIST
Last update on 2024-11-19 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.
Top 5 Best Soundbars of 2025
1.Samsung HW-Q990D
- Q-SYMPHONY: Pair a Samsung TV with a Samsung Soundbar to unlock a new level of powerful audio; Experience content like never before; With Q-Symphony, your speakers work together to optimize all the audio channels to operate as one¹
- 11.1.4 CH. TRUE DOLBY ATMOS SOUND: Feel sound all around with 11 front-facing speakers, 1 subwoofer & 4 up-firing channels; With a rear speaker kit included, your complete home theater experience is right in the box
- WIRELESS DOLBY ATMOS: Skip the HDMI cables and enjoy truly elevated audio with Wireless Dolby Atmos²; Experience captivating audio without the cable clutter
Last update on 2024-11-19 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.
The best Bluetooth soundbar that we have tested is the Samsung HW-Q990D. The Samsung HW-Q990C’s next version, the high-end 11.1.4 configuration, has a few modest differences at first, but if you’re a gamer, one could make a major difference! The bar can be used as a hub between your TV and another device, such as a console, just like the previous generation. To maintain fluid and detailed graphics, the Q990D model also features HDMI 2.1, which enables 4K at 120Hz passthrough. Additionally, Game Mode VRR is supported, which contributes to a tear-free viewing experience.
Returning to its configuration, it has a subwoofer and two satellites to produce a well-balanced and engrossing sound for a variety of content. It also supports formats like Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital, and thanks to its satellites, sound stretches all around you, making you feel like you’re really there in your favorite blockbusters. You can crank up the volume to fill a large room without a ton of compression to ruin the purity of your sound, and if you want to personalize your bar, there are a lot of customization features like an EQ, presets, and even a new addition called Private Listening, which only sends audio to the satellites for a more intimate (and less disruptive) audio experience.
Nevertheless, it is fairly expensive. You should choose the HW-Q990C if you don’t truly need HDMI 2.1 functionality. Although it cannot pass through 4K @ 120Hz data, it can pass through other high bandwidth signals like HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision, which are all present on Blu-ray discs and streaming services. It also provides a very comparable overall sound performance.
Samsung’s flagship soundbar for 2024 is the HW-Q990D. The most notable feature of this bar, which replaced the Samsung HW-Q990C from the previous year, is its compatibility for HDMI 2.1, which enables 4K at 120Hz passthrough. This makes it perfect for playing video games on a newer console or connecting it to your PC if it has a modern graphics card. Similar to its predecessors, it offers a plethora of capabilities for customizing sound, such as SpaceFit Sound Pro, a room correction tool that adjusts sound to the particular acoustics of your space. Its rear speakers should offer provide an immersive listening experience.
The Samsung Q990D is a flagship model for 2024 with an 11.1.4 configuration. Although it functions and looks pretty much the same as the Samsung HW-Q990C from the previous year, there is one significant difference. This bar now has HDMI 2.1 passthrough, which is fantastic if you use it with a PC or like 4K 120Hz gaming. However, you won’t profit from HDMI 2.1 if you’re only watching movies and videos from popular streaming services because this type of content isn’t able to utilize the technology. Additional features on this bar include Sound Grouping, which enables the rear speakers to play left, and Private Listening mode, which directs all of your audio to the rear speakers and reduces the effect of sound on the rest of your environment.
Pros
- Supports Dolby Atmos
- Supports major wireless connectivity options
- Gets loud
Cons
- Graphic EQ available only on Standard preset
2.Samsung HW-Q930C
- Q-SYMPHONY: Amp up your audio with the greatest duo of all time – Samsung TVs paired with Samsung soundbars; With Q-Symphony; your TV speakers paired with Q-Series soundbars operate as one
- DOLBY ATMOS DTS:X: Hear your favorite content in realistic 3D audio with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X; Sound projects all around you; including from above; so you can immerse yourself in all around sound
- Soundbar Weight: 17 LBS
Last update on 2024-11-19 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.
If you want a high-end soundbar at a lower cost, the Samsung HW-Q930C is a fantastic substitute. This 9.1.4 configuration, which was released in 2023, has many of the same capabilities as the Samsung HW-Q990D, including as room correction and a visual EQ for sound customization. For a deep, extended low-bass, it features a separate subwoofer in addition to two independent satellites. Right out of the box, you may enjoy all of your favorite audio content in a clean, vivid sound. Only Best Buy and the manufacturer’s website appear to carry it in the United States.
Numerous popular audio formats, including Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital, are supported by this soundbar. It provides expansive and engrossing music directly into the comfort of your home with its two separate satellites.living room, with plenty of rumble in the bass to bring those intense scenes to life. That said, compared to its more premium cousin, this soundbar comes with two fewer surround channels, so its sound is a touch less accurate. Also, it doesn’t get quite as loud and brings more compression when you push it to max volume. You may still find that it’s worth the value, though.
In 2023, the Samsung HW-Q930C, a high-end 9.1.4 soundbar, was introduced. With a few more functions and a marginally better sound, it’s the Samsung HW-Q930B’s successor. With the bar’s 7-band graphic EQ and SpaceFit Sound room adjustment tool, you have a lot of control over the sound. The bar may also be controlled hands-free thanks to built-in Alexa functionality. Its subwoofer provides plenty of bass thud and rumble for action-packed situations, while the included rear satellites give multi-channel material a more immersive feel.
The Samsung Q930C is excellent for a variety of uses. With its balanced sound straight out of the box, this 9.1.4 soundbar is ideal for listening to a wide variety of audio. Lead instruments and voices are distinct.and accurate in the mix, and dialogue in your favorite TV shows and movies is easy to follow. Plus, its sub brings lots of rumble in the bass. This bar supports many different audio formats common to streaming platforms and Blu-rays.
The Samsung HW-Q930B’s successor is the Samsung Q930C. Although the next generation bar sounds a little better, both bars have comparable features. This soundbar, which is positioned as a less expensive substitute for the flagship Samsung HW-Q990C, has many of the same high-end features as the latter, such as Q-Symphony support for Samsung TVs and SpaceFit Sound room adjustment. In the event that your system does not have room for rear satellites, the Samsung HW-Q900C is a good substitute.
Pros
- Graphic EQ and presets.
- Room correction tool.
Cons
- No HDMI 2.1 class bandwidth.
3.LG S90TR
- Cinema Sound Solution – Take your home theater sound to a new level with this high-performance 7.1.3-channel soundbar powered by Dolby Atmos and DTS:X technologies.
- Rear Speakers – Our new rear surround speakers have wireless connectivity—no special receiver needed to deliver an immersive audio experience.
- Center Up-Firing Speaker – Our exclusive up-firing center channel focuses on dialogue clarity so you can hear every conversation with detail. The soundbar delivers a wider and richer soundstage, filling the room with pure acoustic bliss.
Last update on 2024-11-19 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.
Among the best soundbars we’ve evaluated at this price range is the LG S90TR. For all of your multimedia requirements, this 7.1.3 Dolby Atmos soundbar provides a flexible performance. Its room correction technology gives it a well-balanced sound that produces a pleasing rumble and thud when the dialogue is amplified. However, there are a few EQ settings available if you want a different sound. Numerous audio formats and connectivity possibilities are also supported by this bar. If you wish to stream your favorite podcasts or playlists, it also supports popular wireless connections like Apple AirPlay and Spotify Connect.
Movies seem more dimensional and immersive because to its satellites, which guarantee a wide sound field for surround material. The Atmos performance, however, is a little lacking since it only relies on the bar’s upfiring speakers, and it can make content like helicopters soaring overhead lack depth and fullness. If you’re looking for a bar that creates a better sense of height, try the Vizio Elevate. This bar uses its up-firing and satellite speakers to create the illusion of sound coming from above you. It has a much bassier sound than the LG, though, and has fewer features for adjusting its sound.
With many of the characteristics of the flagship LG S95TR at a more affordable price, the LG S90TR is a 7.1.3 soundbar configuration. Like its more expensive sister, this bar has LG’s WOW Cast and WOW Orchestra technologies, which allow you to integrate the speakers on a compatible LG TV for a more immersive sound experience and combine the bar, speakers, and sub together for wireless Atmos playback. In the market for mid-range soundbars, the LG S90TR is positioned to be a fantastic all-arounder.
For TV shows and conversations, the LG S90TR is great. Speech and conversation seem clear and natural because of its accurate and clear reproduction of mid- and treble-range frequencies. Additionally, the distinct center channel offers a fair degree of focus and aids in locating voices within the stereo field. You can even bolster the center performance by pairing the speakers of a compatible LG TV via the WOW Orchestra function. You can also use the ‘Auto Volume’ and ‘Night’ modes to ensure a lower volume doesn’t come at the expense of clear dialogue, or use the ‘Clear Voice Pro’ EQ preset to improve vocal clarity.
A 2024 7.1.3 soundbar featuring WOW Cast and WOW Orchestra technology is the LG S90TR. If you want a system that provides comparable performance without quite as many bells and whistles, it’s an excellent mid-range substitute for high-end bars like the LG S95TR or the Samsung HW-Q990D. The S90TR and S95TR vary primarily in that the S95TR has two more upfiring drivers, which improves its height performance. Other than that, there isn’t much that separates them. For people who don’t have room for satellite speakers, the Samsung HW-Q800D is a good substitute for the LG S90TR. Although it lacks the deep soundstage of the LG, it has greater center and height performance.
Pros
- Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compatible
- AI room calibration tunes the sound to your space
Cons
- Not the best height performance
4.Vizio M Series M512a-H6
- America’s Sound Bar – VIZIO has been filling homes with truly immersive audio for over 10 years, and our sound bars just keep getting better. We are proud to provide our customers with top-tier audio products that bring movies, shows, podcasts, music, and more to life like never before. ( Sound Bar Brand in 1H 2022 Source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, U.S., based on units, Jan. – June 2022 combined.)
- 11 High-Performance Speakers – With separate tweeters and woofers, deliver fuller, clearer and more powerful sound.
- Dolby Atmos and DTS:X – Cinematic, life-like 3D surround sound around and above you.
Last update on 2024-11-19 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.
Customers on a tighter budget might want to look into the Vizio M Series M512a-H6. All things considered, this soundbar has two satellites and a subwoofer to enhance your listening experience. It works well with the majority of audio content formats and clearly reproduces instruments and conversation. Additionally, with bass-heavy sound effects, the sub provides all the rumble and thud you need to shake the floor. Bass and treble adjustments are among the sound improvement tools that allow you to personalize the sound.
What is the difference between this configuration and the LG S90TR? The fact that it only supports Bluetooth could be a disadvantage if you want to listen music wirelessly over Wi-Fi or Spotify Connect. Additionally, its surround performance is subpar.The subwoofer is louder than the bar with this kind of content, resulting in a more thumpy sound. Most users will still find that it provides an enjoyable overall listening experience, but if you want the most clear and real sound possible, you’ll want to spring for the more advanced LG. If you prefer a better value, though, you may find that this setup is the right one for you.
Released in 2021, the Vizio M Series M512a-H6 is a 5.1.2 configuration. One of the few bars in its price range with rear satellites for a more immersive surround sound experience is this mid-level product from the brand. It’s not suitable for every living room arrangement since, like many Vizio bars, you have to wire the satellites to the sub. It doesn’t sound as immersive as the more expensive Vizio Elevate since it lacks up-firing drivers on its satellites.
The Vizio M512a-H6 is excellent for a variety of uses. This multipurpose 5.1.2 bar is unique among bars in its affordable price range. Voices and lead instruments are crystal clear as soon as you plug it into your TV because of its balanced sound. The sub brings rumble in the bass to bring bass-heavy genres and action-packed scenes to life, and its satellites can add to the immersive feeling of movies, although they produce a lot of distortion at high volumes. Compared to more premium offerings, it doesn’t bring the same cinematic feeling, especially with Atmos content, but if you’re on a tighter budget, it’s a solid pick.
Pros
- Gets loud.
- Bass and treble adjustments.
Cons
- No graphic EQ.
5.Vizio V Series V51-H6
- Low-Profile Modern Design – Clean silhouettes, subtle textures, and matte finishes seamlessly blend into any environment.
- Powerful Performance – Brilliant clarity, thunderous bass, and Dolby Audio and DTS Digital Surround support combine for performance beyond its size.
- Simple Setup, Streaming & Control – Get setup and listening in minutes with HDMI ARC and Bluetooth connectivity for unparalleled ease of use, control, and access to your content.
Last update on 2024-11-19 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.
The best low-cost soundbar we’ve tested is the Vizio V Series V51-H6. With a fantastic price-to-performance ratio, this 5.1 configuration is an even more cost-effective substitute for the Vizio M Series M512a-H6. Similar to the M Series, it features two satellite speakers and a dedicated subwoofer to enhance surround sound using Dolby Digital codecs. You can hear conversation clearly right out of the box thanks to the precise and clean sound, and the powerful low-bass rumbling is present without overpowering other elements in the mix. The bass and treble can be adjusted to your liking because the sound improvement features are comparable to those found in the M Series.
There aren’t many soundbar setups at this pricing.range to come with rear satellites from an improved surround sound. It’s meant for listening to stereo and surround sound formats like Dolby Digital and shines with this type of content. Sadly, it doesn’t support Dolby Atmos content, which is more and more commonly found on both streaming platforms and Blu-rays. For those who don’t watch a lot of this kind of content in the first place, it’s a great value, but others will want to spring for a more premium option with Atmos support. As Vizio have introduced a new line of soundbars, it’s becoming harder to find through retailers, so don’t hesitate to pick one up if it’s available!
Released in 2020, the Vizio V Series V51-H6 is an affordable 5.1 system. There is some additional bass boom, and the sound profile is quite neutral, making it appropriate for listening to a wide variety of audio content. Its two satellite speakers contribute to a rather immersive surround performance, and its dedicated subwoofer allows it to faithfully replicate the deep thump and rumble in the bass area. Nevertheless, Dolby Atmos content is not supported.
For mixed use, the Vizio V51-H6 is a respectable device. This soundbar is perfect for a wide variety of audio content because it offers a fairly neutral sound profile with a little more bass boom. There are two distinct surround channels and a separate center channel to aid with dialogue replication.
Pros
- Bluetooth-compatible.
- Dialogue enhancement feature.
Cons
- Doesn’t support Atmos content.