← Best of the Best: all the guides
The best soundbars for every budget
The Sonos Beam Ultra wins for its clear dialogue, genuine height effects and compact size; the Hisense AX5140Q brings surround sound for less.
| Best overall | Best value | Cheapest that's still good | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Sonos Beam Ultra | Hisense AX5140Q | Sony HT-S100F |
| Price | about $699 | about $350 | about $98 |
| Why | TechRadar named it its best overall soundbar, and Tom’s Guide praised its dialogue, design and Dolby Atmos performance. Its compact size and dedicated upward-firing drivers make it a strong all-round choice for a typical living room. | RTINGS recommends it as its best budget soundbar, and its 5.1.4-channel package includes a subwoofer, rear speakers and up-firing drivers. That is a lot of actual surround hardware for about half the Beam Ultra’s price. | Tom’s Guide recommends it as a low-cost TV upgrade and reported clear dialogue and surprisingly capable bass in movie listening. At about $98, it costs far less than the other picks. |
| Good to know | It is expensive for a bar that does not include a separate subwoofer or rear speakers. | The system needs more space and setup than a standalone soundbar. | It has no separate subwoofer or rear speakers, so movie sound is less immersive. |
| See on Amazon | See on Amazon | See on Amazon |
picture by AITechRadar named it its best overall soundbar, and Tom’s Guide praised its dialogue, design and Dolby Atmos performance. Its compact size and dedicated upward-firing drivers make it a strong all-round choice for a typical living room.
Good to know: It is expensive for a bar that does not include a separate subwoofer or rear speakers.
See on Amazonpicture by AIRTINGS recommends it as its best budget soundbar, and its 5.1.4-channel package includes a subwoofer, rear speakers and up-firing drivers. That is a lot of actual surround hardware for about half the Beam Ultra’s price.
Good to know: The system needs more space and setup than a standalone soundbar.
See on Amazonpicture by AITom’s Guide recommends it as a low-cost TV upgrade and reported clear dialogue and surprisingly capable bass in movie listening. At about $98, it costs far less than the other picks.
Good to know: It has no separate subwoofer or rear speakers, so movie sound is less immersive.
See on AmazonDanilli may earn a small commission from Amazon when you buy through these buttons. The price is the same for you. Product pictures are made by Danilli's AI to show the product; check the real photos on the store page.
What matters
Check that the soundbar connects to your TV by HDMI eARC, especially if you want Dolby Atmos. A separate subwoofer and rear speakers can make movies more immersive, but take up more space.
Who this is for
These picks suit people upgrading their TV sound, from shoppers who want a simple, compact bar to buyers seeking a full surround setup. Choose based on your room, budget and appetite for extra speakers.
The picks, one by one
Best overall: Sonos Beam Ultra
TechRadar named it its best overall soundbar, and Tom’s Guide praised its dialogue, design and Dolby Atmos performance. Its compact size and dedicated upward-firing drivers make it a strong all-round choice for a typical living room. Tom’s Guide describes a 7.2.1-channel system with upward-firing drivers and rates sound quality 4.5 out of 5. Reviewers highlight clear speech and a more convincing sense of height than the previous Beam generation. It is also designed to fit smaller rooms where a large bar and separate speakers would be awkward. Skip it if you want a subwoofer and rear speakers included, or if $699 is beyond your budget.
Good to know: It is expensive for a bar that does not include a separate subwoofer or rear speakers.
See on AmazonBest value: Hisense AX5140Q
RTINGS recommends it as its best budget soundbar, and its 5.1.4-channel package includes a subwoofer, rear speakers and up-firing drivers. That is a lot of actual surround hardware for about half the Beam Ultra’s price. The separate rear speakers help create a more enveloping movie experience than a bar relying only on virtual surround. Its up-firing drivers support Dolby Atmos, while the included subwoofer handles deeper bass. RTINGS notes that it lacks some higher-end build and room-correction features. Skip it if you prefer a simple, tidy one-bar setup or do not have room for rear speakers.
Good to know: The system needs more space and setup than a standalone soundbar.
See on AmazonCheapest that's still good: Sony HT-S100F
Tom’s Guide recommends it as a low-cost TV upgrade and reported clear dialogue and surprisingly capable bass in movie listening. At about $98, it costs far less than the other picks. This is a straightforward 2.0-channel bar, not a surround system, and it has no separate subwoofer. Tom’s Guide tested it with movie scenes, including dialogue and action, and found speech stayed intelligible amid effects. It is a sensible way to improve everyday TV sound without adding extra speakers. Skip it if you want Dolby Atmos, deep subwoofer bass or a convincing room-filling surround effect.
Good to know: It has no separate subwoofer or rear speakers, so movie sound is less immersive.
See on AmazonHow we chose
Reviewers listened to movie scenes, dialogue and music, judging clarity, bass, soundstage and surround or height effects. Some publications also measured performance in standardized soundbar tests; the sources cited here do not all report a single common test duration. Danilli read the reviews and tests listed below and compared current prices; it does not take money from brands to pick a product.
Sources
Not sure which one is for you?
Ask Danilli anything about these, free. Tell it what you need and your budget and it says which one fits you.
Written with Danilli's AI from the sources above and refreshed about once a month; prices change, check Amazon for today's price. Danilli may earn a small commission from Amazon when you buy through these buttons. The price is the same for you. Product pictures are made by Danilli's AI to show the product; check the real photos on the store page.