Best soundbar 2025: improve your TV's sound with these brilliant bars

The best soundbars of 2025 will transform your TV's audio for the better. Whether you're watching a blockbuster movie or listening to music, a soundbar or surround system will boost the sound, pump up the bass, and could give you a more immersive experience.

The best TVs of 2025 are often super slender – and while their panels can mean stunning visuals, this slender nature often means you lose out on sound quality. That's exactly why a soundbar pairing is an essential upgrade.

Whether you're looking for a fully immersive surround system with multiple boxes, a soundbar and subwoofer combo, or a single-box solution, there are options for all – and at every budget. We've got eight of the best on this page, ranging from around £200 to £1,500.

There are some additional brand-specific features to keep in mind, however, which is why we've got separate best soundbar for Samsung TVs and best soundbar for LG TVs features. But if you're not aligned to any one brand, then here are the best soundbar options available today.

T3's Top 3 soundbars

WRITTEN BY

WRITTEN BY

Mike Lowe

Mike is Tech Editor at T3.com, covering all audio-visual tech, including the best soundbars. He's been doing so for over 13 years (lucky!), and has wrapped his ears around many dozens of soundbars during that time.

The best soundbars you can buy in 2025

1. Best surround system

Samsung's flagship is not only the best at delivering Dolby Atmos for truly immersive surround sound, it's also the T3 2024 Award Winner for Best Soundbar. It's the best soundbar for Samsung TVs, too, thanks to Q Symphony compatibility pairing with relevant Samsung TVs' speakers.

The Q990D does demand a chunk of space though: that's because it comprises a large soundbar with a separate subwoofer, plus two rear speaker units. It's worth that sacrifice, though, as the wirelessly communication and 11.1.4 channel configuration means truly immersive sound with great Dolby Atmos delivery.

Where this model also levels up over its HW-Q990C predecessor is by adding HDMI 2.1 passthrough for next-gen consoles (and other devices) to benefit at 4K/120Hz. That's what makes the Q990D, as we said in our review, "a peerless soundbar system", especially for those wanting the best surround sound without a separate amp system.

2. Best for most people

Sonos is well known for its speakers first and foremost – but this second-gen Sonos Beam is just as excellent at handling music, as it is in handling movies as a superb soundbar. It's a one-box solution, so no separate sub included, which makes it nice and simple to connect and the best option for most people.

It's not a gigantic soundbar and there's no HDMI passthrough – that's why the larger and more advanced Sonos Arc is the top-tier Sonos pick, but it's far pricier – but for simple plug-and-play brilliance (there is eARC here), the sound upgrade the Sonos Beam Gen 2 brings to the party is undeniable.

As said in our Sonos Beam 2 review: "the sound quality for smaller TVs is just fantastic". So if you're disappointed by your TV's audio this is a significant upgrade, and it's the soundbar we'd recommend to most buyers (unless you've got one of the best 65-inch TVs or larger, which will need something bigger).

3. Best budget

If the Sonos above isn't appealing and you're pining for a subwoofer to be included in your soundbar package then look no further: the Denon DHT-S316 is a two-box solution for a snip of the price. That makes it our favourite budget offering right now.

As said in our Denon DHT-S316 review: this two-piece package "definitely bears consideration in the world of best soundbar options for smaller and sensible sums of money". And it's really the price that's the winning point about this product.

Sure, there's lots of competition out there, and you're not going to get Dolby with as convincing a surround presence (but it is supported!), but when cash is king the Denon does exactly what it needs and will be a crowd pleaser.

4. Best for Sony

The Sony HT-A7000 delivers among the best Dolby Atmos width and height we've heard from a one-box soundbar. When we say "one-box" soundbar, we mean there's no separate subwoofer here, making it great for those who want a simpler setup. It's an especially good match for Sony TVs.

In our full Sony HT-A7000 review, we said: "There’s really dynamic potency on display, so when the going switches from ‘very quiet’ to ‘very loud indeed’ (as it surely must in any modern movie soundtrack at some point) the A7000 breathes deeply enough to make the difference explicit. It’s very detailed in general, and especially through the midrange/centre channel – so dialogue is plain, easy to follow and packed with character."

Best of all, this soundbar includes two HDMI inputs, as well as the HDMI connection to your TV, and it can pass through 4K HDR at up to 120Hz, meaning it's absolutely ideal for next-gen gamers, as well as movie fans. It's not cheap, but you get a seriously future-proofed bit of kit with big and deep bass response all from the one box. Its replacement, the Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9, is the next step in its evolution.

5. Best for LG

The LG S95TR is our pick as the best soundbar for LG TVs because it's the most complete surround package from the brand. You get the main bar, a separate subwoofer and two wireless rear speakers all in the one package – and the sound quality is second to none.

As said in our LG S95TR review: "This feature-packed system delivers immersive Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and IMAX Enhanced audio that will delight". It's astoundingly good at enveloping you with audio, with convincing positioning of sounds around and above you – in part thanks to the world's first implementation of a height channel.

Downsides are the lack of support for HDMI 2.1 passthrough, which is a shame on a flagship model at this price (as that means no 120Hz passthrough at 4K with variable refresh rate), but with twin HDMI inputs plus the eARC output to the TV, useful wireless streaming options, and a really easy setup process, this LG soundbar is ideal for the best 55-inch TVs and larger.

6. Best Sonos

While the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is the best soundbar for most people, and the Sonos Arc Ultra is at the top of the range, it's the original Sonos Arc that remains a top performer at a top price – whilst stocks last. It's a single-box Dolby Atmos soundbar with eleven drivers at various angles, so it's great at projecting sound upwards and all around you.

As said in our Sonos Arc review: "The sound is so engaging and dynamic, and is a huge step up over what simpler budget soundbars (or built-in TV speakers) can achieve". The audio quality is really fantastic, no matter whether you're watching movies or listening to music (this is a full multi-room speaker, with streaming via the Sonos app or Apple AirPlay 2).

However: it has only a single HDMI port, with no passthrough at all, so you'll lose an HDMI port from your TV when connecting it, and if your TV doesn't decode or passthrough Dolby Atmos itself, then you won't actually be able to make full use of what it can do anyway (and the Arc Ultra doesn't fix this bugbear). But if we were judging on audio quality alone, this is a 5-star soundbar.

7. Best for flexibility

The JBL Bar 1300 is a really interesting prospect as the main soundbar's left and right ends can be removed to act as separate rear speakers – ideal if you don't always want the surrounds placed around your room. That's what makes this the best soundbar for versatility's sake.

As said in our JBL Bar 1300 review: "This impressive soundbar delivers Dolby Atmos and DTS:X object-based sound with cinematic scale and plenty of bass thanks to a powerful subwoofer. But it’s the detachable rear speakers that really impress, allowing you to quickly create an immersive system with minimum fuss."

Downsides are few and far between, although without 4L/120Hz or VRR passthrough it's not the best for gamers – and some other premium competitors can deliver on this. That said, those can't challenge the detachable speakers, which gives this JBL an interesting selling point to go with its ace audio.

8. Best for small screens

If you're looking for a great cheap soundbar that's perfectly matched to smaller screens then your journey has just ended. The audio quality from this Yamaha is excellent for the price, adding so much more balance, clarity and depth than budget TV speaker could ever hope to produce.

Despite this soundbar being not even as wide as your average 32-inch TV (meaning it's just as at home with monitors as TVs), the sound has really impressive width and stereo positioning. The dynamic range is great too, in everything from movies to games. It's even pretty good with music, and has Bluetooth for easy streaming.

As said in our Yamaha C20A review: "This is an incredibly strong option to boost the weedy audio of a budget TV into something altogether more accomplished. It creates a little niche for itself by being so usefully compact and so very adept". That plus it's easy to setup, with a single HDMI ARC port meaning easy TV connection. The remote is naff, but we can forgive it.

Honourable Mentions

Sonos Arc Ultra: An incredible single-box solution, which is big and bassy enough to negate needing a sub. There's no HDMI passthrough, though, just one HDMI port. But if the Sonos Arc isn't on sale, the Ultra is the next logical buy.

Amazon Fire TV Soundbar: Amazon's first soundbar isn't the greatest sounding kit ever, but it's sell is its affordability. And when every penny counts, this could be a sensible purchase in an Amazon sale – it'll still improve weak TV audio, especially dialogue.

FAQs / How to choose the best soundbar

In this best soundbar guide I've presented more than out-and-out 'soundbars', because the included multi-box solutions are more surround sound systems. With that in mind, here's a summary of the most important factors to consider when buying:

How we test the best soundbars

Our dedicated How We Test page tells you what you need to know about T3's testing process.

The 'FAQ' section above tells you about the importance of certain specifications in a soundbar. That's a major factor in our testing process too, from the HDMI ports on offer to their maximum passthrough ability.

When unboxing and setting up – another important part of the test process, as we live with products as if they're our own – we'll also analyse the number of speakers, the channel arrangement and power (if known), whether the soundbar can handle three-dimensional audio from Dolby Atmos to DTS X.

We also put soundbars into context with their nearest rivals, as per this guide. Whether in terms of current pricing, or how they compare sonically. That can make all the difference in a score or recommendation.

Audio performance is obviously a key area – and this is where our expertise comes in. As myriad reviewers listed on this page shows, T3 has extensive experience in audio products, so we know what sounds good and why.

We strive to be as consistent as possible in our testing, but as we do test in multiple environments – echoing the experience of any at-home reader – that is one consideration to variation in results and opinion.

Reviewer panel

Mike Lowe

I've reviewed soundbars for over a decade as part of my role as an AV editor. From my first-hand knowledge, to the other expert voices I've collated on this page, you can be assured that the soundbar picks in this guide are the very best available.

Simon Lucas

Simon is a technology journalist with a particular focus on A/V and home entertainment. Before contributing for T3 he was editor of What Hi-Fi? – a highly reputable industry publication (and sister title of T3) with independent testing facilities for AV products, such as soundbars.

Steve Withers

Stephen is an A/V encyclopedia, with his knowledge extending over decades. He is a professional calibrator, with Level 2 certification with THX, the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) and the Home Acoustics Alliance (HAA). He knows the ins and outs of soundbars, too, and has reviewed many of them over the years.

Matt Bolton

Matt was a former T3 magazine editor and has a host of A/V experience under his belt. Matt currently works for T3's sister publication, TechRadar, as the boss of Entertainment. In his over-10-years of experience he's seen and commissioned reviews for many dozens of soundbar products.