There are a few options to improve your TV sound that range from the budget to the expensive, but a soundbar is one of the simplest ways as they are typically compact and require minimal cabling. They often also have added benefits, such as wireless streaming over Bluetooth or WiFi. The number of built-in speakers matters, too. Many TVs have 2 speakers, but the more you have, the more wide and expansive the soundstage will be. For example, the Philips OLED+936 TV in our list above has a built-in subwoofer to really amp up low bass tones.

The Sonos Arc draws on Dolby’s latest TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus sound codecs to deliver the best quality lossless audio found on cutting-edge Blu-ray discs and some of the leading streaming services. Crucially, that also includes Dolby Atmos support, and while the reflected height and side channels aren't as pronounced as some of the soundbars here can manage, they're still impressive, and the range of precision of the Arc is superb. On Uneven Surfaces:Mounting your soundbar on uneven surfaces may cause it to be misaligned, resulting in distorted sound output and potential damage to the unit. We didn't have any issues hearing dialogue in movies, but if you're going to watch something like a Christopher Nolan mumblefest then you might appreciate Clear Voice Pro, a setting that makes spoken dialogue clearer. Sports Mode has a rather tinny quality but the Music mode is more naturalistic, with no huge emphasis on any frequency band. There are also Cinema, Game Optimization and Standard listening modes to choose from, so you should be able to find an audio profile you like. This is part of Philips’ OLED+ range, which means it has a speaker enclosure made by legendary British hi-fi firm Bowers & Wilkins—and it’s been redesigned for even better audio performance. You can buy brand-specific soundbar wall mounts with custom fittings or generic universal mounts that fit most soundbars.In addition to Atmos support, the Stage 360 offers a decent range of connection options, including two HDMI 2.0 inputs and Bluetooth, and isn’t short of audio options either. There are four sound modes to choose from: Music, Movie, Wide and Night, along with near-field and far-field profiles which take into account how close you are to the bar. If you want to enjoy Atmos content but can’t stretch your budget to a true surround sound system, the Creative Stage 360 is your best bet. Near Heat Sources:Don’t mount the soundbar near radiators, heat vents, or other heat-producing appliances. Excessive heat can damage the soundbar’s internal components.

There’s more to think about, but getting the size, audio features and connectivity nailed down early on should make finding the best soundbar for you much easier. What connection do I need for a soundbar? When choosing which soundbar to buy, CNET also uses the following criteria as part of its selection process: A separate subwoofer delivers more convincing bass, adds richness and body to audio in general and can deliver room-shaking low-frequency sound effects. Look for a wireless subwoofer, which will allow you to hide the subwoofer away, out of sight. Certain soundbars also come with rear speakers that deliver truly enveloping 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound. If you’re not sure you want these, some bars allow you to upgrade your soundbar further down the line by adding wireless rear speakers. The height will also be ideal for when sitting down to watch TV. The No-Go Zones: Where Not to Mount Your Soundbar These speakers bounce sound off the ceiling to create an immersive soundscape, something they can’t do effectively if placed too high.

DTS:X and Dolby Atmos are the main home cinema audio formats. These rival technologies are both audio compression technologies that create a surround sound effect both in cinemas and in the home. The key thing to know about optical is that it's restricted in bandwidth compared to ARC/eARC. So if you have the choice between the two and opt for optical, you might not be making the most of the audio decoding built into your soundbar. The most advanced immersive formats optical can handle are compressed Dolby Digital or DTS 5.1 surround sound, so that means no Dolby Atmos or DTS:X. Indeed, in our five-star review, we said “The JZ2000’s speakers are truly incredible for built-in audio, being capable of recreating both the delicate footstep on a stairway and roaring explosion of a car crash in equal measure. You’re getting precise audio detail as well as a strong bass response.”

A position below the TV could be more advantageous for high-quality soundbars that utilize Dolby Atmos technology with upfiring speakers. As a general rule, you may expect to get your money's value. Always choose the more expensive item when given a choice between two similar ones. You shouldn't put a lot of money into something with a low chance of paying off. Think carefully about whether or not including yourtv wall mount with soundbar attachment is worth the potential downsides before making a final decision. You will need to use hardware that comes with the mount to do this. You need to make sure everything is in the correct place before attaching them. Some manufacturers are introducing these HDMI 2.1 ports as inputs onto their soundbars, so what sets the Sony HT-A7000 apart from the rest here is that the two HDMI 2.1 ports not only passthrough at 4K 120Hz, which is perfect for gaming but, thanks to a firmware update, support VRR and ALLM to get the most of the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

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The soundstage is pleasingly wide thanks to the soundbar’s side-firing speakers and the dedicated centre channel ensures dialogue remains clearly intelligible. Alexa built-in provides a decent level of smart functionality to complement the HW-Q990B’s first-rate sound, while the new design of the bar, sub and rear speakers mean it looks a lot better than its 2021 predecessor. We would have liked to have seen a couple of additional HDMI inputs and support for 4K/120 and Variable Refresh Rate passthrough, but the HW-Q990B is a roaring success regardless. There’s a newer model available – the HW-Q990C– but given the price difference, we’re still recommending last year’s model. Shows, movies and games we played on the TV all sounded crisp and clear with easy-to-understand dialogue and solid simulated 3D sound. While the simulated 3D audio is never quite as good as a full Dolby Atmos setup—it’s not even close, really—it is a nice feature to have while you’re waiting to install a more fully featured AV solution. Ideally, we would recommend going all in on an AV amplifier and matching home theatre speaker system, but in reality, we understand that not everyone has the space and/or the budget for something like this. That's why we recommend a soundbar as a great alternative. Naturally, you’ll have to consider the design of your room, which may sometimes be a sunken lounge or a raised subfloor, depending on the interior décor.

This should be easy to do: with the TV laying flat, place the TV wall mount on top of the TV in the place it has to be for the TV to be mounted on the wall properly. If you haven’t already tested the wall mount on the wall yet – you need to do that first, so that you know the right holes to use on your TV mount.The Arc supports Dolby Atmos (although only via eARC) as well as both Google Assistant and Alexa. It can be fully integrated into a Sonos multiroom audio system and controlled via the excellent Sonos S2 app. The only caveat is that physical connectivity is limited to a single HDMI ARC/eARC port, with no HDMI or optical digital input available. Otherwise, this is an astonishing achievement in AV audio engineering. Far Away from the TV:The soundbar should be near your TV for the best sound quality. If it’s too far away, the sound and visuals may not sync well, impairing your viewing experience.