Best Soundbar 2025: Options for every size and budget tested and ranked

If you’re looking for the best soundbar money to buy, the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max is difficult to beat. As the highest-rated soundbar in this list, the Ambeo Soundbar Max sounds incredible, offering superb cinematic audio right out of the box. 

At more than 1m across and weighing 18.5kg, this soundbar is designed to sit (or be mounted) beneath a 65-inch or larger TV. There’s a variety of inputs available, including three HDMI, one HDMI out with eARC and Dolby Vision HDR support, digital optical audio and aux-in. For wireless connections, this soundbar supports Bluetooth and Google Chromecast, with the latter also available in the Google Home app. 

Peek inside the soundbar and you’ll find 13 speakers, including six 4-inch long-throw woofers and five tweeters. There are two Dolby Atmos-enabled drivers pointed upward, along with side-firing cones angled to bounce the audio off nearby walls. 

Along with Dolby Atmos, there’s support for DTS:X and MPEG-H onboard, along with a variety of audio presets to choose from to customise the sound, including movie, music, news, sports, neutral and night. There’s even a high-quality calibration mic to match the sound profile to your living room. 

The Ambeo Soundbar Max sounds fantastic, with films and TV show audio coming across powerful, nuanced and immersive. The mid-range is faultless, dialogue is smooth and we didn’t feel the need to add an additional deep bass woofer with the Ambeo bar capable of dropping to 30Hz. Stereo music sounds incredible too, with the soundbar conveying layers of detail and sonic height. 

It isn’t cheap, but the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max remains more affordable than its closest competition, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Theatre. If you don’t have the space or inclination to install a fully blown home cinema system, the Ambeo Soundbar Max is a very convincing all-in-one alternative and the best soundbar we’ve tested thus far. 

That said, if you’re looking for a slightly less expensive alternative, Sennheiser’s own Ambeo Soundbar Plus is both smaller and cheaper at $1299/£1299. 

For the longest time, Samsung has been sidelined somewhat in the world of soundbars against big ticket options from Sonos and Sennheiser, but with the Samsung HW-Q990F, that’s about to change. This latest entry represents a massive uptick in quality that has finally cemented Samsung as a company to be reckoned with in this space.

The upgraded 11.1.4 speaker configuration is a thing of beauty. It offers plenty of details to almost every layer of a track. Vocals are brilliantly uplifted so you’ll never find yourself reaching for the subtitles mid-conversation, and the overhead effects really elevate action scenes to make it feel as if car chases and explosions are bursting forth into your living room.

The inclusion of Dolby Atmos compatibility also ensures that none of the detail is left on the cutting room floor during movie night. Even when watching older films, you’ll probably start to notice just how much detail you’ve been missing when the HW-Q990F really kicks into gear.

The separated subwoofer has also been given an upgrade, with the ability to hit frequencies as low as 32Hz via its two driver design. All of this sounds great on paper but what it means in reality is a level of rumble that only exacerbates the soundbar’s sense of realism, giving you the chance to truly escape from the outside world and get absorbed in whatever it is you’re watching.

Even if you fancy switching things over to a spot of gaming, you’ll still get excellent performance there too. There’s pass-through for 4K 120Hz images which helps to reduce any perceived delay between what’s happening on screen and the audio that goes along with it, providing a tighter experience overall that’s perfect for hearing footsteps or movement that might help to give you the drop on the enemy.

The Ambeo Soundbar Plus takes everything we liked about the Ambeo Max, and puts it into a more friendly form factor.

It’s still a fairly long soundbar and is best paired with 65-inch TVs and larger. Our reviewer felt the design and build quality was excellent, the Ambeo Plus looks smart without necessarily hogging the attention from what’s on screen. It comes with two HDMI inputs to pass-through audio/HDR, but for a soundbar priced as much as it is, we were disappointed that there was no support for gaming features such as 4K/120Hz passthrough.

The system is described as a 7.1.4 system, with upfiring and side-firing speakers to create a wide and spacious presentation. The sound quality we found to be very impressive, dynamic, musical, and detail rich, it is reminiscent of the bigger Ambeo Max. Bass is surprisingly powerful for a one-box system, and the Ambeo processing really does expand the soundstage and place effects from the left, right, centre and above in convincing fashion.

Bass can be increased with the addition of four Ambeo subwoofers, but bass here digs deep and with punch for a cinematic performance. With music it’s also capable, converting stereo tracks with width and plenty of nuance. There’s no provision to add surround speakers to this unit, so it is a very front-heavy presentation.

In terms of features the Ambeo Plus supports the immersive formats such as Atmos, DTS:X, 360 Reality Audio, and MPEG-H. You can also stream over AirPlay, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Chromecast, and Bluetooth, giving the user plenty of ways to stream audio. There’s also Amazon Alexa built-in for those who want to place the soundbar within a smart system.

When it comes to extravagant products there are few better at making them than Bang & Olufsen, and with its Beosound Theatre, they’ve attempted to create an Atmos bar with no compromises.

And in our view they’ve mostly succeeded. There are still constraints and limitations given that the Beosound Theatre is a one-box system that still needs rear speakers to create the enveloping effect of Dolby Atmos immersion, meaning the soundstage is front-heavy. It doesn’t have the same reach and wraparound effect the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max can produce with its digital processing.

But the bass performance is thunderous for any one-box sound system. Our reviewer commented the Theatre was the most dynamic sounding soundbar they had ever heard. The energy and drive it gives soundtracks is excellent, and it seamlessly blends midrange and sub-bass frequencies with confidence. Dialogue clarity is excellent, and the soundbar is particularly good at delivering music. While it’s also a very good bar for movies and music, with games it’s weak at localising effects within the soundstage, making it tougher to figure out what’s around you.

DTS:X isn’t supported, which is a disappointment, but there are plenty of ways to send audio wirelessly to the bar through Chromecast, AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect, with app support that allows the EQ to be adjusted and audio modes to enable. The bar is also able to measure your listening space and optimise its performance for the best possible sound.

The design is certainly not understated, with the Beosound Theatre primarily built to integrate with LG C2 OLED but can be partnered with any TV. The width of the bar can be adjusted to match the size of the screen, with a modular design that allows it to be upgraded over time. And around the back is a generous array of connections with four HDMI ports, including one that supports 4K/120Hz frame rates.

The Beosound Theatre is eye-wateringly expensive at £5590 / $6890 but it is a class-leading effort in terms of build quality and design, and offers a superb sonic performance.

Given just how much competition there is nowadays from the likes of Sonos, Sony and more, it’s incredible to see that Philips has managed to still make a name for itself by providing one of the best value soundbar packages that we’ve seen in a long time. For just under £300, the Philips TAB6309 is an easy win for home cinema enthusiasts on a budget.

Of course, you’re probably wondering what you get for that money, and it’s a brilliant mix between design and performance. Starting with the former, the Philips TAB6309 is outrageously slim. If you have a limited amount of space to work with then you’ll appreciate the fact that when it comes to thickness, the Philips TAB6309 makes pretty much all other soundbars look a little too big.

When you turn the thing on, you’re greeted to a truly enveloping soundscape that draws you into whatever’s happening on screen with volume and detail. There’s Dolby Atmos support, which is impressive given the price point, as well as compatibility for DTS Virtual:X and IMAX Enhanced, which just goes even further to recreating the feel of the cinema but from the comfort of your living room.

There’s a wireless subwoofer included as part of the overall package, and the fact that there are no wires to contend with just continues the theme of keeping a clean aesthetic around your TV. When it’s kicked into gear though, the subwoofer leaves nothing on the table as powerful bass rumbles through your abode which might convince passersby that there’s an actual car case coming from within.

If you’re not in the mood to watch a film and would rather kick back with some tunes and a good book then you’ll love what’s on offer here too. The Philips TAB6309’s music ability is outstanding, bringing out so much detail in practically every genre, and all over a Bluetooth connection to your smartphone. It’s a great package all-round.

With its app support, design and Dolby Atmos performance, the Sonos Arc Ultra is one of the most outsanding options below £1000.

The app has access to music streaming services in Spotify, Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz as well as the Sonos Radio service. Those with iOS devices can take advantage of the Trueplay feature that optimises audio playback for any environment, while Android users benefit from the QuickTune function that sets the bar up in seconds.

The original Arc represented the first time Sonos waded into the Dolby Atmos waters and this sequel is an even better effort. It’s a big step up from the older model thanks to clearer and cleaner delivery of dialogue as well as its new Sound Motion transducers that give more depth and precision to the low frequencies.

Our reviewer found thta it positioned sounds in a room well, as if effects were actually coming from above or from far-away, and with music it handles all flavours of genre well.

If you’re already inside the Sonos ecosystem, then you can add the Sub 4 for more bass (although we’d say you don’t necessarily need it, depending on your room); as well as Era 300 and Era 100 speakers as rear speakers.

The Arc only has an HDMI eARC port, which means you’ll need a TV with an eARC port to get the highest quality Atmos audio . Wirelessly there’s AirPlay 2, which is now joined by Bluetooth, and in the app there’s the ability to place the Arc within a multi-room system with other Sonos speakers.

Design wise, the Arc Ultra is around the same dimensions as the old model, and comes in the same black or white options.

Issues? There are hangovers from the older soundbar. We’ve already mentioned the HDMI eARC niggle, but considering the price we would have expected full DTS support too. If you’re in need of DTS support, we’d recommend the Sennheiser Ambeo Plus or the Sony Theatre Bar 9 as an alternative.

For those with limited space or a smaller TV, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is one of the best soundbars available at its size. Measuring at 100mm in width and 69mm in height, the Beam 2 is ideal for small TVs up to 50-inches.

Similar to the Gen 1 Beam, the Gen 2 is equipped with a tweeter, four mid-woofers and three passive radiators. It has none of the upward-firing speakers for the overhead channels for Dolby Atmos found on the Sonos Arc or Arc Ultra. Instead, the Beam uses digital processing to create an immersive experience.

Unlike the original, the Beam (Gen 2) features HDMI eARC, which offers higher bandwidth and support for lossless audio formats such as Atmos. That does mean your TV will need an eARC port to get the best quality audio.

There are a number of modes to choose from including a night mode to cut out loud noises in the evenings and a speech enhancement mode to boost dialogue. The soundbar also supports voice commands with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

When it comes to sound quality, we found the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) performs with excellent balance and range. It doesn’t have the dimensionality of the Sonos Arc, but it positions sound in a way that it feels as though it’s wrapping around you. Our reviewer also felt that bass levels impressed, though they don’t have the same weight and depth as those produced by the larger Arc.

Nevertheless, the Beam 2 manages to deliver a good sense of cinematics, a clean and balanced sound and thus remains the best choice for smaller TVs and rooms, beating out the likes of the similarly priced Bose Smart Soundbar 600 and Denon Home 550 Soundbar, and is a cheaper option than the Sennheiser Ambeo Mini.

The Razer Leviathan V2 is a soundbar designed for gamers, intended to amp up gaming sessions with a bar and subwoofer combo. At $249.99 / £229.99, it’s within the affordable realm of the soundbar market, and a worthwhile option not just for gaming, but also with music too.

The appearance of the Leviathan V2 is toned down compared to some of Razer’s other products, although the RGB lighting scheme can summoned and customised to fit the environment, bringing a cascade of colour to gaming sessions. We found the build quality to be sturdy enough, despite being predominantly made from plastic, with feet that can angle the soundbar upwards to fire audio towards the listening position.

There is no HDMI port, just a USB audio input to connect to a PC, and wirelessly there’s Bluetooth 5.2 if you want to connect the Leviathan V2 to a device other than a PC and play audio through the bar. It’s a simple enough state of connections, though we found it to be a little disappointing that there’s no 3.5mm despite its predecessor including it. The Razer Audio app features EQ presets such as Bass Boost to help customise the sound to match the game being played.

And in terms of the sound, our reviewer enjoyed the warm, punchy bass of the soundbar/subwoofer combo, with the spacious soundstage helping to identify where enemies where, plus the sound of bullets flying past helped immerse us better within the game. There is THX Spatial Audio as opposed to Dolby Atmos, which the Panasonic SoundSlayer Gaming Speaker features, and we found the addition of spatial audio brought more heightened awareness to the games we played.

Playing music over a Bluetooth connection wasn’t as good as a wireless speaker, it’s perfectly serviceable if you’re expectations aren’t too high. There is the Pro version that supports some clever spatial audio processing, and you can read our impressions.

If you’re looking to build a true surround sound experience at home but at a reasonable price, then the Sharp HT-SBW55121 is an easy one to recommend. The soundbar itself is solid, as is the included wireless subwoofer, but if you plump for the additional surround sound speakers (which cost an extra £219) then you’ll be granted one of the best all-round audio experiences out there.

Even just to read the specs for the Sharp HT-SBW55121, you can tell that this is a soundbar that means business. You can expand out to 7.1.4 channels, and with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compatibility, you’re going to pick up on every bit of detail that a filmmaker wants you to hear whenever you watch their movies.

When taking the soundbar through a spin of Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight, we loved the fact that you could pick up on all the juicy dialogue easily as the vocals are lifted from the background to give them more weight. It’s unlikely that you’ll feel the need to reach for the subtitles with this set-up in hand.

When it comes to music, we tested the soundbar with a few songs via Tidal’s lossless audio service and it was a thing of beauty. All of the layers come through wonderfully, but the subwoofer does an amazing job of adding urgency to every song you listen to – it honestly feels like you’re being treated to a personal concert from your favourite bands/artists.

It’s also a great set-up for gamers as there are two HDMI 4K outputs available on the soundbar. This means that, as an example, if you have a Nintendo Switch 2 and a PS5 Pro, then you can plug them both directly into the soundbar to enjoy a lag free audio connection that can keep up with the action onscreen. Alternatively, you could hook up one games console and a Blu-ray player, if you like to jump between interactive and non-interactive entertainment.