Best soundbars 2025: options for every need, recommended by our experts

Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

If you want to improve the more than often subpar sound quality from your TV, getting your hands on a soundbar is a great way to go.

Watching a film with brilliant picture is only half the home cinema experience, so investing in a soundbar makes sense to take care of the other half. You don't have to pay a huge amount for better sound, either. While expensive soundbars do exist and are often worth the money, most TVs will be improved through the addition of a £100 / $100 / AU$200 soundbar.

But finding the perfect one for you can seem like an impossible task. There are so many brands to choose from and it can be tricky to see which ones are leading the new in terms of the newest technology.

LG, for example, has seemingly decided not to release any new soundbars this year and risks falling behind rivals such as Samsung or Sonos.

Luckily, we've got your back. We have been testing soundbars since the category emerged in the early 2000s and have tested hundreds of different models over the subsequent 20+ years. Each model we test is compared side-by-side with the best soundbars in its price category, so we don't know just which models are good or bad – we know which are best overall.

You can read more about our soundbar testing process, dig deeper into how to choose a soundbar, or simply scroll down for the top models.

The quick list

Recent updates

20th November 2024
Replaced the discontinued Sony HT-A7000 with the Sonos Arc Ultra as 'best overall' and added the Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9 as the 'best soundbar with HDMI 2.1'.

Written by
Tom Parsons
Written by
Tom Parsons

I'm What Hi-Fi?'s TV & AV Editor, and I've been testing soundbars ever since they became a serious category in the mid-2000s. While I personally love AVRs and dedicated speaker systems, I'm well aware that they are not for everyone. A soundbar, on the other hand, is an easy way to massively upgrade your home cinema experience. If you care enough about picture quality to buy a premium TV, you really should also budget for at least a soundbar as well. As you'll see, you don't need to spend much on one to beat your TV's speakers.

The best soundbars in 2025

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

Below, you can see our picks of the best soundbars currently available. Every one has been tested by our team of product experts to ensure it delivers great performance and value, so you can trust our buying advice.

Best soundbar overall

A big upgrade on the original Sonos Arc and overall the best soundbar you can currently buy

Specifications

Connectivity: HDMI out (eARC), wi-fi, ethernet, Bluetooth
Sound format support: Dolby Atmos, PCM
Streaming: Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect
Voice control: Google Assistant, Alexa, Sonos Voice
Dimensions (hwd): 7.5 x 118 x 11 cm (2.95" x 46" x 4.35")
Weight: 5.9kg (13lbs)

Reasons to buy

+
Clean, precise, spacious and three-dimensional sound
+
Deep, tuneful and expressive bass
+
Terrifically detailed for a soundbar

Reasons to avoid

-
No HDMI passthrough
-
No DTS support
-
Still some app issues

Replacing the original Sonos Arc can't have been a simple task (it's in the What Hi-Fi? Hall of Fame for very good reason) but, after literal years of rumours, said replacement is finally here – and it's exceptionally good.

The Arc Ultra looks very similar to its predecessor, but it's slightly less thick, which means it's even less likely to obstruct the bottom of your TV's image, and the new 'ledge', which houses most of the touch controls, is a stylish new touch.

As has always been the case with Sonos soundbars, simplicity is key. There's no remote or display – you just connect it to your TV via HDMI eARC and it takes over from your TV's speakers. For many people, that's ideal, but for others, the Arc Ultra will seem limited – particularly in its lack of dedicated HDMI inputs. The lack of DTS:X support will bother some people, too, and it's fair to say that the Sonos app, while better than it has been, is still a little bit buggy.

Those flaws are worth overlooking if you're able to, though, because the sound quality is superb. The delivery is so crisp, clean and precise that it makes the original Arc sound a bit vague in comparison. It's also vastly superior in terms of how much it fills the room and how accurately it places and tracks effects in three-dimensional space. A soundbar system that includes wireless surrounds and a sub, such as the Samsung HW-Q990D, will be even better in this regard, but the Atmos effect that the Arc Ultra delivers is deeply impressive by the standards of a solo soundbar – and you can always add surrounds and a dedicated subwoofer to the Arc Ultra at a later date if you have the appetite (and deep pockets).

The Arc Ultra also features a unique 'Sound Motion' woofer, which is markedly different to a typical speaker driver and which Sonos claims allows the new soundbar to produce 'double the bass' of its predecessor. In truth, the Arc Ultra doesn't sound vastly weightier than the previous model, but its bass is significantly punchier and more tuneful, even when really challenged. This is a real strength of the new soundbar.

These core audio qualities make the Arc Ultra almost as well-suited to music as it is to movies, which is very well indeed, making this a terrific all-rounder of a soundbar. If you can live with the lack of HDMI inputs, there's no better performance-per-pound soundbar around.

Read the full Sonos Arc Ultra review

Best cheap soundbar

A budget soundbar for a solid step up from your TV’s speakers

Specifications

Connectivity: HDMI out (ARC), optical, USB, Bluetooth
Format support: Dolby Digital, LPCM 2ch
Streaming: None
Voice control: None
Dimensions: 6.4 x 8.8 x 90cm (2.51" x 35.4" x 3.46")
Weight: 2.4kg (5.29lbs)

Reasons to buy

+
Looks and feels premium
+
Impressive scale and width
+
Inexpensive

Reasons to avoid

-
Slightly muffled presentation
-
Could have more punch

If you're looking for a simple, constructive step up in sound from your TV's in-built speakers, Sony's HT-SF150 (known as the HT-S100F in the US) offers a significant sonic enhancement for little outlay. Indeed there's almost no other competition worth considering for under £100 / $100 / AU$200.

While the SF150 is very affordable indeed, it doesn't look or feel cheap and it won't look out of place nestled below a much more premium TV. Alongside HDMI ARC, it has an optical input supporting Dolby Digital, Dolby Dual mono and LPCM 2ch. There's also a USB port and Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity for music playback from an external source too.

The SF150 also features Sony's S-Force Front Surround technology, which applies processing to give the acoustic impression of a more encompassing soundstage. While there is no replacement for surround sound, it adds a dramatic sense of weight and separation.

Of course, you're not going to get sonic perfection for this sort of money, and the SF150's delivery of dialogue can be a smidge muffled at times. A little more impact to effects would be welcome, too. Still, the broad-strokes approach to sound taken here is probably a sensible one that means the 'bar gets the basics right and never offends. Anyone wanting a musical, finely detailed speaker should aim for a more sophisticated model. Still, this budget bar is ideal for those looking for a quick and easy improvement to their TV.

Read our full Sony HT-SF150 review

Best step-up soundbar

Sony’s budget Dolby Atmos soundbar is exceptional value for money

Specifications

Connectivity: HDMI out (eARC), Optical
Format support: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X
Streaming: Bluetooth 5.2
Voice control: None
Dimensions: 6.4 x 80 x 12cm (2.51" x 31.5" x 4.7")
Weight: 3.7kg (8.1lbs)

Reasons to buy

+
Simple plug-and-play functionality
+
Crisp, clear dialogue
+
Solid dynamics

Reasons to avoid

-
Not loads of bass weight
-
Sound Field mode is a miss
-
Not as full-bodied as rivals

The HT-S2000 is a soundbar that’s centred on improving the sound that comes from your TV while keeping the cost as low as possible. There are few frills to find with this bar, with Sony opting for a straightforward design and feature set; but we think it's nailed it.

The S2000 is a fairly small unit, measuring just 6.4 x 80 x 12cm. It features Bluetooth 5.2 and HDMI eARC – something comparable bars such as the Sonos Ray do not offer. It also offers an Optical audio connection, in case your TV lacks eARC capabilities.

The S2000 uses a 3.1-channel arrangement with a built-in subwoofer and a total power output of 250W. There are no upfiring drivers which means that the height channels for the supported spatial audio formats, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, are achieved through Sony’s Vertical Sound Engine psychoacoustic sound processing system.

If you want to improve the audio of your favourite shows and movies at a price that won’t put you off, then the Sony is worthy of attention. It provides clearer, more dynamic and more direct sound than your TV will be capable of mustering. Sure, you can spend more on meatier-sounding soundbars, but at this price, the S2000 offers plenty of quality.

Read our full Sony HT-S2000 review

Best entry-level Dolby Atmos soundbar

What Hi-Fi? Awards winner. If space and budget are limited, there isn't a better virtual Dolby Atmos soundbar that we'd recommend

Specifications

Connectivity: HDMI out (eARC), wi-fi, ethernet
Sound format support: Dolby Atmos, PCM
Streaming: Apple Airplay 2, Spotify Connect, Sonos S2 app
Voice control: Google Assisstant, Alexa
Dimensions (hwd): 7 x 65 x 10cm (2.7" x 26" x 3.9")
Weight: 2.8kg (6.35lbs)

Reasons to buy

+
Effective handling of Dolby Atmos
+
Warm, refined sound
+
Streaming smarts

Reasons to avoid

-
No additional HDMI ports
-
No Bluetooth
-
Doesn’t support DTS:X

While it's undeniably diminutive in stature, everything else about the Beam Gen 2 is deeply impressive. Sonos essentially took its original Beam and added genuinely convincing Dolby Atmos without changing the overall design or adding dedicated upward-firing drivers.

It's all done through clever processing: the Beam Gen 2 uses psychoacoustic HRTF (head-related transfer function) technology to deliver a sense of height using two of the unit's five front-facing drivers.

The effect, while not quite as immersive as that offered by soundbars with dedicated up-firing speakers, is still very impressive, particularly considering the size and price of the Beam. All told, it provides an enveloping presentation that's rich, three-dimensional and full of detail.

During testing, we paired the Beam Gen 2 with TVs ranging from 43 inches to 65 inches in size, and in each case found that it "enhanced the cinematic scale and viewing experience". So don't discount this little soundbar if you've got a big TV.

Of course, with this being a Sonos soundbar, movie and TV sound is only one of its features. On top of that, you can use it as a full Sonos wireless speaker and even integrate it into a Sonos multi-room system. Control can be done via the Sonos S2 app, or you can simply send music to the 'bar using AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect or Tidal Connect. It even now supports hi-res 24-bit/48kHz 'Ultra HD' tracks from Amazon Music.

To cut a long story short, if you want a small, affordable soundbar that can deliver convincing Dolby Atmos, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is the 'bar for you.

Read the full Sonos Beam Gen 2 review

Best mid-range soundbar

Still one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars that we've heard

Specifications

Connectivity: HDMI out (eARC), opitcal, wi-fi, ethernet
Sound format support: Dolby Atmos, PCM
Streaming: Apple Airplay 2, Spotify Connect, Sonos S2 app
Voice control: Google Assisstant, Alexa
Dimensions: 8.7 x 114 x 12cm (3.43" x 45" x 4.56")
Weight: 6.3kg (14lbs)

Reasons to buy

+
Convincing Dolby Atmos
+
Dynamic, detailed and weighty
+
All of the usual Sonos smarts

Reasons to avoid

-
Music could be better projected
-
Heavily reliant on your TV’s specs
-
No Bluetooth or DTS:X support

Soundbars for TV aren't new territory for Sonos, but the former What Hi-Fi? Award-winning Arc is the only soundbar from the brand, along with its Ultra sequel of course, to deliver Dolby Atmos with upfiring speakers. It sits above the Beam (Gen 2) in terms of pricing and is suited to 55-inch TVs and above, with optional wall mounting fixings available for £79 / $79 / AU$99.

There are touch-sensitive play/pause and volume controls on the bar with LEDs that indicate status and when you're talking to the built-in Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. Connectivity includes AirPlay 2, ethernet and eARC for Dolby Atmos from compatible TVs.

The Sonos Arc uses 11 drivers to create your soundfield, several of which are upfiring and angled into your room to bounce sound off your walls and ceiling. “It’s so much more than just pointing a couple of speakers upwards,” said Sonos’s product manager Scott Fink when the Arc launched. “We focused on the playback precision of all the channels, including the height channels.” And that effort certainly paid off: the Arc offers one of the most convincing Atmos performances you can get from a single-chassis soundbar. Height junkies can turn up the volume of the Arc's upward-firing drivers using a separate control, but during our testing we don't find it necessary to overly boost the upfiring channels to enjoy the Arc's immersive delivery.

You're transported to the heart of the action. Surround effects are expertly placed, and there's great dynamism and good weight to the sound too. Tonally, it's nicely balanced if you just want to listen to music, although it could sound a tiny bit more direct. But make no mistake, this is a hugely impressive TV soundbar for the money.

Read our full Sonos Arc review

Best soundbar with HDMI 2.1

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2024 winner. How do you follow a three-time Award-winning soundbar? This is how

Specifications

Connectivity: HDMI out (eARC), 1 x HDMI in, wi-fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2
Format support: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X
Streaming: Spotify Connect
Voice control: No
Dimensions: 6.4 x 130 x 11 cm (2.5" x 51" x 4.4"
Weight: 5.5kg

Reasons to buy

+
Superb clarity, detail and punch
+
Impressive 3D audio processing
+
Classy, subtle design

Reasons to avoid

-
Slightly clinical in its delivery
-
No display