if you've just bought a fancy new TV, you may be surprised to find it sounds just as bad as your old one (or worse). Even the best TVs we've tested need a hand to provide sound that keeps up with their fantastic displays. But it can be tough knowing where to start when it comes to upgrading your TV audio. Never fear, intrepid buyer: The easiest and most affordable solution is to just get a soundbar. Modern soundbars come in all shapes, sizes, and prices. Here, we've made a checklist of sorts to consider before pressing the Buy button.
Be sure to check out our Best Soundbars and Best Bookshelf Speakers guides, as well as our advice on How to Buy a TV and How to Set Up a TV, with in-depth picture adjustment advice.
Table of Contents
Updated June 2025: We've the latest information and updated model recommendations from our latest round of extensive testing.
Why You Need a Soundbar
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
Soundbars are a great first step into home theater audio because they are generally compact and easy to set up and sound vastly better than most built-in TV speakers. Seriously: nearly all TV speakers are bad! The spectrum of quality you can get from a soundbar ranges from basic improvements to the bass and overall soundstage to the type of room-filling sound you might expect from a more traditional home theater audio system (a system with wired speakers and a dedicated receiver). Regardless of what you're watching, a soundbar is a low-effort way of getting more out of your viewing experience.
Finding the Right Size
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
Soundbars come in multiple sizes and configurations, denoted by the size of the acoustic chamber and the number of built-in full-range, bass, and height channels. You can think of soundbar channels as the number of individual zones emitting sound. A “2.1” soundbar system has at least two individually powered speakers and a dedicated subwoofer. A 5.1 system has at least five main speakers (a center, left, right, plus two surrounds) and a subwoofer.
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