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Klipsch Cinema 400
Best soundbar under $300
$244 at Best Buy
Price alerts on for Klipsch Cinema 400
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Vizio V21
Best soundbar under $200
$150 at Target
Price alerts on for Vizio V21
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Creative Stage
Best soundbar under $100
$80 at Amazon
Price alerts on for Creative Stage
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Sonos Ray
Best music streaming for the money
$279 at Sonos
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Vizio M512a-H6
Best Dolby Atmos soundbar under $500
$415 at Amazon
Price alerts on for Vizio M512a-H6
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Sennheiser Ambeo Max Soundbar
Best soundbar if money’s no object
$2,500 at Crutchfield
Price alerts on for Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar
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Sonos Arc
Best all-in-one soundbar under $1,000
$899 at Sonos, Inc.
Price alerts on for Sonos Arc (Black)
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Yamaha YAS-209
Best soundbar with Alexa
$300 at Amazon
Price alerts on for Yamaha YAS-209
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Vizio Elevate
Best soundbar under $1,000
$799 at Amazon
Price alerts on for Vizio Elevate P514A-H6
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Roku Streambar
Best budget soundbar with streaming video
$100 at Roku
Price alerts on for Roku Streambar
Show More (5 items)
In this article:
- Our picks
- Other soundbars we tested
- How we test soundbars
- FAQs
- More home theater buying guides
Most TVs leave a lot to be desired in terms of audio quality, and all can be improved with a soundbar upgrade. Even the best TVs with impressive pictures typically come with subpar speakers, which is why it’s worth investing in a separate dedicated speaker for your TV. Soundbars are a much more affordable alternative to home theater speakers and AV receivers, while still providing powerful and immersive audio, and they’ll take up a lot less room in your house as well. To help you find the best one for your needs, we’ve rounded up the best soundbars of 2023.
If you’re looking to spend the least amount of money to get good sound, then both the Creative Stage and the Roku Streambar offer excellent values. If you’re a movie lover, then a soundbar with a wireless subwoofer, such as the Vizio V21, will help you get the most out of action films. Taking this one step further, the Vizio M512a-H6 with Dolby Atmos support is an excellent buy and the best option for spatial audio on a budget. But if, on the other hand, you want the best that money can buy, then the Sennheiser Ambeo will give you the best sound we’ve ever heard in a soundbar.
If you’re on the hunt for the best soundbar 2023 has to offer, we’ve rounded up some excellent speakers starting from $100. This list is updated periodically as we test new models.
Best soundbars in 2023
Ty Pendlebury/CNET
Klipsch Cinema 400
Best soundbar under $300
Easily supplanting our previous favorite, the JBL Bar 2.1 Deep Bass, the Klipsch Cinema 400 adds great design and an even bigger wireless subwoofer. Sound quality is still king, though, with a real sense of dynamics and excellent music replay. If you want to make your TV the next best thing to a movie theater, this is one of the most affordable ways to do it.
Key features
- Number of channels: 2.1
- Wireless subwoofer: Yes
- Connections: Bluetooth, 3.5mm, optical, HDMI, USB, subwoofer out
- Dolby Atmos: No
Read our Klipsch Cinema 400 review.
$244 at Best Buy$220 at AmazonGet Price AlertsYou’re receiving price alerts for Klipsch Cinema 400
Ty Pendlebury/CNET
Vizio V21
Best soundbar under $200
If you’re looking to ditch your TV speaker, this is where we suggest you start. The subwoofer may be smaller than usual for the brand, but this audio bar still sounds great, as well as offering HDMI connectivity with ARC and a much easier-to-understand input display. The Vizio V-Series 2.1 is the best soundbar value we have tested in the last few years.
Key features
- Number of channels: 2.1
- Wireless subwoofer: Yes
- Connections: Bluetooth, optical, HDMI, USB
- Dolby Atmos: No
Read our Vizio V21 review.
$150 at TargetGet Price AlertsYou’re receiving price alerts for Vizio V21
Sarah Tew/CNET
Creative Stage
Best soundbar under $100
For less than a C-note, the Creative Stage soundbar offers a bunch of previously unheard-of features, including HDMI connectivity with an HDMI ARC port and a subwoofer. But what’s even more remarkable is that this affordable soundbar sounds better than most of its ultrabudget competition; its wired subwoofer fills the room with great bass. It has a variety of audio modes, making this soundbar speaker especially suited to music, concerts and gaming. Excellent sound quality for gamers and movie fans alike.
Key features
- Number of channels: 2.1
- Wireless subwoofer: Yes (wired)
- Connections: Bluetooth, 3.5mm, optical, HDMI (ARC)
- Dolby Atmos: No
Read our Creative Stage review.
$80 at AmazonGet Price AlertsYou’re receiving price alerts for Creative Stage
Sonos
Sonos Ray
Best music streaming for the money
Sonos’ new entry-level soundbar offers a lot for the money including the company’s excellent multiroom music system onboard. A two-channel soundbar with Dolby Digital decoding, the Ray is roughly two-thirds the size of the Sonos Beam, yet it delivers a surprisingly wide soundstage.
While it doesn’t support Dolby Atmos surround sound or have an HDMI port to connect to your TV (you connect it to your TV with an included optical cable), we were impressed with the sound quality for music and movies. You can pair it with a couple of other Sonos speakers like the Ikea Symfonisk, or even the new Sonos Sub Mini, to create a surround sound system.
Key features:
- Number of channels: 2
- Wireless subwoofer: No
- Connections: Wi-Fi, optical
- Dolby Atmos: No
$279 at Sonos
Ty Pendlebury/CNET
Vizio M512a-H6
Best Dolby Atmos soundbar under $500
A true step up from the preceding soundbars, the Vizio M512a-H6 is the most cost-effective way to get true Dolby Atmos playback. This surround system includes the main soundbar with up-firing height speakers built in, a 6-inch subwoofer and two wired rear speakers. That’s a lot of parts, but they were easy to set up and we were impressed with the overall build quality. Most importantly, it offers excellent performance with movies, including real Atmos effects we could hear, as well as music. The M512a-H6s lacks Chromecast and AirPlay streaming, but still earns our hearty recommendation both for home cinema fans and for people looking to listen to their favorite album (whether in Atmos or not).
Key features
- Number of channels: 5.1.2
- Wireless subwoofer: Yes
- Connections: Bluetooth, 2 x 3.5mm, optical, HDMI in/out, USB
- Dolby Atmos: Yes
$415 at Amazon$500 at Best BuyGet Price AlertsYou’re receiving price alerts for Vizio M512a-H6
Sarah Tew/CNET
Sennheiser Ambeo Max Soundbar
Best soundbar if money’s no object
If you simply must have the least number of boxes and remotes in your living space and yet demand the best Atmos quality sound performance you can get, this Sennheiser speaker is your baby. It’s a single unit, without a subwoofer, but it’s able to conjure up the most realistic overhead and true surround-sound effects we’ve ever heard. It’s also controlled entirely via remote control. It’s not a cheap piece of sound equipment but it’s comparable in price to a full set of surround speakers without the bulk and with 85% of the great sound and performance. It’s now been joined by the cheaper Ambeo Soundbar Plus.
Key features
- Number of channels: 5.1.4
- Wireless subwoofer: No
- Connections: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm, RCA, HDMI (ARC), Subwoofer out
- Dolby Atmos: Yes
Read our Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar review.
$2,500 at Crutchfield$2,500 at Best Buy$2,500 at AmazonYou’re receiving price alerts for Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar
Ty Pendlebury/CNET
Sonos Arc
Best all-in-one soundbar under $1,000
If you’re interested in setting up a multiroom sound system, a Sonos soundbar system is still the best option. The Sonos Arc is the company’s best soundbar and includes Dolby Atmos playback, a class-leading music ecosystem and Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa built into the bar itself. The soundbar system sounds good with music and movies, and adding a pair of Ikea Symphonisk bookshelves should really boost your home theater sound experience. The Arc sounds a lot bigger than the cheaper Beam TV sound, which needs the $700 subwoofer on top to make it comparable in terms of sound.
Key features
- Number of channels: 3.0.2
- Wireless subwoofer: No
- Connections: HDMI, Wi-Fi
- Dolby Atmos: Yes
Read our Sonos Arc review.
$899 at Sonos, Inc.$899 at Crutchfield$900 at Best BuyYou’re receiving price alerts for Sonos Arc (Black)
Sarah Tew/CNET
Yamaha YAS-209
Best soundbar with Alexa
2020
The Yamaha YAS-209 offers excellent sound quality in a compact soundbar. Built-in Amazon Alexa voice control is useful, allowing this smart soundbar to stream music, and the mics work well in loud environments. The soundbar’s implementation of DTS Virtual:X virtual surround sound offers a rich effect reminiscent of surround speaker sound. Two HDMI connections are included, one with HDMI ARC. This smart soundbar’s wireless subwoofer is more articulate and offers more headroom than the competing, and also excellent, Polk Command Bar. However, the Yamaha soundbar YAS-209 doesn’t use the company’s MusicCast system, so it won’t sync up with other Yamaha speakers.
Key features
- Number of channels: 2.1
- Wireless subwoofer: Yes
- Connections: Bluetooth, optical, HDMI in/out, Wi-Fi
- Dolby Atmos: No
Read our Yamaha YAS-209 review.
$300 at Amazon$300 at Best Buy$300 at CrutchfieldYou’re receiving price alerts for Yamaha YAS-209
Ty Pendlebury/CNET
Vizio Elevate
Best soundbar under $1,000
The Vizio Elevate’s main draw may be its motorized-height speakers, but once you get over their novelty you’ll find that the speaker system also sounds great. The separate sub and height-enabled rear speakers really help pull this Vizio soundbar ahead of the Sonos Arc sonically. With Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Chromecast built in, multiple HDMI inputs and Bluetooth, the only thing the Vizio doesn’t provide is Apple AirPlay support.
Key features
- Number of channels: 5.1.4
- Wireless subwoofer: Yes
- Connections: Bluetooth, Wi-fi, 2x 3.5mm, optical, 2x HDMI in/1x HDMI out, USB
- Dolby Atmos: Yes
Read our Vizio Elevate P514A-H6 review.
$799 at AmazonGet Price AlertsYou’re receiving price alerts for Vizio Elevate P514A-H6
Sarah Tew/CNET
Roku Streambar
Best budget soundbar with streaming video
2023
While we really like the Roku Streambar Pro, the Roku Streambar does essentially the same job for $50 less. With a full-fledged 4K HDR Roku streamer built in and a single voice remote controlling everything, this bar gives you audio and video in one simple bar. The Roku soundbar setup is a breeze; just add to a TV with a simple HDMI port connection. This affordable soundbar has sound quality that’s acceptable for the size and price, and you can add a $129 wireless subwoofer for more punch.
Key features
- Number of channels: 2
- Wireless subwoofer: No
- Connections: Bluetooth, optical, HDMI, USB
- Dolby Atmos: No
Read our Roku Streambar review.
$100 at Roku$100 at Amazon$130 at Best BuyYou’re receiving price alerts for Roku Streambar
Also tested
- Polk Signa S3 ($299): If you’re looking for a speaker that can do music as well as play the latest episode of Ted Lasso, then the Polk Audio Signa S3 has a lot to offer. It’s great for streaming, as it has Chromecast built in in addition to Bluetooth and an HDMI input. Read CNET’s review of the Polk Signa S3.
- Zvox SB500 ($400): If you’re looking for a single audio bar that’s even cheaper than the Sonos Arc, the Zvox SB500 is a great option for people who still prize sound quality. This speaker offers multiple sound mode options, tighter bass and better sound than most other single-speaker options. While it may lack the Sonos’ Wi-Fi streaming, the Zvox still includes Bluetooth connectivity for streaming audio from your phone or tablet. Read CNET’s review of the Zvox SB500.
How does CNET test soundbars?
CNET follows a rigorous, unbiased evaluation process for all of our soundbar testing. We test soundbars ranging from simple stereo speakers all the way through to Dolby Atmos systems. Our audio lab includes a Samsung QLED television (with HDMI eARC), an Apple TV 4K streamer, a Microsoft Xbox Series X and an Oppo UDP-205 4K Blu-ray player. Similar soundbars are compared side by side with different content, including movies, music, TV shows and games. We grade the sound quality of each by evaluating speech clarity, dynamics, bass response and musical playback.
Soundbar FAQs
Why do I need a soundbar?
Compared with the sound that comes out of your TV, soundbars are the most economical way to improve sound quality. TV speakers face downward so a lot of detail is lost, and a dedicated soundbar can make speech more understandable. Spending as little as $100 on a soundbar can improve your TV-watching experience tenfold.
How do I choose a soundbar?
The most important consideration when choosing a soundbar is how much you want to spend. There are great soundbars at every price level, from $100 and up, though if you’re paying over $500 it may be more worthwhile to save for an AV receiver and speakers. Single-bar systems are great for smaller TVs while a soundbar-and-subwoofer combo is great for a living room. Read more in our soundbar buying guide.
How do I connect a soundbar to my TV?
Depending on the age of your TV, there are three main ways to output to a soundbar: analog (3.5mm headphone or RCA), digital optical and HDMI. Before you buy a soundbar make sure it accepts the same connections present on your TV. The most common input on soundbars is now HDMI, and if your TV is less than 5 years old it should be compatible, but it’s worth double-checking.
Where do I place my soundbar?
Soundbars are designed to be placed in front of the TV on a TV stand or other furniture. Most are less than 2 inches tall so that they won’t block either your television’s infrared remote port or the screen itself. Some soundbars can also be wall-mounted and come with brackets in the box. Third-party kits for wall-mounting soundbars are also available.
Can you use any soundbar with any TV?
With only a handful of exceptions you can use any soundbar with any TV, though it does sometimes help to match TV and soundbar brands. Many new soundbars use HDMI ARC to channel the audio from your TV through the soundbar, so if both devices have one of these ports that’s all you need. Some older soundbars use an optical connection and most TVs offer these as well.
The exception? Roku TV Wireless Speakers and Samsung SoundConnect. The former uses a proprietary wireless connection, and lacks an HDMI port, so you need a Roku TV (and not a Roku streamer) to use it. The second is also proprietary between Samsung soundbars and TVs, though the soundbar usually offers HDMI for connection to other brands.
Can you use a soundbar to play music?
Music played through your TV almost always sounds better when you have a soundbar connected. Many soundbars have Bluetooth, meaning you don’t need the TV on to listen to your tunes. In general a soundbar with a wireless subwoofer is best for music as it will help reproduce dynamics as well as deep bass.
More home theater buying guides
- Best Speakers for 2023
- Best Home Theater Systems for 2023
- Best Gifts to Upgrade a Home Theater
- Best Sonos Speakers Starting at $100
- Best Bluetooth Wireless Speaker for 2023
- Best Budget Soundbar for 2023
- Best Soundbars With Amazon Alexa for 2023
- Best 32-Inch TV for 2023
- Best 65-Inch TV for 2023: Samsung TV, LG, TCL and More
- Best Record Player for 2023
- Best Over-Ear Headphones for 2023
- Best PC Speakers for 2023