Best Soundbar: Upgrade your TV audio

We rate the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max as the best soundbar you can buy today, but it is a lot of soundbar for a lot of money – $2199 / £2199 to be exact.

The Ambeo is a large unit, over a metre long and weighing 18.5kg, it’s not one that will easily sit beneath a telly unless the TV is wall-mounted. The similarly priced Devialet Dione tips the scales at 12kg, and we considered that to be fairly heavy. The Ambeo is heavier than some OLED TVs on their own.

Which means it needs a fair amount of space but for its size and heft the build quality is excellent with a good selection of inputs that includes three HDMI ports, digital optical out and aux-in. Wirelessly there is support for Google Chromecast and Bluetooth 4.2.

The Ambeo Soundbar is an all-in-one effort, and one of a few we’ve tested that lives up to its claims of offering 5.1.4 channel immersive sound. It sounds absolutely sensational, firing effects around a room and generating power and muscle to make films and TV shows sound their exciting best. We found there to be a substantial level of bass for a single-bar system, with a good level of extension to the low end and in addition, plenty of depth and nuance to the soundstage it creates. But you’ll want to make sure the Ambeo processing is switched on, as we found the bar’s performance lost a sense of depth and height with it off.

There’s Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and the less well known MPEG-H are the main audio formats supported. To calibrate the Ambeo’s performance, it has a high-quality calibration microphone that matches the profile of the soundbar’s sound to a room, although it can only perform this from a single listening point. That means you want to be sitting in the right place at all times for the best experience possible.

There’s competition from the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Theatre, but that’s even more expensive at nearly £6,000. If the size of the Ambeo Max is off-putting, Senheiser has released the smaller (and less expensive) Ambeo Soundbar Plus for £1,299 / $1,499.

Reviewer: Steve May
Full Review: Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar

Having not too long ago reviewed the HW-Q990B, we’ve now had a look at Samsung’s brand new soundbar system in the HW-Q990C. It’s another belter of a wireless home cinema system, though if you’re expecting massive upgrades on the previous iteration you may feel a tinge of disappointment.

That sense of disappointment wasn’t the sensation our reviewer was left feeling after auditioning the Q990C. While there’s no increase in channel count over the Q990B, sticking at a still numerous 11.1.4 channels, it’s a decision that makes sense to us given it’s more than enough to creative that large, enveloping hemisphere of sound for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks.

As ever, a particular highlight of Samsung’s latest soundbar system is the power and dynamism of its speakers. In our opinion, no other soundbar system delivers with as much intensity, impact and ‘bite’, with a dynamic range that adds to the excitement of the visuals on screen.

The ‘Acoustic Lens’ subwoofer continues to deliver some of the deepest rumbles we’ve come across in the soundbar world, a nimble woofer that’s able to dig deep and hardly ever sounding compressed at low frequencies. The rear speakers offer a fantastic sense of detail, helping to create a soundstage that’s outstandingly cohesive and balanced; positioning effects accurately around the soundstage whether they be overhead, in front of the viewer or to the sides.

The Q990C is better with music than the Q990B, though we found it was dependent on where we placed the subwoofer. There’s a much better balance and integration of low frequencies to be found when placed closer to the main unit, avoiding the muddy sound of before, especially in the bar’s Adaptive Sound mode.

There are a few upgrades on the feature side, with the inclusion of the SmartThings Hub to the SmartThings app control if you want to connect the soundbar to other ‘smart’ products in the home. The Adaptive Sound mode has been upgraded, doing a better job of identifying voices at lower volume levels. Also new is the improved auto-calibration tools to set-up the speaker’s performance for your room.

There’s support for the third-gen version of Samsung’s Q-Symphony technology that combines the soundbar’s drivers with that of a Samsung TV’s speakers to create a bigger sound that places effects where they’re meant to be onscreen. Alexa voice recognition is built-in, and for iOS users there’s AirPlay 2 to cast audio to the soundbar.

The design and connectivity options are essentially the same as before, with the only real change being the colour is a lighter shade of black. Connections include two HMI inputs and a single optical audio input, with the HDMI input able to pass through HDR10+ and Dolby Vision formats. There’s still no support for 4K/120Hz pass-through that some games do support.

The Samsung HW-Q990C enters the market at £1599 / $1599, which is now nearly double the price of the Q990B. If you’re looking to save money, the Q990B would be the model to go for, but if you’re upgrading from an older soundbar system, we’d recommend a closer inspection of the HW-Q990C.

Reviewer: John Archer
Full Review: Samsung HW-Q990C

The HW-Q990B has been superseded by the HW-Q990C, but if you’re looking for a more affordable home cinema surround system, then we would say that’s no better soundbar system under £1000 than the Q990B.

It packs 11.4 channels of sound that our reviewer found joined forces brilliantly to create a flawless hemisphere of sound around the seating position. The improved rear speaker design from the Q950A allows upfiring sounds from the front and back to meet up over the listener’s head more cleanly and effectively. The side-firing drivers on the rears also blend well with the front-side drivers, helping to close any gaps on the sides of the soundstage.

We also found that vocals sounded clear and rich, and raised above the soundbar to make them sound better attached to the onscreen action. We didn’t find the Q990B sounded as good with music, with a subwoofer that can have too much of a presence in stereo tracks.

As usual, the HW-Q990B supports Samsung specific features such as Q-Symphony, which matches the soundbar’s drivers with that of a Samsung TV’s speakers to create a bigger sound that places effects where they’re meant to be onscreen. Alexa voice recognition is supported, and for iOS users there’s AirPlay 2 to cast audio to the soundbar.

We found the design to have a less premium look than its predecessors, ditching the felt finishes of before but our reviewer liked the more industrial approach, which is far less prone to picking up dust. The subwoofer is massive and more of an eye sore than the rest of the speakers in the Q990B package.

Connections include two HMI inputs and a single optical audio input. The input can pass through HDR formats such as HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, but for gamers there’s no 4K/120Hz passthrough that some high-end games support.

Reviewer: John Archer
Full Review: Samsung HW-Q990B

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

And in our view they’ve 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 immersive sound, 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 a excellent 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 other 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, offering up a superb sonic performance.

Reviewer: Steve May
Full Review: Bang & Olufsen Beosound Theatre

Samsung’s soundbar line-up acts as a perfect complement to their TVs, and the HW-Q700B strikes an impressive balance between performance and value at its $699 / £699 asking price.

Much like the step-up HW-Q800B, it’s both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compatible and features an HDMI input that supports 4K HDR passthrough if you’ve run out of inputs on your TV. Samsung exclusive features include Q Symphony, which allows the soundbar to work in tandem with the TV’s speakers for a bigger soundstage. Our reviewer very much enjoyed its implementation on this bar.

It features several other ways to fire audio at it including AirPlay 2 for iOS users, Bluetooth support and Spotify Connect integration through Samsung’s SmartThings app that corrals other smart home devices to speak to each other. There’s also voice support in Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.

It’s the performance that we’re here for, and this 3.1.2 channel effort has several appealing traits. Our reviewer found dialogue clarity to be excellent, making it easy to follow what’s been said when the action on screen gets busy. The upfiring height drivers perform a great job of expanding the soundfield with a film like The Gray Man, the sense of ambient space makes the action feel more believable.

The crossover point between the main unit and the subwoofer is smoothly done, and the sub itself puts in a punchy, hard-hitting performance with low frequencies to create plenty of impact. Bass delivery isn’t necessarily full of depth, but it is effective. The issue we would point out is that the Q700B is a front-heavy soundstage, with no rear speakers to create the enveloping soundscape needed for true Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks. It does, however, support Samsung’s rear speaker package if you choose to go down that path.

The HW-Q700B is a soundbar for larger screens, those with smaller TVs may want to look at the Sonos Beam Gen 2 or Bose Smart Soundbar 600 as similarly priced alternatives, though both those models do not come with a subwoofer included.

Reviewer: Steve May
Full Review: Samsung HW-Q700B

If the expense of a soundbar like the Sennheiser Ambeo causes your eyes to water, the presence of an affordable soundbar with a dedicated subwoofer might be more attractive. In that case the Wharfedale Vista 200S is a highly recommended option.

We found the bar’s design to be attractive in appearance and the construction durable. The black finish and glossy top surface doesn’t scream a cheap soundbar despite the Vista 200S’s affordable price. With a width of 900mm it’s tailored to partner televisions up to 65-inches in size, and that it boasts a slim for factor also means you won’t be living in fear of the soundbar blocking the picture.

In terms of features, we observed there wasn’t much to grapple with aside from its active wireless subwoofer that has a side-firing 165mm driver with 60W of power. If you want wireless connectivity or immersive audio, you’d be better off seeking the smaller but more expensive Sonos Beam Gen 2. We did note the three preset EQ settings for media playback are provided in Movies, Music and News to optimise the soundbar’s sound for those types of content.

We found the sound quality for the price was especially good, with the 200S putting in a great performance across the frequency range with a top-end that didn’t suffer from a lack of detail, plus some punchy bass thanks to the active subwoofer. We also observed that the Vista 200S could get rather loud without sounding harsh or compressed due to its 120W of built-in amplification. It also dealt with dialogue well, even without a dedicated centre speaker, and if you’re interested in playing music through this bar, then it delivers on a smooth and clear performance.

There are cheaper soundbars, such as the Sharp HT-SBW202, as an alternative but we haven’t come across another soundbar that offers as much performance-per-pound at this price the Wharfedale.

Reviewer: Steve Withers
Full reviews: Wharfedale Vista 200S

If you’re in the market for a soundbar that’s great with movies and music, we suggest you give the Sony HT-A7000 a closer look.

During testing, we found its audio delivery to be crisp and concise, with clear voices and especially powerful bass for a single-bar unit. Its 7.1.2 channel Dolby Atmos and DTS:X performance impressed too, with a great sense of height that makes for a more immersive performance than a ‘standard’ soundbar. Its claims of virtual surround sound weren’t too convincing, but this is likely down to needing a room with walls nearby to bounce sounds off to the listening position (which we didn’t have in our set-up).

The HT-A7000 is also an excellent performer for music showcasing great tonality, depicting the mid-range naturally, along with sharp highs and punchy bass. We would say it performs better with music in its Cinema mode, eliciting a smoother vocal performance.

There is an upgrade path with the ability to add rear speakers and a subwoofer, but this doesn’t come at a particularly affordable price, taking the total cost past $2000 / £2000. You at least get plenty of bang for buck for features, with various options of playing audio through the system be it wired or wireless. There is Chromecast, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth 5 and Spotify Connect, and support for Hi-Res Audio with DSD and the wireless LDAC format.

There’s Sony’s 360 Reality Audio format that can play tracks in 3D audio from music streaming services such as Tidal and Deezer. Smart assistance is possible with both Alexa and Google assistant, but a separate compatible device is needed to enable hands-free control.

Its design is rather out there, with a reflective glass top surface and different combination of materials that may make it marmite for some (we rather liked it). It is also a large soundbar, wider than the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max though thankfully not as tall, so it can fit beneath most TVs. You’d really want to pair with a TV 55-inches or bigger to get the most impact. Sony has launched a cheaper version in the HT-A5000 that supports a similar feature set but at half the price. Look out for our review on that model soon.

Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full review: Sony HT-A7000

Both the Sennheiser and Sony soundbars on this list cost north of $1000 / £1000 for a Dolby Atmos soundbar. If that’s not a price you’re willing to jump over, then we’d suggest the Sonos Arc. While it’s not cheap, its range of connectivity, streaming support and upfiring speakers make it one of the outstanding options below £1000.

The Arc represented the first time Sonos waded into the Dolby Atmos waters and we found the bar’s soundstage was full of plenty of height and width in testing, putting in a crisp performance with good control of the top end, alongside a detailed presentation of the mid-range and low-end.

Our reviewer found the transition between mid-range and low-end was not the most fluid, hampering the overall cohesion of the Arc’s presentation. It plays music well, although again the blend of bass and mid-range did cause it to lack conviction at times. The lack of bass is an issue that hampers several Atmos single-bars such as the Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3, but at least with the Arc a subwoofer can be added. With the Era 300 available a full Dolby Atmos home cinema system can be created if that’s of interest.

The Arc features HDMI eARC, which means you’ll need a TV with an eARC port to wring the best possible Atmos performance. Wirelessly there’s AirPlay 2 (Sonos still omits Bluetooth from its spec), and in the S2 app there’s the ability to place the Arc within a multi-room system with other Sonos speakers. The S2 app also provides access to streaming services in Spotify, Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz as well as the Sonos Radio service. Those with an iOS device can take advantage of the Trueplay feature that optimises audio playback to any room.

Design wise, the Arc is is keeping with Sonos’ recent design language, its minimalistic look available in black or white. It’s over a metre long but quite discreet in profile. The Arc is a very good Dolby Atmos soundbar but not without limitations, and its lack of all-round DTS support means this isn’t the best choice for home cinema enthusiasts with older DVDs and Blu-rays with DTS soundtracks.

Reviewer: Simon Lucas
Full review:  Sonos Arc

For those with limited space or a smaller TV, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is one of the best soundbar available in its size. 

The Beam (Gen 2) measures 26-inches in width and just shy of 3-inches in height. For reference, our best overall soundbar, the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max is almost twice that size. This makes the Beam ideal for small TVs, with any up to 49-inches in size a suitable fit.  

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. 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. 

There are a number of sound 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 manages to deliver a good sense of cinematics, a clean and balanced sound and thus remains the best choice for smaller TVs and rooms, just beating out the likes of the similarly priced Bose Smart Soundbar 600 and Denon Home 550 Soundbar.

Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full review:  Sonos Beam Gen 2 

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. The is the Pro version that supports some clever spatial audio processing, and you can read our impressions of it from a preview.