Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
There are a lot of great soundbars out there, and we don’t have room to introduce them all. Here are some others you may want to consider.
LG’s S95TR for $1,000-1,300: LG’s 9.1.5 channel sound bar (8/10, WIRED Recommends) doesn’t perform as well as Samsung’s Q990 series, but it might be a better choice for newer owners. LG TVs like the C4which can connect wirelessly and use their speakers in tandem with the bar for more immersion. It also supports gaming features like 120-Hz pass-through, but only includes a spare input.
Vizio 2.1 Soundbar (SV210M) for $170: Vizio’s curvy little combo packs a seductive punch, with solid sound quality and some cinematic punch from the most teenage subwoofer you’ve ever seen. There’s no optical input or remote included, but the Vizio app makes adjusting settings or switching to Bluetooth pretty simple. The main drawback is that dialogue is sometimes (but not always) lost, reducing the main attraction of a cheap soundbar. That said, good musical chops and features like DTS Virtual X expansion make it worth considering for sale.
Samsung HW-Q800C for $598: If Samsung’s HW-Q990C whole bar is too rich for your blood, the two-piece HW-Q800C (WIRED Recommends, 8/10) could be a good compromise. This bar offers a similar sound signature to Samsung’s flagship bars, many of the same features, packed into a smaller bar and subwoofer combination for a significant discount, especially since it’s almost always on sale right now.
Sennheiser Ambeo Mini for $700: This luxury one pint bar is great for those with money to burn in very small spaces. Sennheiser’s built-in Ambeo virtualization technology brilliantly casts sound around you for exhilarating TV and movies, and offers advanced features like support for Google Assistant and Alexa.
Sony HT-X8500 for $300: Sony’s HT-X8500 is becoming harder to find, but it’s still one of our favorite options for those after a single bar with solid bass response and expansive sound, including decent Dolby Atmos virtualization. While it’s more expensive than our top bar, it’s a great alternative for those with a little more, and worth considering while it’s still available.
Roku Streambar for $130: If you’re after a soundbar that doubles as a great streaming device, WIRED reviewer Adrienne So swears by the Roku Streambar. After going years without one, she was so impressed that she shouted it from the rooftops. Setup is easy, and because it includes Roku’s simple streaming interface, you can stream movies and shows up to 4K HDR from almost any streaming service. You can also add a Roku subwoofer or surround sound speakers in the line. We encourage get a sub.
Vizio Elevate M-Series for $500: : If you want full Dolby Atmos and like some style, Vizio’s second Elevate bar is worth considering. The drivers pop out of the side and point towards your ceiling when Atmos content is playing, giving you a nifty party trick to show off to your friends. Sound quality is also solid, and we like the compact design and easy setup. However, you will have to route some speaker cables for the rear surround.
The Yamaha SR-C30A for $276: This SR-C30A soundbar model is very similar to the SR-C20A, and this is because they are the same thing where dimensions, specifications and sound quality are all concerned. The difference is that the SR-C30A comes with a compact wireless subwoofer (335 x 160 x 364mm) for some authentic Hollywood-style rumble and punch. —Simon Lucas
Sennheiser Ambeo Plus for $1,200: Given the price and physical dimensions of the soundbar – which doesn’t even include a subwoofer – the Ambeo Plus might seem like a poor deal. But thanks to its 400 watts of power and its nine carefully developed and even more carefully positioned speaker drivers, this Sennheiser is capable of big, enveloping sound with a strong hint of the sonic height that Dolby Atmos soundtracks thrive on. . By way of an encore, it turns out to be an immensely capable wireless speaker when you want to listen to music as well. – Simon Lucas
The Polk React for $269: : This soundbar works if you want to get surround sound eventually but don’t have the money right now. The Alexa-enabled soundbar is fine on its own, with surround speakers and subwoofers available from Polk if you want to upgrade.
The Vizio Elevate P-Series for $700: : This is a great looking soundbar with side speakers that turn towards the sky when you watch content with object based audio. It’s a nice sounding bar, and that trick is neat, but there are better options for under $1,000.
