Compact Soundbars 2025: Sound in a Mini Format

Explore the best compact soundbars of 2025 for a premium audio experience without taking up too much space. Enjoy powerful sound in a small package!

Introduction to Compact Soundbars

Compact soundbars are often a more convenient alternative to traditional home theater speaker systems. As technology advances, many soundbars now come equipped with an increasing number of speakers and sound enhancement technologies, which often leads to larger models. However, some soundbars are too wide to fit on a desk beneath a computer monitor or within a TV stand. Thus, the best soundbars for computer use tend to be smaller than those designed for TVs. While smaller soundbars generally don’t produce as rich a sound as their bulkier counterparts, their compact design makes them easier to transport or install in any convenient location.

Top Small Soundbars: A Detailed Look

Best Overall Small Soundbar

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

• Mixed Use: 7.4
• Dialog/TV Shows: 7.5
• Music: 7.5
• Movies: 7.2
• Channels: 5.0

The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is the best compact soundbar we've tested. This premium model features the same compact design as the original Sonos Beam, measuring under 26 inches in width. Its small size allows it to fit comfortably under a computer monitor or TV stand without taking up too much space. Unlike its predecessor, this soundbar supports Dolby Atmos, allowing you to enjoy object-based formats on Blu-ray discs and streaming services. If you move to a larger room, you can easily expand it with a subwoofer and satellite speakers.

Despite its small size, this premium soundbar utilizes psychoacoustic principles to widen the soundstage beyond the panel, creating a sense of spaciousness and drama as if you were in the center of the action. This feature helps it stand out compared to other high-end small soundbars like the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Mini. While Sennheiser offers more customization with a graphic equalizer, this often comes at a higher price. Both soundbars also include built-in voice assistant features.

Best Mid-Range Small Soundbar

Samsung HW-S60B/S61B

• Mixed Use: 7.4
• Dialog/TV Shows: 7.9
• Music: 7.5
• Movies: 7.0
• Channels: 5.0

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, consider the Samsung HW-S60B/S61B. This standalone 5.0 soundbar offers quite versatile performance for its price, along with Dolby Atmos support for those who watch a lot of content on streaming platforms and Blu-ray. It has a sleek design that integrates easily into your home decor, plus built-in Alexa support for hands-free control. With a width of less than 27 inches, this panel won't take up too much space in your setup. Often available at a discount, it’s a smart choice if you want to save without sacrificing performance.

If you are considering alternatives, take a look at its successor, the Samsung HW-S60D. It operates similarly to its predecessor but includes Chromecast and eARC support. Whether these features are worth it depends on your system's capabilities, as eARC does not always guarantee enhanced performance. Nevertheless, the HW-S60D is generally priced slightly higher than this pick, but you can catch it on sale occasionally.

The HW-S60B/S61B soundbar is equipped with an array of tuning tools to maximize your listening experience. Like most high-end soundbars, it features room correction to optimize sound and a 7-band graphic equalizer for those who prefer manual adjustments. Unlike the Sonos Beam (Gen 2), it supports Bluetooth connectivity. However, its stereo soundstage isn’t as impressive as the Sonos, meaning you won’t feel as immersed in the surrounding space. This is particularly noticeable when using audio formats like Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos, as the sound effects don’t spread around your couch as clearly and realistically. Nonetheless, given its price, it’s a solid soundbar worth checking out if you’re on a budget.

Best Budget Small Soundbar

Roku Streambar

• Mixed Use: 6.0
• Dialog/TV Shows: 6.6
• Music: 6.4
• Movies: 5.4
• Channels: 2.0

The Roku Streambar is an excellent budget alternative to our top picks. This device is a 2.0 soundbar with plenty of great features to enhance your home theater experience. It provides access to the Roku media streamer, which consolidates all your streaming services, like Netflix and Disney+, into a user-friendly interface. You can easily find your favorite shows and movies and enjoy crisp, clear sound instantly. Dialogues are reproduced clearly and accurately, making it easy to follow conversations onscreen.

This well-built soundbar measures just under 14 inches wide, making it more suitable than the Samsung HW-S60B/S61B for your living room decor without taking up too much space. Apple users can stream content to the panel via AirPlay 2, and it supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for wireless playback. Given that it is a 2.0 panel, it is ideal for listening to content with vocals, such as podcasts, sitcoms, and documentaries. However, the low frequencies are less thunderous than those produced by Samsung, making it less suitable for bass-heavy music like electronic dance and hip-hop. Still, if you’re on a tight budget, it’s definitely worth considering.

Best Soundbar for PC Use

Bose Smart

• Mixed Use: 7.2
• Dialog/TV Shows: 7.3
• Music: 7.3
• Movies: 7.0
• Channels: 3.0.2

While many people choose a soundbar to enhance their TV's sound, you can also connect it to your computer for a noticeable improvement over built-in speakers. The Bose Smart soundbar is the best small soundbar we've tested for this purpose. Measuring under 28 inches in width, it fits easily under a monitor. At around two inches tall, it won’t obstruct your screen. This device is priced similarly to the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). However, it supports Bluetooth for easier wireless connections to your computer, reducing the clutter of cables in your setup.

This soundbar doesn’t deliver the same expansive and immersive soundstage as the Sonos. However, it offers great sound quality. Dialogues come through clearly and accurately, and bass enthusiasts can always add a subwoofer for more low-frequency power. You can also adjust the low and high frequencies. Plus, the built-in Amazon Alexa feature allows for voice control of the soundbar. It also supports Dolby Atmos content through special drivers, but to stream this content from your PC, ensure that other components in your system are compatible. Overall, it’s a fantastic choice for PC users, but if you need something better suited for immersive audio, consider some of the pricier models on our list.

Other Noteworthy Options

• Denon Home Sound Bar 550: A well-designed soundbar that supports Dolby Atmos. However, being a 2.0 system means it must convert Atmos into stereo, which doesn't provide the same immersive sound as the Sonos Beam 5.0 (Gen 2).
• JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam: This compact 5.0 soundbar features a separate center channel and room correction. It also supports Virtual Dolby Atmos, meaning it converts Atmos content into surround sound, which is not as immersive as the Sonos Beam (Gen 2).
• Sonos Beam: A 3.0 system with a design similar to the next-generation Sonos Beam (Gen 2). While it lacks support for Dolby Atmos, it still offers a significant upgrade over your TV speakers if you don’t watch many movies.
• Roku Streambar SE: An excellent choice for those on a budget wanting a soundbar that also serves as a streamer for the TV. It is even cheaper than the Roku Streambar but lacks Dolby Digital support and compresses sound at maximum volume. However, it has a more balanced frequency response with richer highs and lows.

Check out our review of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars of 2025.

Whether you're looking for an upgrade for your TV, PC, or simply want a compact soundbar without compromising sound quality, there's a variety of options to choose from in 2025. Each soundbar has its unique strengths, catering to different needs and preferences. Which soundbar will you choose for your home setup?

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