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“Sound is 50 percent of the movie-going experience.” So said Hollywood titan, George Lucas, a man who arguably knows a thing or two about delivering genre-defining cinematic experiences.
The meaning is clear: part of what makes going to a commercial cinema so much fun is the theater-sized sound system. But the same is true of our home theaters: you may own a brilliant big-screen TV, but if you rely on your flat-screen’s built-in speakers, you’re missing out. At the very least, you need a soundbar.
The best soundbars will make explosions more lifelike, enhance dialogue intelligibility, and immerse you in your movies and shows. In short, it makes the whole experience more cinematic.
But with all of the tech jargon and hype, the odds of picking the best soundbar can feel as likely as picking the next Oscar winners. From Dolby Atmos to room correction to subwoofers, you can save yourself a lot of time by seeing what the experts have to say. Not only have Mashable tech reporters tested some of the top soundbars from brands like Samsung, Sonos, and Bose, but we’ve also consulted a bevy of audio experts.
Ty Pendlebury tests and researches TVs and home entertainment tech for CNET, a sister site of Mashable, also owned by Ziff Davis. He’s been testing audio-visual equipment, including soundbars, for over 20 years.
“I reckon I’ve reviewed over 100 soundbars in my time,” Pendlebury wrote to Mashable.
When creating CNET’s guide for the best soundbars, he tested soundbars in the CNET AV Lab, using several different types of media, including movies, music, and games, to determine which soundbars sound the best.
Below, we’ve combined Pendlebury’s testing results and expertise alongside Mashable’s most recent soundbar reviews to select the best expert-tested soundbars available in 2025.
Is it worth getting a soundbar?
Built-in speakers on newer TVs are typically located at the back, pointing down, which isn’t the best position for optimal sound quality. Soundbars fix the issue by directing the sound outward toward the room, and they do a better job with the all-important center channel, the cornerstone of clear dialogue.
So what does that fix cost?
Soundbars can run anywhere from as low as $75 to over $1,500, and up. Obviously, that’s a wide range, but most of the soundbars we recommend fall in the $200 to $700 range. Our picks sit roughly in the low, middle, and high points of that range, to give you a variety of options for most budgets.
The best soundbar: Sonos Arc Ultra
Check out our full review of the Sonos Arc Ultra.
Who it’s for
Those who want the very best Dolby Atmos experience in a single-speaker soundbar, with lots of options to grow as their space and budget allow.
Why we picked this
We know — this soundbar sits firmly at the high end of the price spectrum, but we wouldn’t be including it if we didn’t think it was worth the price. The Sonos Arc Ultra is a truly impressive speaker, offering some of the highest-quality sound for under $1,000 you can get. As Mashable contributor Timothy Beck Werth put it in his review: “While a single soundbar can’t compete with the booming speakers you’ll hear in a movie theater, this speaker gave me the closest match to that experience I’ve ever had in my living room.”
The Arc Ultra achieves that feat through its impressive hardware, which includes 14 drivers and 15 Class-D digital amplifiers. It can effortlessly handle the 3D requirements of Dolby Atmos and the brand’s Sound Motion technology is responsible for the most powerful bass we’ve ever heard without a separate subwoofer.
Even without peripheral speakers, Beck Werth said he could “feel the bass in my chest. It really felt like sandworms were exploding out of the desert all around me,” as he watched Dune.
This encapsulates why we love the Arc Ultra so much. You can spend more on a single-speaker soundbar (see Sennheiser’s epic Ambeo Soundbar Plus and Ambeo Soundbar Max), but most people won’t feel the need to do so.
Despite delivering top-of-the-line performance, it’s also incredibly easy to use, plugging and playing via HDMI just as well as our less expensive picks. With “a single tap on my phone screen,” Beck Werth was able to sync the soundbar to his TV and remote, with the Sonos app helping him connect Spotify, Amazon Music, and Alexa with just a bit more effort.
Beyond the initial setup, the Sonos app can also be used to activate Trueplay, which helps you get the most out of your speaker by adjusting the audio based on the layout and acoustics of your room. And when your TV is off, you can use the Arc Ultra as a smart speaker via voice control. But if you’d rather not have the mic on 24/7, a physical switch disables it.
In the unlikely event that you feel the need for even more cinematic power, you expand the Arc Ultra with a variety of subwoofer and surround sound speaker options from Sonos. Speaking of expansion, Sonos’ main claim to fame is its wireless multiroom software. You can add up to 32 speakers in your home, connect them to virtually any streaming service (plus your own library), and control them all from a smartphone app. Not many soundbars can claim to do that.
So what’s the catch? We would have liked at least one (but preferably two or more) HDMI inputs, which would compensate for the one you give up on your TV. A volume display would also be handy (especially when using the Arc Ultra as a music speaker), but these are small knocks against an otherwise exceptional soundbar.
Best compact soundbar: Bose Smart Soundbar
Check out our full review of the Bose Smart Soundbar.
Who it’s for
Those who want a small-footprint, well-priced, great-sounding, do-it-all speaker for medium-sized rooms.
Why we picked this
The Bose Smart Soundbar isn’t the cheapest option out there, but for folks who want more than the bare minimum features, it’s a great option with powerful sound that doesn’t demand a ton of space on your media console. “For most users, I think this soundbar hits the sweet spot in terms of features, sound, and value for the dollar,” wrote Mashable Tech Editor Beck Werth in his review of the soundbar.
Beck Werth tested the soundbar with TV shows, music, and movies, and found that the Bose soundbar offered a far superior experience than the built-in speakers on his TV. The bass sounded pronounced without losing clarity, while everything from music to F1 races sounded balanced. Perhaps best of all, Beck Werth reported, “For TV shows, I was able to turn off closed captions for all but the most accent-heavy shows.” Bose’s AI Dialogue Assist feature also helped clarify vocals even more, offering hope to anyone who’s become a little more reliant than they would like on closed captions.
This performance is thanks to the five different transducers (including two that point upwards to bounce sound off the ceiling) and central tweeter. Again, if you’re looking for more than the bare minimum, you’ll find that in the inclusion of Dolby Atmos, which Beck Werth said made the sound quality “really [sing],” where it was available. While there’s a lot to praise, it is worth noting this soundbar doesn’t come with a subwoofer, but Bose offers two wireless subs (as well as two sets of surround speakers) that you can purchase down the line, giving it some solid upgrade potential.
As for your connection options, this mid-range pick offers plenty, with connectivity available through HDMI, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, and Spotify Connect. And as it’s a smart speaker, you can use the mics to speak directly to Amazon Alexa. If you have a Google Assistant device in your home, it can control the Smart Soundbar, too.
The previous generation of this soundbar, the Bose Smart Soundbar 600, was CNET’s top pick for the best compact Dolby Atmos soundbar. As it was phased out last fall with the release of this soundbar, we recommend opting for the newer version, which is easier to find in stock. It also has two features the older model lacks: AI voice enhancement and Personal Surround Sound, which lets you use a set of Bose Ultra Open Earbuds for rear channel audio — a very effective alternative to buying rear wireless speakers.
Best midrange soundbar: Klipsch Flexus Core 200
Who it’s for
Those who are laser-focused on getting the most cinematic sound from an affordable, single-speaker solution.
Why we picked this
The Klipsch Flexus Core 200 is midrange only in terms of price. Its size, weight, and stunningly powerful performance all scream high-end. This 18.7-pound behemoth is one of the few single-speaker soundbars you can buy that will fill a room with cinema-grade sound, all by itself.
The secret to its success is its Onkyo-designed amplification and the Core 200’s bass delivery. We don’t often recommend expanding a soundbar with surround speakers (Klipsch has two models you can add) before buying a dedicated subwoofer, but in this case, you could totally get away with it.
Thanks to the Core 200’s analog subwoofer output, when that time comes, you can add your own wired sub, or one of Klipsch’s wireless models. In fact, you can run both simultaneously if you wish.
Other ports include HDMI eARC and optical, but no HDMI inputs for passthrough. And though it has Bluetooth for smartphone audio streaming, the Flexus Core 200 lacks Wi-Fi or Ethernet, so you won’t be able to use it with AirPlay, Google Cast, or apps like Spotify Connect or Tidal Connect. That somewhat hampers the Core 200’s streaming music capabilities, but savvy folks can overcome this limitation by connecting an inexpensive music streamer like the $99 Wiim Mini to the soundbar’s optical port.
Your TV remote will easily control volume and muting on the Core 200 via the HDMI connection, but we’re still thrilled that the speaker ships with a dedicated, backlit remote for adjusting other settings. Another feature we love: the big, bright, front-facing alphanumeric display that shows up when you need it and disappears when you don’t.
Best budget soundbar: Roku Streambar
Check out CNET’s full review of the Roku Streambar.
Who it’s for
Those who want better TV sound on a budget and 4K streaming access, too.
Why we picked this
The Roku Streambar is CNET’s top pick overall for the best soundbar (and an Editors’ Choice award recipient), but despite the accolades, it’s available at an incredibly budget-friendly price. If you’re shopping for your first soundbar or simply looking to upgrade your sound system while spending less than $150, the Roku Streambar is your best bet.
Alongside an upgraded sound system, opting for this soundbar will give you access to the 4K Roku streaming interface, giving you an easy way to watch all your favorite streaming services, from Netflix and YouTube to Disney+ and Hulu. The included remote makes navigating the Roku interface especially easy, and it can work to turn your TV on and off.
While combo products often mean that something is sacrificed in the process, Pendlebury called the Roku Streambar the answer “if you want to be able to hear your TV better, particularly vocals, and also enhance its streaming capabilities,” especially if you don’t already have a streaming device in your setup. (If you do already own a streaming device, the Vizio SV210M-08 2.1 soundbar is another great option that clocks in under $200 and comes with a subwoofer.
The four internal speakers may not offer absolute top-of-the-line sound (the bass could be better on this soundbar), but you’ll find that it offers a noticeable boost to the quality and depth of the sound from your TV, especially with dialogue. The Streambar’s compact size (it clocks in at 14 inches wide) means that while it can’t compete with soundbars that simply have the space to create a fuller sound, it’s not a bad trade-off for folks who are short on real estate for speakers in their TV setup. Plus, if you decide you want to upgrade the sound profile, you can purchase a Roku subwoofer for $130 (and still be spending nearly $250 less than you would on the also subwoofer-less Bose Smart Soundbar).
Alongside the HDMI connection that works with your TV’s HDMI ARC or Optical outputs, the Roku Streambar is also compatible with Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay, Google Home, Alexa, and, of course, Roku Smart Home.
A more affordable Sonos pick: Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Who it’s for
If you’re firmly in the Sonos ecosystem but priced out of the Sonos Arc Ultra, the popular Beam is still a worthy alternative.
Why we picked this
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 has been on the market for a while, and when it goes on sale (like it does for Prime Day), it offers impressive value for the money. For customers who are already in the Sonos smart home ecosystem, it’s an easy and affordable way to give your TV setup an instant boost. The Beam is incredibly easy to set up, and because it can sync with your other Sonos products, it’s easy to build a genuine home theater surround sound system.
While it will make movies and TV shows pop, you can also use this soundbar for streaming music, one of the most underrated perks of having a TV soundbar in your living room.
In CNET’s guide to the top soundbars, Pendlebury noted that the more affordable Sony HT-S2000 offered stronger bass; however, on balance, we’d still recommend the Beam for Sonos fans in particular.
Honorable Mention: Marshall Heston 120
Read our full review of the Marshall Heston 120 soundbar.
Who it’s for
Those who want a no-compromises, powerful home theater soundbar with plenty of wired/wireless connection options.
Mashable Deals
Why we picked this
We were all set to name the Marshall Heston 120 our “best bang for your buck” soundbar, but then Marshall raised the price. (Thank you, tariffs.) However, we still think it’s a worthy soundbar.
Marshall’s guitar amp-inspired Heston 120 costs the same as the Sonos Arc Ultra, but it doesn’t have Sonos’ multiroom capabilities. And while it can theoretically be expanded with other Marshall Bluetooth speakers, we haven’t tested this. So why does it earn a place on this list?
Looks-wise, it’s utterly unique. If you like Marshall’s retro vibe, this soundbar becomes a notable part of any room’s decor. As the price suggests, it’s a powerful, full-range home theater speaker that processes both Dolby Atmos and the less common DTS:X.
Most soundbars do a good job with TV content, but music listening often feels like an afterthought. Not so with the Heston 120. It’s a great single-speaker soundbar for movies and shows, yet it might be a more accomplished music speaker. Stereo tracks sound amazing, and Dolby Atmos Music (when well-produced) sounds even better.
The Heston 120 seems to enjoy pointing out all of the little things we wish the Sonos Arc Ultra could do. It has an HDMI input and a dedicated subwoofer output, both of which are absent on the Arc Ultra. Likewise, you get an analog input, perfect for hooking up a turntable (or any other source) — another feature the Arc Ultra lacks.
Finally, the Heston 120 has excellent support for streaming music. In addition to Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect, you can use it with Apple AirPlay or Google Cast, with hi-res audio compatibility. As a DLNA device, you can also stream music to it from a DLNA-compatible music server, e.g., Twonky.
We still think the Arc Ultra is the better overall choice for most people (especially after the price increase), but there’s no question that Marshall has found ways to differentiate the Heston 120 while still delivering great home theater sound. Plus, as of September 2025, you can add the Marshall Sub 200 subwoofer to your Heston soundbar setup.
Ultimate upgrade pick: Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Max
Read Ty Pendlebury’s full review of the AMBEO Soundbar Max.
Who it’s for
Home theater aficionados who want to spare no expense for the ultimate home theater experience.
Why we picked this
If you’re looking for an even bolder Dolby Atmos performance, yet still in a single speaker, consider the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus as an upgrade. It’s twice as expensive as the Arc Ultra, but it packs a bigger cinematic punch, and it has many of the physical inputs/connections the Arc Ultra is missing, like two HDMI inputs, a wired sub output, plus DTS:X, AirPlay, and Google Cast.
You can wire your own sub or buy one (or more) of Sennheiser’s wireless subs. The only thing missing is the ability to add wireless surround speakers. But the Ambeo Soundbar Plus does such a good job of virtualizing surround speakers, you may not feel the need for them. In his full review, Pendlebury said it offered the “best Atmos sound, bar none.”
How to choose a soundbar
Beyond price, soundbars have a few more features worth considering, but that doesn’t mean the buying process requires you to be versed in a ton of tech terminology. In fact, Pendlebury told Mashable, “Thankfully, buying a soundbar is a lot easier now than it used to be,” due in large part to most having an HDMI connection, which allows for the easiest plug-and-play experience with your TV.
Along with connections, here are a few more features you’ll see highlighted with soundbars on the market these days:
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos is essentially the name of a type of spatial audio designed to deliver a three-dimensional audio experience. To clear up a couple of misconceptions off the bat: In the same way not all headphones with active noise cancellation perform equally, not all soundbars with Dolby Atmos will give the same sound performance across the board.
Our upgrade pick, the Sonos Arc Ultra, comes with Dolby Atmos.
Credit: Sonos
Perhaps even more important to note is that while Dolby Atmos offers a more immersive sound, it’s not exactly the same experience as getting true surround sound. “The biggest misnomer about soundbars right now is that if it has a Dolby Atmos sticker, it can do surround sound, especially if the soundbar is only $200,” Pendlebury explained. “It needs dedicated speakers if it’s going to do surround sound. While height is easy to replicate, sound is literally bounced off the ceiling. I’ve never heard sounds coming from behind me in a speaker that sits under the TV. Dedicated surrounds provide the best experience.”
Subwoofers and surround sound
As Pendlebury explained, to achieve true surround sound or exemplary bass sound, you’ll need dedicated equipment. Simply put, you’ll need multiple speakers. If you want true surround sound, you’ll want to take that into account when determining where your budget may sit for a soundbar. For instance, even though our upgrade pick, the Sonos Arc Ultra, provides excellent sound designed to be immersive, it can’t achieve the same surround sound that it would without dedicated speakers to help it out.
The same goes for subwoofers — a soundbar on its own can have great bass playback, but the best way to achieve the home theater experience is to get a subwoofer. While none of our picks below have one included, they all have compatible ones available for additional purchase. That said, our alternative budget pick, the Vizio 2.1 soundbar, does come with a six-inch subwoofer and two wired satellite speakers.
Connection types
As mentioned above, most soundbars these days offer HDMI connections, making it incredibly easy to get your setup going. However, you might prefer to also have Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity. As with many other device types, Bluetooth offers a simple way for you to connect to a soundbar and stream audio from devices like your phone, but as Pendlebury explains, WiFi offers a distinct benefit “as it means you can stream Spotify, for example, without running your battery down — like you would with Bluetooth.”
Smart features
Smart features, like voice assistance integration, are also relatively commonplace these days (see: our Bose pick literally having smart in the name). Still, the execution isn’t all the same. While even the most budget-friendly picks can work with AirPlay, more mid-range options may give you flexibility on how your soundbar is integrated into your smart home, and even, as with the Sonos Arc Ultra, can be used independently as smart speakers, even when the TV isn’t on.
We also want to note that soundbars exist for computer setups, but for the purposes of this guide, we chose our top picks based on TV selections. (If you’re looking for some audio options for your computer, you can check out our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers).
