Currently, the AV market is in the middle of a golden era of home entertainment. Streaming video, streaming audio, immersive audio, 4K, HDR headline the wealth of digital entertainment options available to homeowners looking to put together a home theater or high fidelity audio system today. Augmenting the convenience and quality of these digital options are trendy analog formats such as vinyl records, and other traditional physical media considerations such as Blu-ray and Ultra Blu-ray discs. Conveniently and stylishly supporting all these entertainment mediums are modern soundbars.
Soundbars are multipurpose audio loudspeakers that provide multiple channels of sound, along with capabilities for additional surround speakers, subwoofers, and in some cases the ability to integrate into whole-house audio systems.
Understanding the Difference Between Different Soundbar Types
Breaking down soundbars takes a bit of work. First, there are passive and active soundbars. Explaining these terms in greater depth, passive means the speaker product requires an external amplifier for power, while an active or powered soundbar incorporates built-in amplification.
Once someone moves past the topic of active and passive, there are two channel or stereo versions that incorporate both a system’s left and right speakers. Beyond those two-channel (2.0) models there are many three-channel versions that incorporate left, center and right speakers within a single enclosure.
Taking those three channel models (3.0) up a notch, there are also some models that provide a built-in subwoofer to provide more mid-bass extension, and there are also models that incorporate additional drivers to reproduce immersive audio or spatial audio. Models with a built-in sub come with 2.1 and 3.1 labeling in many cases, and the soundbars that offer immersive audio are often advertised to work with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, which are the two most popular immersive audio surround sound formats. The point one (.1) designates the inclusion of a built-in subwoofer.
Other features soundbars offer include the ability to wirelessly connect to a companion subwoofer, as well as the ability to integrate into multiroom (whole house) audio systems, and a growing number offer a choice of streaming audio services when used with their companion apps.
Looking at some of the latest products currently available, here are 25 soundbars from some of the top companies in home audio.
Atlantic Technology 3.1 HSB
Retailing at a cost competitive price point, the 3.1 HSB soundbar offers several homeowner-friendly features. The “pedestal style” speaker allows homeowners to place TVs up to 60 inches on top of the speaker to save cabinet space and home space. The 3.1 HSB also provides users three passive loudspeaker channels—left, center and right—and a powered, built-in subwoofer.
Bluesound PULSE Soundbar+
Bluesound is a popular provider of wireless whole-house audio components through the development of the company’s BluOS platform. The PULSE Soundbar+ incorporates BluOS, along with 120 watts of amplification, along with Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, and the soundbar is Roon Ready. Bluesound adds the loudspeaker supports high-resolution audio, Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital.
Bose Soundbar 600
The reasonably priced Bose 600 Soundbar is a space friendly home theater solution that measures just over 27 inches wide by just over 2 inches tall. The Wi-Fi enabled speaker is supported by Bose’s companion Music App, and Bose states the Soundbar 600 connects to televisions via features such as HDMI with eARC or optical digital connections. Supporting its multichannel audio, the soundbar incorporates a total of five drivers.
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3
The Panorama 3 is designed provide high levels of sound quality and design elegance. The Bower & Wilkins soundbar provides homeowners Dolby Atmos immersive audio capabilities, and voice control options via Amazon’s Alexa platform. Powering the speaker’s Atmos sound are a total of 13 drivers that are powered by 400 watts of amplification. The Panorama 3 also offers Bluetooth aptX Adaptive, Apple AirPlay 2, and high-resolution audio compatibility.
Definitive Technology Studio 3D Mini
The stylish and small footprint Studio 3D Mini employs a pair of 1-inch aluminum dome tweeters and four 1 inch by 3 inch “racetrack drivers. Definitive Technology explains that through the soundbar’s mobile app, users can access streaming services such as TuneIn, deezer, Soundcloud, Amazon Music, TIDAL, and Spotify. The company adds the soundbar also supports the playback of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X immersive audio content.
Denon Home Soundbar 550
The Home Soundbar 550 can be used for multiroom audio and home theater through its inclusion of the company’s HEOS wireless audio platform. Denon also points out the speaker offers Dolby Atmos and DTS:X immersive audio capabilities, and the Home Soundbar 550 is compatible with high-resolution audio content. Denon adds the soundbar uses multiple tweeters, midrange drivers and passive radiators to reproduce music and AV content.
Episode (Snap One) Active 2.1 Soundbar
Snap One and its brands, which include Episode loudspeakers are a go-to for many professional integrators. The brand’s 2.1 Active Soundbar System provides homeowners with two channels of audio that are augmented by an 8-inch wireless powered subwoofer. Snap One points out that integrators can use HDMI with ARC, optical digital or analog audio cables to connect to TVs, and the active 2.1 speaker system also incorporates Bluetooth to allow users to wirelessly stream content from their smart devices to listen to their favorite audio content.
James Loudspeaker SPL2
The latest soundbar from James Loudspeaker is designed to provide homeowners with a small footprint soundbar that resides below their televisions. The speaker features a 3-inch-tall aluminum enclosure that houses the SPL2’s racetrack driver design that is said to maximize driver surface area in limited spaces. Offered in center channel for traditional home theater, as well as stereo, LCR or the company split pairs Centergy configuration, the speaker provides a wealth of installation options.
JBL Bar 2.0 All-in-One MK2
The affordable Bar 2.0 soundbar complements a range of televisions by upgrading their sound with stereo sound. The soundbar employs JBL’s digital sound processing technologies to maximize the sound quality of the multichannel loudspeaker. The Bar 2.0 All-in-One MK2 loudspeaker also offers wireless Bluetooth to allow users to stream content from their phones and computers, and the soundbar offers an HDMI input with ARC (audio return channel).
KEF HTF8003 Soundbar
There are few manufacturers that are engineering and design leaders in the field of home audio, but KEF is one of those brands. The company’s HTF8003 speaker incorporates a multiple driver array that includes the company’s Uni-Q technologies. The passive soundbar is 87dB sensitive and KEF states the soundbar delivers a frequency response of 70Hz to 22kHz.
Leon Speakers Horizon Denza
Designed to complement today’s home environments, Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Leon Speakers offers the Horizon Denza soundbar in a choice of finishes and grille-cloth colors. The company points out the product includes Ultima or ultra-thin UX speakers, and the product is available in standard sizes of 60 inches, 72 inches and custom sizes. Leon also states the cabinet accommodates it OTO-MCA-200 amplifier or a SONOS AMP, and the Horizon Denza comes with French cleats for wall mounting.
LG GX
The 3.1 all-in-one speaker from the global electronics giant features audio technologies from the high-performance U.K.-based manufacturer Meridian. The soundbar’s built-in left, center and right speakers are powered by 200 watts of amplification, and Meridian digital processing helps to GX to produce a wider soundstage with more dynamics. The GX features HDMI with ARC, along with a USB input that supports 24-bit/192kHz high-resolution audio. In addition, LG complements the GX with a companion wireless subwoofer.
MartinLogan Motion SLM X3
The SLM X3 is a passive, three channel, left, center, right soundbar. MartinLogan points out the home theater speaker is inspired by its high-performance electrostatic loudspeakers that employs three of the company’s Folded Motion tweeters, along with six 4-inch midrange drivers. MartinLogan points out that homeowners can wall mount the SLM X3 or the soundbar can be placed on a shelf.
Monitor Audio SB-3 Passive Soundbar
Developed for use with televisions larger than 60 inches, the SB-3 speaker offers homeowners, an all-in-one left, center, right solution all within a single enclosure. Monitor Audio states the soundbar employs a pair of its C-CAM bass drivers, along with twin passive radiators, and a single C-CAM tweeter. The company specifies the speaker’s left and right channels as 84dB sensitive and the center channel at 87dB.
Paradigm Millenia LP Trio
The 48-inch soundbar features a 2-inch slim profile, and a left, center, right speaker configuration. The Canadian home audio company states the multichannel speaker features its S-PAL Satin-Anodized Pure-Aluminum Dome high-frequency drivers, as well as the company’s Anodized Unibody bass/midrange drivers, and Anodized Unibody passive radiators. Paradigm specifies the Millenia LP Trio’s frequency response at 150Hz to 20kHz.
Polk Audio MagniFi Mini Compact Soundbar
The space friendly MagniFi Mini Compact Soundbar complements a variety of home spaces through its small footprint and sound quality capabilities. Polk Audio points out the small footprint speaker offers a choice of connections with optical and HDMI, and Polk notes the MagniFi Mini can reproduce multichannel Dolby Digital content. Other options the MagniFi Mini Compact provides include wireless Bluetooth and Chromecast streaming.
PSB Speakers Imagine W3 On-Wall Loudspeaker
The W3 On-Wall soundbar was developed by the company to deliver the same audio performance as its traditional products using the same drivers. PSB says the on-wall multichannel speaker incorporates three 1-inch titanium dome tweeters, as well as four 4-inch polypropylene cone woofers, and four passive radiators. The company also points out W3 On-Wall Loudspeaker also employs an aluminum enclosure and a MDF front baffle.
Samsung HW-LST70T The Terrace Outdoor Soundbar
Offering homeowners, a companion soundbar solution for its Terrace outdoor televisions, the HW-LST70T soundbar provides users with Dolby Digital surround sound. Samsung states the outdoor soundbar is IP55 rated to resist environmental elements, including dirt, dust, moisture, and water, and the HW-LST70T delivers a 3.0 audio experience. The outdoor speaker is supported by a companion app and wireless features such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi networking.
Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar
Sennheiser is a German audio company that’s famous for its professional and consumer headphones, and its studio-quality microphones. The company’s AMBEO Soundbar provides homeowners with an all-in-one 7.1.4 virtual surround sound experience. The all-in-one speaker supports the playback of Dolby Atmos immersive audio content, and its nine loudspeakers are powered by internal amplification. Sennheiser adds the AMBEO offers processing options such as dialog enhancement and preset equalization modes.
Sonance Adjustable Width Soundbars
Sonance is a go-to brand for professional home electronics integrators. The adjustable Width line of products are physically capable of adjusting in size to correspond with TVs ranging from 50 to 80 inches. The company emphasizes the soundbars utilize three-way designs that include coaxial midrange drivers and high-excursion woofers. The company adds the soundbar also employs aluminum enclosures and VESA compliant mounting hardware.
Sonos Arc
Sonos is a hugely popular home audio company and its Arc multichannel soundbar is a state-of-the-art solution that is headlined by its Dolby Atmos immersive audio capabilities. The Arc is also capable of integrating into a Sonos-based multizone, whole-house audio system, and it provides other options such as Apple AirPlay 2, Wi-Fi, HDMI eARC, voice control, and the company’s proprietary Trueplay sound equalization.
Sony HT-A3000 Soundbar
The competitively priced HT-A3000 soundbar offers users a multichannel powered surround sound product that delivers 3.1 channels of audio with support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Sony states the speaker is designed to complement its popular BRAVIA line of televisions, and the HT-A3000 provides proprietary technologies that include Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping that simulates phantom speakers to envelop listeners in an immersive listening sound field.
Theory Audio Design sb65
Developed by the notable loudspeaker engineer Paul Hales, the sb65 three-channel soundbar from Theory Audio Design can be used as a standalone multichannel surround sound solution or as part of a larger Theory Audio Design multichannel home audio system. The passive soundbar is powered by the company’s external ALC amplifiers, which drive the sb65’s half dozen 5-inch carbon fiber drivers and 1.4-inch Advanced Polymer Compression Drivers. Theory Audio Design specifies the sb65 to deliver a frequency response of 75Hz to 23kHz, and its maximum output up to 117dB.
Triad Passive 1.0 Soundbar
Few companies can match the decades of custom home theater support and custom speaker services that Triad provides to homeowners. The company’s Passive Soundbars offers a plethora of custom finishes to match any home interior and the company also provides a choice of 5- or 6-inch driver sizes. Triad adds the Passive 1.0 Soundbar complements TVs as large as 86 inches.
Yamaha SR-B20A
Yamaha developed its wallet-friendly SR-B20 as a simple way to upgrade the sound of modern TVs. The SR-B20 connects via HDMI or digital optical cables, and the soundbar’s six internal amplifiers two 1-inch tweeters, two 2.215-inch midrange drivers, and two 3-inch woofers. The soundbar produces DTS Virtual:X surround sound, and it features wireless Bluetooth connectivity.
