Best Soundbars for Every Budget – Take Your TV Audio to The Next Level

These days, smart TVs come with a lot of technologies. While most of them focus on image quality, there are numerous audio enhancement features. Some even come with high-end speaker systems to deliver an immersive listening experience. But if you add one of the best soundbars to your setup, you can take TV audio to the next level.

Now, before you ask, this upgrade doesn’t need to be expensive. Yes, there are many high-end soundbars out there. But if you don’t care about the extra bells and whistles, you can upgrade the TV audio without putting a dent in your wallet. As for the high-end options, not all of them are worth purchasing. But if you go through this guide, you will know which are the best picks for each budget and criteria.

Samsung HW-Q800C – The Best Soundbar for Most

Craving a powerful sound upgrade without breaking the bank? Look no further than the Samsung HW-Q800C. This soundbar delivers room-filling audio that brings movies and TV shows to life.

The HW-Q800C supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, creating a captivating sense of surround sound. Upward-firing drivers bounce sound off your ceiling, adding height for a truly immersive experience.

This soundbar offers fantastic performance for the price. While it doesn’t quite match the power of its bigger brother (the HW-Q900C), the HW-Q800C delivers exceptional 5.1.2 channel sound. Plus, the option to add rear speakers lets you customize your surround sound experience.

While it’s affordable, the soundbar feels like a quality product. The design might not win any awards, but the clean grilled finish has a certain industrial charm.

Main Highlights of Samsung HW-Q800C

• Competitively priced
• Delivers room-filling sound
• Offers the ability to hook rear speakers
• Good looks

Sony HT-S2000 – Best Affordable Soundbar With Dolby Atmos

Looking to upgrade your TV’s sound without blowing your budget? Then the Sony HT-S2000 might be your perfect match.

For the price, the HT-S2000 offers outstanding sound quality. Clear dialogue and a spacious virtual surround sound create a significant improvement over your TV’s built-in speakers.

The bass isn’t earth-shattering. But it packs enough punch to keep you engaged. However, the real surprise is the HT-S2000’s ability to handle Dolby Atmos content. This allows the soundbar to create a surprisingly immersive that can get you fully into the content.

Don’t let the price fool you. The HT-S2000 boasts a premium look with a solid mesh metal grille and a sturdy black casing. It even provides visual feedback for remote control commands, a rare feature in budget soundbars.

Main Highlights of Sony HT-S2000

• Great dialogue clarity
• Has support for spatial codecs
• Comes with Dolby Atmos support
• Sleek build

Sonos Arc – Best High-end Dolby Atmos Soundbar

For the audiophile seeking a top-tier soundbar experience, look no further than the Sonos Arc. This award-winning soundbar boasts immersive Dolby Atmos support. And it comes with a robust speaker setup to take your listening experience to the next level.

The Sonos Arc utilizes up-firing speakers to create a captivating sense of surround sound. Sound reflects off your ceiling, creating a multi-dimensional soundscape that puts you right in the middle of the action. Unlike some soundbars, the Arc delivers a balanced and natural Atmos experience without the need for excessive tweaking.

Besides, the soundbar offers a variety of connection options. That includes AirPlay 2, ethernet, and eARC for lossless Dolby Atmos from compatible TVs. Plus, built-in Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa support allow for voice-controlled playback.

As you’re paying a premium price, you get a premium build too. The Arc features a sleek design with touch-sensitive controls for play/pause and volume. LED indicators provide clear status updates, and the soundbar seamlessly integrates with your existing Sonos ecosystem for multi-room listening.

Main Highlights of Sonos Arc

• Sports Dolby Atmos support
• Has an advanced speaker setup
• Sleek and premium build
• Multiple connectivity options

Bose Smart Soundbar 600 – Best Compact Soundbar

Living in a cozy space doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice immersive sound. The Bose Smart Soundbar 600 packs a powerful punch despite its compact size.

Don’t let its size fool you. This soundbar delivers impressive Dolby Atmos audio, filling your room with rich, detailed sound. Measuring just 27 inches wide, it’s ideal for smaller apartments or entertainment setups with limited space.

The dialogue clarity from this soundbar is great too. You can enjoy crisp and clear dialogue, ensuring you never miss a word during your favorite movies and TV shows. Also, the Bose Smart Soundbar 600 boasts true Dolby Atmos thanks to up-firing speakers that bounce sound off your ceiling, creating a captivating sense of surround sound.

This soundbar has multiple convenient features. Expect to enjoy an effortless setup with the app, stream music seamlessly via AirPlay 2 and Chromecast, and control everything with a single intuitive interface.

Main Highlights of Bose Smart Soundbar 600

• Small and compact design
• Comes with up-firing speakers
• Has Bluetooth, AirPlay, Chromecast, and WiFi
• Dolby Atmos support