The sound quality from TV speakers is often very underwhelming, but it can be a lot of hassle to hook up a multi-speaker surround sound system. The best alternative is a soundbar, offering much-improved audio quality in a relatively compact package that sits in front of your TV.
Depending on your budget, your soundbar can do much more than simply play TV audio – some high-end options offer compatibility with AirPlay and Chromecast, while others offer Spotify Connect integration for wireless music playback. There are even some that offer compatibility with virtual assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, allowing you to control your soundbar with your voice.
With so many options available, which is the best for your needs? Here’s our selection of the best soundbars available in 2022, along with the key features to consider when on the hunt for a soundbar.
1. JBL Bar 5.1 Surround
- Looks great
- Impressive connectivity
- Impressive sound
Cons
- Expensive
- Wide build
- No Dolby Atmos
The JBL Bar 5.1 Surround is our favourite soundbar right now. The soundbar looks sleek and although it may lack standard connectivity options like aux-in, it more than makes up for it with the inclusion of both AirPlay 2 and Chromecast alongside Optical In, HDMI and Bluetooth connectivity.
Using JBL’s own cinema-level MultiBeam technology within the system, the Bar 5.1 Surround sounds incredible, with the ability to easily project audio around the room with impressive detail, creating an immersive viewing experience. That’s backed up by the 10in wireless subwoofer that delivers thunderous bass, adjustable via the bundled remote.
Overall, the JBL Bar 5.1 offers both great value and impeccable performance.
Read our full JBL Bar 5.1 Surround review
2. Denon DHT-S516H
- Incredible sound
- Powerful bass
- Premium design
Cons
- No remote control
- No display
- Buggy app
The Denon DHT-S516H soundbar system ticks a lot of boxes for tech-savvy consumers: it sounds marvellous, with crisp highs and booming bass that you can really feel in your chest, the wide soundscape is immersive and the variety of connectivity options from AirPlay 2 to Spotify Connect means you’ll probably be using the system as your go-to speaker for anything music-related, not just when watching TV.
It is high-end, admittedly, but it’s worth pointing out that you get a similar offering without a subwoofer from the competing Sonos Arc. The only real downside is the lack of a remote – the soundbar controls revolve around an app available for iOS and Android, and that’s not the most convenient way to control a soundbar.
Read our full Denon DHT-S516H review
3. Polk React
- Great Alexa integration
- Affordable
- Decent sound quality
Cons
- No AirPlay 2 or Chromecast
- Limited inputs
- No display
Though the Polk React soundbar doesn’t quite have the bells and whistles of alternatives in our chart, lacking AirPlay 2, Chromecast and other smarts, it makes up for it with deep Amazon Alexa integration – there’s even a built-in Alexa-esque lightstrip.
As well as handling general smart queries, you can use Alexa to control the volume, switch audio presets and more – perfect for when you inevitably lose the remote. Via Alexa, you’re able to stream songs from Amazon Music, Spotify and other streaming providers, but you’ve also got Bluetooth if you want to stream from your phone.
The audio quality is decent for a soundbar at this price, and even without a bundled sub the bass is decent, but you’ll need to invest in one for the full bass experience.
Read our full Polk React review
4. Creative Stage 360
- Dolby Atmos support
- Great sound quality
- Included subwoofer
Cons
- 2.1 system
- Unusable USB port
- No 3.5mm input
If you’re after a budget-friendly soundbar that doesn’t compromise on audio quality, the Creative Stage 360 is a solid option. It’s affordable but still manages to include premium features like Dolby Atmos, and a combination of HDMI, Optical and Bluetooth connectivity makes it a versatile option, though a standard 3.5mm port would’ve been appreciated.
Unlike other entry-level soundbars, the Creative Stage 360 comes with a subwoofer at no extra cost, adding extra oomph to your home cinema experience. It’s wired rather than wireless, but that shouldn’t be much of an issue for most consumers.
Of course, it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of more premium soundbars – including the full 5.1 speaker system, offering a simpler 2.1 setup, and AirPlay/Chromecast support – but it ticks many boxes at a cheaper price than we’ve seen previously.
Read our full Creative Stage 360 review
5. Polk MagniFi 2
- Impressive 3D sound
- Multiple HDMI slots
- Great connectivity
Cons
- Basic Virtual Assistant support
- Occasional playback issues
- Bulky
Polk’s affordable MagniFi 2 soundbar and wireless subwoofer combination offers a rich, immersive experience with decent 3D sound capabilities and thumping bass, but without the high-end price tag.
It offers great audio output customisation, making it easy to tweak the output depending on your own taste, and there are five presets to choose from if you’re not too confident.
You’ve also got access to built-in Google Chromecast, allowing for wireless playback from the likes of Spotify and YouTube, and three HDMI 2.0 ports provide a handy extension for TVs devoid of HDMI ports. It’s a capable bit of kit for the price.
The only downside? It’s a fairly hefty setup, which isn’t ideal for smaller TVs – we’d recommend 43in at a minimum.
Read our full Polk MagniFi 2 review
6. Sonos Beam
- Sonos Audio quality
- AirPlay & Digital Assistant
- Compact design
Cons
- No subwoofer
- HDMI-only connectivity
- No remote
If you want a Sonos soundbar specifically, the Beam will be the best choice for most consumers, offering a blend of great audio quality and an attractive price.
The main draw over the Beam compared to the Playbase and other Sonos speakers is its size: it’s much more compact than any other soundbar in our chart, making it perfect for smaller rooms. But despite the small dimensions, there’s no sacrifice in the audio department.
There’s excellent sound quality on offer, although it has to be noted that the Beam, like most other Sonos speakers, doesn’t come with a subwoofer.
Read our full Sonos Beam review
7. Sonos Arc
- Spacious sound
- Dolby Atmos
- Smart functionality
Cons
- Expensive
- No HDMI passthrough
- No subwoofer
It took a while but Sonos has replaced its original soundbar with the fantastic Arc.
Beyond all the usual features you get from Sonos devices like multi-room, the Arc is all about spacial sound, thanks to drivers pointing in all directions and support for Dolby Atmos.
It’s easily one of the best sounding soundbars we’ve ever tested, and it looks rather nice too.
It also benefits from eARC HDMI, although the problem here – apart from the Arc being expensive – is making sure your TV is compatible to get the most out of the soundbar. There’s also no HDMI pass-though which makes it tricky for those with limited ports.
Read our full Sonos Arc review
8. Panasonic SC-HTB490
- Compact size
- Well-balanced audio
- Easy setup
Cons
- Limited connectivity options
- Bland design
Subwoofers are usually exclusive to mid- to high-end soundbar systems, but that’s not the case with Panasonic’s budget-friendly SC-HTB490 2.1 soundbar & wireless sub combo.
While the design might not be that eye-catching, it makes up for it in the sound department with the 2.1 output delivering great volume, prominent bass levels and presets that actually enhance the sound – most of the time, anyway – and levels can be adjusted via the bundled remote.
It’s also much smaller than competing soundbars, making it a great fit for smaller rooms and compact spaces – and it’s wall-mountable too.
Connectivity options include HDMI Arc, Optical and Bluetooth, albeit with the basic A2DP codec. The one downside is the lack of smarts, with no AirPlay, Chromecast or virtual assistant support available.
Still, if you’re on the hunt for an affordable soundbar and wireless sub combo that won’t take up too much space on your TV stand, the Panasonic SC-HTB490 remains a solid option.
Read our full Panasonic SC-HTB490 review
9. Samsung S60T
- Premium design
- Compact
- Acoustic Beam technology
Cons
- No AirPlay or Chromecast
- No subwoofer
- No display
The Samsung S60T is certainly one of the more stylish soundbars in our chart, offering the company’s signature design language at a mid-range price. It’s much more compact than the likes of the JBL Bar 5.1 too, although you’ll only get a 4-channel setup here.
Connectivity is a mixed bag – you’ll find ports for HDMI ARC and Optical in, meaning it’s not ideal for older TVs, and while there’s Bluetooth, there isn’t AirPlay or Chromecast support. The soundbar does redeem itself somewhat with built-in Amazon Alexa support, allowing you to stream via Spotify, but I’d prefer being able to stream high-quality audio directly from my phone – especially at the price point of the S60T.
Audio quality is unsurprisingly excellent, utilising Samsung’s Acoustic Beam technology to project sound around the room to provide an immersive viewing experience, but without a dedicated sub, some may find the bass a little underwhelming.
It’s a bit on the expensive side for what’s on offer, but if you’re looking for something stylish, sometimes you have to pay a premium.
Read our full Samsung S60T review
10. Roku Streambar
- User-friendly UI
- Decent sound
- Range of video and audio content
Cons
- Only supports HDMI
- Remote isn't customisable
- Weak bass
Roku boasts one of the most feature-packed and intuitive smart TV experiences around, with a complete roster of UK streaming services and standout features like AirPlay 2 that aren’t on offer from many alternatives in our chart – especially at such a cheap price point. Whether you’ve used Roku before or you’re looking to upgrade your smart TV experience alongside TV audio, the Streambar is a great option.
Audio quality is generally great, producing room-filling audio suited to both TV shows and big Hollywood blockbusters, complete with the ability to boost the bass when required. That said, the lack of a separate subwoofer means it isn’t quite as bass-heavy as some of the alternatives in our chart.
Overall, it’s a feature-packed soundbar that’s also easy on the bank balance.
Read our full Roku Streambar review
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