Top Soundbars of 2025: Smart Buying Guide for the Best Soundbar

Explore the best soundbars of 2025 to enhance your home entertainment with superior sound quality and smart features.

Why Choose a Soundbar in 2025?

Soundbars offer several advantages over traditional home theater systems: they take up less space, are easier to set up, and often come with more affordable price tags. Whether you're hunting for a Dolby Atmos-supported soundbar or one compatible with your vintage MP3 player, there’s a perfect model for you.

Not all soundbars are created equal, though. Some deliver richer, clearer sound than others. If you’re someone who regularly watches TV or streams music at home, you want a soundbar that sounds amazing and pairs well with your devices—whether connecting to a smart TV or streaming directly from your smartphone.

The best soundbar for TV is one that makes dialogue crisp and easy to understand, breathing new life into your favorite shows.

Samsung HW-Q990D — The Best Overall Soundbar

• Channels: 11.2.4

We tested the Samsung HW-Q990D and found it stands out as the best Bluetooth soundbar overall. This premium 11.1.4 setup is the next evolution from the Samsung HW-Q990C. The differences might seem subtle at first, but one upgrade is a game-changer for gamers. Unlike its predecessor, the Q990D includes HDMI 2.1 support, enabling 4K video output at 120Hz—perfect for silky-smooth, detailed graphics during gaming sessions.

It also supports VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) mode, eliminating screen tearing for seamless visuals.

The setup includes two satellite speakers and a subwoofer, delivering balanced, immersive sound for all content types. It supports Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital, and the satellite speakers spread sound around you like you’re inside your favorite blockbuster.

You can crank up the volume to fill larger rooms without sound compression, preserving clarity. Plus, customization options abound—from equalizer tweaks and presets to a nifty “Private Listening” mode that sends sound exclusively to satellites for focused, distraction-free audio.

However, this model is on the pricier side. If you don’t need HDMI 2.1 support, the HW-Q990C might be a better value. It offers almost the same sound quality and handles other high-bandwidth signals like HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision for streaming and Blu-ray discs.

Samsung HW-Q930D — Premium Soundbar at a More Accessible Price

• Channels: 9.1.4

Looking for a premium-grade soundbar but with a lighter impact on your wallet? The Samsung HW-Q930D is an excellent choice. This 9.1.4 soundbar shares many features with the HW-Q990D, including room correction and a graphical equalizer for personalizing sound to your space and taste.

It comes with two satellite speakers and a separate subwoofer for deep, punchy bass. Out of the box, enjoy clear, detailed audio for any favorite movie, show, or music.

Four upward-firing speakers deliver 3D audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, while other popular formats such as Dolby Digital and DTS fill the room with powerful surround sound effects during action-packed scenes.

Additional handy tools like a “night mode” and improved dialogue clarity enhance your viewing experience. The tradeoff? It has two fewer channels than the HW-Q990D and lacks passthrough HDMI 2.1. Its bass is less dominant by default, though you can boost low frequencies through the equalizer if desired. Overall, a solid pick if you’re okay with these compromises.

LG S90TR — Best Mid-Range Soundbar

• Channels: 7.1.3

The LG S90TR is one of the top performers we’ve tested in the mid-price category. This 7.1.3 Dolby Atmos soundbar delivers versatile sound that suits any content. Thanks to room correction, it offers a balanced audio profile with punch and clarity, especially for dialogue.

Prefer a different sound? Several EQ presets are available. It supports a broad array of connectivity and audio formats and has wireless options like Spotify Connect and Apple AirPlay, ideal for streaming podcasts or playlists.

Satellite speakers create surround sound effects, making movies more captivating. However, its Atmos performance has limitations due to relying solely on upward-firing speakers, so overhead sounds like helicopters may lack depth.

If you want a fuller height effect, consider the Samsung HW-Q800D. It lacks satellites but sounds surprisingly good and is a smart choice for smaller spaces.

Hisense AX5125H — Best Budget Soundbar

• Channels: 5.1.2

If budget is your key concern, the Hisense AX5125H is our top pick for affordable soundbars. Its 5.1.2 setup is more basic than the LG S90TR but still delivers clear speech and well-balanced sound thanks to a subwoofer and two satellite speakers.

The subwoofer produces deep, resonant bass, while the main and satellite speakers handle crisp dialogue and wide stereo sound.

Unlike cheaper soundbars that degrade Dolby Atmos and DTS:X content, this model preserves the immersive experience well. The sound tends to emphasize lower frequencies but you can adjust bass and treble manually.

The downside compared to LG S90TR: no companion app means you rely on the remote control entirely, and wireless connectivity is limited to Bluetooth only.

Still, with support for multiple audio formats and solid streaming and physical media playback, it’s a great value-focused home entertainment solution.

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) — Best Compact Soundbar

• Channels: 5.0

Short on space or hate clutter? The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is our best compact soundbar recommendation. This new-gen model keeps the original Beam’s sleek design with a width under 26 inches.

What’s new? It now supports Dolby Atmos, becoming a great match for streaming platforms and Blu-rays offering immersive audio. Enjoy a wide, engaging soundstage that punches way above its size.

Although it doesn’t quite match premium Sonos Arc Ultra performance, it still outshines many other small soundbars.

The Beam Gen 2 includes room correction to optimize sound for your unique space. You can also add a subwoofer and satellite speakers (Sub Mini + One SL) for maximum performance.

If space is tight, this standalone soundbar is reliable and flexible, plus expandable for bigger rooms.

Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 eARC — Best for Large Rooms

• Channels: 9.2.4

For those with spacious living rooms, finding a soundbar that fills the entire area with rich sound is crucial. The Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 eARC excels here with a unique 9.2.4 configuration.

Unlike most soundbars, it features two subwoofers for even bass distribution and four satellite speakers that can be set horizontally or vertically to optimize sound.

You can freely move components to eliminate any dead spots in your soundstage. It’s an upgrade over the Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2Ch and adds eARC support for premium formats like DTS:X.

It doesn’t come with traditional room correction since it lacks a microphone, but spatial surround sound offers three presets based on room size—handy for tuning to your environment.

This versatile system supports everything from 5.1 Dolby Digital to object-based Dolby Atmos. It’s ideal for unusual room layouts but most standard living rooms won’t require the extra subs and satellites.

Honorable Mentions:

• Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad with Bass Module: Premium design and impressive Atmos, but lacks a dedicated center channel for vocal clarity compared to Samsung HW-Q990D.
• Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 with Speakers + Bass Module: Versatile 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos system; slightly narrower stereo scene and fewer sound enhancement tools than Samsung HW-Q990D.
• Samsung HW-Q900C: Good alternative to LG S90TR without satellites. Stronger center channel and louder max volume, but less impressive surround sound.
• LG S95TR: LG flagship with 9.1.5 channels. Great for LG TV owners leveraging proprietary features. Samsung delivers better surround sound realism.
• Vizio Elevate SE SL512X-0806: Reliable alternative to Hisense AX5125H with extra sound tools and wider soundstage. Lacks HDMI and optical inputs, limiting connections.
• Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc Ultra: Premium modular system with immersive sound, but limited by a single eARC port for connectivity compared to Samsung.
• TCL Q85H: Midway between premium and budget; supports many formats including Atmos. Soundstage less precise and fewer sound-enhancing features but exceeds expectations for its price.

"You can crank up the volume to fill larger rooms without sound compression, preserving clarity."

— Expert reviewer

Ready to Upgrade Your Sound?

Choosing the right soundbar depends on your space, budget, and audio preferences. From ultra-premium immersive systems to compact, budget-friendly options, 2025 offers a fantastic range of soundbars that can transform your viewing and listening experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the best soundbar for gaming in 2025?
  The Samsung HW-Q990D is ideal, thanks to HDMI 2.1 support for 4K at 120Hz and VRR for smooth gaming visuals.
• Which soundbar offers the best Dolby Atmos experience?
  The Samsung HW-Q990D and Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 eARC provide the most immersive Atmos sound with multi-channel setups.
• Are there good budget soundbars with Dolby Atmos?
  Yes, the Hisense AX5125H offers Dolby Atmos support at a very affordable price, though with fewer features.
• Which soundbar is best for small spaces?
  The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a compact soundbar that fits well in smaller rooms while delivering Dolby Atmos sound.
• Can I expand my soundbar system later?
  Models like Sonos Beam Gen 2 support adding subwoofers and satellite speakers for enhanced audio performance.

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