The way to Select the Proper Soundbar (2025): Dimension, Worth, Encompass Sound, and Subwoofers

should you’ve simply purchased a elaborate new TV, you could be shocked to seek out it sounds simply as unhealthy as your outdated one (or worse). Even the greatest TVs we have examined want a hand to supply sound that retains up with their incredible shows. However it may be robust figuring out the place to begin relating to upgrading your TV audio. By no means concern, intrepid purchaser: The simplest and most reasonably priced answer is to simply get a soundbar. Fashionable soundbars are available 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 take a look at our Greatest Soundbars and Greatest Bookshelf Audio system guides, in addition to our recommendation on The way to Purchase a TV and The way to Set Up a TV, with in-depth image adjustment recommendation.

Desk of Contents

Up to date June 2025: We have the most recent info and up to date mannequin suggestions from our newest spherical of in depth testing.

Why You Want a Soundbar

Soundbars are an ideal first step into house theater audio as a result of they’re typically compact and straightforward to arrange and sound vastly higher than most built-in TV audio system. Severely: practically all TV audio system are unhealthy! The spectrum of high quality you will get from a soundbar ranges from fundamental enhancements to the bass and total soundstage to the kind of room-filling sound you would possibly anticipate from a extra conventional house 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 approach of getting extra out of your viewing expertise.

Discovering the Proper Dimension

{Photograph}: Ryan Waniata

Soundbars are available 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’ll be able to consider soundbar channels because the variety of particular person zones emitting sound. A “2.1” soundbar system has not less than two individually powered audio system and a devoted subwoofer. A 5.1 system has not less than 5 foremost audio system (a middle, left, proper, plus two surrounds) and a subwoofer.

Whereas most funds bars shall be stereo solely, our favourite performers normally have not less than three channels in entrance (left, middle, and proper) and a subwoofer. That is a 3.1 system. The middle channel is usually an important as a result of that is the place TV and movie mixers put dialog. Have bother listening to dialog in motion pictures and exhibits? Get a three-channel (3.0) bar on the very least.

Typically, you will see a further 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 combined in 3D audio codecs like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Mainly, 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 extra 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 greater your soundbar system will seemingly be. A very powerful step is to ensure no matter you purchase will match in your media console (ideally, it’s going to match proper between your TV’s legs, too). We’ll go over {surround} sound and Dolby Atmos in additional element under.

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 fearful concerning 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 permits you to add {surround} audio system later as nicely, letting you improve to a full surround-sound system.