The best soundbars we tested
Best soundbar: Vizio M-Series Elevate M512E-K6
Best budget soundbar: Roku Streambar
Best splurge soundbar: Sonos Arc
Finding the best soundbars for your TV continues to be an important issue as TVs slim down and built-in audio continues to deteriorate. The latest ultra-thin, bezel-free sets just don’t leave much room for audio hardware. That’s why, as we note in our best TVs guide, pairing your TV with a soundbar is the simplest way to boost your audio experience, giving you better performance without the clutter or expense of a full-on home theater system (though some soundbars include those extra pieces).
Basic soundbars can simply supply better stereo audio and fill in that center channel so you can understand movie dialogue better; higher-end models can provide convincing surround and multichannel audio and even serve as the center of your home music streaming setup.
Over the last few years, we’ve tested 20 soundbars with TV shows, movies and a ton of audio content. Whatever your needs, we’ve landed on a few standouts that should take your TV from boring to booming. Recently, though, thanks to shakeups in Roku’s lineup, we’ve had to make adjustments to this list. We’ve also been testing more new soundbars recently, for an upcoming piece about surround sound home theaters.
The versatile, simple-to-use Vizio M-Series Elevate M512E-K6 gives you clear and impactful audio and effective surround, and is easy to integrate into your home theater setup.
CNN Underscored's senior editor for electronics Mike Andronico praised the Roku Streambar for adding a "nice boost" to his TV's sound, and appreciates how its built-in Roku streaming device lets him quickly beam his Spotify playlists to the big screen.
At $899, the Sonos Arc tops all other soundbars in terms of pure audio chops — and can even put up a fight with most home theater systems.
Best soundbar: Vizio M-Series Elevate M512E-K6
The Vizio M-Series Elevate M512E-K6 is a soundbar that does it all. It comes with a wireless subwoofer that connects to a pair of rear satellite speakers to make a true surround system. The wide bar offers a host of speakers for clear side and middle channels, plus it has upward-firing speakers that retract when not in use.
Between the powerful and clear audio coming from the bar and the truly booming bass of the subwoofer, the Vizio M-Series Elevate M512E-K6 provides powerful listening. The surround speakers really boost the ability of the soundbar to wrap audio around you. While watching “Dune” with a full Dolby Atmos presentation, the Vizio M-Series Elevate M512E-K6 was able to thoroughly create an atmosphere that brings the alien worlds to life.
Vertical channels are delivered by Vizio’s “adaptive height speakers” which automatically move into place when needed. The sense of vertical space is a bit weak compared to some of the higher-end soundbars tested, but still adds a little extra spice. The motorized speakers take a moment to extend when audio starts and are a little quick to retract when they’re done, to our ear missing playback at times.
The Vizio M-Series Elevate M512E-K6 is ready for a lot of systems with HDMI eARC, optical audio, Bluetooth and 3.5mm inputs, though anyone looking to make the most of it will want to use HDMI eARC. The included remote also has a small display, making it easy to adjust settings on the soundbar. With so much sound on offer, and such versatility, the Vizio M-Series Elevate M512E-K6 will be a great audio upgrade for most homes.
Best budget soundbar: Roku Streambar
There’s no question Roku has solidified its place as one of the top streaming device makers around. But another area in which Roku continues to shine is with its audio lineup. The best option it currently sells is the Roku Streambar — which doubles as a 4K streaming device, making it the ultimate budget-friendly offer.
On paper, the Streambar doesn’t raise the bar (forgive the pun) when compared to other Roku soundbars, but that’s by design. As Roku adjusts its audio lineup (the Streambar Pro is no longer available), this main soundbar is the step-up option from the entry-level Streambar SE, adding Dolby Audio support, a remote with voice commands and an Ethernet port for stable streaming.
And, for a mere $130 you get a 2-in-1 soundbar that pairs audio with Roku’s streaming platform. That means you get access to countless streaming platforms (like Disney+, Netflix, Max and Peacock, among others) and Roku’s own Channels lineup that has shows and movies available to watch for free. For instance, as we’re writing this, we’re watching “Cast Away,” a classic, for free.
All in all, it’s incredibly easy to set up and use. We just connected the Streambar to power and our TV via HDMI. Specifically, plug this soundbar into your TV’s HDMI eARC port — if it has one. This allows you to use the Roku remote to control volume levels and the power status of your TV.
The Streambar’s plastic build, enveloped by soft mesh on the front, lacks a certain flair. We appreciated that, though, as the Streambar doesn’t fight for attention like some of the other flashier soundbars we tested. And the compact design (14 inches long and just under 3 inches tall, to be exact) is the perfect size; it’s never dwarfed by TVs pushing 60-plus inches, nor does it overwhelm smaller TVs.
Tucked behind the fabric front cover are four 1.9-inch full-range drivers to push out the sound, and they’ll certainly catch your attention. Those small but mighty speakers ably tackle low, mid and high tones, adding vibrancy to the traditionally flat sound that a TV delivers.
The Streambar increases reactionary sounds, things like audience clapping or aww-ing from the crowd, to bring them to full life. It’s also well balanced, with a focus on proper spatial placement. When watching “Avengers: Endgame,” we heard Captain America’s shield fly from left to right and Iron Man fly from right to left.
In terms of what’s lacking, bass isn’t the Roku Streambar’s strong suit. It’s certainly there, but it’s not as in your face as with other soundbars we tested. Again, that’s not so much a knock against the Roku, as the sound overall was well-balanced and really didn’t leave us wanting for more bass. (If bassy sound is something you’re looking for, the Vizio V-Series 5.1 is a great option, though it lacks clarity when using just the soundbar.) As a result of that balanced approach, we were able to more clearly discern the finer details in whatever we were watching, such as background conversations in a movie, street noise during a racing sequence or environmental noises in a nature documentary.
You can use the Roku OS interface (the same setup as on Roku streaming devices) to make adjustments to the sound. Roku has a speech clarity setting that increases vocals in TV shows and movies, which essentially lowers other tones in the mix so that you can hear the important dialogue even when using the soundbar at lower volumes.
Roku OS 10 added a Virtual Surround 5.1 feature to the Smart Soundbar as well. It’s a setting you’ll need to enable in Sound Settings, and, well, we didn’t notice much of a difference between when it was turned on or off. There is a slight change in the direction the sound comes from, but it wasn’t enough to wow us.
Even so, the Roku Streambar is a no-nonsense way to add robust sound and smarts to your TV. At less than $200 and with performance akin to much pricier models, the Roku Streambar is a no-brainer.
Best splurge soundbar: Sonos Arc
While you’re paying a hefty sum for the Sonos Arc, you’re really getting a complete package that surpasses all other soundbars we tested in terms of sound — and even most home theater systems.
Compared to the Roku Soundbar, the Sonos Arc is larger, spanning 45 inches. But the bulkier build makes sense, considering there are 11 speakers packed inside. While that’s not the most speakers we tested — the Vizio Elevate boasts 18 — the Sonos Arc is unmatched in the audio it can deliver, as it consistently delivered a crisp, detail-filled sound that was noticeably clearer than the TV’s built-in speakers.
But what truly set it apart from all the other soundbars we tested was how well it placed sounds around you for a full 360-degree audio experience. That’s thanks to the Arc’s secret sauce: TruePlay, a feature that utilizes built-in smarts to customize the audio mix for the space it’s in. During setup in the Sonos app (available for both Android and iOS), it will prompt you to complete the TruePlay process, during which the Arc will play a series of pulsating tones as the app instructs you to stand in certain positions away from the speaker — all the while the microphone on your smartphone is listening for the tone and how it sounds, collecting data from around the room where the Arc is set up. It’s listening to see how the tone is coming across, at what volume it is the most clear and if there are any echoes it should work to avoid. As a result, rather than pushing a wall of sound straight at you, this customized audio mix allows the angled speakers (pointed left, right, up and down) to push sound through the nooks and crannies of your space, immersing the room in sound to deliver a true surround-sound experience.
That custom mix’s clarity is never overwhelmed no matter how high the volume (and it can get wall-buckling loud) or how thunderous the bass the Arc can produce. And while the Roku handles spatial sound aptly, the Arc is unrivaled here, as it transplanted us back to a theater in a way no TV or soundbar could. You really feel the sound around you — if a car is racing across the screen from left to right, you feel as though it’s truly zooming by you.
More mundane or everyday content like reality TV, game shows, serials, news and documentaries also sounds richer and more detailed, allowing you to hear everything to the fullest extent. Watching “Planet Earth,” for instance, main tones like the narration and backing track come through unmuddled while also introducing sounds that are normally glossed over — think animal calls in the distance or the pitter-patter of them moving. The Arc is also Dolby Atmos compatible, so for Dolby content, it will keep the audio mix true to the maker’s intent rather than compressing the audio to fit through TVs’ built-in speakers.
The Arc’s intelligence expands beyond the sound mixing too. The Arc lives within the Sonos ecosystem, so it can integrate with other connected speakers for a grouped audio experience. Additionally, the Arc features far-field microphones, which make it a very large smart speaker. Soundbars from Bose also feature this, but many others we tested did not have the smart assistant function built directly in. Sonos lets you pick between Amazon Alexa or the Google Assistant. AirPlay 2 is a great solution if you’re in the Apple ecosystem, as you can cast content to the Arc right from your device.
At $899, the Sonos Arc is not cheap and sits in the upper echelon of soundbars. But for its price, you’re getting a soundbar that produces audiophile-level sound quality.
How we tested
After combing through editorial reviews, customer reviews and spec sheets, we decided on our testing pool of 14 soundbars.
Setup
- Onboarding: With each soundbar, we paid close attention from the moment the box arrived, noting how protected the soundbar and accessories were. We timed how long the setup took and how clear the instructions were.
- What’s included: Additionally, we paid close attention to what was included in the box. And if there was an app available, we tested it on multiple devices.
Performance and compatibility
- Compatibility: Each soundbar was tested with a range of TV models, including the Hisense ULED, LG CX, Samsung Sero, Sony X800H, Sony X900H, Sony X950H, Sony A8H, TCL 5-Series, TCL 6-Series, TCL 8-Series, Vizio V-Series, Vizio M-Series, Vizio P-Series and Vizio OLED, among others, to ensure compatibility across models.
- Programming: When it comes to sound quality we tested with an array of content that spanned all genres of TV shows, movies and music. We tested with a broad range of content, including “Avengers: Endgame”; “The Mandalorian”; “WandaVision”; “Hamilton”; “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”; “Frozen II”; “Tangled”; “Wreck-It Ralph”; “Space Force”; “The Bold Type”; “Below Deck”; “90 Day Fiancé”; CNN and CNN International; “The Love Guru”; Austin Powers, James Bond and Iron Man movies; “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”; “Letter to You”; “Springsteen on Broadway”; “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”; “The Office”; “Wonder Woman 1984”; and countless others. We analyzed the sound via histogram and with measuring volumes that the soundbar could produce.
- What it’s like to live with: While the soundbar was in use, we noted if the bar itself was rocking or rattling. If the soundbar featured a microphone, we looked to see what it could be used for.
All the small things
- Important specs: In addition to standard connectivity like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, we also tested casting technologies like Google Chromecasting and Apple AirPlay 2.
- Fine print: Lastly, as we always do, we paid close attention to the warranty of each soundbar and what it covers.
Other soundbars we tested
A solid mid-range soundbar worthy of consideration, this Bose model supports Dolby Atmos audio and includes upward-firing transducers to make for more immersive sound.
Our testing of surround sound home theater equipment included Bose’s excellent Soundbar 600, which punches a bit above its weight considering its price is lower than the soundbars from Sonos and Sony.
We really noticed the upward-firing speakers, which helped make shows and movies with Dolby Atmos audio sound like our couch was inside the action during “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “The Last of Us.” It also did well during our music producing sweet high notes from Frank Ocean and making the beats of Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross’ score for the film “Challengers” come alive.
This Bravia soundbar is little pricier and a fair bit larger than most soundbars, and still pretty capable. It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
A great soundbar that we’ve been testing with Sony’s other home theater hardware, the Bravia Theater Bar 8 produces a strong amount of bass on its default settings. You can adjust that, sure, but this is definitely a great soundbar to buy if you love low-end sound.
However, tts price and long width might make the Bravia Theater Bar 8 a bit too much for some people. If you want a lot of sound and don’t mind splurging, though, it’s well worth checking out.
Vizio's latest soundbar, which includes a subwoofer and rear speakers, is a remarkably affordable setup.
We had trouble with testing this rig, as the default audio settings made dialogue a tad harder to hear than we’d like. Then, when we tried to fix that in settings, the voice clarity control kept resetting itself. Still, Vizio’s pushing the expectations for price and value with this whole surround sound setup. Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio support is a marvel at this price, too.
The one thing we have to caution is that this setup’s got some odd caveats. Its rear speakers and subwoofer require a lot of wires compared to others here, and using the soundbar as a Bluetooth speaker requires messing with settings. Also, no AirPlay support, which made casting music from the iPhone even harder.
This smaller soundbar comes with a subwoofer that brings a lot of the thunder.
The Polk MagniFi Mini AX is an ultra-compact soundbar that’s surprisingly mighty for its size. But it’s not nearly as impressive as our top pick. Despite the size of the bar, it comes with a simply massive subwoofer that really does most of the work of filling the room. The small bar also relies on an external power supply that makes for a messier setup. The MagniFi Mini AX has room for improvement, and can be upgraded with wireless satellite speakers, but that will increase the price. It may be worth it if you’re after a compact setup, though.
A strong soundbar with subwoofer combo, at a relatively affordable price given what you get.
One of Samsung’s more recent combination soundbar and subwoofers is the Q800T. As the name suggests, it’s designed to be paired with the QLED family of TVs that the brand makes. The Q800T combines a soundbar with speakers set in different directions with a tall subwoofer.
Our favorite portion of the Q800T was the subwoofer. It not only grounded the mix, taking care of the low and bass tones, but it also allowed us to expand the scope of sound. It’s a wireless subwoofer and can be placed a bit farther away from the bar itself. While this subwoofer handles the lower end of the spectrum, the Q800T handles mids and highs. In other words, they complement each other quite well.
From the soundbar itself, audio is upward and front-firing through a series of speakers inside. It allows music to go above you and directly in front of you. If paired with a Samsung QLED it will even work in tandem with the TV’s internal speakers. Ultimately, though, the audio produced just wasn’t on par with the Sonos Arc.
The Sonos Ray is the company's best soundbar if you're on a budget, and it works with other Sonos hardware so you can eventually expand your home theater setup.
The Sonos Ray is the brand’s cheapest soundbar. It’s strictly for those into the Sonos system (you’ll need set it up using the Sonos app) and while it will stream music via Bluetooth or Sonos’s wireless streaming, it only supports optical audio input from your TV or home theater setup, which may be limiting. It doesn’t include a remote, instead relying on your TV’s or streamer’s remote (it has to be an IR remote, which is what the majority of TVs and streamers use, but you may be out of luck if your device only has an RF remote). Audio performance wasn’t particularly exceptional, with plenty of volume, but we found it grating and tinny when we pushed the levels, and without a lot of low end. If you already have a few Sonos speakers, such as a pair of Era 100 speakers you want to use as rear surrounds, and want to stay in the ecosystem, then this might be a decent addition, but otherwise you can do better at this price.
Midway between the Sonos Ray and Arc, you'll find the Sonos Beam, a great soundbar for most people. Especially since it's not as large as the Arc.
The Sonos Beam is a really terrific soundbar, and when it first launched it owned the space. But the much more affordable Roku Streambar Pro performs on par with the Sonos Beam, so we don’t see the argument for the pricier model unless you’re already committed to Sonos.
The Beam did produce deeper bass than the Roku and could get a bit louder, and if you’re into Sonos, as a step up from the Sonos Ray, the Beam has an HDMI input, and supports audio over HDMI eARC and volume control through HDMI-CEC (you’ll have to use your TV’s IR remote if you want to control the Beam directly). The Beam produces much cleaner audio at high volume levels than the Ray, and it can put out satisfying bass, though it needs a subwoofer to really offer the kind of low end that can drive movies and TV home. Though the bar offers Dolby Atmos, I couldn’t really pick up on any verticality.
Like the Ray, this bar would be a good addition to an existing Sonos setup, but if you’re starting from scratch, you can get a better single package.
Another of Vizio's total surround sound setups that's priced to compete with soundbars, and it also supports Atmos and DTS:X.
The Vizio Elevate boasts 18 speakers. The left and right ends of the soundbar can strategically rotate up to be upward-firing or stay forward-facing for a wide soundstage. It’s seriously impressive and gives us a taste at what future home entertainment audio might look like.
It’s not just a one-and-done package, though. The Elevate soundbar is paired with a modest-size subwoofer and two satellite speakers. And you really need to set it all up for a truly compelling experience.
And while it does support HDMI eARC for easy setup, it is missing some key connectivity points. It supports Chromecasting, but Apple AirPlay 2 isn’t supported here. There are no microphones on board, either.
