The Best Sound Bars of 2020!

Do I need a soundbar? We get asked this all the time and one thing is true across the board: today’s TVs are incredibly thin and beautiful — but with no room inside for a decent speaker, audio suffers. Dialogue can be very difficult, sometimes even impossible, to hear. Big sound effects (think "Star Wars") are tinny and unimpressive. And though just about any soundbar provides a smart and relatively inexpensive way to radically improve TV audio, the really good ones are extremely impressive – and the great ones will give you goosebumps. And today, we’re going for great.

Last, if you’re serious about great sound and you really want to do this right, check out our “Sound Bar Buying Guide.” It’s a less-than-10-minute read and covers everything you should know about soundbars before you buy.

And with that, off we go…

1. The Best Budget Sound Bar: JBL Bar 2.1 Deep Bass 2.1 Channel Soundbar with Wireless Sub

Why it won

If all you’re looking to do is improve your TV’s built-in, overall sound – particularly when it comes to the spoken word – the JBL Bar 2.1 gets it done and then some. Within seconds of turning it on, you’ll appreciate a remarkable improvement on both fronts thanks to deeper / richer sound and much cleaner / crisper dialogue. So yes – you’ll finally be able to turn those closed captions off. (Your parents would love that.)

JBL’s Bar 2.1 soundbar packs four 2.25-inch midrange drivers and two 1.25-inch tweeters in a slim, innocuous-looking, compact package. Connect the soundbar to your TV with either the optical cable (included) or an HDMI cable. The Bar 2.1 also comes with both an HDMI input and HDMI output, so you can connect directly to your TV, or go from your cable box to your TV. The wireless subwoofer connects automatically the moment you power up.

As for performance: this is JBL – and that comes through loud and clear whether you’re watching an action movie or a game show. (Btw, the Bar 2.1 comes with built-in presets for sports, music, and movies.) Overall, in spite of its too-good-to-be-true price, we found JBL’s Bar 2.1 to be equal to (and sometimes even better) than soundbars costing twice as much.

What else?

• With Bluetooth inside, you can easily pair your phone or tablet.
• The Bar 2.1 Deep Bass comes with its own remote, but you can sync it to your TV remote instead. (Who needs another remote???)
• The display screen, which shows volume levels and input options, is hidden behind the speaker grille. Great idea and they should all do that!

Dimensions: 38" x 2.28" x 3.35" (W x H x D) | Weight: 4.76 lbs | Warranty: 1 year | Watts: 300 | Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth

#2. The Best for the Money Sound Bar: Klipsch BAR 48 3.1 Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer

Why it won

The brand new Klipsch BAR 48 is – as you’d expect – a monster of a soundbar. And with two legendary, Klipsch horn-loaded, Tractrix tweeters featured prominently – not hidden behind a cloth or metal grille – you can tell it’s a Klipsch from clear across the room. Get closer, run your fingers along with the beautifully finished, all-wood cabinet – very unusual at this price point – and you know for sure.

The BAR 48 is a 3.1 system, so in addition to the left and right channels and the wireless subwoofer, it comes with a center speaker dedicated to making sure screen dialogue remains clear and where it should be: front and center. Together, the three front channels handle all mid-range and higher frequencies with remarkable balance and separation. As you’d expect, the Klipsch wireless subwoofer rounds everything out with solid, natural-sounding bass. Put on some music, close your eyes, and you might think you’re listening to a full-size Klipsch Reference Series set-up.

World Wide Stereo product expert, Adam Domurad, put it this way: “the first time that I heard the Klipsch BAR 48, I could actually really hear the warmness that it brought. It wasn't tinny, or thin sounding or anything like that. It actually was rich, and had some really good tone to it.” You can check out Adam’s video demo and review right here.

What else?

• Setting up the BAR 48 is cake, maybe the easiest we've seen. Connections include a single HDMI-ARC port, an optical digital input and a 3.5 mm analog input. The only wireless connection is Bluetooth.
• So you want to watch The Avengers End Game without waking the kids? The BAR 48 comes with some pretty impressive sound pre-sets, including a night mode that levels the audio and reduces bass.
• Add two optional SURROUND 3 rear speakers and boom, you have an authentic, 5.1 Klipsch surround sound home theater.

Dimensions: 47.69" x 2.88" x 3.38" (W x H x D) | Weight: 32.6 lbs | Warranty: 1 year | Watts: 400 | Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth

#3. The Best All-in-One Sound Bar: Harman Kardon Enchant 1300 Sound Bar

Why it won

Where do we even start with the Enchant 1300 soundbar from Harman Kardon? Top of the line. Loaded with features. Supports 13 different audio channels. Google Chromecast built-in. Side-firing tweeters. Bass port design.

But the main reason this soundbar is so exciting? The Enchant 1300 was built with Harman’s proprietary sound processor, “MultiBeam,” and side-firing transducers to simulate true surround sound by bouncing audio off the walls. The effect? An incredible 3D surround sound experience without the need for additional speakers, subwoofers, or wires. Clearly, Harman set out to create a single surround sound solution — as close to authentic 7.1 or 7.1.2 surround sound as humanly possible. If you can imagine invisible speakers hovering (and sometimes even moving around) in the air above and around you, that’s the net effect. Planes, birds, rustling leaves, bad guys in spaceships, prehistoric Pterosaurs — it’s amazing how much sound in our lives comes from above, and Harman’s Enchant 1300 puts it all right there in the correct spots, and the result is CRAZY good. (For an even more immersive experience: add the Enchant Subwoofer for extra heart-pounding punch.)

What else?

•  The Enchant 1300 comes with Google Chromecast built-in, expanding your hi-fi streaming library to over 200 online services.
•  To make setup a breeze, our friends at Harman added an automatic calibrater to ensure you get the best audio for your room and layout.
•  When you don't have your phone handy, preset controls on the Enchant 1300 make audio control possible with the touch of a button.

Dimensions: 44" x 2.6" x 4.9" (W x H x D) | Weight: 12.5 lbs | Warranty: 1 year | Wireless Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

#4. The Best Wireless Sound Bar: Denon DHT-S716H Premium Full-Range Sound Bar with HEOS

Why it won

The Denon DHT-S716H Bar with Bluetooth is part of Denon’s HEOS series – the company’s family of high-end, wireless, easy-to-integrate music players. And though this premium Sound Bar with HEOS doesn’t do Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, it can interpret Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio – the high-resolution audio codecs used on Blu-Ray discs along with the best possible home theater audio compression formats.

At our stores, we paired Denon’s DHT-S716H with this Denon wireless subwoofer, which is a little smaller than most but gets the job done. Together, our set-up had no problem filling our large testing room with big cinematic sound. What’s more, connectivity options are better than most, so the sky's the limit when it comes to streaming movies, TV shows and music.

The DHT-S716H comes with four 4K-compatible inputs (nice), plus coaxial and optical inputs, a 3.5 mm stereo input, a USB input, and an Ethernet port. It also comes with aptX Bluetooth (better than regular Bluetooth for streaming high-resolution music). Add additional wireless Denon speakers, and the DHT-S716H will use the 5GHz band for better overall results.

Denon’s DHT-S716H with HEOS is an impressive example of just how good today's best wireless technology really is. Add a very robust feature set, and Denon’s rich, full-bodied sound, and the DHT-S716H is hard to beat – at any price.

What else?

• The Denon DHT-S716H works with Amazon Alexa. Control volume, skip tracks - just tell it what to do with your voice.
• Nice idea: Denon put IR flashers on the back of the DHT-S716H so your TV remote still works even if the soundbar blocks your TV IR receptor.
• Denon recommends paring the DHT-S716H with 50" TVs or wider, but that's purely based on cosmetics. At 43" wide, its long - but works with any TV size.

Dimensions: 43.38" x 2.88" x 5.88" (W x H x D) | Weight: 10.58 lbs | Warranty: 2 years | Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth

#5. The Smartest Sound Bar: Sonos Beam Compact Smart Sound Bar

Why it won

Had we included a “best design,” the Sonos Beam would have won that, too. Everything Sonos is elegant in an understated way — easily the most “Apple-esque” in the category. And had we included a “best (or easiest) to set up,” again Sonos would win. In all, Sonos just seems smarter in almost every respect, which is a good thing when dealing with multiple components, especially in wireless multi-room streaming music and surround sound scenario.

The Sonos Beam neatly fills a niche: the growing desire among consumers for a smaller, more decor-friendly soundbar that, in spite of its smaller size, still offers all the great features typically found in today’s bigger streaming soundbars – including those with Amazon Alexa onboard.

With the Beam, Sonos pulls it all off with two major perks: 1) The Beam costs half as much as equally talented, more expensive competitors, and 2) At only 2.7-inches high, 4-inches deep and 25.6-inches wide, the smaller Beam is far more decor-friendly (comes in black or white). And if you’re already building out a Sonos system, it’s an obvious choice. Down the road, spectacular is certainly attainable by adding a Sonos SUB and a couple Sonos One SL speakers to get a true 5.1 setup.

What else?

• Sonos replaced the optical cable used in the Playbar for an HDMI ARC connection, which makes some exciting new things possible. HDMI ARC acts like a speed-of-light translator and facilitator between components, with the goal of making everything smarter, yes, but easier, too. Components can send commands back and forth to each other, shuttle songs, and execute tasks like turning on your TV — all by voice control.
• The Beam / Alexa duo operates other smart home devices as well. (“Alexa, turn up the thermostat.” “Alexa, open the blinds.” “Alexa, turn on ESPN.”)
• The Beam is Apple AirPlay 2 compatible, so you can listen to any audio from your iPad, iPhone, Mac, etc. What’s more, Sonos is promising Google Assistant integration later down the road. Good stuff.
• A custom wall mount for the Beam is available here.
• Working with a bigger room that requires big-time sound? Check out the legacy Sonos PLAYBAR.

Dimensions: 25.625” x 2.7” x 3.94”(W x H x D)| Weight: 6.2 lbs | Warranty: 1 year | Wireless Connectivity: Wi-Fi

#6. The Best Sound Bar for Surround Sound: Bose Sound Bar 700

Why it won

This one stopped us dead in our tracks, briefly causing us to A) reconsider our choice for “best premium soundbar,” and  B) consider adding a “biggest sounding” category. Bose recently launched their brand new, very impressive line of smart wireless products — and the Soundbar 700  represents the very best from Bose, now with Amazon Alexa built-in. Just tell the SB700 what to do, and Alexa will get it done. Plus, access all of Alexa’s many skills — ask her for the weather, re-order that 12 pack of paper towel rolls, turn the lights on and off, and so on.

As for the techy good stuff, here’s what sets the SB700 apart from the rest: eight custom microphones in array with echo cancellation and near field detection, so they are designed to hear you, always – even when you’re playing Stevie Ray Vaughan on 10. (With decades of building microphones under their belt, Bose knows what they’re doing.) And in terms of sound, well, let’s just say this: We played a few scenes from "Tropic Thunder" (don’t ask) and found the ongoing dialogue in the jungle easy to hear and understand, all while bullets, bugs, and bombs flew overhead. A few times, we even turned to look at sounds that seemed to pop up behind us, which of course, isn’t possible. And when we moved around the room swapping seats, the surround sound effect was still present. (Freaky, but true.)

What else?

• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth provide easy connectivity to and from all of your devices. It also allows for wireless pairing to the rest of the new Bose family, like the Bass Module 700 and Surround Wireless Speakers.
• Control the SB700 with voice commands, the Universal Remote (comes included), or the new Bose Music app. As intuitive and smart as any other on the market, you get full control over all of your music sources (whether Spotify, Amazon Music, Internet radio stations), plus control over every other speaker in the family.
• You can read our full review of the SB700 here, or just hit the button below now to order now.

Dimensions:  31.5” x  1.75” x 4” (W x H x D)| Weight: 7 lbs | Warranty: 1 year | Wireless Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

#7. The Best Sound Bar for Hi-Res Audio: Bluesound Pulse Soundbar 2i

Why it won

If you’re looking for a soundbar that can double as a sledgehammer, Bluesound’s got one. At 15 pounds, the Pulse Soundbar 2i is a brute – and that’s a good thing. (Like we always say, “bigger is better when it comes to all things audio.”) Bottom line, wow. Close your eyes and you’ll think “no way that’s a soundbar.”

This is the first Sound Bar to support Hi-res playback and MQA files (Master Quality Authenticated). Under the hood, 120 watts of power drives two pairs of 3-way speaker arrays – soft-dome tweeter, cone mid-range, and cone woofer. (A wireless sub-option, the Pulse Sub, is also available.) Each driver in the 2i is driven by its own dedicated amplifier channel where the low and high frequencies are seamlessly blended using DSP-powered crossover filters. As a result, you get a sound stage that blends beautifully and spaciously. 

We’re also giving The Pulse Soundbar 2i an A+ for looks and an A+ for brains. Elegant and understated in spite of its brawn, This just may be the fullest-featured, all-things-streaming soundbar on the market. (See the full spec list right here.)

What else?

•  The Pulse Soundbar 2i can stream the following High-resolution music files: MQA, WAV, AIFF, and FLAC, with sampling rates up to 192kHz. 
• Add the Bluesound Pulse Wireless Subwoofer for a very serious 2.1 home theater system.
•  Wirelessly connect your soundbar to other Bluesound players in the house and enjoy your Hi-res music in any room in the house.

Dimensions: 42.25" x 5.5" x  2.75" (W x H x D)| Weight: 15 lbs | Warranty: 1 year | Wireless Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

#8. The Best Premium Sound Bar: Sony HT-ST5000 Sound Bar

Why it won

The HT-ST5000 is the 2nd most expensive soundbar on our list, and it represents Sony’s best. It also addresses the question, “just how close can we come to authentic 5.1.2 cinematic surround sound in a soundbar?” with a definitive “pretty damn close.”

To start, the HT-ST5000 comes with Dolby Atmos, which, as described above, doubles the surround sound experience by A) bouncing dedicated Atmos channels off the ceiling above, and then B) putting those sounds in specific areas in the air above. (Atmos = atmosphere.) The net effect is stunning. We only wish someone would re-master Hitchcock’s “The Birds” to include Dolby Atmos.

At almost 47 inches wide, the HT-ST5000 is a good mate for TVs 55-inches and larger. The bigger size allows room inside for nine drivers: three pairs of tweeters and woofers, plus the two Dolby Atmos units for beaming sound upwards. (Bigger is always better when it comes to audio.) The subwoofer included is huge compared to another soundbar/ subwoofer combos, and it will definitely put a smile on your face. As for music, audiophiles will appreciate the HT-ST5000’s high dynamic range and high-resolution audio playback. Boston Pops, Bruno Mars, Rihanna — everything we listened to sounded fantastic.

In all, the HT-ST5000 is one big, very serious, very powerful sound machine that does movies and music equally well. And like everything else from Sony, it’s all very thoughtfully laid out.

What else?

• Bluetooth streaming: yes. Higher-quality wireless music streaming (with three times the data transmitted): yes, thanks to Sony’s LDAC technology. Game mode: yes.
• The HT-ST5000 was our runner-up (by a hair) for “best premium soundbar,” just behind Yamaha’s YSP-5600 MusicCast soundbar. The only reason why it didn't make the cut: We didn’t see any way to add two rear speakers, in the event you want to expand the system for an even better surround sound experience.
• The HT-ST5000’s remote isn’t overly complicated and the unit is easy to set up. You will definitely want to take your time with that, and carefully calibrate everything to your room and your tastes for the best sound. Just follow the instructions in the guide provided, and you'll be golden. Trust us, it's worth it.

Dimensions: 46.46" x 3.15" x 5.71" (W x H x D) | Weight: 8.2 lbs| Warranty: 1 year | Wireless Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

#9. Best Soundbar With Google Assistant: JBL Link Bar Voice-Activated Sound Bar with Android TV and Google Assistant

Why it won

Now for something entirely different: a soundbar, smart speaker and streaming box all rolled into one device – from sound legend JBL. The JBL Link Bar is one of the very few soundbars on the market equipped to support Google Assistant voice controls, so if your house is a Google house, you’re going to like how easy it is to add the Link Bar to your digital ecosystem. Inside, a pair of .08-inch tweeters, four 1.7 by 3.2-inch drivers and 100 Watts power. As a soundbar, it sounds great, but if you really want to bring the house down, we recommend adding JBL’s SW10 wireless subwoofer.

As a smart speaker, the Link Box does everything any Google smart speaker can do, though you can’t make it part of a speaker group in the Google Home app, given the Link Bar does not support multi-room audio. (Though that may be coming soon with an update from Google.)

And maybe the biggest reason the Link Bar is getting so much attention – it's also an Android TV streaming player, which means you can toss your Apple TV, Roku or Fire TV device, and reclaim some credenza space. Plug the Link Bar into your TV via an HDMI cord and it sends the picture to the TV and audio to the soundbar. One issue: The Link Bar can’t do 60 frames per second, which is what you get from some TV apps like Hulu and Sling and PlayStation Vue. Google is looking into that, as well.

What else?

• The Link Bar supports Bluetooth for streaming music from a phone or tablet, and also comes with a 3.5 mm stereo input for connecting corded audio gear and headphones.
• At this time, this Android TV version doesn't support HDR video.
• The Link Bar does not support Apple AirPlay.

Dimensions: 10.16" x 2.36" x 3.66" (W x H x D) | Weight: 5.5 lbs | Warranty: 1 year | Watts: 100 | Wireless Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

#10. The Best Dolby Atmos Sound Bar.: Sennheiser AMBEO 3D Home Audio Sound Bar

Why it won

There’s a certain magic to big, authentic, cinematic sound – and Sennheiser’s AMBEO 3D soundbar does a better job of recreating that magic than, arguably, every other soundbar on the planet. The reason: Dolby Atmos – a home theater technology that creates a layer of sound that not only hovers above and around you (Atmos = atmosphere), it hovers in different areas above and around you. The net effect is so immersive, you find yourself quite literally ducking bad guys and bullets headed your way. (See our guide on “How to Choose the Best Home Theater System” for a full explanation of Dolby Atmos.)

To make it happen, the 40-pound AMBEO 3D comes with 13 independent drivers working in concert to put you in the center of a true 3D soundscape. What’s more, the AMBEO 3D soundbar generates deep, long-throw 30Hz bass – eliminating the need for an extra subwoofer. (No wonder it’s so heavy.) And Sennheiser’s Smart Control app makes it easy to fine-tune the soundbar to your specific room.

As for connectivity, the AMBEO 3D = an embarrassment of riches. Ports include 3 HDMI in and 1 out, plus optical, AUX, USB, ethernet, a subwoofer pre-out, a mic input, and of course: Bluetooth and Google Chromecast. Is it pricey? Yes. Is it worth it? Short of buying multiple home theater components – 5 to 7 speakers, a subwoofer and a good AV receiver – definitely yes.