Best Soundbars in 2022

Bose has a pretty big pedigree when it comes to making high-quality audio equipment. The company was founded in 1964 by Amar Bose and has since become one of the world’s leading audio companies. Their motto “Better Sound Through Research” has kept them at the forefront of audio innovation and it still lives on today through products like the Bose Solo 5 TV Sound System.

Bose has made some of the top soundbars in the last decade, but this one is innovative for another reason. Not only does it provide high-quality audio, but it is also one of the most compact soundbars on the market. This small soundbar measures 548x70x86mm and weighs in at only 6.35kg. That means you can fit it easily under a computer monitor or small TV. But, don’t be fooled by its size – this Bose speaker bar still packs plenty of punch and will easily improve the sound of any TV. It has two in-built speakers that are located towards the middle of the bar. This doesn’t provide the stereo split that you can expect from much wider soundbars, but it will still fill a normal sized room. It performs excellently when watching TV or movies due to the dialogue mode, that makes every word stand out. The feature takes the bass out of the mix and raises the mids and trebles to give you high-quality, crisp vocals.

Since Sonos came on to the scene in 2002, they’ve revolutionized home audio systems. Their high-quality speakers can be connected, giving users a versatile and complete home audio experience. You can play music in every room of the house. Whether you want a different song in every room, or the same music to flow seamlessly from room to room, Sonos systems provide one of the best home music options out there. So, we know they can handle the music side of things, but how will they adapt to creating audio systems for TV and film.

Well, in short, they’ve done a fantastic job. The Sonos PLAYBAR TV Soundbar is, without doubt, one of the best soundbar systems on the market. Of course, this sort of technology doesn’t come cheap. This product retails at just under $700, which makes it the most expensive soundbar on this list. But, if money isn’t a problem, you can’t get a better home theatre soundbar. It has 9 amplified speakers that create a much better stereo separation than the Bose soundbar. The sound is immensely rich, and it is just as good for making action movies more dramatic than it is at making your favorite song sound perfect. It can be paired with any other Sonos device and act as part of your home audio system and can also be controlled by any device. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with its own dedicated remote control, but as long as you have a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, you’re good to go. This TV soundbar is our premium product just for the sheer quality of sound – if you’ve got money to spend, you have to buy the Sonos PLAYBAR TV Soundbar.

You get what you pay for with audio electronics. The more expensive systems can afford to use materials and technologies that give you a better sound. It’s a simple as that. Or is it? This certainly used to be the case, but now you can get some pretty awesome audio quality, without breaking the bank. The TaoTronics Sound Bar Wired Wireless Bluetooth Audio Speaker is one of the cheapest soundbars systems you can buy, but it still provides an impressive audio soundscape, that will improve your home cinema experience.

Firstly, it’s important to mention that – despite its quality – it’s still not going to trouble the Sonos or Bose products for sound quality. But, if you want a system for under $100, then this product should definitely be a consideration. It’s 34 inches long and contains 4 full-range Bluetooth speakers. This will improve the quality of your TV’s sound but isn’t going to give you a high-quality sound for playing music. It comes with a dedicated remote control and you can also control it by touch the device itself. Plus, it has wired or wireless options connect via Bluetooth and can be mounted on the wall. This product is our best value sound bar, so if you want to improve sound without spending hundreds of dollars, this is the best option.

Vizio might not be the most well-known name on this list, but that has a pretty solid track record when it comes to making high-quality electronics. Started in 2002, in California, they make 4K TVs and sound bars, as well as some smaller products. The VIZIO SB2821 is one of their mid-range sound bars that you can pick up for around $129.99. That puts it right bang in the middle of the price range for soundbars and means it is a worthy consideration for anyone trying to improve their home cinema system. 

This tv speaker bar features powerful speakers that are backed up by a wireless subwoofer. This sets it apart from a lot of cheaper soundbars because that subwoofer really provides you with a deeper bass sound – perfect for playing music as well as TV and film. It can be connected wirelessly to your TV as well as stream from your smartphone or tablet. Plus, it has a useful bar of LEDs on the side that indicate the volume. It has Dolby Digital sound and DTS TruSurround, so you know the sound quality is going to be good. 

AmazonBasics is Amazon’s version of an in-store brand. Basically, they provide cheaper alternatives for their customers that they can sell direct. So, if you are looking for a soundbar speaker that isn’t going to cost you the earth, the AmazonBasics 2.1 Channel Bluetooth Sound Bar is a worthy consideration.

The 31.5-inch soundbar has a built-in subwoofer, that gives it a solid full-range sound which is perfect for either music or TV. Plus, it has 4 speakers, which give it okay stereo separation. It’s a pretty simple soundbar and comes with a great little EQ selection system. You can choose from either Standard, News, or Movie. This is absolutely perfect for anyone who doesn’t understand more complicated audio systems and just wants something that’s easy to operate. The Bluetooth connectivity provides a range of 10 meters and connects to your smartphone or device. It has a wall-mount and remote control include, which is rare for a soundbar in this price range. This product isn’t going to win any awards for the best sound, but it’s a really solid wireless soundbar.

This is the first soundbar on this list that comes from Yamaha, the celebrated Japanese electronics company. Everyone knows Yamaha. They have been making everything from grand pianos to jet skis, for over 50 years. So, when you are buying a product from Yamaha, you know you are buying quality.

And the Yamaha YAS-108 Sound Bar is no exception. At around $200, it is towards the more expensive side of soundbars, but it is still great value for money. It has a sleek, black design that wouldn’t look out of place next to any TV or computer monitor. Unlike some of the cheaper soundbars, it has a built-in subwoofer that gives it a deep bass sound. This can be turned down using the clear voice function that boosts the mids and highs to make dialogue easy to understand. It has powerful Bluetooth connectivity, so you can seamlessly switch between two devices, without any annoying waiting times. It also offers a simple set up, with HDMI, optical, and aux inputs. All of these features make it the best sound bar for the money. Our handy guide to the best smart speakers features more great products like this.

You may not have heard of Polk Audio. They’ve been around since 1972 and have got a reputation for creating great audio gear, but they’re not a household name. That hasn’t stopped them getting into the soundbar game. The Polk Audio – 2.1-Channel Soundbar System is priced at just below $200, so it is in competition with the high-end soundbars from Yamaha and Bose. And it fairs pretty well!

It comes with a wireless subwoofer, that can be placed on the floor or behind the TV. This allows the Polk soundbar to deliver Dolby digital 5.1 surround sound. It can be connected to the TV via an optical cable or used to stream music wirelessly with Bluetooth. Polk also has their own voice adjusting technology, that boosts the specific frequencies of dialogue to make listening to TV or films easier. This isn’t the top-rated soundbar on the market, but it is still one of the best!

LG is well-known for making amazing TVs and sound bars to go with them. The LG SK5Y is one of their more expensive and higher-quality soundbars. The 360-watt speaker provides high-resolution audio with high sampling rates and bit rates that provide a really clean sound. It also features DTS virtual surround sound technology that makes listening to TV, films, and music an immersive experience.

You can stream music directly from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop using Bluetooth. Unlike a lot of soundbars in this price range, the LG SK5Y can be paired with two other LG SPK8-S speakers to make it a true surround sound system. This allows you to slowly build up to this system, without having to buy it all at once. It can also be controlled by most TV remotes, which makes it a great addition to any smart TV.

Remember the VIZIO SB2821? We featured it at number 4 in this list and it is one of the best budget soundbars on the market. Well, if you have slightly more to spend, you could go for its big brother: the VIZIO SB3821. It has a similar design and feature list to the smaller version, but provides a slightly louder audio output, at 100dB.

It has great Bluetooth connectivity and provides the same Dolby Digital and DTS sounds. Plus, it has a wireless remote for added convenience. At $149.99, it’s only around $20 more than the 28-inch version and it provides plenty of added volume if that’s what you’re looking for. Find more great products like this by checking out our guide to the best shower speakers.

This is the second Yamaha sound bar in our list. It’s more expensive than the Yamaha YAS-108 Sound Bar and has some extra features to warrant the higher price. Instead of an in-built subwoofer, this product has a more powerful wireless subwoofer that provides a deeper bass sound. It is the world’s first soundbar to feature DTS Virtual 3D surround sound, which is available via a firmware update. That means it is a cheaper alternative to most surround sound systems.

It can also be easily connected to your device via Bluetooth. Plus, it has HDMI, analog, and optical connections. The design is just as sleek as the first Yamaha soundbar and wouldn’t look out of place underneath any high-end TV. It’s one of the best soundbars for TV.