Top 5 compared
The best soundbars
Dialogue you can follow without turning the TV up and down, and fuller sound for movies and games.
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The top 5 at a glance
A soundbar is a long speaker that sits under the TV and fills in the sound a flat screen has no room for. Some come with a separate subwoofer, wired or wireless, for deeper bass in action movies; others build the bass into the bar and keep the floor clear, and a few can add a subwoofer and rear speakers later.
Every bar here connects to the TV with one HDMI cable to its eARC or ARC port and decodes Dolby Atmos, though most create the overhead effect with processing rather than speakers aimed at the ceiling. The Sonos bars stream music over Wi-Fi with AirPlay 2; the others take it from a phone by Bluetooth.
What matters
- A voice or dialogue mode that lifts speech above the soundtrack.
- An optical input as well, for older TVs without ARC.
- A width that suits the TV and the stand beneath it.
- Room calibration that tunes the sound to your space.
#1ULTIMEA Poseidon M60 5.1 Soundbar with Subwoofer
$150–$200
A bar and a wired wooden subwoofer together, with five drivers in the bar, two of them firing sideways to spread the sound, and Dolby Atmos decoding over HDMI eARC. VoiceMX lifts dialogue out of the mix, and the ULTIMEA app has a 10-band EQ for fine-tuning.
What owners say: Dialogue comes through clearly, owners say, and setup is quick. They like having bass, treble and surround to adjust in the app, and phones connect over Bluetooth at once and stay connected.
A closer look: The subwoofer is wired to the bar, so it needs a spot within reach of the cable, usually on the floor beside the TV stand. One HDMI cable to the TV’s eARC port carries Atmos, and once HDMI control (CEC) is switched on the TV’s own remote can usually work the volume.
- 5.1 channels
- Two side-firing drivers
- Dialogue boost mode
- 10-band EQ in the app
- Wooden subwoofer
Best for: Fuller TV sound, bass included
- Subwoofer
- Wired, in the box
- Dolby Atmos
- Yes
- TV connection
- HDMI eARC, optical
- Bluetooth
- Yes
- Wi-Fi streaming
- No
- Width
- 31.5 in
#2Sonos Arc Ultra Soundbar with Dolby Atmos
Over $300
Sonos’s flagship bar plays 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos from a single cabinet, with speakers aimed forward, sideways and up, and Sound Motion technology for deeper bass. AI-powered Speech Enhancement picks out voices, and between movies it streams music over Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect or Bluetooth.
What owners say: The sound fills the room and speech comes through very clearly, owners report, and setup is simple. Some doubt it earns its price, and a few mention connection hiccups.
A closer look: At just over 46 inches long it suits a big TV and a wide stand, so measure the space before buying. Beyond the TV, it plays the same music as any Sonos speakers in other rooms, and its touch controls handle volume and pausing without reaching for a remote.
- 9.1.4 channels
- Speakers fire forward, sideways, up
- Speech enhancement for dialogue
- Room tuning in the app
- Spotify Connect
Best for: Big TVs, Atmos from one bar
- Subwoofer
- Optional Sonos Sub
- Dolby Atmos
- Yes
- TV connection
- HDMI eARC
- Bluetooth
- Yes
- Wi-Fi streaming
- AirPlay 2
- Width
- 46.18 in
#3Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Soundbar
Over $300
Dolby Atmos and Sonos’s music streaming in a bar about 26 inches long, sized for a smaller TV or a shelf. When the TV is off it plays music, radio and podcasts over Wi-Fi with AirPlay 2 and the Sonos app, and it takes voice commands through its built-in microphones.
What owners say: Owners describe crisp, clear sound and a painless setup. The Sonos app and an occasional dropped connection draw complaints from some, and a few feel a bar this small should cost less.
Heads up: There’s no Bluetooth: music streams over Wi-Fi, so set it up on the home network with the Sonos app first.
A closer look: Two cables do it: power, and HDMI to the TV’s eARC or ARC port, with an optical adapter in the box for older sets. Trueplay in the Sonos app tunes it to the room, and the TV’s own remote keeps working for the volume.
- Voice control built in
- Room tuning in the app
- TV remote controls volume
- Add Sonos rear speakers
Best for: Smaller TVs, music too
- Subwoofer
- Optional Sonos Sub
- Dolby Atmos
- Yes
- TV connection
- HDMI eARC, optical adapter
- Bluetooth
- No
- Wi-Fi streaming
- AirPlay 2
- Width
- 25.6 in
#4Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus (3.1)
$200–$300
Three front channels, including a dedicated center for dialogue, with the bass built into the bar, so there’s no subwoofer box to place. It decodes Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, and with a Fire TV, one remote runs the television and the bar.
What owners say: Owners hear a big lift in TV shows and movies, and the EQ lets them nudge bass, treble and dialogue separately. Most pair it with a Fire TV without trouble; a few report connection problems or a unit that gave up.
A closer look: Any TV with an HDMI eARC or ARC port can drive it, as can an older set with an optical output, so a Fire TV isn’t required. At 37 inches it suits a larger TV and a long stand, and on many Fire TVs its sound settings sit in the TV’s own audio menu.
- Center channel for dialogue
- Decodes DTS:X
- Movie, Music, Sports, Night modes
- Wall mount and HDMI cable
- One remote with Fire TV
Best for: Fire TV homes, simple setup
- Subwoofer
- Built in
- Dolby Atmos
- Yes
- TV connection
- HDMI eARC, optical
- Bluetooth
- Yes
- Wi-Fi streaming
- No
- Width
- 37 in
#5TCL S55H 2.1 Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer
$100–$150
A wireless subwoofer comes in the box with this low-profile bar, along with Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X. AI Sonic calibration in the TCL app tunes the sound to the room, and it connects to any TV by HDMI eARC, optical, Bluetooth or AUX.
What owners say: Owners rate the sound highly and call setup easy, especially beside a TCL Roku TV, with an app simpler than most. A few mention the volume jumping to its lowest or highest setting.
A closer look: With no cable to the bar, the subwoofer only needs a power outlet, so it can sit beside the couch or behind a chair. Run the AI Sonic calibration in the TCL app once everything is in place, and again if the furniture moves.
- Decodes DTS Virtual:X
- Auto room calibration in app
- Wall-mount kit included
- 220W output
- HDMI cable and remote included
Best for: Bass without a cable across the room
- Subwoofer
- Wireless, in the box
- Dolby Atmos
- Yes
- TV connection
- HDMI eARC, optical, AUX
- Bluetooth
- Yes
- Wi-Fi streaming
- No
- Width
- 31.9 in
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1ULTIMEA Poseidon M60 | #2Sonos Arc Ultra | #3Sonos Beam (Gen 2) | #4Fire TV Soundbar Plus | #5TCL S55H |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best premium | Best compact | Best budget | ||
| Picked Rating | 8.8 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 8.5 | 8.4 |
| Price | $150–$200 | Over $300 | Over $300 | $200–$300 | $100–$150 |
| Subwoofer | Wired, in the box | Optional Sonos Sub | Optional Sonos Sub | Built in | Wireless, in the box |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TV connection | HDMI eARC, optical | HDMI eARC | HDMI eARC, optical adapter | HDMI eARC, optical | HDMI eARC, optical, AUX |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi streaming | No | AirPlay 2 | AirPlay 2 | No | No |
| Width | 31.5 in | 46.18 in | 25.6 in | 37 in | 31.9 in |
| Best for | Fuller TV sound, bass included | Big TVs, Atmos from one bar | Smaller TVs, music too | Fire TV homes, simple setup | Bass without a cable across the room |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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