Soundbars have come a long way since they were considered a cheap alternative to a “real surround sound system.” While the individual requirements are going to vary from person to person based on TV size, room configuration and cost, there are plenty of great soundbar options out there for those of you that aren’t interested in running cables, drilling holes in the wall and dealing with a standalone receiver. Here are the 11 best soundbars money can buy.
AmazonBasics 2.1 Channel Bluetooth Sound Bar
No list of tech products would be complete without the contender from everyone’s favorite online retailer. The AmazonBasics 2.1 Channel Bluetooth Sound Bar is a 31.5″ sound bar with built-in woofer, Bluetooth v2.1 (with A2DP & AVRCP), full-range stereo speakers and three separate sound modes. It might be lacking universal or TV remote functionality, component inputs, and high-end audio specifications, but with a price point of a single Benjamin it more than compensates for whatever it lacks in the performance per dollar spent department as long as you’re reasonable about your expectations. $100
Samsung HW-K360 2.1 Channel 130 Watt Wireless Audio Soundbar
The Samsung HW-K360 2.1 Channel 130 Watt Wireless Audio Soundbar is the minivan of home audio systems in that it’s a reliable brand that carries a lot of stuff (sound, in this case) in a relatively boring package. The setup includes a soundbar with a wireless subwoofer and optional rear speaker kit that won’t win any awards for revolutionary design but serves its purpose quite effectively and efficiently. You get Samsung quality, the Samsung Remote App and a Dolby Digital surround sound experience without having to worry about hefty price tags or complicated audio setups. If you want a no-frills audio rig you can display or hide at ease—backed by a brand you know and trust like Samsung—this is the best home audio option for you. $120
Razer Leviathan Elite Gaming & Music Sound Bar
Razer made a name for themselves with performance computer gaming accessories, so it should come as no surprise that the Razer Leviathan Elite Gaming & Music Sound Bar is built with the computer gear head in mind. With that said, the immersive, 5.1 channel surround sound system with dedicated subwoofer is just as functional under a monitor or a television as it is on a window sill or a bookshelf if you’re looking to upgrade your listening experience with Bluetooth v4.0 aptX, preset equalizers tuned for all your listening needs, a 5.25″ downward-firing subwoofer and cutting-edge Dolby technology. Best of all, the Razer Leviathan packs all those features into a soundbar that’s less than 20″ long, which is 30% smaller than the competition. $150
VIZIO SB3851-D0 SmartCast 38″ 5.1 Sound Bar System
Bass as deep as 50 Hz. Sound as loud as 101 dB in amazing clarity with less than 1% total harmonic distortion. Those are pretty incredible numbers for a soundbar system that costs less than three hundred bucks, but it shouldn’t be a surprise that the technology that makes it possible bears the name VIZIO. Like everything else the brand produces, the VIZIO SB3851-DO SmartCast 38″ 5.1 Sound Bar System more than exceeds its price bracket and creates an aural experience that lives far beyond what you’d expect with something you paid this much for. It takes a little fine-tuning to get the surround sound adjusted to your personal preferences, but the end result is absolutely worth it once you get it dialed in. $280
Sony HTCT790 Sound Bar with 4K and HDR Support
Like the name indicates, the HTCT790 Sound Bar takes the Sony name, attention to detail and forward-thinking technology and applies 4K and HDR support to create a soundbar filled with cutting edge technology. HDCP2.2. HDR support. Dolby TrueHD. DTS-HD Master Audio format. 3 HMDI ports. HDMI ARC. Bluetooth. USB playback. The Sony HTCT790 Sound Bar is a fully fledged audio entertainment system that just so happens to be built to look good sitting under your TV. And it even works for multi-room listening, using the SongPal app and a connection to media services or a home network. $398
ZVOX SB500 Aluminum Sound Bar
The ZVOX SB500 Aluminum Sound Bar is a completely uninteresting piece of audio equipment that measures 3.3 inches deep, 5.7 inches high and is easily mounted to the wall under the television. But whatever the long, boring, rectangular box lacks in revolutionary design it more than makes up for in remarkable audio. Room-filling 3D sound from an anodized aluminum cabinet. AccuVoice features for absurdly clear dialog. Bluetooth streaming that ranges in quality from intimate venue to opera house. Dual subwoofers with “Mega Bass” that makes you feel like you’re there. The fact that that ZVOX setup blends into your surroundings is kind of the point. It’s one of the best soundbars out there, and it’s built to give you quality sound while taking a backseat to your design and decor. $499
Sonos Playbase
The Sonos Playbase speaker and soundbar was created after the company conducted research and found that up to seventy percent of all TVs sit on furniture. Sonos took that research to heart and used it as the inspiration to create a multi-speaker sound system dubbed Playbase that contains ten amplified internal drivers consisting of six mids, three tweeters and one woofer that are specifically built to replace the otherwise humdrum and monotone sound you’d be listening to coming out of your TV set. With over 40,000 precision drilled holes, a snaking subwoofer channel, deeper thumps, clearer vocals and bigger crescendos than you’d expect from something twice the price, the Sonos Playbase is the best soundbar for your home. $700
Bose SoundTouch 300 Soundbar & SoundTouch 10 Wireless Speaker
Bose is an established audio brand that requires absolutely no introduction, and everything you love about the moniker has been applied to the Bose SoundTouch 300 Soundbar & SoundTouch 10 Wireless Speaker. What’s in the package? Soundbar and SoundTouch 10 Wi-Fi Music system. HDMI connectivity with 4K pass-through. Bluetooth with NFC pairing and Wi-Fi support. One touch access to Internet music services. Support for the SoundTouch app and its controls. Most importantly, the sleek setup works for TVs and wireless audio across multiple platforms and devices with high-end hardware backed by the established Bose name. It’s everything you need in a single room sound setup. $898
Definitive Technology W Studio Wireless Black Sound Bar System
Whatever the Definitive Technology W Studio Wireless Black Sound Bar System lacks in brand recognition or household notoriety it more than makes up for in performance and whole house audio capability. The W Studio Sound Bar and Subwoofer perfectly blend a high quality theater experience with high end home audio sound in sleek packages that will work in the living room or home theater without marring the surrounding decor. From Amazon Prime Music to iHeartRadio or the newest Netflix release to the latest upcoming red band trailer, this Definitive Technology soundbar system has everything you need from a smart, expandable setup to high-quality performance. $1,100
Paradigm Shift SoundScape Soundbar
The Paradigm Shift SoundScape Soundbar skips the brand recognition and fancy packaging in favor of a quality product, solid build and attention to detail that focuses on true to life sound and a set-it-and-forget-it menu system that you should, in theory, only have to use once. Whether you’re hooking it up to a fancy subwoofer or directly to your television, the Paradigm Shift SoundScape Soundbar truly lives up to the paradigm shift name in the fact that it creates a truly unique listening experience unlike anything else on the market. It’s not exactly IMAX theater level sound, but it’s pretty damned close. $1,500
Yamaha YSP-4300 Digital Sound Projector with Wireless Subwoofer
What makes the Yamaha YSP-4300 Digital Sound Projector with Wireless Subwoofer worth close to $2,000? True 7.1-channel surround. 22 array speakers with two powerful mid-range woofers. Four HDMI inputs. Front panel USB connections. Built-in FM tuner. Advanced YST technology for rich and powerful bass. Wireless subwoofer with a six and a half inch driver and a linear port designed for no extraneous noise. Ten different Yamaha CINEMA DSP programs ranging from “Movie” to “Music.” Versatile listening modes. In short, the Yamaha YSP-4300 is more audio equipment than any of us could ever hope to truly utilize and it’s built into a soundbar that’s also easy to configure and setup. $1,800
