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Picture this: you just bought a brand-new TV that you managed to score at nearly half the cost of the original price. It has a massive 65″ display, 4K resolution, and HDR, and it’s everything you could ever want in a television. You turn it on, hook up the streaming device of your choice, and get comfy on the couch with a bowl of popcorn. Once you start playing your favorite Netflix original, you realize the built-in speakers sound terrible. No matter how you tune your EQ settings, there’s a complete lack of bass, and when you turn the volume up, everything sounds tinny and distorted. No matter how good the picture quality looks, you just can’t get over how terrible the speakers sound, ruining your movie plans and sending you to bed early. If that experience sounds familiar, it might be time for you to check out the ever-growing soundbar market. Soundbars replace old-school sound systems, making it easier to get great sound without taking up half the room with receivers, speakers, and wires. Some soundbars come with satellite speakers to place around your room or a subwoofer for more powerful bass, but some options give you great sound in an all-in-one package you put just below your TV. No matter your budget, adding a soundbar to your TV will provide you with a better sound nearly every single time. With the soundbar market as popular as it is today, it might be tough to pick a suitable soundbar for you. Don’t worry; we’re happy to help, so here are the best soundbars you can buy in 2022.
For those who want to achieve a cinematic audio experience at home, you won’t go wrong with the Samsung HW-Q900A. This soundbar features seven channels with two up-firing channels and one subwoofer. You can expect its sound to get distributed well around your room, resulting in a top-notch 3D sound quality. The sound has Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, so you can expect all the audio from your content to sound crisp and clear. You’ll never miss what your favorite characters said in each scene because the soundbar automatically enhances dialogue. The soundbar can connect to your TV using an HDMI eARC or HDMI cable, but you can also opt to use its Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity. Apple users can quickly pair their devices with the soundbar since it has Apple AirPlay 2 built-in. Users can easily navigate through the soundbar’s controls using its remote controller, but it also comes with Alexa built-in for easy voice control. Those who own newer Samsung TVs would benefit from the soundbar even more because of its Q-Symphony and SpaceFit Sound features.
Cinematic sound qualityComes with a subwooferDolby Atmos and DTS:XWired and wireless connection supportAlexa built-in
No aux or USB portYou'll need a compatible Samsung TV to benefit from its Q-Symphony and SpaceFit Sound featuresExpensive
Sony is another reliable brand when it comes to soundbars, and their Sony HT-A7000 is an excellent option if you want powerful and room-filling sound. This soundbar features a 7.1.2 channel setup. You can expect an outstanding surround sound experience from the soundbar because of its 360 Spatial Sound Mapping, S-Force Pro Front Surround, and Vertical Surround Engine technology. Users can place the soundbar in any room in their round, and its Sound Field Optimization feature will automatically calibrate its settings to what’s best for the room’s acoustics. The soundbar delivers rich bass because it has a built-in subwoofer, but you still have the option to purchase a bundle with an external subwoofer and rear speakers. The Sony HT-A7000 is perfect for movie nights at home because of its Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, 4K/120, and 8K HDR support. Its high-resolution audio compatibility ensures that you get crystal-clear audio when listening to music. The soundbar comes with HDMI ports, an HDMI eARC port, an analog input, and an optical port for wired connectivity. You also have the option to connect wirelessly via Bluetooth, Chromecast, Wi-Fi, Apple AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect. Users can conveniently control the Sony HT-A7000 with a Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa-enabled device. The freebies included with the soundbar are an HDMI cable, optical cable, audio cable, wall hanging bracket, and remote control.
High-end sound qualityDolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, 4K/120, and 8K HDR supportBuilt-in subwooferBuilt-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Chromecast, Wi-Fi, Apple AirPlay 2, and Spotify ConnectGoogle Assistant or Amazon Alexa support
ExpensiveLacks EQ controlsLED display could be bigger
The Sonos Arc is undoubtedly not the cheapest soundbar available on the market, but it’s an investment that will ensure you get the best audio experience possible while streaming your favorite movies and shows at home. This premium soundbar delivers 3D sound thanks to its Dolby Atmos support. Its enhanced Trueplay tuning technology ensures you get the best sound that matches your room’s acoustics. The soundbar has eleven specially-engineered internal speakers with two dedicated height channels, so you get superb depth, detail, and clarity no matter what type of content you’re watching. Users will find its Speech Enhancement beneficial because it allows you to never miss a word from any scene. The Sonos Arc features a minimalist and modern design that can easily blend into any living space, and you have the option to place it on top of a console table or mount it onto your wall. The soundbar can connect to your devices using its HDMI eARC port and Apple AirPlay 2. It also has built-in Wi-Fi, so you can quickly expand your setup and connect a wireless subwoofer or rear speakers. The Sonos Arc comes with user-friendly touch controls, but you can also use your TV’s remote or voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Users are advised to download the Sonos app because it allows them to play around with the settings, stream music, and listen to the Sonos Radio.
Premium sound qualityMinimalist and modern designDolby Atmos supportSpeech EnhancementGoogle Assistant and Alexa support
Pretty longPriceyYou can only use a subwoofer from SonosLacks Bluetooth connectivity
If you want an impressive soundbar that doesn’t have a price tag that goes overboard, you won’t be disappointed with the Sony HT-G700. This soundbar features a 3.1 channel setup, but you can quickly upgrade it to a 7.1.2 channel setup by turning on its Immersive Audio Enhancement feature. It has a dedicated center speaker that is responsible for making voices sound clearer, and you get a wireless subwoofer that delivers rich and powerful bass. The soundbar achieves a vertical surround engine through Sony signal processing and its three front speakers, giving you a superb virtual surround sound experience. You can expect cinematic audio quality from the soundbar because of its Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support. The soundbar is perfect for streaming 4K HDR movies from your favorite streaming services because it supports Dolby Vision, Hybrid Log Gamma, and HDR10. Users can get the best quality possible by connecting the soundbar to their TVs using an optical digital input or HDMI eARC. You can also avoid cable clutter by connecting it to your TV or mobile devices using Bluetooth. The soundbar comes with a Cinema Mode and Music Mode, so you can get the best settings depending on your content. It even has a Night Mode that adjusts your audio to remain clear even when your volume level is low.
More affordable than rivalsImmersive sound qualityDolby Atmos and DTS:X supportDolby Vision, Hybrid Log Gamma, and HDR10 support
Audio clarity could be betterNo voice control supportNo built-in music streaming functionality
Not everyone has all the space in the world for a large soundbar, so you can opt for a soundbar like the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) that won’t take up too much space. You shouldn’t underestimate the size of this soundbar because it still promises panoramic sound and high-quality audio. It has Dolby Atmos support, so it can experience a 3D sound experience even if you don’t have a full-on home theater setup. The Sonos Beam was fine-tuned by Oscar-winning sound engineers, so you can rest assured that the quality you get from it is top-notch. It comes with a Speech Enhancement function that adds clarity to the dialogue in any film or show. Users can expect balanced sound at any volume level thanks to the soundbar’s advanced audio processing. For those who love watching TV at night, you can use the Night Sound to ensure that loud parts of your audio won’t be too intense while quiet parts are enhanced. Users can control the Sonos Beam using their TV remote, Sonos App, or the touch controls on top of the soundbar. Unfortunately, the soundbar doesn’t have Bluetooth connectivity, but Apple users are lucky because they can connect to it using Apple AirPlay 2. The soundbar supports an HDMI eARC connection but doesn’t have an HDMI passthrough feature. You can easily ask the soundbar questions or ask it to do simple actions for you since it supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Compact and sleek designDolby Atmos supportHDMI eARC supportApple AirPlay 2 built-inSpeech Enhancement
Lacks HDMI passthroughNo BluetoothCould use up-firing driversNo DTS:X support
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