Buying a Home Theater X Soundbar

A soundbar is a great way to upgrade your TV experience and enjoy cinematic surround audio. It can help to boost speech clarity and add a whole new dimension to movies, as well as making music and game audio more immersive. Soundbars also tend to be cheaper than traditional home theater speaker setups and offer a more convenient option for most people.

The best soundbars come in a range of sizes and prices, with some offering Dolby Atmos support for immersive cinematic audio. Many are designed to sit beneath your TV on a stand or cabinet, but some are slim enough that they can be wall mounted. They should be kept free from obstructions and structural features that can block their soundwaves, and they often have rear bass ports or up-firing speakers to bounce their sound off the wall behind your TV.

Most of the best soundbars come with a subwoofer to add deep bass to your home theater system. They are also typically designed to have a sleek and attractive appearance that will complement your television and furniture. Some also have built-in smart home capabilities and can control your compatible devices via voice commands or an app.

The Sonos Arc is one of the best soundbars you can buy, with a stunning design and impressive Dolby Atmos audio. It can be used as part of a multiroom Sonos system with other Arc and Play-Fi speakers, or as a standalone system that works with your existing TV. It also comes with a class-leading music ecosystem, with Tidal Connect and Spotify integration, Amazon Alexa support and Roon certification.

Another great choice is the Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3, which delivers some of the best Dolby Atmos audio we’ve heard from a soundbar, as well as excellent performance with all kinds of content. It can also be used as part of a Sonos system with other Arc and Play-Fi products, and it has a wide range of customizable features to personalize your listening experience.

Another popular choice is the Samsung HW-Q990D, which offers Dolby Atmos support and has a wireless subwoofer to add deeper bass. It also has a class-leading music ecosystem and supports a wide range of streaming services, including Tidal, Spotify and Apple Music. It can even stream your own hi-res audio files for the ultimate listening experience. It’s worth noting that the HW-Q990D does have some minor flaws, including a somewhat limited range of room correction features and a slightly muddy sound quality at high volumes.