Audio technology has made massive strides in recent years. Over a decade ago, home theater systems were bulky and required multiple speaker connections to deliver good sound quality. A typical speaker also had wires running all over the place. Thanks to soundbars, it is now possible to create a home theatre setup with a few speakers and get crisp sound.
Soundbars are compact, slim, and sleek and can match your home décor. Plus, they don’t take up a lot of space. Because they support Wi-Fi connections, you won’t need cables and wires. Your home will remain clutter-free, and you still enjoy impressive audio quality. Soundbars come in different forms, so you can pick one that suits your listening needs. If you need satellite speakers and a subwoofer, you can go for 5.1-channel soundbars. For those seeking to ditch their traditional sound system for this modern technology and are unsure where to look, worry not. We have done some sleuthing and are happy to recommend the five best soundbars in 2023. Take a look at them below!
- Best Overall: Sonos Beam
- Best for Bass: JBL Bar 9.1
- Best Budget Option: Sony S100F
- Best for Home Theater: Yamaha Audio YAS-209 Soundbar
- Best for Gaming: Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus
Best Overall: Sonos Beam
- You can control the Beam with your voice, remote, the Sonos app, and more.
- Class 10 for Full HD video recording and playback
- 25.6 inches
- Connects to other Sonos speakers
The Sonos Beam ranks as the best overall soundbar on Amazon because of its compact design and impressive feature.
You can connect this soundbar to your TV and music system for crystal clear, rich, room-filling sound. Whether playing music, watching movies, or playing video games, you will surely enjoy quality sound. It comes with a remote control and can also be controlled with the built-in Amazon Alexa. It also supports Apple’s AirPlay 2, allowing you to play music from your Apple devices.
If you have other Sonos speakers, you can connect them to create an immersive sound system in your home’s rooms. The setup is also easy; you can get it out of the box and set it up quickly. Its compact design does not interfere with furniture arrangement because it only takes minimal space. Budget-conscious users will find Sonos Beam quite pricey. However, it is worth every buck.
Check out the Sonos Beam on Amazon today.
Best for Bass: JBL Bar 9.1
- Power output: 820W
- DTS and Dolby Atmos (with X decoding) built-in
- Surround speakers (detachable and battery-powered) included
- A 300W, 10-inch powered subwoofer allows you to experience real, deep, bass
- Supports Dolby Vision with Ultra HD 4K pass-through
If you value a good bass response while listening to music, the JBL Bar 9.1 is the right soundbar is right for you.
JBL is renowned for its impressive lineup of quality speakers, and the JBL Bar 9.1 is no exception. Its 300W, 10″ powered subwoofer releases deep bass with a good treble balance. Dolby Atmos and DTS are built-in, providing an immersive sound for your movies, games, music, and podcasts. This soundbar has detachable battery-powered speakers. You can place them in different parts of your home to create a surround sound system without worrying about tangled wires and cords. With Ultra HD 4K Pass, you can enjoy your content in an uncompromised 4K signal. This soundbar also has Chromecast built-in and supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to stream content at high sound clarity. JBL Bar 9.1 comes at a hefty price tag which might not be viable for budget-conscious users.
Check out the JBL Bar 9.1 on Amazon today.
Best Budget Option: Sony S100F
- Tweeter built in, with 2-channel speaker
- Bluetooth enabled
- USB port
- Bass Reflex style speaker for an especially deep sound
- S-Force Pro Front Surround sound feature included
A low-cost model, this Sony S100F soundbar is the best budget option for users who want to enjoy quality sound at a decent price.
S100F from Sony is easy to set up and use right out of the box. Its design is sleek and minimalist, matching your home décor, and also fits in small spaces because of its compact design. It has a built-in tweeter and a 2-ch speaker for high-quality sound reproduction.
Its voice enhancement feature allows for clear dialogues in voice conferences and clarifies any content you listen to. It also has an S-Force Pro Front Surround, which fills the room with sound.
The built-in Bluetooth connectivity lets you connect to your TV or mobile devices. However, this soundbar may not match the audio quality of high-end models. It delivers clear and detailed audio, perfect for its price point.
Take a look at the Sony S100F on Amazon today.
Best for Home Theather: Yamaha Audio YAS-209 Soundbar
- Easy setup with HDMI or Optical cable and automatic subwoofer connection
- Wireless subwoofer for deep bass and flexible placement. Center unit-36-5/8 × 2-1/2 × 4-1/4 inches, Subwoofer-7-1/2 × 16-1/2 × 16 inches
- Clear voice for enhanced dialogue clarity
- Alexa built-in for voice control of your sound bar, playing music, listening to news, setting alarms and timers, asking questions, controlling smart home devices, and more
- With Alexa, playing music is as simple as asking for a song, artist, or genre from Amazon music and more
The Yamaha Audio YAS-209 Soundbar has a well-balanced sound profile and provides superior voice clarity in a home theater setup.
Yamaha is synonymous with quality audio and musical instruments for commercial and home use. YAS-209 features a clear voice technology that enhances dialogue to ensure you don’t struggle to hear what your favorite characters say in a movie.
A wireless subwoofer, the YAS-209 soundbar can sit anywhere in the house and still deliver quality sound. With Alexa built-in, you can easily control your soundbar using your voice. This means you can set alarms, play music and control your smart home devices with your voice.
The YAS-209 delivers immersive 3D surround sound with its DTS Virtual:X technology, giving you a cinematic audio experience right in your living room.
Check out the Yamaha Audio YAS-209 Soundbar on Amazon.
Best for Gaming: Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus
- AMBEO virtualization replicates the entire home theatre experience.
- Includes built-in 4-inch subwoofers (dual) along with 7 speakers.
- Dolby ATMOS, 360 Reality Audio, MPEG-H, and DTS:X support
- Remote, App and Voice control available
If gaming is your priority when buying soundbars, you can never go wrong with the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus.
This Ambeo soundbar has all the features you’ll want to make your gaming sessions enjoyable. With seven speakers and built-in subwoofers, you can create a 3D surround sound system and enjoy your games and movies in rich, detailed sound.
Audio enthusiasts will appreciate the good balance of mid and booming bass in all the content. The soundbar also supports Dolby ATMOS, DTS:X, and 360 Reality Audio, allowing you to enjoy the impeccable sound quality. You can also customize the sound using the integrated equalizer and sound mode. And you can do this effortlessly from the comfort of your couch using the Sennheiser Smart Control App, remote, or the built-in Amazon Alexa voice assistant.
One drawback may be the price. Despite the impressive virtualization technology, powerful speakers, and range of customizable features, it’s too pricey for standard soundbar users. Nonetheless, if money is not an issue, it’s worth every penny.
Take a look at the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus on Amazon.
How to Pick the Best Soundbars on Amazon: Step-by-Step Guide
Soundbars are a worthy investment you want to get right from the onset. If you are in the market for a new soundbar or want to upgrade your home theater setup, consider the following crucial things before purchasing:
Sound Quality
Sound quality is a key consideration when choosing a soundbar. It is pointless to invest in a speaker that doesn’t deliver the sound quality you want. Check that from the product description if you are looking for deeper and booming bass. Other soundbars have clearer sound than others. Also, some speakers have voice enhancement features allowing you to enjoy rich, detailed, and clear audio. If you want a room-filling immersive sound, look for soundbars with separate speakers and built subwoofers for a 3D immersive surround sound. You will also want to consider support for Dolby Atmos for enhanced surround sound.
Price
Soundbars have a wide price range depending on the model, brand, sound quality, and features. You can get under $100 soundbars as well as over $1000. It all depends on what you are looking for in your next soundbar. Top brands like Sonos, Sennheiser, Bose, Samsung, and Sony have premium soundbars with high-quality features and sound. Soundbars between $100 and $400 may be a good pick if your budget is tight. However, most speakers at this price point don’t come with surround sound.
Brand Reputation
Over a dozen soundbar brands are available in the market, each offering a range of soundbars with different builds, features, and prices. Before you grab any model, ensure you do your background check on the brand. Top soundbar brands like Bose, Yamaha, Samsung, Vizio, Sennheiser, Sonos, and JBL are known for their quality soundbars with good performance and many features. Be sure to check customer reviews and ratings to know what others think about the product.
Advanced Features
Soundbars keep evolving due to technological advancements. Some soundbars offer remote control using built-in voice assistants, remotes, and accompanying apps. Others support Apple Airplay, allowing you to stream music from your Apple devices with ease. Different soundbars have unique features too. And it’s these that can make you pick one over the other. Ensure the soundbar you choose has all the features that matter to you. If you want to integrate your soundbar into your smart home device ecosystem, ensure it is compatible.
What to Know Before Buying the Best Soundbars on Amazon
Being the largest online retailer in the world, Amazon features many soundbars from different brands. All these come at different price points and offer different audio experiences. Before you pick any of these sound bars, ensure it matches the size of your TV, not too short or long. This will ensure it fits well in your home theatre arrangement and complement the rest of your electronics. You also need to consider Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, as this will allow you to stream and send music from other devices such as phones, laptops, TV, and tablets. You also want to stream shows and content from streaming channels like Netflix. If you want deep bass and full effects of every scene you watch in your favorite movies, look for soundbars with subwoofers. The newer subwoofers are sleek and compact, so they won’t take much of your space. Reading customer reviews can help you establish whether your preferred choice is a worthy investment.
Using the Best Soundbars: What It’s Like
The best soundbars on Amazon offer incredible performance with high sound quality and a good bass response. Using these speakers will give you crisp sound with rich details and clarity for your movies, games, TV shows, podcasts, and music. These devices are slim and compact with a minimalist design that blends well with your home décor to give an aesthetic feel. With features like Dolby Atmos, you can enjoy an enhanced room-filling sound for a cinematic experience. The best speakers are easy to set up and use right out of the box. Since most offer wireless connectivity, there are no wires to deal with, so you will enjoy streaming your favorite content with high-quality sound in a clutter-free environment.
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