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The Best Dolby Atmos Soundbars in 2022

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The Best Dolby Atmos Soundbars in 2022

Having a massive smart TV isn’t enough when you plan to have a home cinema. You also need to think about the audio experience you want, and this is why you should invest in a trustworthy soundbar. A wide range of soundbars on the market cater to different budgets, but if you want one for the best 3D theater experience, you should pick a soundbar with Dolby Atmos support. It will elevate the sound your TV produces, and you will feel like you’re watching your films or shows in a theater. Most Dolby Atmos soundbars have drivers facing different directions to give you the best surround sound quality. You will also feel like you’re in the middle of the action because of the excellent detail of the different sound effects you hear. Most of these soundbars will also come with a subwoofer, so you feel the bass and intensity of each scene you watch. If you’re the type who streams your content from different services like Disney Plus, HBO Max, and Netflix, you’ll be glad to find out that most of these services support Dolby Atmos. Let’s look at some of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars you can find on the market in 2022.

01 Samsung HW-Q950A

The Samsung HW-Q950A is among the best choices you can purchase because of its superb audio quality. It features an 11.1.4-channel setup, and it comes with a wireless subwoofer. If you have extra cash to spend, you can opt to get the bundle with two rear speakers for a more enhanced surround sound effect.

This soundbar has up-firing drivers, so the sound will bounce from the ceiling to you, resulting in a 3D audio experience. It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, but you need to ensure that your source content has Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio. Samsung has a handy Q-Symphony feature that synchronizes the audio from your TV’s speakers with the soundbar, but it will only work with select 2020 and 2021 Samsung TVs. Samsung TV users will also get to enjoy the SpaceFit Sound feature that automatically calibrates the sound according to whatever space you place the soundbar in.

The HW-Q950A is Alexa-compatible, but you need a separate Amazon Echo device. This soundbar might just make you forget about needing to turn on the subtitles to catch every word from a scene because it automatically enhances your content’s voice clarity. Additionally, customers can connect their devices to the soundbar using, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, WI-FI, an optical cable, or an HDMI cable.

Pros

  • Loud
  • Impressive soundstage
  • AirPlay 2, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth
  • Adjustable treble and bass

Cons

  • Q-Symphony and SpaceFit Sound features only work with select Samsung Smart TVs
  • Lacks an EQ

Specification

  • Price $1,597.99
  • Product Dimensions 5.4 x 48.5 x 2.7 inches
  • Item Weight 44.3 lbs
Samsung HW-Q950A

02 Sonos Arc

Not everyone wants a basic, black-colored soundbar, so it is understandable that many find the white Sonos Arc premium smart soundbar an attractive choice. This soundbar comes with Dolby Atmos, so you can expect an immersive 3D sound. It will automatically adjust to the acoustics of your room thanks to its enhanced Trueplay tuning technology. The soundbar has eleven powerful drivers that guarantee incredible detail and bass even without using a subwoofer. You can easily place it on top of your console table, but you can also mount it to your wall. The soundbar has a Speech Enhancement feature, developed by award-winning sound engineers, so you can expect clear dialogue when you’re watching shows and films.

You can control the Sonos Arc through its built-in Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple AirPlay 2, or the Sonos app. In terms of connectivity, it has an optical port, Ethernet port, an HDMI eARC port as well as Wi-Fi connectivity. The Arc’s performance is pretty dependent on the specs of your smart TV, and some say it could use some improvement on its music projection.

Pros

  • Detailed sound
  • Easy voice control

Cons

  • Dependent on TV's specs
  • Needs to improve its music projection

Specification

  • Price $1,029.00
  • Product Dimensions 3.4 x 45 x 4.5 inches
  • Item Weight 13.8 lbs
Sonos Arc

03 Sony HT-A7000

The Sony HT-A7000 soundbar already performs well on its own, but it’s always best to get a bundle with a subwoofer. You also have the choice to purchase Sony’s optional rear speaker seat for a complete surround sound experience. This soundbar has a 7.1.2-channel setup and Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, 4K/120K, and 8K support. It automatically adjusts to your room environment using its Sound Field Optimization.

You will get to experience superb, room-filling acoustics thanks to the soundbar’s array of X-balanced speakers, up-firing speakers, side beam tweeters, and integrated subwoofers. The HT-A7000 also has voice control capabilities, so you can make the most out of it if you have an Amazon Alexa or Google Assitant device. The soundbar has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and it even comes with Spotify Connect, Chromecast, and Apple AirPlay 2. If you love using the soundbar for music, its 360 Reality Audio and Hi-Res Audio capabilities will make you feel like you’re hearing your favorite artists live. Since Sony also has its own line of Bravia smart TVs, you can expect an even more convenient way of controlling the soundbar if you use it with a Sony Bravia TV.

Pros

  • Atmos performance is impressive
  • 360 Reality Audio and Hi-Res Audio
  • Spotify Connect, Chromecast built-in, and Apple AirPlay 2
  • Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant compatible

Cons

  • Needs EQ controls
  • Expensive

Specification

  • Price $1,796.00
  • Product Dimensions 51.2 x 3.1 x 5.6 inches
  • Item Weight 19.1 lbs
Sony HT-A7000

04 Samsung HW-Q90R

Another soundbar from Samsung that is worth the purchase is the Samsung HW-Q90R. It’s a soundbar with a 7.1.4-channel setup, and it has a wireless subwoofer and a rear wireless speaker kit. It will be an eye-catching choice for tech geeks because this soundbar comes with a total of 17 built-in speakers. You will hear the sound from the soundbar all around you because of its Dolby Atmos and DTS:X technology. The soundbar guarantees clear speech and optimized sound thanks to its Adaptive Sound Technology. It has a built-in, 4K pass-through, so it will work well when you’re watching high-quality movies or shows. The soundbar is also great for gamers because it has a Game Mode Pro feature that automatically adjusts the sound to your game in real-time. The audio quality of the HW-Q90R is out-of-this-world, especially because Samsung collaborated with Harman Kardon when developing it. The soundbar is Alexa compatible, but an Amazon Echo device isn’t included upon purchase. Customers will also get freebies like a free remote control, HDMI cable, and wall mount kit.

Pros

  • Comes with a wireless subwoofer and rear speakers
  • Top-notch and immersive sound quality
  • Premium design

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Lacks auto-calibration
  • Needs more HDMI ports

Specification

  • Price $1,667.89
  • Product Dimensions ‎3.26 x 5.35 x 48.26 inches
  • Item Weight ‎19.4 lbs
Samsung HW-Q90R

05 TCL Alto 8i

We know many on this list have some pretty high price tags, but a Dolby Atmos soundbar doesn’t need to empty your pockets. You can find choices like the TCL Alto 8i that delivers decent sound quality at an affordable rate. It might only have a 2.1-channel setup, and it isn’t as fancy as its competitors, but it’s enough for those who need a soundbar that gets the job done for streaming daily content at home. Its Dolby Atmos support gives it a multi-dimensional sound, and it has a dual built-in subwoofer for some rich bass. Unfortunately, the built-in subwoofers still don’t match the bass quality you get from external subwoofers. This soundbar can connect to devices using Bluetooth, HDMI eARC, an optical cable, or a 3.5 mm AUX cord. You don’t need to worry about tweaking the soundbar’s settings because it already has unique modes that cater to music, TV, or films. The Alto 8i is Roku TV ready, so it will be a breeze to set up the soundbar with your TCL Roku TV. At its highly budget-friendly price, the TCL Alto 8i is undoubtedly a great deal.

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Adjustable bass and treble
  • Comes with different sound modes

Cons

  • No external subwoofer
  • Not the best surround sound quality
  • Need more low-bass

Specification

  • Price $149.99
  • Product Dimensions 43 x 7.75 x 5.75 inches
  • Item Weight 6.61 lbs
TCL Alto 8i

Brett Clarke

Mar 14, 2022

82 Articles Published

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We're not just tech junkies, but we're also tech experts. Each and every "Best of.." list on TechJunkie is curated by our content-area subject matter experts to provide a well-rounded, unbiased perspective to help and inform you, our reader. Our lists are constantly reviewed and updated, so you can be sure you're reading relevant and up to date information.

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