Update: The Creative Audio SoundblasterX Katana has crept onto our list, so give it a look if you're looking for an audio solution for your desktop.
Although TVs are thinner and sleeker than they've ever been before, this change hasn't been great for sound quality.
A thinner panel and smaller bezels means that the modern TVs of today have much less space to dedicate to a solid pair of speakers, meaning that overall sound quality suffers.
A soundbar is the easiest way of remedying the situation, and most models can be simply placed underneath your TV without taking up too much extra space.
Higher-end soundbars will also include the latest and greatest audio technologies like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
So whether you're looking to buy a budget or high-end model, soundbars right across the price spectrum will have something to offer.
But not all soundbars are made equal. In their quest to improve upon the bass-free output of a TV's inbuilt speakers, some soundbars go too far in the opposite direction, and give you a bass overload.
So without further ado, welcome to our guide to the best soundbars available in 2017. We've got something to match every budget, and our price tracker will make sure that if you do decide to buy one from our list then you'll be getting the absolutely best price possible.
What's the best soundbar?
Soundbars come in many shapes and sizes, and range in price from under £100/$100 to over £1,000/$1,500. Cheaper models have basic connections, more expensive ones add superior HDMI inputs (including 4K / HDR passthrough), wireless audio streaming (e.g. Bluetooth and AirPlay), better power, more refined speaker drivers, and decoding of Blu-ray sound formats.
Design is also important, with some models able to sit in front of your TV on a stand while others may need a separate shelf, or to be wall mounted. However, whatever your budget, there are some cracking good acoustic upgrades to be had that can give your TV the sound it deserves.
Philips Fidelio B5
The Philips Fidelio B5 is an impressive bit of kit, and it's the perfect soundbar for someone who appreciates good cinema sound but has no interest in tearing up their living room to install a 5.1 surround sound system to use only every now and then. The B5 enables you to pick and choose your movie moments, and do it on a whim. And it creates a pretty decent surround sound experience too, using both Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS Digital Surround decoding.
The combination of convenience and good audio - the raison d'etre of the soundbar - with its transformative surround sound capabilities makes the Fidelio B5 a great option for the movie fan who can't face all the aggravation of a proper 5.1 installation.
Read the full review: Philips Fidelio B5
The Q Acoustics M4 soundbar doesn’t immediately set pulses racing with its slightly prosaic looks, ‘mere’ 2.1-channel sound and lack of any HDMI support. However, you only have to hear what the M4 can do with both music and movies for your doubts about it to evaporate almost instantly. In fact, it sounds so good that it starts to make the idea of trying to deliver more channels from an affordable sound bar look a bit silly.
In fact, though, it sounds so much better than pretty much any rival soundbar in the same price bracket that it’s actually ridiculously good value - especially if you care about music as much as you care about movies.
Best Soundbars
Focal, most known for its excellent sounding speakers (and the recently released Focal Listen headphones), is late to the soundbar space, but its Focal Dimension was worth the wait. The Dimension soundbar is simply gorgeous, with its piano black accents and aluminum unibody construction.
At $1,399 (£799, AU$1,699) it's not exactly cheap, but you're paying for excellent build quality, sound and design.
Read the full review: Focal Dimension
Best Soundbars
The LG SH7B is a soundbar system that can do it all. Its feature set and solid sound quality make it a good choice for those with limited space. While music playback and surround sound aren't mind-blowing, they're more than respectable at this price.
It's a breeze to set up since its subwoofer is wireless, though Android users may be frustrated by LG's buggy app. Sound quality is decent for the price, but in the end loses out to traditional bookshelf speakers in terms of clarity on the high-end. However, if you want a soundbar that can take on every type of media you can throw at it, the LG SH7B is a great option.
Read the full review: LG SH7B
Best Soundbars
The Sonos Playbar is a non-HDMI device that uses optical to hook up to a TV. Used simply on its own it delivers a massive sonic boost to your TV listening, but operating it does require using a smartphone or tablet app. The benefit is that it can seamlessly segue in to a Sonos wireless system, and can even act as the front three speakers in a 5.1 setup with two Play:1 s acting as rears.
Read the full review: Sonos Playbar
Best Soundbar
Proudly atop Sony 's 2016 soundbar line-up, this $700 / £599 / AU$999 2.1 sound system includes 4K HDMI-ready inputs, a wireless, slimline subwoofer and even a Hi-Res Audio badge. The latter means compatibility with 24-bit sound sources as well as Spotify Connect, Google Cast, Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth, which even covers both AAC and the higher-resolution LDAC codec.
The sub's three-way speaker design really shines, but it's the presence of Sony S Master digital amp module for every driver that wins the day. Audiophile-grade sound is assured across the board, with stereo width best appreciated when it's wall-mounted. This is an accomplished 2.1 package, though at 108cm long it's going to be physically hard to house for some.
Read the full review: Sony HT-NT5
Best Soundbar
Do you need Dolby Atmos? This more immersive '3D bubble of surround sound' tech is here, created not only by a standard soundbar design, but with a couple of satellite speakers and a subwoofer added. Is that verging on a messy home cinema cinema of old? Perhaps in theory, but this is one of the sleekest implementations of Dolby Atmos yet. Using rear speakers with upward-firing speakers, it actually creates a virtual 5.1.4 system.
OK, so the £1,299 / $1,499 / AU$1,499 HW-K950 is not perfect. It only plays DTS in stereo (unless you have a Blu-ray player that can convert it to Dolby Digital), but this simple-to-set-up package is an amazing performer that should be near the top of any audiophile's soundbar audition list.
Read the full review: Samsung HW-K950
Boasting high-end design, Bose's slim soundbar looks superb, and sounds above average. At 97.9cm wide, it’s best partnered with larger screen sizes (50-inch+) and priced at £599/$700/AU$999, it offers great sound. There are caveats regarding usability and price, but overall it warrants a cautious two thumbs up.
It's also worth mentioning that, as this isn’t a 2.1 package, there’s no subwoofer supplied – although Bose will sell you a wireless Acoustimas sub and the ST300 can be partnered with the brand’s Virtually Invisible (i.e. small at 10cm) 300 surround speakers. The system is also compatible with the Bose SoundTouch wireless multiroom system which includes smaller Bluetooth speakers.
Best Soundbar
Challenging Samsung in the Dolby Atmos stakes is Yamaha , the creator of the soundbar genre over a decade ago. It doesn't quite match the HW-K950 on pure surround specs, creating a 5.1.2 sound stage in place of Samsung's 5.1.4 array, but there's plenty more to love about this £1,429 / $1,599 / AU$2,499 hunk of tech.
The chief attraction is its unique support for both Dolby Atmos and rival codec DTS:X, but it's the YSP-5600SW's 44 individual speakers and dual subwoofers – all within a single unit – that make this all-in-one so attractive. Measuring 1,100 x 212 x 93mm and with Hi-Res Audio playback (including 24-bit ALAC, FLAC and AIFF), the YSP-5600SW even adds WiFi, Bluetooth and Apple AirPlay for day-to-day convenience.
Best soundbar
The SoundblasterX Katana is a bit of an anomoly on this list.
Whereas most soundbars are produced with televisions in mind, Creative's debut stays true to the company's PC audio heritage, and brings the soundbar form-factor to the desktop.
Creative has made a number of decisions with the design of the Katana to facilitate its desktop status. It's USB and Optical inputs are very PC-centric, and the soundbar doesn't even bother with the HDMI standard favored by most TV models.
In a 'love it or hate it' move the soundbar is also equipped with RGB lighting to take advantage of the current trend in PC peripherals, so you can have the Northern Lights erupting underneith your monitor if you so desire.
Read the full review: Creative SoundblasterX Katana
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