Best surround sound system 2023: Top choices for home theatres

The HW-Q990B is Samsung’s 2022 flagship soundbar system, and if you’ve been searching for a high-quality surround sound experience that’s more accessible and accommodating than a traditional surround sound system, we’d say that currently there isn’t a soundbar system better than the Q990B.

With an enormous 11.4 channels of sound at its disposal, our reviewer found they all joined forces brilliantly to create a convincing hemisphere of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound around the seating position. The rear speaker design has been improved from the Q950A model, with it now able to fire sounds towards the ceiling to join the up-firing sounds from the main to create the sensation of height in a soundtrack. The rears also feature side-firing drivers, and we felt they helped close the gaps on the sides of the soundstage so the listener is completely surrounded by audio effects.

Dialogue sounded clear and rich to our ears, and didn’t fall prey to the issue that affects some soundbar systems where dialogue doesn’t match its position on screen. raised above the soundbar to make them sound better attached to the onscreen action. When it comes to music, especially stereo music, the Q990B isn’t as good as it is with films and TV. The subwoofer can have too much of a presence in stereo tracks, upsetting the overall balance.

The design is not as premium as its predecessors, but we liked the more industrial approach that’s far less prone to picking up dust. You’ll find space to accommodate the massive subwoofer, which is more of an eye sore than the rest of the speakers in the Q990B package.

The HW-Q990B supports Samsung-only features such as Q-Symphony, which matches the soundbar’s drivers with that of a compatible Samsung TV to create a bigger sound. Alexa voice recognition is supported, and for iOS users there’s AirPlay 2 to cast audio to the soundbar. 

Gamers may be disappointed by the lack of 4K/120Hz passthrough that some high-end games support, but this isn’t a widely supported feature for soundbars anyway. Connections include two HDMI inputs (which can pass through HDR formats such as HDR10+ and Dolby Vision) as well as a single optical audio input, and there is of course Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatibility.

The HW-Q990B will be replaced by the HW-Q990C, which features a similar spec but does appear to come with a more advanced calibration system. It’s also more expensive, so given the price difference between the two, you may find the Q990B the more appealing option in the here and now.

Reviewer: John Archer
Full Review: Samsung HW-Q950B

The Q950A soundbar has been replaced by the HW-Q990B, but it is still available for a bargain basement price.

Taking in all the speakers, the Q950A is near identical to its predecessor apart from the rear speakers, which Samsung has added more drivers to. With more drivers spreading out sound in different directions, they need some space to operate if they’re being used on a bookshelf. The subwoofer is large and takes up space, but considering the oomph provided by its 8-inch driver, it’s worth accommodating.

The speaker set-up is an 11.1.4 channel, which is more than the LG SP11RA, and powered by a substantial 600W of power with support for Dolby Atmos or DTS:X immersive audio formats. For home cinema enthusiast looking to plug sources into the bar itself, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision HDR formats can be pass through the bar if you’ve run out of HDMI inputs on the TV. There’s no support for VRR or 4K/120Hz that the latest consoles take advantage of.

Wireless connectivity stretches to Bluetooth, AirPlay 2 and Wi-Fi. For those with relatively new Samsung TVs, there are exclusive features such as SpaceFit sound that calibrates the soundbar’s output to a room’ dimensions. There’s also the Active Voice Amplifier that boosts volume levels and make voices more prominent to compensate for ambient room noise.  

With the addition of two extra channels, our reviewer found it added more space to this soundbar than the previous model. We found there was greater presence to rear channels than before, along with a better sense of width to that area of the soundstage.

The design offers a nice blend of a felt finish and a metallic grille, and is slim enough to fit under most TVs though the display is on the top surface rather than front-facing, which makes reading it more difficult than need be. And while we’ve found newer soundbar systems to be less visually interesting, they pick up less dust than the Q950A does.

Reviewer: John Archer
Full Review: Samsung HW-Q950A

The LG SP11RA features a great sense of height in the soundstage that it creates, especially with Dolby Atmos soundtracks. Our reviewer felt that the way in which the surround system positioned effects was arguably one of the best performances in terms of steering audio in front of the listening position, offering more clarity and precision than the Q950A produces.

The SP11RA was able to fill almost all corners of our test room with ease, which we found remarkable from such a slim unit. Dialogue come across with crystal clear clarity, the system revealed plenty of detail from movie soundtracks we tested and the subwoofer felt integrated within the mix, producing a forceful low end.

We found using the AI Sound Pro processing expanded the soundstage and produced a more aggressive presentation, bringing an Atmos-style presentation to non-immersive sources. We did find that, on occasion, it can stress treble sounds a little too unnaturally. Where the Q950A gains the upper hand is that the LG doesn’t quite create an entire hemisphere of sound, so while the performance from the front speakers is great, there’s less a sense of sound around the sides of a room. 

With a total of 7.1.4 channels, the SP11RA features an enormous 770W to power all the speakers. New features include the Meridian Horizon mode that aims to turn two channel content into more immersive multi-channel audio. Elsewhere the SP11RA can pass-through Dolby Vision and HDR10 formats, though the lack of HDMI 2.1 support may disappoint gamers looking to pass-through 4K/120Hz games. Google Assistant, Siri and Alexa voice control are supported if you want the option of hands-free operation.

The SP11RA’s slim profile should fit under most TVs without a hitch, the rear speakers are compact, and while the subwoofer is on the large side it is slender enough that it can fit beside a sofa or under a sideboard.

Reviewer: John Archer
Full Review: LG SP11RA

The Sonos Arc is one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars we’ve tested, and when paired with rear speakers and a subwoofer it creates an impressive surround system that does come at a premium price. 

On its own the Arc is a 5.0.2 system, with the Sonos Sub and rear speakers transforming it into a 7.1.2 channel set-up.  S2 compatible Sonos speakers are required for the rear channels, so the One SL, Era 100 or Five speakers are an option along with the Ikea Symfonisk Bookshelf speakers, while any generation of Sub can be partnered with the main Arc bar. You can now add the Sonos Era 300 to the system to have rear Dolby Atmos speakers to produce a complete hemisphere of Dolby Atmos sound. 

The audio performance is one we found impressive when all hooked up, with Trueplay helping to align and balance the speakers for optimal sound within the room. The rear speakers help to fill in the gaps behind the seating position, providing a subtle assist that engaged us more than the front-heavy performance of the Arc. The integration of the rear speakers is well handled, blending in well to create an expansive hemisphere of sound.

The addition of the Sub provides an impressive low end than you got with the Arc, helping to alleviate the Arc’s issue with transitioning between the bottom end of the frequency range to the mid-range. As the Sub is left to do the heavy lifting, the Arc can focus on the midrange, which we felt helped aid smoother transitions between bass and midrange.

Depending on the size of the room, a Sonos Sub may feel too powerful, and the cost of it adds to the overall outlay. There is the Sonos Sub mini, which is cheaper but Sonos doesn’t recommend pairing with with the Arc soundbar, saying it’s a better option to be used with the Sonos Beam or Ray models if you’re listening in a smaller room.

Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Review: Sonos Arc Surround Sound Package