if you happen to’ve simply purchased a flowery new TV, you might be shocked to search out it sounds simply as unhealthy as your outdated one (or worse). Even the very best TVs we have examined want a hand to offer sound that retains up with their incredible shows. However it may be powerful understanding the place to start out in terms of upgrading your TV audio. By no means worry, intrepid purchaser: The simplest and most reasonably priced answer is to simply get a soundbar. Fashionable soundbars are available in all shapes, sizes, and costs. Right here, we have made a guidelines of kinds to think about earlier than urgent the Purchase button.
You’ll want to try our Greatest Soundbars and Greatest Bookshelf Audio system guides, in addition to our recommendation on Purchase a TV and Set Up a TV, with in-depth image adjustment recommendation.
Desk of Contents
Up to date June 2025: We have the newest data and up to date mannequin suggestions from our newest spherical of intensive testing.
Why You Want a Soundbar
{Photograph}: Ryan Waniata
Soundbars are a terrific first step into residence theater audio as a result of they’re usually compact and simple to arrange and sound vastly higher than most built-in TV audio system. Severely: almost all TV audio system are unhealthy! The spectrum of high quality you will get from a soundbar ranges from primary enhancements to the bass and general soundstage to the kind of room-filling sound you may anticipate from a extra conventional residence theater audio system (a system with wired audio system and a devoted receiver). No matter what you are watching, a soundbar is a low-effort means of getting extra out of your viewing expertise.
Discovering the Proper Measurement
{Photograph}: Ryan Waniata
Soundbars are available in a number of sizes and configurations, denoted by the scale of the acoustic chamber and the variety of built-in full-range, bass, and peak channels. You possibly can consider soundbar channels because the variety of particular person zones emitting sound. A “2.1” soundbar system has no less than two individually powered audio system and a devoted subwoofer. A 5.1 system has no less than 5 major audio system (a middle, left, proper, plus two surrounds) and a subwoofer.
Whereas most finances bars will likely be stereo solely, our favourite performers often have no less than three channels in entrance (left, middle, and proper) and a subwoofer. That is a 3.1 system. The middle channel is mostly a very powerful as a result of that is the place TV and movie mixers put dialog. Have hassle listening to dialog in motion pictures and reveals? Get a three-channel (3.0) bar on the very least.
Typically, you may see an extra quantity on the finish, like a 3.1.2 system. The “.2” means there are two peak channels. In soundbars, these are upward-facing audio system that bounce hold forth the ceiling, simulating ceiling-mounted audio system for content material blended in 3D audio codecs like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Principally, these soundbars attempt to re-create a spatial audio expertise with out requiring you to string up audio system on the ceiling. Pricier soundbar methods will include further devoted rear- and side-firing drivers that bounce hold forth your partitions for extra immersion, utilizing a configuration of 5.1.2 (or increased).
The extra channels, the larger your soundbar system will probably be. An important step is to ensure no matter you purchase will match in your media console (ideally, it will match proper between your TV’s legs, too). We’ll go over {surround} sound and Dolby Atmos in additional element beneath.
Do You Want a Subwoofer?
{Photograph}: Parker Corridor
For many areas, it is extremely price contemplating a soundbar with a devoted subwoofer. If these are too costly otherwise you’re anxious in regards to the neighbors, some soundbars have a much less overt bass channel inbuilt, whereas different methods allow you to add a subwoofer later, together with fashions from Sonos, Klipsch, Bose, and others. Every of those examples lets you add {surround} audio system later as properly, letting you improve to a full surround-sound system.
