The 10 Best Soundbars of 2026, Ranked

The number before the dot is the speaker channels and the number after is the subwoofer. A 2.1 bar such as the Creative Stage Pro gives stereo with a separate sub, which is a big step up from TV speakers in a small room. A 5.1 system such as the Hisense AX5125H adds a centre channel and wireless rear speakers for real surround, but you need space and sockets for the rears. Single bars like the Sonos Arc Ultra use extra drivers to imitate surround from the front.

No, but it helps if you stream films. Upfiring drivers bounce sound off the ceiling, so they work best under a flat, average-height ceiling. Check DTS:X support too if you play discs: the Samsung HW-Q990H, the Sony Theatre Bar 9 and Theatre Bar 6 and the Hisense AX5125H have it, while the Sonos and Bose bars here do not.

Not always. A built-in woofer, as in the Sonos Arc Ultra, is enough for most flats. A separate wireless sub gives fuller bass for films, and the Sony Theatre Bar 6 and Hisense AX5125H include one. If you live in a flat or share walls, pick a bar with a bass control or night mode, and keep the sub off the floor shared with neighbours. Many bars with a separate sub let you adjust bass level in an app or on the remote, so check before buying.

Use HDMI eARC or ARC if your TV has it: one cable carries sound and lets the TV remote control the volume. The ports are usually labelled on the back of the TV. If it only has an optical output, the Sonos Ray and Sony HT-SF150 both take an optical cable, though TV remote control can need setup. Check the bar's width against your TV and stand too. A bar over a metre wide, such as the Arc Ultra, looks right under a 55 inch TV or larger, and a tall bar can block the TV's infrared sensor.

Look for a dedicated centre channel or a speech mode. The Sony Theatre Bar 6 has a centre channel, the Bose Smart Ultra has an AI Dialogue Mode, the Sonos bars have Speech Enhancement, and the Sony HT-SF150 has a Voice mode. Sony's Voice Zoom 3 needs a compatible BRAVIA TV. Placing the bar close to the front of the stand also helps.

Entry-level bars such as the Sony HT-SF150 and Creative Stage Pro are a clear step up from TV speakers for a bedroom or small lounge. The middle of the range adds a wireless sub, Atmos and eARC, as in the Hisense AX5125H and Sony Theatre Bar 6. Premium bars add Wi-Fi streaming, multi-room and room calibration, and the top systems add rears and HDMI 2.1 for 4K120 consoles. The more you spend, the more it matters that the bar fits your room and your TV. We compared 17 models and ranked these ten on what review sites and owners say.