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- We’ve been reviewing soundbars for over a decade and have tested well over a hundred options of varying shapes and sizes in that time.
- Our testing process involves a subjective analysis of sonic performance, usability and smart functionality conducted by a member of our team with years of experience reviewing audio products.
- We’ve named the Sonos Beam 2 the best soundbar on the market. It’s an excellently priced, standalone soundbar that delivers wonderful audio and can be built into a much larger and even more immersive surround sound setup should you wish.
- People after a cheaper, more versatile option should instead consider the Creative Stage Pro, which is our favourite budget soundbar and can be used with PCs and laptops as well as TVs.
If you want a true cinematic experience at home, you need the best soundbar you can afford. Most people won’t look to spend more on a soundbar than their TV, so you’re probably looking at a budget of up to £500.
Our pick of the soundbars in that price bracket is the Sonos Beam 2, but there are budget soundbars available for a lot less, and premium multi-speaker soundbar systems costing significantly more. Having tested and reviewed dozens of soundbars in recent years, we’re ideally placed to provide advice on which soundbars are best suited for different consumers.
We’ve compiled a list of the best soundbars for a variety of budgets, style preferences and use cases, which you can read below. Each one of our recommendations has been put through its paces by an audio expert with hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of experience testing audio equipment, including headphones and speakers, so you can rest assured that we won’t endorse products that we wouldn’t want to own ourselves.
For more information about the benefits of soundbars and the key features to look out for, head to the buying guide at the bottom of the page. Or, keep scrolling for the best soundbars currently available.
READ NEXT: Mistakes people make when buying a soundbar
December 2025 deals:
Bag a great price on our number one soundbar overall
The Sonos Beam 2 is our the soundbar we recommend for most people and one that fluctuates pretty frequently in price. It's not Black Friday any more, but this price is still £80 cheaper than it's been going for on average since May.
£339 180-day average £420
Sonos' most immersive bar gets a hefty discount
The Sonos Arc Ultra was released back in late 2024 and hasn't seen any meaningful discounts since, so this Black Friday deal is one to snap up. You can save £200 on Sonos' five-star flagship bar and enjoy incredible audio ahead of the festive period.
£799 was £999
Best soundbar: At a glance
- Sonos Beam 2: Best soundbar overall | Check price
- Creative Stage Pro: Best budget soundbar | Check price
- Samsung HW-Q990F: Best Dolby Atmos soundbar | Check price
How we test soundbars
Our in-depth testing assesses every aspect of a soundbar, from build quality and ease of setup to audio performance and customisation options.
- As soon as each bar is unboxed, we measure and weigh it to get a sense of how easy it is to place and install, and check its sturdiness and quality of finish. We then connect via HDMI to a 4K TV – or a desktop computer if that’s what it’s designed for use with.
- We then put each soundbar through its paces by feeding it a wide range of content, including films, sports and TV shows. We pay close attention to sound reproduction across the frequency spectrum, with a focus on the three cornerstones of soundbar performance: bass response, dialogue clarity and crispness of treble.
- If there are different EQ presets available, we’ll try these out with appropriate content. All tests are run at a variety of volume levels, including maximum volume to push the product to its limits.
- We use 4K Blu-ray players and the latest blockbuster movies to test how each soundbar handles surround-sound audio encoded with DTS:X. We also test Dolby Atmos, using compatible content available from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+.
- After testing each soundbar with video sources, we try out any wireless music streaming capabilities it may have, be that via Tidal over Bluetooth or Spotify Connect over a Wi-Fi network. We also try out features such as Chromecast and AirPlay 2 to ensure they work as intended.
- If the soundbar can be integrated into a multi-room speaker system, we’ll test that too, and we’ll note in our review how easily achieved (or otherwise) it is.
- If there’s a built-in voice assistant, we trial it to see how accurately it can pick up and execute requests – and we’re always sure to check whether there are any features hidden away inside a companion or control app, which again we’ll detail in our full review.
The best soundbars you can buy in 2025
1. Sonos Beam (Gen 2): Best soundbar overall
Price when reviewed: £339 | Check price at John Lewis
- Phenomenal audio quality plus Dolby Atmos
- Neat and compact one-box solution
- Extra speakers are easily added
- Doesn’t support DTS:X
- No dedicated up-firing drivers
Reviewed by Jonathan Bray
The Sonos Beam 2 is our favourite soundbar overall and the best soundbar for most people. Its neat one-box design slips seamlessly into any living room environment, and the five-channel audio it delivers from eleven speaker drivers is top-notch.
We were particularly impressed with how it handled Dolby Atmos. Positional audio cues were deftly directed to the front, right, and left of the soundstage that the Beam 2 created, and everything from simple stereo mixes to big movie soundtracks sounded well-balanced and engaging.
The Beam 2’s output can be improved immensely by throwing the Sonos Sub 4, Sonos Era 100 or Sonos Era 300 into the mix, meaning you can dip your toe into the Sonos ecosystem with the Beam 2 and build from there.
Read our Sonos Beam 2 review from November 2023
Key specs – Channels: 2.0; Total power output: Not stated; Dimensions (WDH): 651 x 100 x 68mm; Weight: 2.8kg; Connectivity: 1 x HDMI (eARC), 1 x optical
2. Creative Stage Pro: Best budget soundbar
Price when reviewed: £130 | Check price at Creative
- Wonderfully compact soundbar
- Hefty bass response
- Works well for both TVs and PCs
- No Night mode
- Not great for music
Reviewed by Andy White
The latest entry in Creative’s Stage soundbar series is our top pick if you’re looking for a budget-friendly soundbar to enhance your home entertainment experience. The Stage Pro is not only eminently affordable and flexible, but it also sounds great.
The SuperWide mode – our choice for films with multi-channel soundtracks – effectively expands the soundstage of the 2.1-channel setup to enhance immersion, while the near- and far-field modes make this soundbar a versatile choice for both your TV and PC or laptop.
We especially enjoyed the way the compact soundbar communicated dialogue during testing, integrating speech smartly with the robust low-end response delivered by the Pro’s subwoofer. The Pro’s balanced audio performance, flexibility, ease of use and various modes help it stand out from its numerous budget rivals.
Read our Creative Stage Pro review from September 2025
Key specs – Channels: 2.1; Total power output: 80W (RMS); Dimensions (WDH): Soundbar – 550 x 112 x 81mm, subwoofer – 125 x 265 x 420mm; Weight: Soundbar – 1.3kg, subwoofer – 3.4kg; Connectivity: 1 x HDMI (eARC), 1 x optical
3. Samsung HW-Q990F: Best soundbar for Dolby Atmos
Price when reviewed: £999 | Check price at John Lewis
- Incredibly immersive surround sound
- Excellent connectivity options
- Fantastic build quality
- Space-hungry multi-component system
- Sub requires adjustment for music
Reviewed by John Archer
No soundbar does Dolby Atmos more immersively than the Samsung HW-Q990F. This 11.1.4-channel system utilises a soundbar, subwoofer and two rear speakers to create a dome of sound so convincing that we genuinely felt like we were in the middle of on-screen action at times. The height effects of Atmos and DTS:X object-based soundtracks are articulated superbly, and the crossover between the powerful sub and other components is expertly judged.
In addition to handling bombastic film soundtracks with aplomb, the HW-Q990F is one of the more impressive soundbars for music that we’ve tested. Fantastic performance, regardless of the type of content you’re consuming, plus useful AI features and great connectivity, make this bar one of the most desirable around.
Read our Samsung HW-Q990F review from July 2025
Key specs – Channels: 11.1.4; Total power output: 756W: Dimensions (WDH): Soundbar – 1,232 x 138 x 71mm, subwoofer – 249 x 249 x 252mm, rear speakers – 130 x 140 x 201mm; Weight: Soundbar – 7.3kg, subwoofer – 8.3kg, rear speakers – 3.4kg; Connectivity: 2 x HDMI input (1 x eARC), 1 x HDMI out, 1 x optical, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
4. Hisense AX5125H: Best soundbar under £300
Price when reviewed: £199 | Check price at Argos
- Effective Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound
- Clear dialogue
- Awesome value for money
- No calibration options
- Slightly underwhelming subwoofer
Reviewed by Stephen Withers
Hisense’s AX5125H 5.1.2-channel soundbar is astonishing value for money; no other bar we’ve tested gets close to it under £300. Its soundbar features a dedicated centre channel for ensuring crisp dialogue, overhead channels help depict height effects on Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks, and its rear channels create a strong sense of audio envelopment.
Most soundbars in this price range typically have a 2.1-channel or 3.1-channel arrangement. The AX5125H blows those options out of the water in spectacular fashion. It’s the only soundbar you should consider if you’re on a limited budget but have the space to accommodate rear speakers and a subwoofer in addition to a soundbar.
Read our Hisense AX5151H review from July 2024
Key specs – Channels: 5.1.2; Total power output: 500W; Dimensions (WDH): Soundbar – 920 x 90 x 60mm, subwoofer – 214 x 294 x 304mm, rear satellites – 91 x 109 x 144mm each; Weight: 9.5kg (total); Connectivity: 1 x HDMI input, 1 x HDMI eARC output, optical, 3.5mm, Bluetooth
5. Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9: Best all-in-one soundbar
Price when reviewed: £949 | Check price at John Lewis
- Attractive and space-efficient design
- Excellent sound quality for films and music
- Simple to upgrade
- Not cheap to upgrade
- No digital display
Reviewed by John Archer
The Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9 creates such an expansive, engrossing soundstage that we found ourselves forgetting its audio was coming from a single enclosure. The unusual 7.0.2-channel setup means there’s no space for a dedicated subwoofer, but the other channels place audio so precisely that it’s impossible not to get lost in the action.
Music is handled especially well, and if you want to add a subwoofer and rear speakers, Sony has ready-made options for the purpose, though they don’t come cheap. Still, they’re by no means essential; the additional channels will elevate your experience further, but the Bar 9 has more than enough muscle and musicality to be the only thing you need under your TV.
Read our Sony Theatre Bar 9 review from February 2025
Key specs – Channels: 7.0.2; Total power output: Not stated; Dimensions (WDH): 1,300 x 113 x 64mm; Weight: 5.5kg; Connectivity: 1 x HDMI input, 1 x HDMI (eARC) output, Bluetooth (SBC), Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2
6. Bose Smart Soundbar: Best soundbar for dialogue
Price when reviewed: £399 | Check price at John Lewis
- Crystal clear dialogue
- Expansive sound
- Bose headphones integration
- Limited bass response
- No HDMI passthrough
Reviewed by Andy White
No standalone soundbar we’ve tested reproduces speech in films and TV shows better than this compact option from Bose. And, perhaps unsurprisingly in this day and age, its ability in this department has AI to thank. AI Dialogue mode recognises when there’s a vocal component in a scene and automatically adjusts the bar’s tonal balance to push it forward in the mix. We found it did so remarkably well, without upsetting the overall balance.
The Smart Soundbar also plays extremely nicely with Bose products, specifically the Open Ultra Earbuds, handles Atmos soundtracks effectively, and is adept at reproducing music in addition to being a fine choice for TV streaming and movies.
Read our Bose Smart Soundbar review from January 2025
Key specs – Channels: 3.0.2; Total power output: Not stated; Dimensions (WDH): 694 x 104 x 56mm; Weight: 3.1kg; Connectivity: HDMI (eARC), optical, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
7. Sonos Arc Ultra: Best soundbar for multi-room audio
Price when reviewed: £999 | Check price at John Lewis
- Top-notch multi-room functionality
- Great three-dimensionality to audio
- Impressive height effects
- Only one HDMI input
- No DTS:X support
Reviewed by Jonathan Bray
We described the Arc Ultra as a “triumph of audio hardware” in our review, but its position as the flagship option in Sonos’ home entertainment ecosystem is what sets it apart from the crowd. On its own, we found the 9.1.4-channel bar worked brilliantly; TruePlay room calibration ensured optimal sound quality, and the improved bass response and three-dimensionality of the Ultra were immediately evident.
But you’ll get the most out of the Arc Ultra if you already own Sonos gear or plan to expand at a later date. Paired with the Sonos Sub, Era 100 or Era 300 and managed from within the Sonos app, you can enjoy magnificent multi-room audio over your wireless connection.
Read our Sonos Arc Ultra review from November 2024
Key specs – Channels: 9.1.4; Total power output: Not stated; Dimensions (WDH): 1,178 x 111 x 75mm; Weight: 5.9kg; Connectivity: HDMI (eARC), optical, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2
8. Samsung HW-S800D: Best slimline soundbar
Price when reviewed: £529 | Check price at John Lewis
- Ultra-slim soundbar design
- Engaging soundstage
- Deep bass
- No DTS:X
- Limited sonic envelopment
Reviewed by Stephen Withers
Immersive soundbars are typically unwieldy and awkward-looking, but not so the slimline Samsung HW-S800D. The main soundbar unit is incredibly slender and will neatly fit beneath TVs with minimal clearance under their panel.
As aesthetically pleasing as it is practical, the S800D delivers a surprisingly large and convincing soundstage. Atmos soundtracks were articulated with an impressive sense of scale during our testing, and height effects were communicated very cleanly. We were particularly taken by the S800D’s mid-range reproduction and the way that the discrete subwoofer integrated plenty of low-end punch into the mix.
Samsung’s SmartThings provides an effortless way to control the bar, while voice assistant fans will appreciate the built-in Amazon Alexa functionality. Blending style and substance superbly, the S800D is worthy of taking pride of place on any AV cabinet.
Read our Samsung HW-S800D review from May 2024
Key specs – Channels: 3.1.2; Total power output: Not stated; Dimensions (WDH): Soundbar – 1,160 x 40 x 38mm, subwoofer – 238 x 238 x 241; Weight: Soundbar – 1.4kg, subwoofer – 6.4kg; Connectivity: HDMI (eARC), Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi
9. Sonos Ray: Best soundbar for small screens
Price when reviewed: £169 | Check price at John Lewis
- Superb sound
- Compact and minimalist
- Room calibration tech
- No voice control
- Doesn’t include a remote
Reviewed by Jonathan Bray
The Ray is the most affordable soundbar in the Sonos lineup, and is ideally suited to those with 32in or 43in televisions. Its compact nature ensures it doesn’t look out of place under such small screens, but its sonic delivery belies its size.
There’s great tonal balance across the frequency spectrum, bass is well articulated and punchy, and treble is perfectly crisp. Some of this is down to Sonos’ ingenious app control, which lets you tune the audio profile to suit the acoustic needs of your room.
If space is at a premium and you want an inexpensive soundbar that can pack a punch, the Sonos Ray is perfect.
Read our Sonos Ray review from November 2022
Key specs – Channels: 2.0; Total power output: Not stated; Dimensions (WDH): 559 x 95 x 71mm; Weight: Soundbar – 2kg; Connectivity: 1 x optical, Wi-Fi
How do I choose the best soundbar?
What size soundbar should I buy?
It’s important to pick a soundbar that suits your TV and living room. The first thing to look at is the size of the bar: if it’s too wide, it may not fit on your AV cabinet – or it might stick out well beyond the sides of your TV, which may look unsightly, especially if you plan to wall-mount the bar. If you plan to situate the bar in front of your TV, check its height too: you don’t want it to obscure the bottom part of the screen.
How many channels (2.1, 5.1, etc.) do I need?
A basic left and right two-channel soundbar reproduces sound in stereo and is referred to as 2.0, with the first number relating to the front section of a soundstage.
A 2.1-channel setup adds a dedicated subwoofer (this can be built-in or discrete), with the .1 reflecting the component that handles low frequencies.
Were you to add two up-firing channels to a 2.1-channel system, it would transform it into a 2.1.2-channel system: the third number relates to the number of up-firers.
2.1: Stereo sound plus a subwoofer. Good for music and TV shows.
5.1: True surround sound. Good for movies.
11.1.4: Multiple front channels, subwoofer and up-firing speakers. Immersive 3D audio.
Generally, the more channels you have, the more immersive your listening experience is, though you do need to take cost and space into account.
Do I need a separate subwoofer?
A separate subwoofer will add richness and body to your audio and can deliver room-shaking low-frequency sound effects when called upon. Ideally, you want your subwoofer to be wireless, so you can easily hide it away out of sight – it doesn’t need to be in the centre of your home cinema setup, as bass frequencies aren’t very directional.
If a standalone soundbar has a dedicated subwoofer, it should be able to do a decent job articulating low frequencies, but for the most impact, a discrete sub is the way forward.
What are HDMI ARC and eARC?
The most important connector is HDMI. Many bars have multiple HDMI inputs, which can be connected to different sources such as a Sky box, a games console and so forth. A single HDMI output then passes the active video signal onto your TV.
A particular feature worth looking for is HDMI ARC (audio return channel) or HDMI eARC (enhanced audio return channel) support. These let the soundbar receive and play audio directly from the TV, useful for smart TV apps such as BBC iPlayer or Netflix.
They’re also handy if you run out of HDMI inputs on the soundbar, as any audio that would normally play through the TV speakers is routed back to the soundbar.
Are voice controls useful?
Some soundbars support popular voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
How useful these are depends on how smart your home is, and how invested in using voice commands to control your technology you are. We consider them nice to have as additional options, but not top of the shopping list when looking to buy a soundbar.
Is it worth buying a Dolby Atmos or DTS:X soundbar?
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are object-based surround-sound standards that expand upon the established 5.1- and 7.1-channel setups to add audio height. In other words, where older systems could produce sound from the sides and rear of the room, gear that supports Atmos or DTS can also make sounds come from above you.
You can read about the key differences between the two formats in our Dolby Atmos vs DTS:X article.
Soundbars with Atmos and DTS:S generally work by using upward-firing speakers to bounce audio off your ceiling. This can be very effective, but for the best results, your ceilings will need to be the right height: if you’re thinking of investing in a system like this, check the specifications to confirm the recommended room dimensions.
It’s worth noting, too, that Dolby Atmos soundbars tend to be more expensive than simpler 5.1-enabled units, and they have a nasty habit of excluding support for non-Dolby surround-sound standards. This isn’t the end of the world, but many Blu-ray movies use DTS encoding for their surround sound; if you’re watching such a disc on a Dolby-only soundbar, you’ll be limited to the standard stereo soundtrack.
