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Soundbar Reviews

Sony HT-A7000 Dolby Atmos soundbar close-up of top panel.

Sony HT-A7000 review: A fully loaded soundbar experience

There's no shortage of capable home theater soundbars out there, but few models attempt -- let alone succeed -- at doing as much as Sony's HT-A7000.
LG SP9YA Dolby Atmos soundbar

LG SP9YA Soundbar review: Setting a high bar for Dolby Atmos

Can you get the fully immersive benefits of Dolby Atmos from a single soundbar plus a subwoofer? If it's LG's $1,000 SP9YA, the answer is yes.
JBL Bar 5.0 Multibeam soundbar lifestyle image

JBL Bar 5.0 Multibeam soundbar review: Add a little Dolby Atmos to your life

If you're looking for a small, simple single speaker to give your TV the oomph it's missing, the Dolby Atmos-capable JBL Bar 5.0 Multibeam is the answer.
Sonos Arc Dolby Atmos soundbar

Sonos Arc review: A solid soundbar for the Dolby Atmos era

The $799 Arc is Sonos' first Dolby Atmos-capable soundbar, fulfilling years of customer requests. Now that it's here, does it deliver? Here's our full review.
Polk React Soundbar

Polk React soundbar review: Affordable, expandable, and smart too

Finding a soundbar that sounds great, doesn't break the bank, and yet can be expanded as your needs grow isn't easy. But the $250 Polk React is all three.
Monoprice SB-600 Dolby Atmos soundbar

Monoprice SB-600 Soundbar review: Affordable but average Dolby Atmos

Monoprice enters the Dolby Atmos soundbar market with an affordable and easy-to-use system, but the SB-600 doesn't deliver as much immersion as we'd like.
vizio m series 51 soundbar review m51a h6 5 1

Vizio M-Series 5.1 soundbar review (M51a-H6): The bar to beat

We took a look at Vizio’s lower-priced M-Series 5.1 (M51a-H6) soundbar, and what we found was pretty surprising.
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Vizio Elevate review: A rotating soundbar is the smartest pivot to Atmos yet

Marrying a killer new design to audiophile controls and stellar sound, the Vizio is an excellent compliment to your high-end television.
Klipsch Cinema 600 soundbar

Klipsch Cinema 600 Sound Bar review: Bold look, bold sound

The Klipsch Cinema 600 delivers a ton of power and dead-simple setup for bigger, better TV sound quality.
Bose TV Speaker

Bose TV Speaker review: Elegant and effortless TV enhancer

Soundbars are a simple sound quality upgrade, but most are overkill for smaller rooms. The clean, compact Bose TV Speaker, is a perfect, if pricey, alternative.
Vizio V-Series V21-H8 2.1 Soundbar

Vizio V-Series 2.1 Soundbar review: Your TV’s new best friend

If you're looking for better TV sound on a budget, Vizio's V-Series 2.1 Soundbar sounds great, comes with everything you need, and it won't break the bank.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound Stage

Bang and Olufsen Beosound Stage review: Beauty and the bass

If you can afford it, you won't find a sexier soundbar. But for immersive movie sound, you'll find better options from other companies that will save money too.
Yamaha C20A soundbar

Yamaha SR-C20A review: Clear sound in a compact soundbar

With its $180 SR-C20A, Yamaha built a pint-sized soundbar that features the versatility to fit a variety of different applications within your home.
Zvox AccuVoice AV157 TV Speaker

Zvox Accuvoice AV157 review: TV dialogue loud and clear

Zvox's $300 AV157 may not look like much compared to bigger, fancier soundbars, but it can do the one thing they can't: Clarify hard-to-understand dialogue.
Yamaha B20a soundbar

Yamaha SR-B20A review: Still good, just less value

The Yamaha SR-B20A combines the exceptional sound quality of the company's successful YAS line with a retooled design. But it's missing some important features.
samsung hwq800t review samsungq800t 6

Samsung HW-Q800T review: Alexa, can you say wow?

For $750, Samsung's HW-Q800T comes equipped with a 3.1.2-channel system, Wi-Fi functionality, Amazon Alexa built in, and support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
Polk Audio Signa S3 soundbar

Polk Audio Signa S3 review: A good bar lost among great competition

Polk Audio unveiled the newest edition to its budget soundbar lineup, the Signa S3, which is a 2.1-channel system with built-in Wi-Fi and a sleek design.
LG SN7Y soundbar

LG SN7Y soundbar review: Great Atmos sound for less

The LG SN7Y comes with plenty of interesting perks like 3.1.2-channel setup and support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, making for a value-rich $500 price point.
Vizio V-Series soundbar 2.0.

Vizio V-Series 5.1 Soundbar review: Putting the ‘V’ in value

Vizio's V Series 5.1 soundbar may not have a rock-solid set of features, but it does add 5.1 surround sound audio and DTS Virtual:X for a bargain of a price.
bluesound pulse soundbar 2i review 1

Bluesound Pulse Soundbar 2i: Great sound in a bad UI

Though it sounds great -- especially for music -- the Pulse Soundbar 2i is not winning any beauty contests and its user interface is confusing and convoluted.
Klipsch the Fives

Klipsch The Fives review: Soundbar killers

The Fives by Klipsch are the first powered speakers that are HDMI ARC compatible, and they put soundbars to shame with their incredible audio quality.
Sony HT-G700

Sony HT-G700 review: Virtually irresistible

Sony's newest soundbar, the HT-G700, is a 3.1-channel soundbar that the company claims can reproduce up to 7.1.2 surround sound thanks to processing technology.
LG SN11RG soundbar

LG SN11RG soundbar review: Compact cinematic experience

LG's new SN11RG Soundbar is a 7.1.4 system that supports Hi-Res audio, Dolby Atmos, and a ton of other audio formats, as well as built-in Google Assistant.
JBL Bar 9.1 Dolby Atmos Soundbar wireless speaker

JBL Bar 9.1 review: Wireless Dolby Atmos with a few flaws

There's no doubt that the JBL Bar 9.1's detachable fully wireless Dolby Atmos surround modules are convenient, but are they worth $1,000? We put it to the test.
Roku smart soundbar remote

Roku Smart Soundbar review: Plenty smart, but short on sound

Roku's latest push into audio, the Smart Soundbar, packs a streaming device inside that's loaded up with all the glory of Roku's top streamers. But uneven performance and few other standout features makes this bar a tough sell in one of the most competitive segments in sound.
LG SL9YG review

LG SL9YG soundbar review: Atmos delivers a punch

LG’s latest Dolby Atmos soundbar is loaded with power, features, and quirks, including the lack of a center channel. That said, this distinctive soundbar offers powerful Atmos immersion for a two-piece system, making it worth consideration for those seeking cinematic sound without multiple speakers.
vizio sb36514 g6 dolby atmos soundbar side profile

Vizio SB36514-G6 5.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar review

Vizio’s latest Dolby Atmos soundbar packs serious punch for a price so low it’ll make your head spin. While this soundbar isn’t perfect, it’s loaded with features and packs a full 5.1.4-channel setup at well under $1,000. With the SB36514-G6, just about anyone can afford Atmos.
bose soundbar 500 review 13  1

Bose Soundbar 500 review: Clean sound

Bose's sleek, slim, and smart Soundbar 500 offers clear sound and modern features in one of the smallest profiles in its class, making for an enticing option for those who love musicality but hate clutter. That said, it lacks some key features, including a wireless subwoofer.
samsung hw q90r soundbar review 11

Samsung HW-Q90R 7.1.4-channel soundbar review: Mighty Atmos

Samsung’s latest Dolby Atmos soundbar, the Q90R, is an incremental upgrade from the company’s popular HW-N950. But for those with the latest TV tech, this pricey Atmos beast is well worth considering. We’ll break down the latest upgrades and updates in detail so you can make the best choice for your home theater.
JBL Link Bar Featured

JBL Link Bar soundbar review: The sin of ambition

The JBL link bar is a full media hub in soundbar form, offering viewers and listeners easy access to any of their favorite media with a simple "OK Google." But, at a price of $400, is it worth the premium over other subwoofer-less soundbars to get some streaming apps thrown in?
yamaha yas 109 review soundbar

Yamaha YAS-109 soundbar review: Alexa makes a good bar better

Yamaha’s subwoofer-less YAS-109 soundbar brings a noticeable sonic upgrade to smaller rooms, and with great features and Amazon Alexa built-in, it’s one of the most convenient entry-level options on the market. You’ll have a hard time finding a soundbar at this price with more goodies baked in, and its sound is great, too.
Sennheiser Ambeo soundbar review

Sennheiser Ambeo soundbar review: Killer Atmos sound

We expected amazing things from Sennheiser’s first soundbar, and with incredible detail, brilliant musicality, and mind-bending Dolby Atmos virtualization, it absolutely delivers. Packing glorious detail and realistic virtual surround, Sennheiser’s $2,500 Ambeo soundbar is a holistic sound solution.
The Yamaha YAS-209 soundbar.

Yamaha YAS-209 soundbar review

Yamaha’s winning formula for the YAS-207 (our favorite value-packed soundbar for years now) scores another success with the YAS-209, which keeps the major features of its predecessor, while adding extras like Alexa voice control and (eventually) multi-room audio support, all at a still-affordable price point.
Klipsch Bar 40 review

Klipsch Bar 40 soundbar review

Klipsch’s Bar 40 does its namesake proud when it comes to both style and sound, with a great look and impressively clear performance. But those seeking loads of features may want to look elsewhere. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know so you can make the best decision for your budget.
Section Editor, Audio/Video

Phil spent the 2000s making newspapers with the Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal, the 2010s with Android Central and then the personality behind Modern Dad, and is currently an editor with Digital Trends. Phil’s online work has taken him all over the United States, as well as Europe and Asia for conferences such as CES, IFA, Mobile World Congress, and all the various one-offs from companies like Google, Samsung, LG, Facebook and the like.

When he’s not writing, editing, podcasting, interviewing or shooting video, Phil serves as president of the Pensacola Youth Soccer 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has worked on multiple local political campaigns and is a part-time photographer and videographer. He’s also a candidate for Pensacola City Council, District 1.

Phil is a native of Pensacola, where he resides with his wife, daughters and a dog named Max.

Find Phil on Mastodon, or on Threads.