Picking up one of the best soundbars can give your setup an audio glow-up, providing a fidelity uplift that gaming TVs struggle to achieve. Sure, the speakers built into your big screen might be serviceable, but dedicated solutions will provide an oomph using virtual surround sound and integrated sub-woofers. So, if you think your ears deserve better when journeying through your favorite games, you'll want to read on
If you're looking to invest in a 4K TV to go with your new soundbar, you should familiarise yourself with our guide on the best gaming TVs, and best gaming sound systems. Once you've done so, you'll know exactly what sort of sound-add on your screen on choice might benefit more from. Not all TVs even require additional speakers, but there are plenty that could be doing with a helping hand and extra oomph.
It's also worth noting that while most of the best soundbars are designed with TVs in mind, there's nothing stopping you from adding one to your gaming PC setup. Most monitors don't come with speakers built in, meaning a soundbar could serve as a slick way to add output to your rig. With that in mind, here are the models we think are worth your time and money, with options spanning across all budgets. If you are tempted to overspend, it could be worth also swinging by our Best Memorial Day TV deals too, as we'll be looking out for discounted options.
The best soundbar for TV
The Philips Fidelio B5 bridges the gap between a soundbar and a surround set up, with detachable rear wireless speakers to create “Surround on Demand,” taking your setup from 2.1 to 4.1. What's more, the rear speakers utilise a spatial calibration function to create the perfect sound balance, no matter where you place them in the room. Another big draw is Philips' Crystal Clear Sound, which just means that the sound source of whatever you're watching has been reproduced, letting you hear it as the creators intended.
Those rear speakers can also function separately to the soundbar, and independently of one another, effectively giving you three speakers, with two of those being portable that you can place anywhere in the house. The wireless 6.5-inch subwoofer is a little on the tall side, but it's narrow enough to be tucked away somewhere discrete. If you want a surround sound setup, with none of the faff, this is the soundbar for you.
The best budget soundbar
The Q Acoustic M2 isn't technically a soundbar, but the sturdy sound base can comfortably support a TV weighing up to 25kg. It's sleek, compact, and offers a number of inputs. It even has Bluetooth support, making it perfect for listening to music as well as for giving your TV and movies an oopmh when it comes to audio.
The best feature of the M2 is the 180-degree sound technology, that makes the whole room the 'sweet spot'. You don't need to be directly in front of the sound base to get the optimum sound. The 58mm mid-high BMR drivers are complemented with a down-firing subwoofer to take care of the bass, making for a balanced sound. If you really want to ramp things up, you can turn on the MoviEQ setting for some beefed up bass for that home cinema sound.
The best Sonos soundbar
Another sound base makes the soundbar list, with Sonos' Playbase. Large, but with a sleek and simple design, the Playbase is available in white or black, and can take up to 35kg of weight. Despite the lack of a sub woofer, there's a pleasantly surprising amount of bass. You'll find 10 amplified speaker drivers inside; six mid-range, three tweeters, and one woofer, and you can tweak the bass, treble, and loudness to your personal taste.
For the sake of simplicity, Sonos has pared down the inputs to a single optical, and the wireless connection is WiFi only. Ideally, the Playbase is designed to integrate with the family of other Sonos devices, but the sound is robust enough that this isn't a necessity. The speaker doesn't have a remote, and is controlled with the Sonos Controller App, which lets you stream music directly to the device from most streaming services. If a minimal aesthetic and a fuss-free set-up that you can expand on as-and-when you want is your cup of tea, the Sonos Playbase will happily oblige.
The best premium soundbar
The Sony HT-ST5000 Soundbar is a little on the steep side when it comes to price, but it offers high-end that will make you feel somewhat better about blowing £1200 on a soundbar that doesn't offer surround sound. A slim build houses seven 65mm drivers, with the centre, far left, and far right drivers benefiting from centrally mounted tweeters. Two up-firing Atmos drivers also sit on either end, and this is all rounded out with a rather hefty wireless subwoofer housing a 12 x 8-inch passive radiator and forward-facing driver.
The selling-point is Sony's 7.1.2ch S-Force PRO Front Surround technology which "emulates a natural, three-dimensional sound field." The setup menu allows for further fine-tuning, letting you input your distance from the speaker, and the ceiling height, which the Atmos relies on to create that 3-D sound. If you have the money to spare, value sound quality, but want to keep your living room as uncluttered as possible, you can't go wrong with the Sony HT-ST5000 Soundbar.
The best soundbar for surround sound
Designed for use with TV screens measuring 55" and above, the Samsung HW-N950 is a part of the manufacturer's Cinematic range, and it delivers on high quality, immersive sound thanks to Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. The soundbar houses three front-facing speakers, left and right side-firing speakers, and two upward firing drivers, in addition to the bass-reflex design wireless subwoofer.
The soundbar can be set up and controlled using Samsung's SmartThings app, but it also features Alexa support, giving you a wider range of control options. It delivers on both clarity and bass, and is truly one of the best soundbars on the market.
FAQ
Is it worth getting a soundbar for your TV?
Ultimately, whether or not to use a soundbar with your TV depends on your setup. If you only use your TV as a background distraction, then built-in speakers will probably suffice. However, movies, TV shows, and consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X will all benefit from the elevated experience dedicated solutions can provide, especially when it comes to surround sound and fidelity.
Is it best to get the same brand soundbar as your TV?
Choosing a different brand of soundbar to your TV won't make much of a difference, so long as you pick something with the right ports. For example, if your display features optical out, you'll want a model that can hook up using an optical cable. Simply put, matching up brands won't come with many technical benefits, even if the setup will match aesthetically.
How much should you spend on a soundbar?
Soundbars come at a variety of price points, so the amount you spend will tie directly to your budget. If you've got the funds for a premium model with plenty of features and 7.1 surround sound, you'll ultimately end up with better sounding audio and capabilities. However, there are plenty of cheaper options out there that will still pack a punch and boast qualities like Bluetooth.
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