Nothing Special   »   [go: up one dir, main page]

Skip to main content

Soundbar Reviews

Detailed and unbiased soundbar reviews covering wears from Harman Kardon, Pioneer, and other manufacturers. Compare models based on rating, features, wireless capability, and more.

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8, right angle view.

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 review: plug-and-play Dolby Atmos

With fewer features and connections than previous Sony soundbars, the Bravia Theater Bar 8 is still a solid TV sound upgrade.
Sonos Arc Ultra and Sonos Arc.

Sonos Arc Ultra review: bigger bass, better sound, and Bluetooth too

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9.

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9 review: a bare-bones soundbar with brilliant sound

Sony's newest flagship soundbar can produce impressive sound for movies and shows, but its lack of extra features makes us question its high price.
Sony Bravia Quad Review

Sony Bravia Theatre Quad review: Big-sound dreams do come true

Your big-sound dreams can come true in a smaller package — but that doesn't mean you won't have to pay a pretty penny for it.
Klipsch Flexus Core 200: close-up on badge.

Klipsch Flexus Core 200 review: pure cinematic soundbar power

Klipsch's Onkyo-powered Flexus Core 200 is a $500 powerhouse Dolby Atmos soundbar.
Platin Audio Milan 5.1.4 wireless surround speakers and wireless subwoofer.

Platin Audio Milan 5.1.4 review: big Dolby Atmos sound on a budget

Dolby Atmos soundbars with four up-firing speakers tend to cost a lot, but the Platin Audio Milan 5.1.4 is only $800.
Amazon Fire TV Soundbar right side view.

Amazon Fire TV Soundbar review: surprisingly immersive

Amazon's new Fire TV Soundbar might not be an actual Fire TV device, but it delivers decent sound for the money.
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Mini - Dolby Atmos indicator.

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Mini review: Dolby Atmos for your bedroom

The Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Mini has impressive virtual Dolby Atmos, but its high price, middling bass response, and lack of expansion options give us pause.
Nakamichi Dragon Surround System Review

Nakamichi Dragon 11.4.6 home surround sound system review: bringing the fire

Nakamichi has unleashed the Dragon 11.4.6 surround system and I put it through its paces to see if the Dolby Atmos system really is the stuff of legend.
Sony HT-S2000 in front of a TV.

Sony HT-S2000 soundbar review: Sony trades smarts for bigger audio

You don't get many features, but Sony's Dolby Atmos sound is superb, making the HT-S2000 a truly immersive one-speaker system.
Razer Levithan V2 Pro sitting on a desk.

Razer Leviathan V2 Pro review: AI for your ears

The Razer Leviathan V2 Pro has very impressive AI head tracking capabilities, but its high price and experimental tech definitely isn't for everyone.
Philips Fidelio FB1 LED ring light.

Philips Fidelio FB1 review: the sledgehammer of soundbars

With a 7.1.2 system and impressively potent bass, the Fidelio FB1 could be the Dolby Atmos soundbar you've been waiting for. Shame it's so hard to use, then.
Apple HomePod 2023

Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) review: two is better than one

One second-generation Apple HomePod is great. But it really starts to shine when you put two of them together.
Ambeo indicator: Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus.

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus review: you won’t believe your ears

The wait is over: Sennheiser has made a smaller and more affordable Ambeo soundbar that still delivers some of the best virtual Atmos sound you can get.
The Samsung Q990B soundbar sitting lengthwise in front of a Samsung S95B OLED TV

Samsung HW-Q990B soundbar review: the best Dolby Atmos soundbar system

Truly great cinematic sound out of a one-box soundbar solution? Samsung's Q990B Atmos soundbar challenges the very concept of what a soundbar can do.
Close-up of Bose Smart Soundbar 600.

Bose Smart Soundbar 600 review: bigger than its body

Don't let its small size fool you — this soundbar delivers massive, immersive sound.
Sonos Sub Mini

Sonos Sub Mini review: The low-end finally costs less

For far too long, Sonos fans have had only one, very expensive subwoofer option. With the Sub Mini, choice has finally arrived. Was it worth the wait?
Vizio M-Series Elevate Soundbar (M512E-K6)

This Vizio Dolby Atmos soundbar system defines bang for your buck

Does getting Dolby Atmos sound in your home get any easier than the Vizio M-Series Elevate 5.1.2 soundbar system? We have the answers.
Sony HT-A3000 seen from a low left-side angle.

Sony’s HT-A3000 does virtual Dolby Atmos right, if you can handle the price

Sony's HT-A3000 is its most affordable premium Dolby Atmos soundbar with tons of great features. But its lack of up-firing drivers may give you pause.
Vizio M213AD-K8 M-Series AiO Sound Bar Review

Vizio M-Series All in One soundbar review: a real all-in-wonder

Vizio's latest affordable soundbar is an all-in-one powerhouse for under $200. Find out if it delivers the goods.
LG S95QR soundbar center height speaker close-up.

LG S95QR soundbar review: Your new home theater in a (very big) box

LG's S95QR challenges the very definition of the word soundbar, with 14 channels, 810 watts, and wicked Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound.
Angled view of The Sonos Ray soundbar in white.

Sonos Ray soundbar review: The start of something awesome

The Sonos Ray might be smaller and cheaper than its soundbar siblings, but it packs a surprising punch and can become the basis of a great home theater system.
Close-up of the Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3's touch controls.

Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 review: Home theater power bar

Capable of blisteringly loud and precise sound, the Panorama 3 is missing many features found on Dolby Atmos soundbars at the same price.
razer leviathan v2 review 1

Razer Leviathan V2 review: A PC gaming soundbar done right?

After seven years of silence, Razer returns with a sequel to its forward-thinking PC gaming soundbar.
Sony HT-S400 soundbar.

Sony HT-S400 review: A tough sell at this price

Sony throws in an excellent wireless subwoofer, but the HT-S400 can't quite justify it's higher price.
Side view of the Polk MagniFi Mini AX soundbar.

Polk MagniFi Mini AX review: Tiny soundbar, giant TV sound

Polk's latest soundbar squeezes big, bold, and powerful sound into a tiny speaker. But does it do Dolby Atmos as well as other soundbars at this price?
Bose Soundbar 700

Bose Soundbar 700 review: Simple yet exhilarating sound

Can a single soundbar really provide great home theater sound for TV, movies, and music? If it's the Bose Soundbar 700, then the answer is most definitely, yes.
Bose Smart Soundbar 300

Bose Smart Soundbar 300 review: Sweet sound for small rooms

At $400, the Bose Smart Soundbar 300 isn't cheap, but its tiny frame powers great audio, while its voice assistant options make you a hands-free media master.
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 close-up.

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 review: Atmos adds to the immersion

Bose's first Dolby Atmos soundbar, the Smart Soundbar 900, goes head-to-head with the Sonos Arc -- and the results may surprise you.
Top view of the Vizio M-Series 2.1 soundbar.

Vizio M-Series 2.1 (M215a-J6) review: A Dolby Atmos intro

For well less than $200, Vizio gives budget-minded TV owners an easy way to dip their toes into Dolby Atmos.
Polk Signa S4 Dolby Atmos 3.1.2 soundbar.

Polk Signa S4 Soundbar review: Simply better TV sound

Polk's latest soundbar lacks features like voice assistants, AirPlay, and Chromecast, but it has killer Dolby Atmos sound and a setup that couldn't be easier.
Sony HT-A5000.

Sony HT-A5000 review: The Dolby Atmos soundbar for hi-res audio fans

Sony's HT-A5000 goes up against formidable competitors from Sonos, Bose, and LG and proves that a single speaker can produce awesome immersive sound.
TCL Roku TV Alto R1 Wireless Soundbar

TCL Roku TV Alto R1 Wireless Soundbar review: It’s so easy

Roku has simplified streaming TV, now, it's moving onto home theater audio with the new Alto R1 Wireless Soundbar for Roku-enabled TVs.
Sonos Beam Gen 1 and Gen 2, stacked vertically.

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) review: Improved immersion with Dolby Atmos

The original Sonos Beam was a nearly perfect small-size soundbar for bedrooms. With the addition of Dolby Atmos, the Gen 2 model is even better.

Audio / Video News

Headphones

Audio / Video Reviews

Music Streaming Services

John Higgins is Digital Trends’ Senior Editor and section lead for A/V. After receiving his Bachelor in Music with an Audio Production focus from Ithaca College and Master of Music in Keyboard Collaborative Arts from the University of Southern California, he began working for Home Theater Magazine in 2003. His time in the print and online publishing world has been spent as a writer, editor, copy editor, researcher, and test lab technician. Most recently, Higgins was the Managing Editor of Tech at Reviewed, part of the USA Today network, where he led the website’s tech coverage. He has previously written for Wirecutter, IGN, Projector Central, T3, Sound & Vision, and Home Theater Magazine covering projectors, televisions, headphones and earbuds, sound bars and speakers, and monitors. He is a yearly attendee at CES and an ISF level 3 certified calibrator.

In addition to his career in publishing, Higgins has been a professional musician since the late 90s, having performed on piano in solo recitals, as a collaborative partner with various singers and instrumentalists, and with the Pacific Symphony. He also is an accomplished guitarist and, with his pop/rock band, has played such hallowed L.A. venues as the Troubadour, Roxy, Viper Room, and House of Blues. For 10 years, he was a teacher and music director at a private school in Los Angeles, and following his teaching career spent some time in the film industry as a post-production sound editor and composer.

Originally from just outside Boston, Higgins has been a Los Angeles resident since 2001 where he lives with his wife, son, two rescue dogs, and parrot. When not working, he spends his time watching TV shows about cooking and serial killers, preparing for his next D&D session, ignoring the growing list of games in his Steam gaming library, and building Legos with his son.