The best soundbar for 2025: My top picks for theater-quality audio at home from Sony, Sonos, Vizio and more

Channels: 5.1.2 | Dolby Atmos: Yes | Connectivity: HDMI (x2), Bluetooth, optical | Subwoofer: Included | Rear speakers: Included | Voice assistant: None | Main speaker dimensions: 1.8" x 31.5" x 3.5"

Earlier this year, Hisense discontinued our previous best-soundbar pick, the AX5125H. Good news: Its replacement, the AX5140Q, is very similar, but with a few new features (and, unfortunately, a slightly higher price). Notwithstanding a few quibbles, we think the AX5140Q is, like its predecessor, the ideal pick for most people.

The system combines a powerful Dolby Atmos-equipped main speaker with a wireless subwoofer and two wireless rear speakers. That means you get real, not simulated, surround sound. When bullets are whizzing during an action scene, there's simply no substitute for rear speakers to carry the sound past your ears.

By the way, those rears now include up-firing drivers, for a total of four speakers bouncing sound off the ceiling — the better to deliver that room-filling effect. No other sound system I tested did a better job of making me feel like I was in a real movie theater. And although the subwoofer is slightly smaller than in the previous system, it thumped the room like a champ.

As before, Hisense supplies a detailed instruction guide, one of the best I've seen — and now there's a handy quick-start guide as well, just to get you up and running faster. 

I continue to admire the numbered cord bags, a simple but effective means for helping you make connections in the proper order. (Not that it's complicated: Plug in the soundbar, then the subwoofer and rear speakers. Everything connects automatically; I didn't have to manually pair anything.) 

Meanwhile, because this is a "Roku-ready" soundbar, my Roku TV immediately recognized and configured it, then played a nifty audio-demo video. Cooler still, all the settings available via the Hisense remote (mode, equalizer, etc.) were also accessible in the Roku TV's onscreen audio menus. (Some Hisense-branded TVs support this capability as well.)

Worth noting: There's an HDMI pass-through port, nice if you want to add something like an audio receiver into the mix. That's a feature not found even in some more expensive models, like the Sonos Arc Ultra.

Another usability win: The soundbar's digital display is large enough to be read from across a room; it's much better than the tiny, uninformative LEDs employed by most soundbars. Alas, you can no longer adjust its brightness, nor turn it off if you prefer.

What's more, although the soundbar's five preset equalizer modes are straightforward enough — movie, music, sport, etc. — Hisense doesn't explain the difference between "pure" and "pro" surround modes. And while I experimented with the "AI" sound mode — meant to automatically optimize audio depending on the source — quite a bit, I can't say it made anything noticeably better (or worse, thankfully).

One thing still missing here is Wi-Fi, which would allow for not only music streaming via Apple AirPlay, but also connections with voice assistants (such as Amazon Alexa). Alas, it's Bluetooth-only.

Assuming that's not a priority for you, this is a superb home-theater sound system. It's loud, crisp and detailed, with serious subwoofer oomph and excellent rear-speaker surround. I liked its predecessor a little better at $350, but hopefully, upcoming sales will bring the AX5140Q's price down closer to that level. Even at $400, though, it's a solid value and still cheaper than a lot of competing systems.

Channels: 5.1.2 | Dolby Atmos: Yes | Connectivity: HDMI, Bluetooth, optical | Subwoofer: Included | Rear speakers: Included | Voice assistant: None | Main speaker dimensions: 1.8" x 31.5" x 3.5"

Size (HWD): 2.5" x 35.5" x 3.5" | Connectivity: HDMI, Bluetooth, optical | Number of embedded speakers: 2 | Dolby Atmos: No | Subwoofer: No

A soundbar doesn't need a lot of bells and whistles to do its job effectively, nor does it need to put you in the poorhouse. Sony's HT-S100F is the best basic soundbar we've found, and it's priced to fit just about any budget.

Setup couldn't have been easier; my Roku TV automatically detected the S100F, meaning I was instantly able to use the Roku remote to control volume. But I have to mention Sony's excellent fold-out startup guide (big illustrations, clearly written text, imagine that!) and remarkably detailed user guide. This is the kind of hand-holding you rarely see with modern consumer electronics, and I commend Sony for it.

You may need that guide to interpret some the buttons on Sony's remote, however. There's a lot of them, and while the basic modes — Cinema, Voice, Music, etc. — are fairly straightforward, I didn't immediately understand the Indicator, Play Mode or Audio buttons.

Beyond that, my only real usability complaint is having to rely on a single flashing LED to know when a mode is active. Two flashes equals "on," one flash means "off." It's also a little challenging to remember how to switch inputs; you press the Input button once, then again to cycle between HDMI, Bluetooth and AUX. At least when you choose Bluetooth, the LED turns blue, but the other two inputs have white LEDs. Which is which? These aren't major issues — you just need to commit all this to memory or refer to the instructions as needed. It's entirely possible you'll tweak your modes and settings once and rarely touch them again.

As for sound quality, the S100F offered a nice soundstage for both music and movies. I definitely appreciated the dialogue boost when switching to Voice mode, though I do wish it could be applied to, say, Cinema mode instead of overriding it.

Just take note that there's not much bass here (though I wouldn't expect it at this price point), and audio starts to get a little harsh when you reach for higher volumes. Thankfully, the soundbar is loud enough (especially for small/medium rooms) that you shouldn't often need to. 

Bottom line: The Sony HT-S100F proves you don't need to spend a lot to get a solid soundbar.

Channels: 5.1.2 | Dolby Atmos: Yes | Connectivity: HDMI, Bluetooth, optical | Subwoofer: Included | Rear speakers: Included | Voice assistant: None | Main speaker dimensions: 1.8" x 31.5" x 3.5"

Your first reaction to the Skywave F40 Boom SE might be the same as mine: "This box is way too small to contain a soundbar." Turns out the main speaker is cut in half; you snap the two pieces together. Clever!

The attractive, chrome-accented Boom SE is a Walmart-exclusive; you can also get the "standard" Skywave F40 from Amazon for about the same price, but it has a smaller subwoofer. (Speaking of price, an Ultimea representative told me the Boom SE is "permanently on sale" at Walmart for $198.)

I was disappointed by the terse, tiny-print user guide. There are QR codes you can scan, both on the front page of the manual and the back of the remote (handy!), but both lead you to generic support pages. Eventually I found the Skywave F40 manual, but was presented with two versions. The one labeled "New" is the complete guide, and it's much more helpful, covering speaker placement, connectivity options and the many, many buttons on the remote.

How many? Seventeen, plus five level-adjust rockers and a D-pad; it's one crowded clicker. But everything is clearly labeled (icons and text), and the only thing I really struggled to understand was Xupmix: The feature isn't adequately explained in the manual. Something to do with surround channels and six surround-effect modes...?

That head-scratcher aside, setup is easy — but note that the subwoofer doesn't plug into an AC outlet like most; it connects to the soundbar. That may limit where you can place it, though it's also one less outlet needed by the system.

Similarly, the rear speakers aren't independently wireless: They chain together using an included 6-meter cable. (At least they don't require a wired connection to the soundbar.) That creates a little added cord-clutter, but there's also just one AC outlet needed for the two speakers, instead of the usual two.

My Skywave F40 testing included watching Free Guy, an action-packed, music-heavy movie encoded for Dolby Atmos. Dialogue came through loud and clear; the surround effects were superb. But there was less bass than I expected given the size of the subwoofer. Even cranked to its maximum setting, the thump was subtle, not floorboard-rattling.

If it's rattle you crave, look elsewhere. But overall the Skywave F40 Boom SE provides a great alternative to your TV's built-in speakers, offering big, boisterous surround sound that really elevates the viewing experience. And the sub-$200 price tag won't bust your bank account.

Channels: 3.1 | Dolby Atmos: Yes | Connectivity: HDMI, Bluetooth, optical | Subwoofer: Included | Rear speakers: Optional | Voice assistant: None | Main speaker dimensions: 2.5" x 37" x 5.2"

The Soundbar Plus with subwoofer is one of four options in Amazon's TV-speaker lineup. There's also the smaller Fire TV Soundbar ($120), the Soundbar Plus minus subwoofer ($250) and the Soundbar Plus with subwoofer and rear speakers ($490). My take: a subwoofer is a must-have addition, and worth the extra cash. Rear speakers are also awesome if you can swing them.

That said, all these models are priced higher than I expected given the Amazon branding, though keep in mind they're all routinely discounted. For example, the $375 Soundbar Plus with subwoofer I reviewed routinely drops to $300 and was down to $250 during Prime Day.

So does it live up to the premium-ish pricing? Yes and no. Arguably the system's best asset is its dedicated center-channel (aka dialogue) speaker, something you don't find in a lot of competing products in this price range.

Indeed, you mostly see 2.1-channel systems: Left and right speakers (the "2") and a subwoofer (the "1"). This is a 3.1-channel combo: left, right and center speakers all baked into the soundbar. Unsurprisingly, this is one of the best mid-priced soundbars I've tested when it comes to putting voices front and, well, center.

It also does an impressive job simulating surround sound, with both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support baked in for movies and TV shows that support it. While it doesn't have any up-firing speakers, the front-facing ones manage to produce an admirably wide soundstage. Meanwhile, Amazon's beefy subwoofer delivers tight, clear bass — enough to shake the floor if you crank the volume.

I'm less enthusiastic about certain aspects of usability. Although Amazon provides an excellent printed manual to aid with setup and operation, the remote is a pain to use. For starters, the volume and mute buttons are the same size as all the others and get lost in the mix.

But it's when you adjust audio settings that things get really annoying. You can't raise or lower the bass, treble or dialogue-enhancement levels independently; you have to cycle through the settings one at a time. And every adjustment comes with a verbal announcement: "Bass level 3," "Bass level 4," and so on. This would be slightly less irritating if there weren't nine available bass/treble levels.

Meanwhile, the soundbar has no alphanumeric display, only cryptic LEDs. Sometimes they're white, sometimes green. Sometimes they illuminate left-to-right, sometimes from the middle. It's all unnecessarily complicated.

These are all things you can learn to live with; the important thing is the Soundbar Plus definitely adds "plus" to your listening experience. If you often struggle to hear dialogue in TV and movies, this is a great choice — especially if you wait for the next sale.

Channels: 2 | Dolby Atmos: No | Connectivity: HDMI, Bluetooth, optical, Ethernet (with optional USB adapter) | Subwoofer: No | Rear speakers: No | Voice assistant: None | Dimensions: 2.4" x 14" x 4.2"

Not to be confused with the Streambar Pro, which we'd previously named the best soundbar overall but was discontinued in 2024, the smaller Streambar is nearly as good — especially for apartments, bedrooms and other cozy spaces. It's affordable, expandable and stocked with a secret weapon: Roku!

In other words, this soundbar is also a streaming device. Whether or not that's appealing depends on a few things. Are you currently using an old, slow Roku device you'd like to upgrade? Are you unhappy with the streaming software that's built into your TV? The Streambar gives you the full Roku experience, effectively bypassing whatever you're using currently.

That means you get not only Netflix, Hulu and all the other channels, but also a souped-up remote with voice controls. (It should be able to control your TV's power, volume and mute settings as well.)

Just note that while the Streambar supports HDR image processing, it doesn't support HDR10+ or Dolby Vision — newer, better iterations of that technology. If your actual TV does, you'll be sacrificing those capabilities by using the Streambar. (For what it's worth, there's also the Streambar SE, which costs $30 less and does offer HDR10+. However, it has two embedded speakers instead of four.)

This is something of a smart-home hub, too, compatible with Apple Siri, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. ("Home servant, turn on the TV and play the latest episode of Severance!") It also works with Apple's AirPlay 2, which lets you mirror your Apple device to your TV, and HomeKit. 

Setup is extremely easy, thanks in no small part to Roku's excellent quick-start guide; it's detailed and novice-friendly (although it doesn't really explain voice commands; you have to venture online to learn about that). All you do is connect the Streambar to your TV, ideally via an HDMI eARC port, and walk through the onscreen setup steps — which conclude with a fun little demo video.

Indeed, nice touches like these are part of why Roku is my preferred streaming environment. It continues to offer a friendly and uncluttered interface that's easy to navigate. I especially like automatic (but manually adjustable) Speech Clarity feature, which dynamically identifies dialogue and increases the volume relative to other audio. This works quite well; I never found myself struggling to hear people talk.

On its own, the Streambar delivers really nice Dolby-powered audio, but it's definitely light on bass, unsurprising given the lack of a subwoofer. One solution: Spring for the Roku Wireless Bass Pro Subwoofer ($180). And for the absolute best experience? Tack on the Roku Wireless Speakers ($150) to use at the rear for a true 5.1-channel surround setup.

That's the setup I have, and I really, really like it. Great sound and simple operation for the win.

Channels: 2.1 | Dolby Atmos: Yes | Connectivity: HDMI, Bluetooth, optical | Subwoofer: Embedded | Rear speakers: No | Voice assistant: None | Dimensions: 2.6" x 36" x 4.7"

Vizio makes a ridiculous number of soundbars — a whopping two dozen in the current lineup, at last count. The SV210D-0806 (not to be confused with, say, the completely different SV210D-0808) is notable not just for being one of the newer additions, but also for incorporating Dolby Atmos. That's an unusual find in a $150 soundbar.

It's an attractive unit, rounded and cloth-covered, a nice change from the typical black-plastic rectangles. Setup is pretty standard: connect the included HDMI cable to your TV's HDMI eARC input, plug it in and you're good to go. (If you have an older TV, look elsewhere; there's no optical connection option here.)

All this is outlined in Vizio's short but straightforward quick-start guide, but there's one potential source of confusion: You're directed to download Vizio Mobile on your phone, but when you get to the app store, there's no such app; it's now called Vizio WatchFree+.

To use it — necessary in order to do anything besides control volume, because this soundbar comes without a remote — you'll have to to create a Vizio account. That's a common requirement these days, but an annoyance all the same.

While the app is nicely designed, it's both limited and confusing in places. For example, it has volume controls but lacks a play/pause button. There are only two preset equalizer modes — music and movie — and switching between them doesn't switch sources (namely, phone and TV). You can manually adjust treble and bass, but I detected zero change in dialogue volume when moving the "Cleardialog" slider. Similarly, the "Height" slider produced no noticeable changes either. (More on that below.)

Meanwhile, I couldn't figure out how to switch out of Bluetooth mode (after listening to music from my phone) when I wanted to return to watching TV. There's a setting called "auto HDMI" that I think is supposed to handle this, but at least once during my testing, I remained stuck in Bluetooth until I exited and reloaded the app.

Those usability complaints aside, the SV210D sounds very good for a $150 soundbar. Movie audio gets big and boisterous, with a decent amount of bass thanks to the pair of built-in subwoofers.

What's more, although the soundbar lacks the up-firing Dolby Atmos speakers found in pricier models, it still manages to leverage the tech pretty well. During the opening battle sequence in All Quiet on the Western Front, for instance, it definitely felt like bombs and bullets were coming from the sides, not just in front of me.

It's worth noting that if you own (or plan to own) a current-gen Vizio TV, you can easily affix the soundbar to the bottom without any tools. You can also access audio settings on the TV itself, effectively bypassing the app.

Channels: 9.1.4 | Dolby Atmos: Yes | Connectivity: HDMI, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Subwoofer: Optional | Rear speakers: Optional | Voice assistant: Alexa, Sonos Voice Control | Dimensions: 3.1" x 46.1" x 4.3"

If Apple made a soundbar, it would probably look a lot like the Sonos Arc Ultra. From the luxurious packaging to the sleek design to the sky-high price (which, unfortunately, is $100 higher than the original Arc's), everything about this smacks of a premium product. And that's fine if you can afford it, because the Arc delivers truly amazing audio, thanks to some high-tech tricks.

Available in white or black, it spans a whopping 46 inches. That actually makes it too large to tuck between the legs of my 55-inch Roku TV; it has to sit a bit awkwardly in front of them. (Before buying any soundbar, it's always good to take measurements.) Newly added touch controls help to compensate for the lack of a physical remote, but they're not easy to see in dim lighting.

The Arc Ultra's wide frame accommodates 14 separate speakers, including two up-firing ones dedicated to Dolby Atmos. Setup isn't complicated, but if you're not tech-savvy, don't expect much hand-holding: The included print guide lists just two steps. The second one: Install the Sonos app, which walks you through all the rest.

If you already have Sonos gear in your house, adding the Arc Ultra is a breeze; the app automatically detects and configures it. It's still pretty easy if you're starting from scratch, but be prepared for steps like creating a Sonos account and connecting to your home Wi-Fi. 

You'll also want to configure Trueplay, which optimizes audio for your room. You can either use a new quick-tune option that takes about a minute, or use the original fine-tuning method that sees you walking around the room waving your phone around. Either way, this is part of the wizardry Sonos uses to simulate surround sound — and, boy, does it work.

Indeed, the combination of Trueplay and the Atmos speakers creates room-filling audio that's unmatched by any other standalone soundbar. Obviously this is less effective in larger, more open spaces (think: a living room with vaulted ceiling), but in a self-contained room, wow. By the way, Trueplay is now supported on most Android phones; previously it was an iPhone-only feature.

Particularly impressive is how much bass the Arc Ultra produces without a separate subwoofer. You may not feel that thump, but you'll hear it. Similarly, movie and TV audio exhibited a richness and detail beyond what I detected in cheaper soundbars. And although the app offers a Speech Enhancement setting you can toggle on and off, it's not really needed; it does well on this front right out of the box.

I also found the Arc Ultra noticeably superior to other soundbars when it comes to music — unsurprising given Sonos' pedigree in that area. (Remember: The company started out making speakers specifically for music.)

On a related, er, note, the Arc Ultra brings Bluetooth into the connectivity mix, meaning it can serve as a traditional Bluetooth speaker if you're so inclined. (Personally, I prefer the convenience of Apple AirPlay, which relies on Wi-Fi.)

The Sonos Arc is a high-end product, one that looks gorgeous and outperforms all other standalone soundbars. But, wow, it's expensive and, if you just want a basic TV audio upgrade, hard to justify.

Channels: 3 | Dolby Atmos: Yes | Connectivity: HDMI, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, optical | Subwoofer: Optional | Rear speakers: Optional | Voice assistant: Alexa, Bose Voice4Video | Dimensions: 2.2" x 27.3" x 4.1"

Doppelganger to the popular Bose Soundbar 600 we reviewed previously, the newer Smart Soundbar (no numeric designation) adds a few amenities while raising the price $50 — and keeping the same usability frustrations.

This model is "Roku TV Ready," meaning those TVs can automatically detect and configure the soundbar — which is exactly what happened when I plugged it into my Roku TV Pro's HDMI port. The entire setup process took about 30 seconds.

Otherwise, a brief but easy-to-follow print guide walks you through first steps, though it doesn't explain the different connection options (HDMI vs. optical) or identify the buttons on the remote. For those kinds of details, you'll need to access an online owner's guide. I'm not sure why Bose couldn't devote a couple extra print pages to such important aspects of the product.

The Smart Soundbar continues to rely on a barely visible LED bar that illuminates only when you adjust volume, change modes or the like. There's nothing that shows the actual volume status (no dots, bar, numbers or the like), nor even anything to indicate power status. I couldn't tell if the thing was even powered on.

Thankfully, when it is, it delivers. The Smart Soundbar punches above its weight (and size), producing balanced, full-bodied sound that I found equally pleasing in movies and TV shows. It's a great speaker for music, too, with support for AirPlay, Bluetooth and Chromecast sources. Bose's AI Dialogue Mode does an impressive job isolating and enhancing voices, though it's hard to say there's any real "AI" at work here. (Lots of competing speakers have similar modes, no AI involved.)

Don't expect much bass, though, which is unsurprising given the compact size. The optional Bose subwoofer would make a welcome (though pricey) addition here.

Another "accessory" to consider: You can pair the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds to the soundbar for "personal surround sound" (translation: virtual rear speakers). The effect is subtle, but it definitely affords a more immersive audio experience than you can get from the soundbar alone. Just note that it's limited to a single user and doesn't work with any other Bose earbuds or headphones.

I like the Bose Smart Soundbar overall; it's compact yet powerful, with superb dialogue clarity. I can overlook the usability issues; I just wish the price tag here was a little lower.

Channels: 7.1.2 | Dolby Atmos: Yes | Connectivity: HDMI (x4), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, optical | Subwoofer: Yes | Rear speakers: Yes | Voice assistant: Alexa | Dimensions: 2.8" x 45" x 4.6"

The Polk MagniFi Max AX is a beast of a sound system, with a mammoth, floor-shaking subwoofer and speakers powerful enough to bug the neighbors. It's easy to set up, too, though the print instructions stop short of explaining various features — so be prepared to experiment.

One small issue did crop up during testing: Whenever I started streaming a new movie or TV show, there was a brief delay — just a second or two — before the audio kicked in. This didn't happen with the other soundbars. It's hardly a dealbreaker, but I did find it irksome.

That wrinkle aside, the Polk MagniFi AX SR is absolutely superb. It's versatile and easy to use, and it can blow the doors off even a large home-theater space. If big bass, satellite speakers and Dolby Atmos are on your list of must-haves, this is the system to get.