It can be a tough decision to pick the right soundbar.
They all boast different features; some have voice assistants, and others have Bluetooth.
Here are the best soundbars for your home media center today.
Image Credit: Ronstik/Shutterstock
It produces high-quality surround sound as filmmakers intended their movies to be heard.
This soundbar offers an incredible, immersive home theater sound that is hard to rival.
In fact, quite the opposite, the LG SP8YA sounds incredible.
For versatility, the LG SP8YA is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant.
It also features tough buttons, a scrolling LED display and multiple ports at the rear.
This includes an HDMI 2.1 port with Dolby Vision and HDR10 passthrough.
It might have less power than some other soundbars, but it certainly doesn’t sacrifice audio quality.
Sony HT-A5000
The Sony HT-A5000 soundbar is perfect for most home entertainment setups.
This rig comes with an HDMI input, HDMI ARC, and 8K passthrough.
Once connected, you might wirelessly connect via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Apple AirPlay 2, and plenty more.
Keeping the Sony HT-A5000 on its default sound mode, you’ll get crisp audio and balanced stereo sound.
This is great for watching TV or listening to podcasts and audiobooks.
Bose Smart Soundbar 900
This elegant soundbar is a stylish addition to any home theater.
It boasts a slim design with an LED indicator to let you know what function you’re using.
There’s one HDMI port and an optical input as well as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.
In addition, you have the option to add an Adaptiq microphone which is used for automatic room correction.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 offers wide audio but is ultimately better for movies than it is for music.
However, it is able to fill a large room with sound, at around 95dB at maximum volume.
This makes it great for parties if you’re not too fussed about the clarity of your music.
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 has had a much-needed upgrade.
It’s easy to set up, works well with other Sonos speakers, and supports multiple voice assistants.
However, this feature is only available for iOS devices.
With eARC compatibility, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is able to handle a wide variety of audio formats.
It also offers support for Dolby Atmos, making your movie experience much more immersive and enjoyable.
The soundstage is undeniably wide, delivering powerful audio when watching movies or listening to music.
However, when compared to the Sonos Arc, this soundbar feels like it misses a beat somewhere.
Samsung HW-T400
For smaller 4K TVs, the Samsung HW-T400 fits in nicely.
Unfortunately, due to the low cost, Samsung has removed any HDMI ports from this soundbar.
you might use Samsung’s Smart Things App to control the soundbar or use the supplied remote control.
Despite being more affordable, the Samsung HW-T400 still sounds pretty decent out of the box.
The default sound mode is stereo, best for watching TV and listening to music.
It’s easy to set up the soundbar, as well as pairing with Bluetooth devices.
There are also plenty of ports too, should you want to connect via HDMI or AUX.
Considering its size, the BESTISAN Soundbar manages to pack four 3-inch full-range drivers and two 1-inch tweeters.
LG S90QY
The LG S90QY is one of the first soundbars that offers three height channels.
It comes with a 5.1.3 setup, delivering a total sound output of 520W.
For TVs of up to 65 inches, the LG S90QY is a great choice for watching movies.
It supports HDR10, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and 4K at 160Hz.
Despite being the later model to the SP9YA, the LG S90QY doesn’t offer better stereo performance.
FAQ
Q: How Do I Choose a Soundbar?
Choosing a soundbar depends on what kind of audio you want to achieve.
If you simply want to enhance your TV’s audio, a 2.1 channel soundbar will likely be sufficient.
Q: How Many Watts Should a Soundbar Have?
Most soundbars have around 20 to 50 watts of power.
However, if you add subwoofers and speakers, the power output can increase, sometimes above 500W.
Q: What Size Soundbar Do I Need for a 55-Inch TV?
For 55-inch TVs, your soundbar should be between 40 to 50 inches.
However, if you have or purchase one that’s slightly bigger or smaller, that’s fine too.
To achieve the best sound quality, your soundbar should ideally cover the bottom length of the TV.
