This time of year is hallmarked by cold weather and cozy nights – but for opportunistic shoppers, it's also the time where products are at their best prices all year.
If you've been searching for the right moment to buy a discounted soundbar to level-up your home entertainment, waiting until the holiday shopping season was a smart move. But with Black Friday not landing until November 28, knowing the optimal time to find the best price takes a bit of know-how if you don't want to wait any longer.
Should You Buy a Soundbar Before Black Friday?
Black Friday has the best selection of soundbars on offer, but there are plenty of deals now on less premium models.
In short – yes, but you don't have to. Black Friday tends to have the biggest discounts all year, and the biggest selection of soundbars on offer, but there's no shortage of offers to be snapped up in the meantime. Really, it depends if you're looking for a specific model.
'The most appropriate time of the year to purchase a soundbar is overwhelmingly during popular retailing events, particularly during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, shares Allen Liu, tech expert from FreSound.
'The best electronics retailers and manufacturers have their biggest sales every November, with far-reaching discounts that are not experienced throughout the year,' she continues.
I can confirm this after covering every sale event since 2021. Black Friday is always where you'll find the best selection, especially from leading brands like Sonos and Samsung.
'High-quality soundbars of such brands as Sonos, Samsung, Sony, and Bose can be regularly found with discounts of 30-50 percent of the MSRP,' Allen continues.
'This is mainly due to the mixture of intense retailer offers and clearance of stock in season. Black Friday allows retailers to sell electronics in large quantities as more is expected to arrive at the start of the new year. This is the reason why it offers discounts not only on the older models but also on some of the new models,' she adds.
In my experience, that's the main difference between shopping before Black Friday and waiting until the big day. If you're looking to shop around to upgrade your movie room or music room right now, there are countless discounted soundbars with savings up to the $100s. But if you're looking for flagship models like the Sonos Arc Ultra, our best-on-test, you'll be limited on choice.
If you've already done your research and are looking for a specific model, wait until Black Friday unless you see it discounted now. But if you're happy to consider your options and go for a model that's maybe a little simpler or cheaper, then there's no reason why you shouldn't shop now.
Mackenzie Shand, executive editor at BlackFriday.com, elaborates further, 'Shoppers will find the best prices on soundbars twice a year – first in late January and early February.'
'It all comes down to timing and technology cycles. Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotions [are] driven by fierce competition for holiday spending,' Mackenzie shares. 'Every January, new TVs and audio gear are unveiled at CES, which means retailers start marking down previous-year models soon after to make room for new inventory.'
But not all of us are patient enough to wait until Black Friday to buy a discounted soundbar, let alone holding out until the new year. Luckily, once you know the setup and features you want, you can find models that fit your needs that are on offer right now.
What to Shop Now
To grab a stellar home entertainment upgrade and beat the Black Friday sales rush, three of the best soundbars we've tested are on offer right now.
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
Considering its low price point (especially with this $100 discount), the Yamaha True X Bar 40A delivers impressive clarity and strong bass, thanks to two built-in subwoofers.
Read more in my full Yamaha True X Bar 40A review.
The Yamaha True X Bar 50A upgrades from the 40A with a huge subwoofer, delivering booming bass that adds incredible depth to movies, shows, and bass-heavy music. And with this offer, it's only $20 more than the 40A.
Read more in my full Yamaha True X Bar 50A review.
With a soundbar, subwoofer and two rear speakers to position either side of your head, the Samsung HW-QS750F delivers a true surround sound experience. The audio is crisp, vibrant, and immersive, and you have complete control over the sound's settings via the app.
Read more in my full Samsung HW-QS750F review.
For more smart home goodness, see our tested top picks of the best robot vacuums and the best video doorbells.
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