GoKawiil
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Sonos has released the Beam Ultra, a wider version of its compact soundbar that now supports genuine Dolby Atmos rather than simulated surround sound. The device packs five tweeters, four woofers and nine amplifiers, compared to the simpler single-tweeter setup in the previous Beam generation, and is best suited for TVs 55 inches or larger.
Amazon has discounted Samsung's 2025 flagship HW-Q990F soundbar system by 33%, cutting $600 off the package price. The bundle includes an 11.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar along with a subwoofer and rear surround speakers.
Yamaha announced the B200A, a compact soundbar replacing the C20A, adding Dolby Atmos support and a built-in subwoofer with Bass Extension mode. It keeps the same small dimensions as its predecessor but costs $50 more at $250, and will ship in November with inputs including HDMI eARC/ARC, optical, 3.5mm and Bluetooth.
Yamaha has unveiled the B200A, a compact soundbar measuring just 23.5 inches wide and 2.5 inches tall, designed to fit under monitors or mount on walls. Despite having only two drivers and a built-in subwoofer, Yamaha claims it delivers 3D immersive Dolby Atmos sound, complete with a Bass Extender mode and Clear Voice dialogue enhancement. It ships in November with a single HDMI port, a 3.5mm jack, and Bluetooth streaming, priced at $250.
Samsung TVs use HDMI-CEC, branded Anynet+, to let connected devices like consoles and soundbars share control of power, input switching, and volume through a single remote. The convenience can backfire when devices send unexpected signals, causing TVs to switch inputs or power on unintentionally, issues that can often be fixed by checking cable connections, firmware, and CEC settings on both ends. Samsung's system supports up to 12 devices, but disabling CEC to solve one problem can break HDMI eARC audio functionality, since eARC depends on Anynet+ being active.
JBL's Bar 700 Mark 2 soundbar system is discounted to $549.99, down from its $899.99 list price, at Amazon. The bundle includes a 7.1-channel soundbar with detachable, battery-powered rear speakers that dock on the bar to recharge and can run up to ten hours untethered, plus a wireless subwoofer and mounting hardware.
Best Buy and Amazon are both selling Samsung's Q990F soundbar bundle for $999.99, down from its usual $1,300 to $1,600 price range. The package includes a 48.5-inch 11.1.4-channel soundbar, a wireless subwoofer, and two wireless rear speakers.
Proper Dolby Atmos soundbar placement requires clearing obstructions like ceiling fans and light fixtures so upward-firing drivers can bounce sound cleanly off a flat ceiling. The soundbar should sit roughly halfway up the wall, parallel to seating and near ear level, while side-firing models need unobstructed wall reflections toward the couch. Smaller soundbars without up-firing drivers, such as the Sonos Beam, offer more flexible placement for compact spaces using virtual Atmos processing instead.
Sonos introduced two new Ultra-branded products: the Ace Ultra headphones priced at $449 and the Beam Ultra soundbar priced at $699, both available for pre-order now and shipping September 29. The company also rebranded its software platform as 'Sonos 27,' rolling out alongside the hardware launch.
Sony's Bravia Theater Trio is a 3.0.2-channel speaker system that splits audio across a center and two side units instead of using a traditional single soundbar. It performs well with TV dialogue and movie sound effects, and delivers warm, detailed sound for acoustic music genres, though it lacks low-end bass power for heavier music styles.
ASUS has released its first gaming-focused soundbar, the ROG Gjallar, in the US market at a price of $600. The device features a 5.1.2-channel setup with Dolby Atmos support, a wireless 65W subwoofer, and a control hub with built-in microphones designed to enable headset-free multiplayer voice chat while filtering background noise.
Amazon is selling the Sonos Arc Ultra Dolby Atmos soundbar for $899, a $200 cut from its $1,099 list price. The 18% discount ties the lowest price seen this year and matches the post-Prime Day low, with the product maintaining a 4.6-star rating.