Best Soundbars of 2024

Full-featured, great-sounding models can easily cost more than $600 or more, but the less expensive models below are all recommended by CR. They are all priced below $200.

Stepping up in price can get you better sound. All the models in this group offer very good overall sound quality, so they make fine choices for both watching movies and listening to music.

These pricier models all deliver very good overall sound, and all support Dolby Vision and DTS:X immersive 3D audio formats. Several also have more features, such as upfiring drivers for height sounds, and built-in support for voice-enabled digital assistants such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri. They may come with rear speakers, or let you add them, for a full surround-sound Atmos setup.

Most soundbars tuck several speakers into a thin enclosure that can be mounted on a wall or placed on a shelf above or below the TV. Pedestal-style “sound bases” are sturdy enough to support a television, but these have become less common as TVs have gotten larger.

Soundbars are often sold with a wireless subwoofer to help with bass, and a few have rear speakers for a true surround-sound experience. A growing number support Dolby Atmos and DTS:X “immersive” 3D audio formats, which add an element of height to the surround-sound experience.

Most models these days have Bluetooth audio, letting you stream music wirelessly from a phone or tablet. Those with two-way Bluetooth let you send sound from the soundbar to Bluetooth headphones for private listening.

Some advanced models offer access to streaming video and music services right from the soundbar itself and can be controlled with voice commands using digital assistants such as Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, or Google Assistant.

Here are a few shopping suggestions to keep in mind.

• Make sure you can return or exchange the soundbar even if you listen to it in a store before buying it. Soundbars may sound very different in your home.

• Determine how many channels of sound you want. To simply enhance your TV sound, an inexpensive soundbar with 2.1 channels (two front channels and a separate subwoofer) will do nicely. But if you want true surround sound, choose a 5.1-channel system, which will have rear speakers.

• Decide whether to spring for Dolby Atmos or DTS:X. These newer immersive surround-sound technologies can give movies with specially encoded soundtracks a more dramatic, lifelike effect. This is usually accomplished with speakers that include upfiring drivers. Soundbars with this feature will have a third number in the channel designation. For instance, a 3.1.2-channel soundbar has three front channels, a subwoofer, and two upfiring channels.

“When done well, especially with models that have front and rear height-enabled speakers, listeners can really get a three-dimensional sound experience,” says Rich Fisco, who leads electronics testing at CR. Sounds like a helicopter flying overhead can appear to be coming from above the listener.