May 2024
Sound Bars: MetaRanking
This page highlights the aggregate summary of sound bars rankings posted by key online experts, as of May 2024.
Summary
On 2 May 2024, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 95 sound bar endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.
54 sound bars were endorsed in total, only 20 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)
As of 2 May 2024, Sonos Beam Gen 2 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed sound bar with 8 expert endorsements.
Brand breakdown
-
Sony: 6 sound bars
(#1 is Sony HT-A7000)
-
Samsung: 4 sound bars
(#1 is Samsung HW-Q990C)
-
Vizio: 4 sound bars
(#1 is Vizio M-Series 5.1)
-
Yamaha: 4 sound bars
(#1 is Yamaha SR-C20A)
-
Sonos: 3 sound bars
(#1 is Sonos Beam Gen 2)
Price breakdown
At a glance - May Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | Sound Bar |
Rtings.com
|
Tom's Guide
|
TechRadar
|
PCMag
|
What Hi-Fi
|
TechHive
|
World Wide Stereo
|
WIRED
|
SoundGuys
|
Digital Trends
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
+1 | $495 |
Sonos Beam Gen 2
|
6
|
-
|
7
|
7
|
3
|
4
|
4
|
7
|
2
|
-
|
|
2
|
+1 | $854 |
Sonos Arc
|
-
|
5
|
6
|
4
|
4
|
-
|
2
|
10
|
-
|
2
|
|
3
|
-2 | $1119 |
Samsung HW-Q990C
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
6
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
1
|
|
4
|
- | $998 |
Sony HT-A7000
|
-
|
6
|
5
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
|
5
|
- | $294 |
Vizio M-Series 5.1
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
9
|
|
6
|
+12 | $348 |
Sony HT-S2000
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
9
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
7
|
- | $1400 |
JBL Bar 1300X
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
|
8
|
-2 | $270 |
Sonos Ray
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
11
|
|
9
|
-1 | $259 |
Polk Audio React
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
12
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
10
|
-1 | $499 |
Polk Audio MagniFi Mini
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
15
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
11
|
-1 | $800 |
Vizio Elevate
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
|
12
|
-1 | $174 |
Roku Streambar Pro
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
|
19
|
-2 | $128 |
Roku Streambar
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
20
|
-1 | $499 |
Bose Smart Soundbar 600
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
|
21
|
-1 | $1999 |
Devialet Dione
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
22
|
-1 | $1190 |
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
|
23
|
-1 | $678 |
Sony HT-A5000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
|
24
|
-1 | Check price |
Bose Smart Soundbar 900
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
11
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
25
|
-1 | $210 |
ZVOX AccuVoice AV157
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
12
|
-
|
10
|
|
26
|
-1 | Check price |
Bang & Olufsen Beosound Theatre
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
15
|
-
|
-
|
We ranked Sonos Beam Gen 2 #1 in May 2024 because:
- 8 independent experts mentioned it in their “best sound bars” rankings.
TechRadar
The perfect smaller soundbar for music
|
Expansive soundstage that's immersive
Support for HDMI eARC
Support for hi-res audio codecs
|
No upfiring drivers for real Atmos
No HDMI passthrough
|
PCMag
Best Midrange Sonos Soundbar
|
Big sound field for its size
Full and crisp sound, from low-mids to highs
Dolby Atmos audio sounds precise and immersive, even without rear speakers
|
Not much deep bass without optional (and pricey) subwoofer
No Bluetooth support
Trueplay audio tuning only available for iOS
|
What Hi-Fi
Awards 2023 winner. If space and budget are limited, there isn't a better virtual Dolby Atmos soundbar that we'd recommend
|
Effective handling of Dolby Atmos
Warm, refined sound
Streaming smarts
|
No additional HDMI ports
No Bluetooth
Doesn’t support DTS:X
|
TechHive
Best mid-range soundbar, runner-up
|
Expansive sound
Dolby Atmost and HDMI eARC support
Can be upgraded to a full surround sound system with extra speakers and a subwoofer
Apple AirPlay 2 support in addition to Sonos' own fabled multi-room audio support
|
Virtualized height cues are subtle, and occasionally hissy
Drivers begin to struggle at high volume
DTS update didn't include DTS:X
|
SoundGuys
Best Smart Soundbar
|
Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support
Size
Dolby Digital Support
Easy Setup
Simple to connect other Sonos Speakers
|
Not the biggest sound
Price
|
We ranked Sonos Arc #2 in May 2024 because:
- 7 independent experts mentioned it in their “best sound bars” rankings.
Tom's Guide
Best Sonos soundbar overall
|
Clear vocals and focused sound
Strong, Sonos-quality bass
Alexa and Google Assistant built-in
|
Takes up quite a bit of space on a TV stand
Full Dolby Atmos requires add-on surrounds
|
TechRadar
The best soundbar for Sonos fans
|
Great dynamic range
Discrete all-in-one soundbar
|
Tall and chunky design
No HDMI passthrough
|
PCMag
Best High-End Sonos Soundbar / Editors' Choice
|
Large sound field with powerful bass, even without a subwoofer
Supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
Can easily be expanded with satellites and a subwoofer
Dolby Atmos compatibility with angled tweeters
|
Expensive
Only works with pricey Sonos subwoofer
|
What Hi-Fi
Still one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars for TV that we've heard
|
Convincing Dolby Atmos
Dynamic, detailed and weighty
All of the usual Sonos smarts
|
Music could be better projected
Heavily reliant on your TV’s specs
No Bluetooth or DTS:X support
|
Digital Trends
Best expandable Dolby Atmos soundbar
|
Excellent surround sound
Easy and simple setup
Decent Dolby Atmos from a single speaker
Choice of Alexa or Google Assistant
|
No HDMI inputs
Not ideal for all music genres
|
Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend sound bars.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of sound bars, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for May 2024 ranking
Rtings.com
Tom's Guide
TechRadar
PCMag
What Hi-Fi
TechHive
World Wide Stereo
WIRED
SoundGuys
Digital Trends
We ranked Samsung HW-Q990C #3 in May 2024 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best sound bars” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Samsung HW-Q990C as #1.
TechRadar
The best soundbar for Dolby Atmos surround sound
|
Extremely wide surround sound range
Unique four component system
Impressive 16 channels of sound
|
Missing 4K 120Hz video passthrough
Bass lacks when listening to music
|
PCMag
Best for Samsung TVs
|
Detailed, immersive 11.1.4-channel audio
Powerful bass
Supports Apple AirPlay and Spotify Connect
Built-in Alexa voice control
Q-Symphony support for compatible Samsung TVs
|
Expensive
Only supports SBC codec for Bluetooth
Minor upgrades from previous model
|
TechHive
Best high-end soundbar
|
Big, immersive, yet detailed and subtle sound
Syncs its audio with Samsung TVs
SpaceFit Sound room correction
AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect support
|
No discrete volume for built-in Alexa
Power cords for satellite speakers are too short
Q-Symphony and wireless Dolby Atmos require a Samsung TV
No Chromecast
|
Digital Trends
The best soundbar for most people
|
Great sound for movies and music
Impressive volume capabilities
Clear dialog
Immersive Dolby Atmos experience
|
No support for HDMI 2.1
A bit expensive
|
We ranked Sony HT-A7000 #4 in May 2024 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best sound bars” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Sony HT-A7000 as #1.
Tom's Guide
Best Sony soundbar
|
High build quality
Best for surround format support
Clear sound with dialog
|
Small display
Subwoofer sold separately
High price compared to rivals
|
TechRadar
The best soundbar for gaming
|
Exceptionally detailed dialogue
Not one, but two HDMI 2.1 ports
Support for all major spatial audio formats
|
Trebles lack accurate clarity
Confusing LED display
|
What Hi-Fi
Awards 2023 winner. Powerful, room-filling Dolby Atmos from a single TV soundbar
|
Robust low-end
Excellent Atmos performance
Feature-rich
|
No VRR or ALLM at launch
EQ controls would be nice
Slightly confused styling
|
We ranked Vizio M-Series 5.1 #5 in May 2024 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best sound bars” rankings.
TechHive
Best mid-range soundbar
|
Aggressively exciting audio performance
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support
HDMI with eARC
Can be augmented with a smart speaker via 3.5mm input or Bluetooth
|
Bass can be boomy versus tight
No Wi-Fi adapter
|
Digital Trends
The best budget soundbar
|
eARC, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X support
Impressive subwoofer
Seamless surround effects
Comprehensive control
Excellent fidelity
|
One HDMI input
Less suitable for larger rooms
|
We ranked Sony HT-S2000 #6 in May 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best sound bars” rankings.
TechRadar
The best budget soundbar with Dolby Atmos
|
Extremely effective dialogue clarity
Support for spatial audio codecs
Improving value thanks to price drops
|
No Wi-Fi or AirPlay support
Lacks voice assistant
|
PCMag
Best Spatial Audio for the Price
|
Large sound field with strong horizontal directional imaging
Sculpted signature makes film content exciting and keeps dialogue clear
|
Weak low-end with no subwoofer
No height channels for vertical directional imaging
Lacks Wi-Fi audio streaming
|
What Hi-Fi
Sony’s budget Dolby Atmos soundbar is exceptional value for money
|
Simple plug-and-play functionality
Crisp, clear dialogue
Solid dynamics
|
Not loads of bass weight
Sound Field mode is a miss
Not as full-bodied as rivals
|
We ranked JBL Bar 1300X #7 in May 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best sound bars” rankings.
TechRadar
The best soundbar for flexibility
|
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X processing
Rechargeable wireless surround speakers
Four HDMI ports (one with eARC)
|
Pricey
No HDMI 4K 120Hz pass-through
Surround speakers need regular recharging
|
PCMag
Best for Spatial Audio / Editors' Choice
|
Accurate spatial audio with height channels
Thunderous subwoofer
Detachable wireless rear satellites
Alexa MRM, Apple AirPlay, and Google Cast support
|
Expensive
Satellites need to be charged regularly
|
We ranked Sonos Ray #8 in May 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best sound bars” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Sonos Ray as #1.
Digital Trends
Most versatile budget soundbar
|
Compact for versatile placement
Impressive sound for its size
Expandable to a full 5.1 system
Easy setup and control
|
Pricey for a small soundbar
Lacks a bit of midrange detail
|
We ranked Polk Audio React #9 in May 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best sound bars” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Polk Audio React as #1.
TechHive
Best budget soundbar
|
Clean, nuanced sound given its price tag
Alexa onboard, including multi-room audio support
Expandable with wireless subwoofer and surround speaker options
Night mode and dialog volume level adjustments
|
No support for Dolby Atmos, DTS-X, or DTS Virtual:X
HDMI ARC only (doesn't support eARC)
Remote control buttons are flat and difficult to find in the dark
|
We ranked Polk Audio MagniFi Mini #10 in May 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best sound bars” rankings.
Tom's Guide
Best small soundbar
|
Powerful bass and clear vocals
Wireless subwoofer
Google Cast audio integration
|
No onscreen display or mobile app
Harsh treble
|
PCMag
Best Small Soundbar
|
Powerful sound for the size
Strong bass from the subwoofer
Plenty of wireless streaming options
|
Spatial audio falls flat
|
We ranked Vizio Elevate #11 in May 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best sound bars” rankings.
Digital Trends
The best Dolby Atmos for under $1,000
|
Simple setup, clear chart showing connections
Wonderfully unique design
Deep control over sound output levels
Exceptionally clear dialogue
|
Effects dependent on room
Costly
|
We ranked Roku Streambar Pro #12 in May 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best sound bars” rankings.
PCMag
Best for Media Streaming / Editors' Choice
|
Affordable
Solid audio performance
Lots of media streaming options
Remote with headphone jack
|
Relatively weak bass response
|
SoundGuys
Best Features
|
Integrated Roku Player
HDMI ARC output
Google Assistant and Alexa support
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi streaming
Remote access via Roku app
Value
|
Sound clarity lacking
|
We ranked Roku Streambar #13 in May 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best sound bars” rankings.
What Hi-Fi
A great value budget soundbar with streaming onboard
|
Direct, well-projected sound
Great feature list
Can go loud
|
Doesn't sound cinematic
|
TechHive
Best budget soundbar, runner-up
|
A pretty good soundbar integrated with a very good media streamer
Excellent remote control, with support for voice commands
Can be upgraded with a wireless subwoofer and surround speakers
Can also stream content from a NAS box or USB drive
|
Not as good as a speaker as it is a streamer
A little weak on bass response
HDR support does not include Dolby Vision
|
We ranked Bose Smart Soundbar 600 #14 in May 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best sound bars” rankings.
TechRadar
The best small soundbar for Dolby Atmos.
|
Attractively small design
Upfiring speakers for Dolby Atmos
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, AirPlay and Chomecast
|
Limited number of HDMI ports
Lacks that bass oomph
DTS:X is not available
|
Digital Trends
The best small soundbar
|
Easy setup
Excellent Atmos for its size
Clear and engaging dialog
AirPlay and Chromecast
Good music quality
|
No HDMI inputs
Smart speaker is Alexa-only
Limited in-app music services
|
We ranked Devialet Dione #15 in May 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best sound bars” rankings.
Tom's Guide
Best Dolby Atmos soundbar with auto placement configuration, but pricey
|
Expansive, informative and assertive sound
Luxury styling and finish
Auto surround configuration for wall or table-top placement
|
High price compared to rivals
No HDMI passthrough
No remote control
|
We ranked Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus #16 in May 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best sound bars” rankings.
Digital Trends
The best Dolby Atmos sound from a single speaker
|
Fantastic 3D sound
Lots of connections
Built-in room tuning
Up to 4 wireless subs/1 wired sub
AirPlay/Chromecast/Tidal Connect
Alexa built-in
Dolby Atmos/DTS:X
Sony 360/MPEG-H
|
Still expensive
Only HDMI 2.0a
Relies heavily on mobile app
Weird Alexa integration
|
We ranked Sony HT-A5000 #17 in May 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best sound bars” rankings.
TechHive
Best high-end soundbar and wireless speaker package
|
Delivers a theater-like experience with a fully wireless speaker setup
Immersive Dolby Atmos performance
Frictionless setup and sound field optimization
Can use the speakers in certain Sony TVs as the center channel
|
Optional SA-SW3 subwoofer calls attention to itself
Some boxiness to the sound, particularly with music
|
Digital Trends
The best for music and gaming
|
8K-ready HDMI input
Excellent movie and music sound
Easy on-screen setup
Tons of connection options
Hi-res, Sony 360RA, and DTS:X
|
No EQ adjustments
Some settings are buried
Poor integration of music services
|
We ranked Bose Smart Soundbar 900 #18 in May 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best sound bars” rankings.
Tom's Guide
A great Dolby Atmos soundbar with AI-enriched sound
|
Slim and sleek design
Nicely balanced sound with most content
Automatic room correction
Alexa voice assistant built in
Dolby Atmos support
|
AI Dialogue can be too harsh
Poor bass quality at times
Not so great for music
|
We ranked ZVOX AccuVoice AV157 #19 in May 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best sound bars” rankings.
Digital Trends
The best for dialog enhancement
|
Small footprint
Easy connections and setup
Super-clear and adjustable dialog
|
Expensive for a small speaker
No wireless connections for music
|
We ranked Bang & Olufsen Beosound Theatre #20 in May 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best sound bars” rankings.
TechHive
Best money-is-no-object soundbar.
|
Big, bold, dynamic, full-range sound
Customizable aesthetic elements
Expandable to 16 assignable speakers
Advanced room correction
AirPlay 2, Chromecast, and Spotify Connect support
|
Room correction offers a single measurement point only
Expensive
Lacks LDAC or aptX Adaptive hi-res Bluetooth streaming codecs
|