Subj : The best soundbars for all budgets, all tested by us (2/2) To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Tue Nov 25 2025 16:00:10 films, TV shows, and games justice. How much should I spend on a soundbar? It depends on what you're looking for. If you want the very best soundbar technology has to offer, you might be looking at prices of $800 / 800 / AU$1,000 and upwards. However, there are lots of fantastic budget soundbars on the market, with some costing less than $100 / 100 / AU$150. Just bear in mind that you generally get what you pay for, and these budget models probably won't come with premium features like Dolby Atmos, included rear speakers, and hi-res audio support. But, the mid-range market is getting more competitive and it really is easy to get a lot of bang for your buck, with soundbars (on our list above) providing Dolby Atmos and a subwoofer for under $400/400/AU$650 becoming more and more common. Where should I put a soundbar? You generally have two options when it comes to soundbar placement: wall-mounting it, or placing in below your TV on your TV cabinet. If your soundbar is quite tall, wall-mounting may be the best option, as it could obscure the IR receiver on your TV, rendering your remote control useless. Does my soundbar brand need to match my TV? Quick answer: No, any soundbar can be used with any TV. Thats because all TVs made over the past decade feature HDMI (ARC or eARC) and optical digital connections that output audio signals, and virtually every soundbar will feature both HDMI and optical digital inputs to accept that output. And even if youre mixing brands, a TVs HDMI-CEC feature will conveniently let you control the soundbar's volume level using the TV remote control. Having said that, there are instances where combining soundbar and TV brands will yield benefits. Many Samsung soundbars, such as our best overall pick, the Samsung HW-Q800D, for example, support a feature called Q-Symphony that lets you combine the sound output of the TVs built-in speakers with the soundbars output for an enhanced, more spacious audio presentation. And LG soundbars support a similar feature called Wow Orchestra that automatically integrates the soundbar and TV speakers when connected to a compatible LG TV. In both cases, you will experience more powerful, immersive soundstage than you would from just the soundbar working alone. Another benefit to using the same-brand soundbars and TVs is the ability to make a lossless wireless audio connection between the two no HDMI cables required. Once again, this feature is supported by select TVs and soundbars from Samsung, which simply calls it Wireless Dolby Atmos, and LG, which calls its version WowCast. What is Eclipsa Audio, and does my soundbar need it? At the CES 2025 trade show, Samsung announced a new immersive audio format meant to compete with Dolby Atmos. Eclipsa Audio was jointly developed by Samsung and Google, and it will be supported by new Samsung TVs and soundbars coming out in 2025. Other TV and soundbar brands didnt announce any new products with Eclipsa Audio support at CES, but since Google is involved, the format will certainly be supported on future TVs that run the Google TV smart TV platform (Hisense, Sony, TCL, among others). Eclipsa Audio differs from Dolby Atmos in that its a channel-based format. Dolby Atmos soundtracks are object-based mixes comprised of audio objects positioned in 3D space that are scaled to a specific speaker configuration (e.g., 7.1.4 Atmos, 5.1-channel surround, 2-channel stereo). Eclipsa Audio, in contrast, supports up to 28 input channels, which Samsung and Google say is sufficient to provide an immersive 3D audio experience on systems ranging from headphones to multichannel home theaters. While its license-free status should make it appealing to hardware manufacturers (Dolby, in contrast, charges licensing fees for Dolby Atmos), a key challenge that Eclipsa Audio faces is streaming services support. Dolby Atmos is firmly entrenched in the streaming ecosystem, while Eclipsa Audio is currently only supported by Google-owned YouTube. Given that situation, its safe to say that Eclipsa Audio support on soundbars is a non-issue for now, though its something to keep an eye on for the future. ^ Back to the top Other soundbars to consider Weve reviewed several soundbars recently that didnt make this guide for various reasons, though they are also worth considering. Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar: An all-in-one competitor to the Sonos Arc, but with a slight lack of heft to its sound and a limited sense of height, this soundbar isn't great enough value to make it into the list. You can read our full Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar review to learn more. Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus : This soundbar really earns its keep with superior delivery of Atmos effects and extended bass. It's well worth consideration if you're looking for something that's a single-unit and if price isn't a worry, but it's expensive, and that's why it hasn't made our list here. Give our full Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus review a read if you want big sound without multiple boxes. Sennheiser Ambeo Mini: If the price of the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus is too much for your budget, this is a more compact and lower-cost model that provides a big sound, but doesnt match the Plus when it comes to bass extension and Atmos height effects. It's a similar size to the Sonos Beam Gen 2. We'd choose that model over this one for overall audio quality, but you can read our Sennheiser Ambeo Mini review to learn more. Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6: Sony's entry-level bar in its Theater lineup for 2025 delivers a powerful performance with awesome bass and full, clear and precise sound. It's also great value for money, but cheaper alternatives keep the Theater 6 off our list: for now. Read our Sony Bravia Theater 6 review for more info. New soundbars arriving in 2025 Below are soundbars that we're either in the middle of testing or anticipate testing as 2025 rolls on. Some of these may even make it onto our list! The KEF XIO was recently announced and shown at Audio Advice Live 2025 and delivers a 5.1.2-channel configuration with a sleek, premium design. From what we heard , we were impressed. The KEF XIO joins a competitive all-in-one soundbar market with Marshall and Sonos, but it could be a real winner. From JBL, we have the JBL Bar 1300 MK2 , the successor to the JBL Bar 1300X on our list. A Dolby Atmos package with rear speakers and wireless subwoofer included, JBL's standout feature is the detachable rear speakers, which can also be attached to the soundbar for easy movement and sound customization. We look forward to testing this one out after having raved about the JBL Bar 1300X. How we test the best soundbars Why you can trust TechRadar's testing More than 2,600 TV and home theater reviews 16 years of product testing Over 16,000 products reviewed in total Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech When we test the best soundbars, we look at categories such as audio performance, design, setup and usability, value for money and features - the same criteria we use for our reviews of soundbars. Sources: After connecting the soundbar to a TV, we play not only streaming and 4K Blu-ray sources through the TV into the soundbar using the TVs HDMI eARC connection (as 4K Blu-ray provides better audio quality than streaming), but also music over a Bluetooth wireless connection. Audio overview: For audio performance, there are several factors we look at when testing. Soundbars are often used to upgrade a TV's built-in sound, so dialogue clarity and volume are key, as thats where built-in TV speakers usually struggle the most. We also test bass, mids and trebles by listening to how each range sits within a mix, and also whether the soundstage is wide or narrow. Spatial audio: Dolby Atmos spatial audio and surround sound (both virtually and physically through extra speakers) have become common features on soundbars, so we will test the effectiveness and spaciousness of the surround sound, as some people will want a room-filling home theater feel without all the boxes needed for a full AV setup. HDMI passthrough: When it comes to higher-end soundbars, we expect 4K 120Hz passthrough on HDMI ports and will test that feature if available. Gamers specifically look for this feature as some TVs dont have the four HDMI 2.1 ports needed to cover both games consoles and a soundbar. Music: Bluetooth streaming is more commonly being featured on soundbars as manufacturers look to offer an all-in-one solution for movies and music. So, if a soundbar offers that feature, well be sure to test its performance with streamed music. On more premium soundbars, we expect to see Wi-Fi streaming, although this is not always the case. Setup and ease-of-use: This is another area we test, as some soundbars carry a plug-in-and-play philosophy whilst others require more in-depth calibration. More soundbars are featuring auto-calibration features to adjust the sound for the room theyre installed in, and this can make a big difference in sound quality. As part of our tests, well listen to a soundbar before and after this calibration to see just how much of a difference it makes. Consistency: While we strive to maintain consistency in testing conditions, some of our writers have different setups theyll be listening in. However, the tests carried out and the testing criteria are the same for all our reviews. Latest updates November 17, 2025 Added Creative Stage Pro as the 'Best for desktops' option. October 2, 2025 Replaced the Marshall Heston 120 with the Klipsch Flexus Core 300 as the 'best all-in-one' option. August 6, 2025 Replaced the Samsung HW-Q990D with the Samsung HW-Q990F as 'best for Dolby Atmos'. Removed the Sony HT-A7000 and the 'best for gaming' category. Added in a table with scores for each soundbar on this list labelled 'Comparison Chart'. Updated 'Other soundbars to consider' and 'New for 2025' sections. Read more updates July 6, 2025 Added the Samsung HW-QS-700F as a new entry in the number 13 position as our Best for wall-mounting choice. June 6, 2025 Replaced Sonos Arc Ultra with Marshall Heston 120 as 'Best all-in-one' option; added Sonos Arc Ultra as 'Best for expandability' option. May 7, 2025 Added info on new Sony soundbars to 'New soundbars for 2025' section. April 10, 2025 Added image galleries for all soundbars; added section 'Does my soundbar brand need to match my TV?' to the 'How to choose' FAQ. March 13, 2025 Replaced Bose Smart Soundbar 600 with Bose Smart Soundbar, an upgraded version of the 600, as 'Best compact Atmos' option. February 14, 2025 Added section 'What is Eclipsa Audio, and does my soundbar need it?' to the 'How to choose' FAQ. January 16, 2025 Added section 'New soundbars for 2025' detailing models announced at the recent CES 2025 tradeshow. December 23, 2024 Replaced the Samsung HW-Q800C with the Samsung HW-Q800D as best soundbar for most people due to the Q800C's waning stock levels. November 27, 2024 Swapped the Sonos Arc for the Sonos Arc Ultra based on our testing, and re-ordered the list to make it easier to find specific types of soundbar. October 29,2024 Introduced the Ultimea Poseidon D50 as 'best super-cheap surround sound'. Removed the 'what soundbars were announced at CES 2024' section. September 30, 2024 Added more information about how we judge soundbars to our intro. Added information about the Sonos Arc Ultra to the Sonos Arc entry. Updated some information about recently tested soundbars, and how we test. August 27, 2024 Added the LG S95TR as the 'best premium soundbar for LG TVs' option. July 30, 2024 Added the Amazon Fire TV soundbar as 'best super-cheap' option. July 1, 2024 Added the Hisense AX5125H as 'best budget Atmos surround' option. June 6, 2024 Added the LG S95TR into the 'Also consider' section - as an alternative for LG owners to the Samsung Q990D. May 6, 2024 Replaced the Samsung HW-Q990C with the new Samsung HW-Q990D as 'best for Dolby Atmos' selection. March 28, 2024 Added 'Other soundbars to consider' section with details on recently reviewed models not listed in the guide. February 28, 2024 Added in a 'How we Test' section, explaining what tests we carry out on the soundbars that we add to this guide. January 22, 2024 Updated product write-ups to summarise the key points of each review and added in more internal linking to related products to help you choose the right soundbar for you. December 22, 2023 Added in 'buy it if' boxouts with quick pros and cons for each entry on the list. December 22, 2023 Added in 'buy it if' boxouts with quick pros and cons for each entry on the list. November 14, 2023 Replaced the Samsung HW-Q700B with the Samsung HW-Q800C as 'best overall' due to stock levels. Replaced Sony HT-G700 with Sony HT-S2000 for 'best budget'. Deleted 'best mid-range Atmos' category. ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/televisions/soundbars/the-best-soundbars-for-all-bud gets --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .