I tested the best soundbars to instantly level up your home entertainment in 2025 – these are the only 3 to consider for gloriously immersive acoustics

Forget what the traditionalists say, now is the golden age of entertainment, with some of the most exciting shows, movies, and music being produced right in front of our eyes (and ears!). And to experience it all at its fullest, you'll need the best soundbar.

As our TVs have gotten slimmer, soundbars have emerged so that the audio comes through strong and immersive, from its own dedicated device. They instantly elevate every viewing and listening experience, using sophisticated hardware that can send soundwaves around your head to create a true surround sound experience at home.

So, to turn your living room into a home theater, these are our top-tested picks of the best soundbars, one of the most essential smart home must-haves for anyone who loves high-quality entertainment.

The one-minute verdict

In every way, the Sonos Arc Ultra is the best soundbar you can buy, offering awe-inspiring sound quality across every TV show, movie, and song I listened to. Its bass is powerful and deep without ever distorting, its trebles are lush, and the sound fills the room in a realistic, immersive way that makes every viewing and listening experience absolutely perfect. It's essentially a plug-and-play soundbar, and can be set up painlessly in five minutes.

But it's expensive at $1,099.99, and if the price puts you off, I'd recommend the Samsung HW-QS750F for $599.99 at Best Buy. It's a larger setup with a separate subwoofer and two surround speakers, but if you have the space (and the patience for a longer setup requiring a bit of cable work), it creates an enveloping, hypnotic soundscape that isn't too far off the Sonos, with each detail coming through clearly, and special attention paid to the bass and trebles.

The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 has the most realistic surround sound out of the models we've tested, costs $100 less than the Sonos Arc Ultra, and is very quick to easily set up. Its bass can be a little weak at times, but every sound is delivered with extreme clarity and precision, and everything sounds masterfully well-balanced.

The best soundbars in 2025

The best soundbar

Image 1 of 5

In virtually every aspect except for the price, the Sonos Arc Ultra is the best soundbar you can buy. The audio quality is genuinely exhilarating, and as an audiophile who's listening to music at any given moment, it ignited a new love for the songs I've been enjoying for years.

It didn't matter what it was playing. Whether booming action, tense dialogue, jazz, electronic, or even a David Attenborough documentary – the Arc Ultra sounded incredible. Every big moment had depth, every subtle element was clear, and the sound completely fills the room once you set up Trueplay, which learns the shape and acoustics of your room to optimize the sound.

It makes sense why the Arc Ultra is so wide. Having 14 built-in speakers – including seven silk-dome tweeters, six midwoofers, and a four-motor subwoofer – it's designed to deliver a soundscape that's true to form, with songs, shows, and movies sounding exactly how they were intended to. It almost sounds as if you have a whole sound system in place. I was surprised that a single soundbar could deliver such rich detail.

The sophisticated soundbar is perfect for a music room or a movie room. And if you have close-by neighbors, roommates, or family members who might not enjoy the Arc Ultra's sonorous noise, you can activate Night Mode, which does a fantastic job of muting the high-impact sounds while highlighting the quieter ones.

There are plenty more features too, like Speech Enhancement that can draw out voices in a busy scene, and Spatial Music that can make music sound '3D' (essentially surround sound).

If you have any other Sonos products, like the best-selling Sonos Era 100, the music can follow you as you move around the house, and you can select which speakers the audio comes out from. And with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, Sonos has designed a soundbar that's future-proofed for modern (and evolving) smart home setups.

Read more in my five-star Sonos Arc Ultra review.

The best soundbar for customization

Image 1 of 6

Instead of spending a premium on a single soundbar, opting for a system with multiple components can be a cheaper alternative, while also granting improved control over each speaker's output.

That's because premium soundbars have a lot of hardware built into them to make them so compact, explaining the high cost. But because of the Samsung HW-QS750F's separate woofer and surround speakers, you can achieve a similar effect as long as you have the extra space needed in your living room. You can always get creative with TV stand ideas.

It costs $799.99 at Best Buy but is frequently on offer for around $599.99, and at that price, I was absolutely not expecting it to sound this good. In almost every TV and movie scene I watched, the audio was deep, crisp, and full with authentic surround sound. The small surround speakers sound a little scratchy when isolated, but as part of the wider soundscape, they add a welcome layer of richness.

And when it came to music – whether hard rock, electronic, hip-hop, or funk – the impact was high, the bass was punchy, and the trebles sounded beautiful. It's a stellar music setup (you can always tell when the subwoofer speaker tremors when the bass hits), and at no point did the bass sound distorted or rattly, even at high volumes. It's real, room-filling sound that does justice to both high-fidelity songs and older, non-remastered classics.

Audio quality aside, the Samsung HW-QS750F has the most customization features I've seen in a soundbar so far. It's so comprehensive that there are four separate settings that all essentially equate to 'quiet mode', but with each having its own sound, whether you're prioritizing bass, depth, clarity, treble, or sharpness.

Read more in my full Samsung HW-QS750F review.

The best soundbar for surround sound

Image 1 of 7

The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 produced the best surround sound out of any soundbar I've tested. It's true room-filling audio, so much so that it's easy to forget that it's coming from just one device.

Its two up-firing speakers can send soundwaves around your head to achieve 360 Spatial Sound Mapping – or, in real terms, audio that sounds like it's coming from all over the entire room. That's an impressive feat from Sony, especially when paired with the BRAVIA Theater Bar 8's exceptional audio clarity.

Every detail is precisely tuned, and the sound is almost always perfectly balanced. You could be listening to a layered jazz song (so, any jazz song...), or a busy scene in a bustling city center, and the soundbar delivers every small detail with satisfying accuracy.

When watching Arrested Development, I could hear cars driving past and the wind blowing in the background – noises I'd never picked up on before. The BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 is a smart home must-have if you enjoy being pulled into the scene.

Its bass is a little lacking, though. Now, it isn't bad by any means, but considering its $999.99 price point, I wouldn't expect this to be an aspect that would need improvement. Often, people buy soundbars specifically for the bass, to make action scenes feel real and to elevate their music listening experience.

Sony sells a separate subwoofer, the wireless Sony SA-SW5, but it costs $799.99. This would no doubt create one of the most powerful sound systems your home has ever seen (as the bass is the Theater Bar 8's only real drawback), but that's a lot of money.

If you prioritize impactful bass and can't afford the extra subwoofer, I'd recommend paying $100 more for the Sonos Arc Ultra instead. Its surround sound might not be quite as mega, but honestly, it's a marginal difference, and the Arc Ultra's exceptional sound quality across the board creates a deeper sound anyway.

But if deep bass isn't a priority for you, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 delivers realistic scenes and gorgeous-sounding music that will be far beyond what your current TV is capable of.

Read more in my full Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 review.

How to choose a soundbar

Before getting into the technical spec, knowing how to choose a soundbar begins by understanding what you're using it for and the space you live in. For many, the aim is to create a more immersive and cinematic feel when watching films, while others prefer clearer dialogue or a neater way to boost TV audio without a tangle of speakers and wires.

Start by considering how you’ll use it most often, whether that’s movie nights, enhancing the atmosphere of music at home, or upgrading the sound of everyday TV.

Size and placement matter, too. A slim, compact soundbar is ideal if you want something discreet that sits neatly beneath your TV, while larger models can offer a fuller, room-filling sound.

If your living space is open-plan, or you love hosting, a more powerful option may suit you better, while smaller rooms often benefit from a simpler bar that won’t overpower the space. Many designs are styled to complement modern interiors, so think about how the finish and shape will sit within your home as much as how it sounds.

Finally, look at the extra features that can make life easier (more on this below). Built-in voice assistants, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi streaming, and the option to add a wireless subwoofer or rear speakers can all help tailor the soundbar to your lifestyle.

For some, simplicity is key, and a plug-and-play model that works straight out of the box is the best choice. For others, flexibility and connectivity with other smart home devices will prove more useful.

To find out what a soundbar is capable of, read trusted reviews.

Key specs, explained

Channel configuration (e.g., 2.0 or 5.1.2): These numbers show how many channels (built-in speakers) a soundbar has. The first number represents horizontal speakers (left, center, right), the second number represents subwoofers, and the third number represents height channels, like up-firing speakers for surround sound and Dolby Atmos.

In real terms, a 2.0 setup is a simple left and right stereo bar, a 2.1 adds one subwoofer for bass, while 5.1.2 introduces two up-firing speakers for surround sound and overhead effects. Often, the more channels there are, the more opportunities to tailor the sound.

Dolby Atmos and DTS:X: These formats are designed to create a more three-dimensional soundscape, with effects that move around and above you. If you want that home theater experience, choosing a soundbar that supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X can make a noticeable difference. Cheaper models may use DTS Virtual:X which digitally recreates the experience of surround sound, while Dolby Atmos and DTS:X have the capacity within the hardware itself.

Note: You'll need to play TV and movies using platforms that support Dolby Atmos, whether it's a Blu-Ray or a premium streaming service.

Connectivity: HDMI ARC or eARC connections are the simplest way to hook your soundbar up to your TV and control it with a single remote, but not every TV has this port. If yours doesn't, you'll likely need an optical adapter (not all soundbars include this cable, but they're inexpensive). Bluetooth and Wi-Fi streaming let you play music directly from your phone.

Subwoofers: Some soundbars come with separate, wireless subwoofers to deepen bass, or optional rear speakers to add surround sound. These can be worth considering if you have space, but smaller living rooms often sound better with just the bar itself.

Sound modes: Many soundbars include modes tailored to different types of content, such as ‘movie’, ‘music’ or ‘voice’. These can make dialogue clearer, give more impact to action scenes, or create a warmer balance for music. A ‘night mode’ or 'quiet mode' is useful if you often watch TV late at night and have neighbors or roommates who might be disturbed.

Smart features: Certain soundbars double up as smart speakers with built-in assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. This can be handy if you already use voice control around your home, or want to stream music without turning the TV on.

And if you have other wireless speakers at home, some soundbars can become part of an ecosystem (Sonos and Bose are the main players here). This allows you to expand your system over time and play music in sync throughout your home, using your voice to turn them on as you enter different rooms.

How we test soundbars

I test soundbars in the largest room of my home, with a mix of soft furnishings and hard walls and floors that accurately represent the acoustics of a realistic living room. I test using a set list of scenes from movies and TV shows, and a playlist of songs that demonstrate the different frequencies that a soundbar can handle. Using the same list with each soundbar standardizes testing, meaning that each model is reviewed under the same criteria. You can find the full list below.

I test the full feature set of each soundbar. If it's compatible with Dolby Atmos, FLAC (lossless music files), IMAX Enhanced, or any other specific format, I test using those file types. I adjust every audio setting available – such as bass, treble, voice enhancement, night mode, or sound height – to find out the full capabilities on offer for each soundbar.

I also assess how easy each soundbar is to setup. Not everybody is tech-savvy, so a quick and painless setup scores major points. A more fiddly setup may be acceptable for those more familiar with tech, and often results in a more comprehensive and customizable sound system, but can be off-putting for others.

I started testing soundbars for Homes & Gardens in 2025, but I've been an audiophile for my entire adult life. My speaker collection includes bookshelf, portable, outdoor, and amp setups. I DJ in my free time, and I run music shows in my local city where I help set up the equipment. I understand audio tech and all of its nuances, and how it can improve our lives at home.

So, when it comes to soundbars, I combine my knowledge of (and lifelong devotion to) high-quality sound with my years of home tech journalism and reviewing. I've been testing tech and home products for more than four years now, racking up thousands of hours in the process, and I understand the needs and wants of readers looking to upgrade their spaces.

I've researched hundreds of reviews, articles, and videos on the latest tech to choose the right soundbars to test. This is a growing area, so watch this space as we develop a suite of content so that any household, regardless of size and budget, can find the best soundbar.

What we test

To standardize testing across every soundbar, I use a set list of scenes and songs:

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. Fast-paced, loud, and busy action scenes, with dialogue, explosions, artificial sound effects (casting spells and mystical creatures), emotional scenes, and a dramatic score.
• Avengers: Infinity War. Transitions from distant loud noises to on-the-ground action, with dialogue, crowds, artificial sci-fi sounds, and fight scenes. Ideal for testing spatial audio and hearing fine details during loud moments.
• John Wick: Chapter 2. Fast-paced action, tense music, tight fight sounds, and background noise (trains, crowds, traffic).
• Breaking Bad (season five, episode nine). Intimate dialogue between two characters, switching between whispering to impassioned shouting.
• Arrested Development (season one, episode one). Fast-paced dialogue in a casual setting, voices with different pitches, and background noises.
• Princess Mononoke. Emotional sequences with rich musical scores and Foley (creating sounds for animation).
• Our Planet II. Ideal for testing audio range, with wide-ranging nature sounds, music (from dramatic to subtle), and narration.

And to test music quality, I listen to songs from different genres and times that highlight different frequencies, instruments, voices, and sounds. This list is roughly ordered from low to high (bass to treble). You can listen to the playlist here on Spotify.

• Angel by Massive Attack. Trip-hop, electronic, slow build-up, percussion.
• Phoenix by Daft Punk. Electronic, dance, thumping bass, soft highs, cymbals, sampling, synths.
• Oh My God by A Tribe Called Quest. Hip-hop, overlapping voices, tight bass, vocal sampling, subtle crackling, jazz influence.
• Didn't Cha Know by Erykah Badu. Neo-soul, layered instruments, varied percussion, synths, smooth trebles, and strong midrange.
• Feel No Pain by Sade. Smooth soul, electronic, full audio range including low bass, strong midrange, soft highs.
• Three Drums by Four Tet. Electronic, dance, layered live instruments, soft drums.
• Simulation Swarm by Big Thief. Soft folk, melodic, full band, pure midrange, vocal trebles.
• Suzanne by Leonard Cohen. Old, low-fidelity, high-emotion, guitar, strong midrange.
• Ramble On by Led Zeppelin. Hard rock (with quiet moments), full band, slow-to-fast pace.
• Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) by Marvin Gaye. Jazzy soul, trebles overlapping the midrange, with occasional low frequencies.
• The Sea by Morcheeba. Emphasized midrange alongside vocal highs and percussive lows.
• Robber by The Weather Station. Soft pop, subtle sounds, high trebles, brass, strings, isolated drums.
• An Ever-Changing View by Matthew Halsall. Jazz, chimes, brass, varied percussion.
• What If Nile Rodgers And Fela Kuti Were Friends by All Day Breakfast Cafe. Funk, breakdown, high energy, slow moments, smooth vocals.
• Pitch the Baby by Cocteau Twins. Dream pop, pure treble, synths, electronically altered voices.
• Set Fire to the Rain by Adele. Pop, booming voice, high emotion.
• Location by Playboi Carti. Hip-hop, high highs, electronic layering, trap rhythms.

FAQs

What is the best soundbar brand?

Sonos, Samsung and Bose are the popular choices for soundbars. These premium tech brands have been engineering high-quality audio equipment for years, and after testing models from Sonos and Samsung, I can confirm that their offerings are absolutely incredible, producing some of the highest-quality sound I've heard in a home setup.

Do soundbars need a subwoofer?

Technically, no, but a subwoofer is a major improvement. A subwoofer is the speaker that's dedicated to bass and low-end frequencies, so if you like booming action scenes, deep voices, and bass-heavy music (electronic, hip-hop, funk), I'd consider it essential. You can notice a drastic difference between soundbars that have a subwoofer and those that don't.

For more home upgrades, read our tried-and-tested guides to the best vacuums, best robot vacuums, and the best non-toxic air fryers.