Any television that you buy today will have onboard speakers, but every single one can be improved with the addition of a great-sounding soundbar. I’ve tested hundreds of models head-to-head to find the best soundbar for sports, video games or a Netflix binge. From cheap and cheerful models, to those packed with features like Dolby Atmos surround sound, Bluetooth, built-in streaming and multiroom audio, here are my picks for the best soundbars of 2026. Our Picks Bottom Line The Yamaha YAS-209 packs in everything I expect from a midpriced soundbar: ease of use, powerful output levels and an ability to replay both m… Pros & Cons Excellent sound in a compact size with articulate, punchy subwoofer Feature-packed, including Amazon Alexa and six media-specific presets (music, TV, movie, sports, gaming and stereo) Onboard DTS Virtual:X for simulated surround effects Easy setup and use with companion Yamaha Sound Bar Controller app and an intuitive, large remote Uses LED lights that are difficult to read instead of on-screen display Surround sound is just OK, with only two channels of drivers Expand Pros & Cons Bottom Line The Sonos Ray is the closest thing yet to a Sonos One speaker in soundbar form, and that’s high praise. Despite its compact 22-inch width and … Pros & Cons Excellent sound with two midwoofers and two tweeters that feature waveguide to focus high frequencies outward Compact, attractive design that comes in two colors (black and white) Simple connection and easy setup Unmatched multiroom system for all-over sound No HDMI connection Lacks extra features like voice assistant or Dolby Atmos capability No designated remote control (must control with phone or TV remote) Expand Pros & Cons Bottom Line Klipsch has made some of the best soundbars available and, in its first collaboration with stablemate Onkyo, the company continues its dream r… Pros & Cons The Flexus Core 100 offers great sound from a single bar The soundbar is surprisingly loud and dynamic It has no real competition to speak of There are no Atmos effects despite being compatible It comes with minimal features Its three inch height could block TV’s IR port Expand Pros & Cons Bottom Line The Bose Lifestyle Ultra offers excellent speech clarity and immersive movie sound effects. It’s great with music, too, and offers plenty of c… Pros & Cons Excellent speech clarity and music replay Calibration feature is easy to use Great connectivity Bose app and ecosystem not as sophisticated as Sonos No native Apple Music support in app Expand Pros & Cons Best soundbar of 2026 Best soundbar of 2026 Yamaha YAS-209 Excellent sound in a compact size with articulate, punchy subwoofer Feature-packed, including Amazon Alexa and six media-specific presets (music, TV, movie, sports, gaming and stereo) Onboard DTS Virtual:X for simulated surround effects Easy setup and use with companion Yamaha Sound Bar Controller app and an intuitive, large remote Uses LED lights that are difficult to read instead of on-screen display Surround sound is just OK, with only two channels of drivers The Yamaha YAS-209 packs in everything I expect from a midpriced soundbar: ease of use, powerful output levels and an ability to replay both movies and music to a high standard. DTS Virtual:X support brings better immersion to movies, while music is treated with a better separation of instruments and a broader stereo effect (in its Stereo mode) compared to competitors. The wireless subwoofer demonstrates better articulation with music tracks, avoiding the bloated sound that some competitors can produce. It’s worth noting the subwoofer is quite large at roughly 16 inches square and 7.5 inches wide, making it potentially intrusive in smaller spaces. As Yamaha’s first smart speaker, it implements Amazon Alexa effectively — the microphones work well even in loud environments, and it’s able to hear your commands without you shouting. The fact that you can ask Alexa for a song — and have it sound better than pretty much any smaller smart speaker — makes it particularly appealing for music lovers. The YAS-209 is ideal for those seeking a midrange soundbar with excellent performance for both movies and music. Connectivity includes HDMI, optical digital and Bluetooth, plus Ethernet and Wi-Fi for Spotify Connect. If you’re invested in the Apple or Google ecosystems, though, you’ll be disappointed, as the Yamaha only works with Amazon Alexa. There’s also no AirPlay 2 or built-in Chromecast. Size 39.75 x 4.0 x 2.4 inches Number of channels 2.1 Subwoofer Yes Peak power 100 watts Connections Bluetooth, optical, HDMI, Wi-Fi Supported audio formats Dolby Digital, DTS Best value soundbar Sonos Ray Excellent sound with two midwoofers and two tweeters that feature waveguide to focus high frequencies outward Compact, attractive design that comes in two colors (black and white) Simple connection and easy setup Unmatched multiroom system for all-over sound No HDMI connection Lacks extra features like voice assistant or Dolby Atmos capability No designated remote control (must control with phone or TV remote) The Sonos Ray is the closest thing yet to a Sonos One speaker in soundbar form, and that’s high praise. Despite its compact 22-inch width and simple design, the Ray delivers sound that belies its physical dimensions. The vocals sound super crisp, and the speaker delivers a tight, contained sound overall. At $219, it’s part of the exciting trend toward affordable audio gear that actually sounds good. The Sonos Ray is ideal for those who primarily use their soundbar for music, as it performs particularly well with this content, sometimes even outshining the more expensive Sonos Beam. The Ray makes a perfect complement to a bedroom TV, and would also work well to upgrade a television in a smaller living room. Those who want to start building a Sonos multiroom system will find the Ray an excellent entry point, as it includes all the streaming capabilities that make Sonos great. The Sonos Ray isn’t for everyone, particularly those looking for the most bang for their buck in pure home theater performance. The Ray lacks HDMI connectivity, which seems an odd omission given that almost every new soundbar — even the $80 ones — now includes an HDMI port. While most TVs have an optical output, this connection limits the soundbar to Dolby Digital sound formats. The Ray also doesn’t include a voice assistant like Alexa or Google Assistant built in. Those seeking powerful bass effects should consider alternatives with separate subwoofers, as the Ray sounds positively anemic compared to speaker systems. The Speech Enhancement feature is also quite subtle compared to competitors. Size 22.0 x 3.74 x 2.79 inches Number of channels 2.0 Subwoofer Available separately Peak power 55 watts Connections Optical, Ethernet, Wi-Fi Supported audio formats Dolby Digital, DTS Best sound from a single speaker Klipsch Flexus Core 100 The Flexus Core 100 offers great sound from a single bar The soundbar is surprisingly loud and dynamic It has no real competition to speak of There are no Atmos effects despite being compatible It comes with minimal features Its three inch height could block TV’s IR port Klipsch has made some of the best soundbars available and, in its first collaboration with stablemate Onkyo, the company continues its dream run. At $350, the Flexus Core 100 has settled into a clever niche between the Sonos Ray and Beam. It’s an excellent single-bar system with plenty of bass and extraordinary dynamics. If you want muscular sound in a single soundbar for under $400, the Core 100 is the place to get it. The Flexus Core 100 is compact and would suit smaller spaces, and while this is perfect for people who don’t want a soundbar, it’s also good to have the option. Even without a sub, the Flexus Core 100 offered plenty of bass slam and was loud enough for small to medium-sized rooms. The Flexus Core soundbars come without a subwoofer, and adding one tacks an extra $350 or more onto your bill. Also, while I love the 100, the larger 200 doesn’t impress as much for the extra outlay. If you’re spending $350 on this single bar, you could consider the Sonos Ray or Beam — which also feature multiroom music — or the excellent Yamaha YAS-209, which comes with a sub, and is better for movies. Size 28 x 5 x 3 inches Number of channels 2.1 Subwoofer Available separately Peak power 100 watts Connections HDMI eARC, Bluetooth, USB-C, digital optical Supported audio formats PCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos Best high-end soundbar Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar Excellent speech clarity and music replay Calibration feature is easy to use Great connectivity Bose app and ecosystem not as sophisticated as Sonos No native Apple Music support in app The Bose Lifestyle Ultra offers excellent speech clarity and immersive movie sound effects. It’s great with music, too, and offers plenty of connectivity options. The soundbar offers the best mix of music replay and movie sound for a high-end bar, and if you want to upgrade with a sub or surrounds later you can. However, while the app is perfectly great, it’s still not a patch on the Sonos controller, and the Sonos Arc Ultra offers a bigger sound as well. If you want a better multiroom system, the Sonos range is much more comprehensive. What we updated: September 2026 Added Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar and updated pricing. July 2026 Removed discontinued Vizio SV210 and Bose Smart Soundbar models. Updated pricing. Compare soundbars Compare the best soundbars based on size, audio channels, subwoofer inclusion, power output, connectivity options and supported audio formats. Product Size Number of channels Subwoofer Peak power Connections Supported audio formats Polk MagniFi Mini AX 14.4 × 4.1 × 3.1 inches 2.1 Yes n/a HDMI, optical, aux, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi PCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS:X Klipsch Flexus Core 100 28 x 5 x 3 inches 2.1 Available separately 100 watts HDMI eARC, Bluetooth, USB-C, digital optical PCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos Sonos Ray 22.0 x 3.74 x 2.79 inches 2 Available separately 55 watts Optical, Ethernet, Wi-Fi Dolby Digital, DTS Yamaha YAS-209 39.75 x 4.0 x 2.4 inches 2.1 Yes 100 watts Bluetooth, Optical, HDMI, Wi-Fi Dolby Digital, DTS Bose Lifestyle Ultra 2.65 x 43.2 x 4.9 inches 5.1.2 Available separately n/a Bluetooth, HDMI eARC, Ethernet, Wi-Fi Dolby Atmos Factors to consider when choosing a soundbar Everyone’s audio needs are different, so be sure to consider your unique preferences, space and listening habits. With the right model, you get the benefits of a home theater system or AV receiver without having to run messy wires or take up much space. Use this guide to navigate the options and find the best soundbar for you. If you need a little extra help, check out my complete guide to how to buy a soundbar in 2026. Budget The most important consideration when choosing a soundbar is working out how much you can spend, and I have found there are great soundbars at every price, starting at $100. If you’re looking for more premium, feature-packed models, be prepared to spend a lot more — upwards of $3,000. I do have one rule of thumb: Once the price of a soundbar exceeds $500, you may find it more worthwhile to save for an AV receiver and speakers. If you’re a movie buff, consider splurging on features like Dolby Atmos to bring the theater experience home. Music lovers will want to prioritize audio reproduction and multiroom or wireless streaming to fill their space with sound. Gamers should look for soundbars with dedicated gaming presets that enhance dialogue clarity and directional audio cues. Room size Consider your room’s size and layout. Smaller spaces, like bedrooms and offices, might be overwhelmed by high-wattage soundbars with separate subwoofers. Single-bar systems are great for smaller rooms and TVs, as their length allows for built-in stereo sound while still being compact. Larger rooms or home theater setups will benefit from more robust soundbars with additional speakers and subwoofers to produce that booming surround sound. Also think about where you’ll place it — will it sit on an entertainment console, be mounted on a wall or fit beneath your TV? Be sure that your soundbar can physically fit in the desired space by checking the dimensions and mounting capabilities. Use the following guide to see which soundbar length we recommend for each TV size. Speaker length (in inches) Recommended TV screen size 12 Any 38 to 45 42-inch to 50-inch 50 55-inch to 65-inch 60 70-inch and larger Audio format compatibility Match your soundbar’s audio format to the content you enjoy most. Here are a few of the most important audio formats and their use cases to consider when choosing a soundbar: Dolby Atmos for 3D soundscapes with height channels that create immersive experiences perfect for movie buffs DTS:X for object-based audio that adapts to your specific speaker setup, ideal for home theater enthusiasts PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) for uncompressed digital audio commonly found on Blu-ray discs and gaming consoles Dolby Digital 5.1 for traditional surround sound with five speakers and a subwoofer, the standard for DVD content Bluetooth audio codecs (AAC, aptX, LDAC) for wireless streaming with varying levels of quality, essential for music streaming from mobile devices Check your TV’s connection options (HDMI ARC/eARC, optical) to ensure compatibility with the soundbar you choose. How CNET tests soundbars At the AV lab in New York, I test soundbars against a variety of reference equipment. Ty Pendlebury/CNET CNET follows a rigorous, unbiased evaluation process for all of its soundbar testing. In the CNET AV lab, I do comparative testing, pitting similar soundbars against each other side by side. I evaluate the sound performance of each soundbar with several different types of content, including movies, music, TV shows and games. I use several test scenes, mainly from action movies, including the opening of Mad Max: Fury Road for playback of the spatial audio standard Dolby Atmos for soundbars that support it. I also use the Thanator attack scene of Avatar (26:53) to test a system’s dynamics and detail retrieval. CNET’s dedicated audio lab in downtown New York includes a selection of recent televisions (with HDMI eARC), plus an Apple TV 4K streamer and Roku Ultra streamer, a Microsoft Xbox Series X and an Oppo UDP-205 4K Blu-ray player. I also use Roon music software to stream to individual devices or the Oppo player as needed. From top: Sony UXP-700 Blu-ray player, AVPro 8×8 4K UHD Matrix Switch and Oppo BDP-203 Blu-ray player. David Katzmaier/CNET When it comes to music, I use several CNET test tracks, which you can find here in a Tidal or Spotify playlist. Tracks such as Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ Red Right Hand, with its deep bass notes and tenor vocals, help determine a system’s ability to track male voices in particular, without sounding congested. The song also helps with uncovering hidden details and the relative dynamics a speaker is capable of. Using both types of content — movies and music — I then grade the sound quality of each soundbar. I evaluate characteristics such as speech clarity, dynamics/volume, bass response and musical playback. My reviews also account for things like features, design and value. Here’s a quick breakdown of our testing categories for more details on what I’m looking for. Subrating Category Weight What we looked for Design 25% Assessment of build quality, aesthetics, size relative to TVs, remote functionality, display readability, and placement flexibility (wall-mountable, low profile, etc.). Features 25% Evaluation of audio format support, connectivity options, wireless capabilities, room calibration, voice assistant integration, and specialized modes like night listening or dialogue enhancement. Sound 25% Overall audio performance across movies, music, and games. We test clarity, bass response, maximum volume without distortion, and surround sound accuracy in various room sizes. Value 25% Analysis of overall performance and features relative to price point compared with similar models in the same category. Higher-priced models must deliver proportionally better experiences. Other soundbars we’ve tested Ty Pendlebury/CNET Sonos Arc Ultra ($1,099): The high-end Sonos Arc Ultra has even better bass than the previous model, and it’s great for music in particular. Yet it isn’t as expansive-sounding as before and it costs more than the original. Read my review of the Sonos Arc Ultra. Creative Stage Pro ($170): A refined version of the earlier Stage soundbar, the Stage Pro is able to connect to either a TV or a PC and make it sound great — especially for music. Read the full review of the Creative Stage Pro. Polk Signa S3 ($300): If you’re looking for a speaker that can do music as well as play the latest episode of The Last of Us, then the Polk Audio Signa S3 has a lot to offer. It’s great for accessing streaming services, as it has Chromecast built-in in addition to Bluetooth and an HDMI input. Read my Polk Signa S3 review. Zvox SB500 ($400): If you’re looking for a single audio bar that’s even cheaper than the Sonos Arc, the Zvox SB500 is a great option for people who still prize sound quality. This speaker offers multiple sound mode options, tighter bass and better sound than most other single-speaker options. While it may lack the Sonos’ Wi-Fi streaming, the Zvox still includes Bluetooth connectivity for streaming audio from your phone or tablet. Read the Zvox SB500 review. Sennheiser Ambeo Max ($3,000): The Sennheiser Ambeo is the best surround experience I’ve had from a single speaker. Without rears, the Sennheiser can make voices hover over the top of your head, even if it still can’t convince you that things are behind you. Soundbar FAQ HDMI vs. optical: Which connections do I want? Depending on the age of your TV, there are two main ways to output to a soundbar: Digital optical and HDMI. Both HDMI and optical pass digital audio from your TV to your soundbar. Both are better than analog (the red and white cables, or RCA). Both can pass multichannel audio, like Dolby Digital. Both cables can be had pretty cheap. The biggest difference is that HDMI can pass higher-resolution audio, including the formats found on streaming services such as Dolby Atmos and DTS HD Master Audio. These formats can’t be transmitted across optical. The bottom line? Use HDMI when you can. The cables are cheap, and having just one wire simplifies setup. If you can’t, optical is fine. If your TV or soundbar doesn’t have HDMI, it can’t take advantage of the high-resolution audio formats from streaming services anyway. On the other hand, Dolby Digital is surprisingly good, and unless you have decent gear, you probably won’t hear much (if any) improvement with Dolby Atmos and DTS HD MA. Before you buy a soundbar, make sure it accepts the same connections that exist on your TV. The most common input on soundbars is now HDMI-ARC, and if your TV is less than 5 years old, it should be compatible, but it’s worth double-checking. Do I need Bluetooth or Wi-Fi on my soundbar? If you plan on playing music through your soundbar, wireless streaming through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is a must-have. Wireless streaming lets you play music from a multitude of sources — like Spotify on your phone, or iTunes on your computer — via your soundbar. Higher-end soundbars usually have both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth streaming, but most budget and mid-range options have one or the other. Bluetooth is the easiest way to wirelessly stream audio to your soundbar. It works with the music stored on your device and any music app, plus it’s platform-agnostic — virtually all iOS, Android and Windows phones and tablets have built-in Bluetooth. Likewise, almost every soundbar on the market features Bluetooth, and if it doesn’t you can buy an adapter like those made by Belkin or Logitech. Still, Wi-Fi offers several upgrades to Bluetooth including the ability to listen in multiple rooms and even control it with Google Assistant or Alexa. Wi-Fi streaming generally sounds better, too, as its higher bandwidth allows for uncompressed audio (unlike Bluetooth). That said, most people won’t notice a difference in most situations. So, if you prioritize convenience and quick connections from multiple devices, Bluetooth works well. But if sound quality is your primary concern, Wi-Fi streaming is generally superior. Do I need separate speakers with my soundbar? If you’re looking for the simplest possible solution to improving TV sound, a stand-alone soundbar is the perfect place to start. If you’re serious about sound quality though, adding separate speakers to your soundbar is the best way to go. You can mix and match according to your needs, and it’s easier to upgrade once new formats come in — you won’t need to replace everything if you want to add 8K video capability, for example. Many retailers offer a soundbar-subwoofer bundle to jumpstart your speaker setup. If you’re not ready to upgrade to a full speaker system just yet, look for a soundbar with several HDMI ports. That way you can connect additional speakers to the soundbar when you’re ready. We have a full piece designed to help you pick between a soundbar and speaker system, if you need a bit more help. Whichever option you choose, you will never be able to go back to tinny, little TV speakers ever again. Senior editor Ty Pendlebury has been reviewing TVs and home entertainment for CNET since 2006. He has a cat named after one of the best TVs ever made. 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