Bored of having to squint at the subtitles of your favourite show on Netflix because the dialogue on your TV just isn't clear enough? We've all been there. That's why TV soundbars are a popular and affordable choice for upgrading your binge sessions and helping the hard of hearing – they simply connect to your TV and stream the audio through high-quality speakers to give you a punchy, crisp sound.
Take a look at our guide to help you understand what you're looking for. Some are capable of turning a home into a full-blown cinema, whilst others merely boost the sound clarity of your favourite films and shows, others work alongside Alexa or Amazon Echo. We've also reviewed the best products from high end and budget top-trending brands like Sony, Samsung, Sonos, and Bose, all available from Amazon, eBay and John Lewis.
Quick List - Top TV Soundbars
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The reason you're buying a soundbar is because you want your TV sound to blow you away, so it's crucial to get the best type of speaker you can. To do this, look at the number of channels. We'd recommend at least 2 channels as that's the standard choice for home-speakers and will give you a good sound without breaking the bank! Here's what each channel number denotes:
If you'd like to make the most of your movie nights, take your pick of one of the soundbars below that come with a subwoofer to give the audio an extra boost. Since some soundbars don't have the capacity to give off a punchy bass, subwoofers are ideal for reproducing a strong, lower-frequency sound.
As we mentioned above, the number of channels that your TV soundbar has is extremely important in determining how good the audio will be. If the amount has an extra number after the first decimal, that means that it has a subwoofer. So, the first number is the number of channels, and the second number refers to whether it comes with a subwoofer.
Still a bit confused? "2.0" = two channels and no subwoofer. "2.1" = two channels, with a subwoofer. Easy!
And for a listening experience elsewhere in the house, take a look at our Bluetooth Shower Speakers.
"Hey Alexa, turn the volume up." That's right, you can actually ditch your remote and control your TV soundbar with just your voice! This is a great addition if you're trying to build your house into a smart home – with these voice-controlled devices you need only to connect them to your TV soundbar and talk to them if the volume needs adjusting or you want to stop the sound.
We would highly recommend this feature as it is much easier to use and you'll never have to worry about losing any remote controls. Like most of the latest tech, though, it will come at a price!
Nowadays, you can control just about anything from the palm of your hand, so why not make sure that your TV soundbar is compatible with Bluetooth? That way, you can manage everything you need through your smartphone or tablet, and you won't even need to move from the sofa!
If you're looking for the ability to stream audio via Spotify and YouTube on your TV soundbar via Bluetooth or Wifi, we've got a great selection of products that can help you listen to your favourite music or podcasts with the best sound quality possible – just check the specification tables to see which are compatible.
And for a smaller, more intimate Bluetooth listening experience, take a look these Wireless Earbuds.
If the ability to watch a film with great sound quality takes precedence over streaming your favourite tunes on Spotify, you can opt for a TV soundbar with HDMI compatibility. This means that you'll use an HDMI cable to plug straight into your TV and you don't need to worry about pairing it to any other device, or that a connection will drop mid-programme!
This way is much simpler, but if you do listen to music at all we'd still recommend a soundbar with Bluetooth for extra freedom – it doesn't affect the price as much as you think, as there are many factors that can make a good quality soundbar cost more.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sony Soundbar With Wireless Subwoofer|HT-ZF9 | ![]() | The Ultimate Soundbar That Does it All | |
2 | Sonos Arc Black | ![]() | A Soundbar With Built-in Voice Control | |
3 | VMAI Soundbar With Built-in Subwoofer | ![]() | A 5-Channel Soundbar With Bluetooth Compatibility | |
4 | Bose Solo 5 | ![]() | A Cool Smart Speaker for Full-Blasting Sound | |
5 | Sony Bluetooth Sound Bar with Subwoofer and Rear Speakers|HT-S20R | ![]() | A Soundbar and Subwoofer You Can Hide Under Your Couch | |
6 | Yamaha Soundbar With Wireless Subwoofer|YAS-109 | ![]() | Top Choice for Movie Nights at Home | |
7 | Bose Soundbar 700 With Alexa | ![]() | A Voice-Controlled Soundbar With Optimised SoundADAPTiQ Calibration | |
8 | Samsung 2 Channel Soundbar With Bluetooth Connectivity|HW-T400 | ![]() | A Compact Pick That Fits Comfortably Under Your TV | |
9 | Panasonic Bluetooth All-In-One TV Sound Bar|SC-HTB200EBK | ![]() | Sleek, Smooth, and Ideal for Minimalistic Layouts | |
10 | LG SK1 All-in-One Soundbar | ![]() | An Affordable Bluetooth-Only Soundbar |
This TV soundbar has been designed with the latest advanced technology that will blow you away with its array of high-quality speakers! The wireless subwoofer included brings a roar of bass power for an immersive dynamic atmosphere and will appease music lovers, too.
Using cinematic speakers, watching TV will be a next-level experience, as the soundwaves are directed at the ceiling to push the noise behind you for a virtually surrounding acoustic field. Well worth the investment, impress your guests at movie night as you control everything right from your smartphone or with your voice via Google Home. It really has got it all!
This compact-sized smart soundbar will be an excellent addition to your TV cabinet, boasting incredible sound and voice activation with every assistant. Its 5-channel design plunges you into a cinematic world of acoustic realism, making you feel like you're standing right in the middle of your favourite film!
You can even listen to podcasts and eBooks through Bluetooth and Google Assistant which makes it a great family all-rounder. Plug in, sit back, and enjoy huge sound waves through speakers that have been specially designed by sound engineers to produce a rich, deep bass.
This TV soundbar enables users to hear every word with ease and clarity, without the need to keep changing the volume – great for the hard of hearing. Plus, enjoy a pristine listening experience with its 5-channel speaker, which will turn your living room into a home theatre in an instant.
Sleek, powerful, and versatile too, simply place this bar under your TV and connect wirelessly through Bluetooth to either play tunes from your phone or watch TV with super-enhanced sound and compared to out other speakers, it's very budget-friendly too!
As you'd expect from the brand, the stylish design of this Bose soundbar is discreet, and perfect to slip under your TV. With its powerful acoustics, you can not only enjoy the uniquely designed metal wraparound exterior, but also the enveloping sound technology.
With an array of 8 microphones, this soundbar has voice control abilities that are strong enough to hear you even when there is loud music playing, so you won't need to shout (or ruin the mood by turning it down!)
This immersive soundbar by Sony comes with a wireless subwoofer, that can be positioned in different places across the room – even under the couch if you're trying to be discreet!
Filling your living room with a punch of vibrant sound, this soundbar will make any audio sound extraordinary. The combination of the 2 speakers and the subwoofer will create a virtual surrounding acoustic field while you tune in to your favourite TV show.
With easy-to-use features, this soundbar creates the best sound possible, no matter where you place your speaker and is a simple, yet effective solution to a TV with weak audio, and definitely one for movie fans.
From sharp, cutting dialogue to punchy bass, the Bose Soundbar can be controlled through voice and even a Bose app for your smartphone. With optimised SoundADAPTiQ audio room calibration, the soundbar can be tuned to meet the unique characteristics of any room, depending on where you place it.
This soundbar does only have 2 channels and doesn't come with a subwoofer, which does provide audiophiles with the option to buy their preferred compatible speakers, but isn't necessarily the most affordable way to kit out a TV!
You can also set it comfortably under your TV due to its compact size, which won't block any remote control signals. Unfortunately, this product is not voice-activated, which can be a setback if you're looking to upgrade to a more efficient style of living.
This soundbar is suitable for a 32-43 inch TV and will provide modern homes with a sleek, streamlined aesthetic. On the downside, however, there are only 2 speakers, meaning that the sound won't be directed all across your living room. It will still be a better, more enhanced sound than your TV has now, though!
This soundbar by LG has a compact design but a large-scale soundscape, giving you a full, rich sound. With built-in Bass Blast audio, you get the punchy effect of a good quality speaker without having to break the bank or buy a separate subwoofer.
Unfortunately, this soundbar is only connectable via Bluetooth, meaning that if your TV isn't Bluetooth compatible and you're looking for an HDMI soundbar, you should consider one of the other products on our list.
Written and researched by Annie Speight
No. 1: Sony|Soundbar With Wireless Subwoofer|HT-ZF9
No. 2: Sonos|Arc Black
No. 3: VMAI|Soundbar With Built-in Subwoofer
No. 4: Bose |Solo 5
No. 5: Sony |Bluetooth Sound Bar with Subwoofer and Rear Speakers|HT-S20R
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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