Best Soundbars for All Uses and Budgets in 2021

Soundbars aren’t new, but they’ve certainly become more popular. Unfortunately, even most high-end televisions feature decidedly lackluster audio. As such, it’s best to use an external audio device to enhance your movie and TV viewing. While a wall-rattling, downstairs neighbor-disturbing 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound system might be optimal, soundbars offer a space-saving, economical alternative. Check out the best soundbars you can buy in 2021 for all budgets!

Why Buy a Soundbar?

A soundbar is a spectacular addition to any media room. You’ll appreciate vastly improved audio quality over built-in TV speakers. Since all speakers are self-contained in a single device, soundbars eschew the annoyance of running speakers around the room as is necessary with a more traditional receiver and surround sound set up.

Likewise, sending an audio signal to your soundbar is pretty simple. Most modern soundbars include ARC, or Audio Return Channel. An ARC HDMI connection routes audio from a TV to a soundbar or receiver. Theoretically, this simplifies a media center configuration by cutting down on the cables needed and thereby the clutter. Even a budget soundbar often benefits from far better audio quality than TV speakers

Soundbar benefits:

• Space-saving
• Easy to set up
• Great sound quality
• Reasonably-priced

What to Look for in a Soundbar

When selecting a soundbar, there are several considerations. Cost: Price is a major factor. While high-end soundbars shatter the $1,000 mark, plenty of soundbars under $300 or even $200 provide budget-oriented options.

Number of speakers: You’ll want to think about your desired number of speakers in your soundbar. While manufacturers often brand soundbars as 5.1 or even 7.1, this can be misleading. Occasionally, that refers to matrix or simulated surround sound. True surround soundbars come with rear surround speakers and a subwoofer. Soundbars may be had in everything from a stereo 2.0 speaker array to 9.2.4 mult-channel configurations.

Subwoofer: In addition to selecting a multi-channel or dual-channel soundbar, you may want a dedicated subwoofer. Many modern soundbars feature wireless subs for ease of installation.

Physical size: Just as with a TV, size is important. Sure, soundbars boast smaller footprints than home theatre receivers. But length is an important consideration, particularly if you’re setting a soundbar on your media console.

Connectivity: While many soundbars feature an HDMI output, inputs are a different story. For hooking up devices to a soundbar, you may want at least one HDMI input, and you might even seek other connectivity options such as Bluetooth, Toslink, or stereo RCA jacks. ARC, or audio return channel, is a convenient means of sending audio signals from your television or projector to a soundbar. ARC lets you connect devices such as game consoles, Blu-ray players, and streaming boxes directly to your TV. Then, any audio signal is sent straight to your soundbar. eARC or enhanced ARC, allows for uncompressed audio signals like Dolby Atmos and DTS TrueHD to be transmitted, while ARC is limited to compressed audio tracks.

Audio codec support: Your various media will feature different audio codecs such as Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, DTS:X, DTS Virtual:X, and a host of other codecs. Figure out which audio codecs you value most and make sure that you get a compatible soundbar.

Soundbar buying considerations:

• Cost
• True surround sound vs. stereo or matrix surround sound
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, HDMI inputs/outputs, Toslink, etc.
• ARC or eARC
• Subwoofer vs no subwoofer
• Audio codec support (i.e. Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD, etc.)

Creative Stage – Best Soundbar Under $100 

While a sub-$100 price tag might not inspire confidence, the Creative Stage is a shockingly competent performer, and easily the best soundbar under $100. It’s got a separate subwoofer to complement its sleek, small footprint. This 2.1 soundbar sports an HDMI output with ARC, USB input with the ability to play MP3 files, Bluetooth connectivity, an AUX port, and an optical input. In addition to the volume rocker on the side, there’s a remote. The compact Creative Stage is a mere 21-inches long, and its accompanying 40-watt subwoofer clocks in at a space-conserving 18-inches tall.

Admittedly, the Creative Stage is engineered for PC use. Still, with its array of connectivity options, the Creative Stage is a solid budget soundbar for small to moderately-sized living rooms. You shouldn’t expect audiophile-caliber performance. But at less than $100, that’s no surprise. For home theatre buffs on a budget, the Creative Stage is easily the best budget soundbar money can buy.

Pros:

• Extremely affordable (sub-$100)
• Space-saving: 21-inch long soundbar, 18-inch tall subwoofer
• 2.1, includes wired 40-watt subwoofer
• Great for movies and TV shows

Cons:

• Average music performance

Best Soundbar Under $200 – Vizio V-Series

Since its inception, Vizio emerged as the king of budget soundbars. Indeed, the Vizio V-Series is an economical, high-performing soundbar. Typically priced under $200, the Vizio V-Series 2.1 soundbar offers a tremendous value with its included subwoofer. The V-Series handles Dolby Digital, DTS Studio Sound, DTS TruSurround, DTS TruVolume, and DTS Virtual:X with aplomb. There’s Bluetooth, an HDMI output with ARC, optical input, and AUX port. You also get an easy-to-use candybar remote.

Sound quality is really where the Vizio V-Series 2.1 really shines. Audio reproduction is accurate regardless of whether you’re listening to music or movies and TV shows. While a subwoofer does come standard, it’s a bit on the small side at 5-inches. Still, the wireless sub makes the Vizio V-Series 2.1 a great value. If you want true surround sound, you might consider the Vizio V-Series 5.1 soundbar. At such an affordable price point, the Vizio V-Series 2.1 is hands-down the best soundbar under $200.

Pros:

• Excellent value
• Wireless subwoofer
• Compact (36-inches long)
• Great connectivity (HDMI output, Bluetooth, optical in, digital in, AUX in)
• USB port
• Superb audio reproduction

Cons:

• USB port only plays WAV files
• No HDMI input
• Lacks HDMI ARC

Polk Audio MagniFi Mini – Best Soundbar Under $300

For a soundbar with a tiny footprint that doesn’t compromise on fidelity, check out the Polk Audio MagniFi Mini. Despite its small stature, the MagniFi Mini manages a surprisingly large sound, easily capable of filling a sizable living room. There’s a wireless subwoofer as well as Polk’s patented SDA audio technology with 5.1 Dolby Digital coding. Make no mistake, the MagniFi Mini isn’t a true 5.1 system. Rather, it’s a 2.1 channel sound bar featuring two 12mm tweeters and four 2.25-inch drivers.

Connectivity options include an HDMI input with ARC, Bluetooth, an optical port, 3.5mm AUX jack, and Wi-Fi. Google Home compatibility means you can cast to the MagniFi Mini. From movies to music, the Polk MagniFi Mini handles any audio thrown at it with aplomb. Space-saving, reasonably priced, and touting excellent inputs and outputs, the MagniFi Mini is a solid addition to any home theater. Unfortunately, unlike the majority of soundbars, you can’t mount the MagniFi Mini on a wall. Instead, it simply sits on a flat surface. But for a wall-mounted setup, you could place the Polk MagniFi Mini on a shelf.

Pros:

• Tiny footprint
• Excellent performance
• Fills large rooms
• Wireless subwoofer
• 2.1-channel
• Great connectivity (HDMI with ARC, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, optical, 3.5mm AUX)
• Google Home compatibility

Cons:

• Can’t wall-mount

Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra – Best Dolby Atmos Soundbar

Dolby Atmos ushered in an audio revolution. It’s a revolutionary audio format that provides a 360-degree bubble of sound for true surround sound. Rather than traditional channle-based audio handling, Dolby Atmos instead uses object-based sounds. For instance, the sound of a helicopter might pan across the left-hand wall rather than panning from speaker to speaker. It’s a much more immersive experience than previous surround sound codecs like Dolby Digital. The Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra is easily the best Dolby Atmos soundbar on the market. Sporting a 9.2.4 surround sound speaker configuration, the Shockwafe Ultra blows most other soundbars out of the water. In fact, it’s a soundbar that can rival dedicated receiver and speaker surround sound systems. There are dual 10-inch wireless subwoofers, nine surround sound speakers, and four two-way surround sound speakers. As such, the Shockwafe Ultra delivers 360-degree audio. While Nakamichi might not be a household name such as Vizio, Sony, JBL, in the home theater space, the Japanese company flaunts what’s arguably the top-performing Dolby Atmos soundbar money can buy.

On the video side, the Shockwafe Pro supports 4K HDR as well as Dolby Vision passthrough. There are three HDMI inputs, an HDMI arc, optical input, and coax input. Its dual two-way rear speakers hook up to the wireless subwoofer. What’s more, the Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra features one of the best remotes packaged with any soundbar or TV for that matter, a 52-button backlit remote. Complete with support for virtually any audio format you throw at it including DTS:X and Dolby Atmos, true 9.2 surround sound, and a slew of inputs, plus 4K HDR and Dolby Vision video support, the Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra is a home theater beast.

The only real downside is its price. You’ll shell out over $1,000 USD for this audio/visual master. For a cheaper but still great experience, you might consider the Nakamichi Shockwafe Elite 7.2.4 soundbar or the Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4 soundbar. Oddly considering its vast feature set, there’s no app for tweaking EQ settings. Additionally, USB connectivity is conspicuously absent. Normally, that wouldn’t be an issue, but at this pricepoint, you expect such amenities. Nevertheless, Nakamichi serves up the greatest Dolby Atmos soundbar available in its Shockwafe Pro and Ultra soundbars.

Pros:

• 4K HDR and Dolby Vision support
• Dolby Atmos, DTS:X support
• 600W
• True 7.1.4 surround sound
• Wireless subwoofer, 2x rear speakers
• Excellent connectivity (4x HDMI with ARC, optical, coaxial)
• 52-key backlit remote

Cons:

• Expensive
• No USB
• No app

Best Dolby Atmos Soundbar for Most Users – Vizio Elevate

The Vizio Elevate is a superb Dolby Atmos-capable soundbar. With true 5.1 surround sound, the Elevate features a set of motorized, revolving speaker drivers. Instead of static drivers on top of the soundbar, the entire unit rises up to adjust automatically for what you’re listening to, such as movies or music. A 5.1.4 soundbar, the Vizio Elevate packs a whopping 18 speakers. Aside from Dolby Atmos decoding, you’ll find support for many different audio codecs such as DTS:X.

There’s an excellent soundstage and a whole host of different EQ options for movies, music, gaming, and more. Vizio throws in loads of inputs and outputs like dual HDMI ports, an HDMI output with eARC, 3.5mm analog audio jack, USB port, 3.5mm voice assistant input for connecting a smart voice assistant, Bluetooth, and Chromecast. Unfortunately, you won’t Apple AirPlay built-in. But the plentiful inputs and outputs as well as fantastic Atmos handling makes the Vizio Elevate an awesome soundbar.

Pros:

• Excellent connectivity (2x HDMI in, 1x HDMI out with eARC, USB, 3.5mm AUX)
• Dolby Atmos support and DTS:X
• 4K passthrough with HDR and Dolby Vision support
• Bluetooth
• Wi-Fi
• Chromecast

Cons:

• No Apple AirPlay

Sonos Arc – Best Soundbar for Music Lovers

When it comes to whole-home audio, Sonos dominates. Accordingly, the Sonos ARC is the best soundbar for music lovers and audiophiles. The Sonos Arc rocks Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa onboard. There’s an HDMI output with eARC, Apple AirPlay2 support, and Ethernet as well as Wi-Fi connectivity. Disappointingly, particularly considering its premium price tag, Sonos forgoes optical or a 3.5mm AUX port. You’ll find Dolby Atmos compatibility and a solid set of speakers comprised of six mid-range drivers, three tweeters, and nine Class D amplifiers.

Set up is incredibly simple. The eARC connection carries uncompressed audio tracks. Disappointingly considering its premium price tag, the Sonos Arc is a 3.0 channel soundbar, not true sorround sound. However, since the Sonos Arc works with existing Sonos devices, it’s a modular installation. You can tack on the Sonos Sub, and Sonos One speakers for rear surround sound for a 5.1 configuration. Pro tip: IKEA Symfonisk speakers make great rear surround channels in a Sonos home theatre. Of course, the extra speakers cost extra and will drive not only the sound up, but the price as well. For some savings, you might consider the Sonos Playbase soundbase, Sonos Beam soundbar, or Playbase. Reasonably priced, modular, and with a top-notch in-home-streaming ecosystem, the Sonos Beam is a great soundbar for audiophiles and music lovers.

Pros:

• HDMI with eARC
• Ethernet and Wi-Fi
• Best-in-class audio
• Dolby Atmos compatibility
• Sleek looking
• Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa
• Modular design: Add a pair of Sonos One speakers and the Sonos Sub for a true 5.1 surround sound

Cons:

• Expensive

Roku Soundbar – Best Soundbar for Streaming Media

While Roku initially debuted as a streaming set-top box, the popular streaming environment eventually made its way to TVs. Now, the Roku Soundbar offers a means a streaming device in a small yet mighty soundbar. A 2.0 channel smart soundbar, Roku’s soundbar delivers an all-in-one solution to upgrade your television streaming media and audio experience.

Combining a 4K HDR-capable Roku streaming hub with a soundbar in a budget-priced package makes the Roku Smart Soundbar a fantastic option for movie and TV enthusiasts. If you need a soundbar and a streaming box, the Roku Smart Soundbar is a nifty pick. And even if you have a smart TV already, it’s worth considering this smart soundbar. Unfortunately, there’s no included subwoofer. However, an optional sub upgrade is available. Missing are onboard controls. But you do benefit from a standard Roku remote which remains one of the top remote controls on the market. Simple to set up and with excellent performance, the Roku Smart Soundbar is a no-brainer.

Pros:

• 2.0 channel soundbar
• Includes Roku streaming ecosystem
• 4K HDR compatible
• HDMI
• Bluetooth
• Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility
• Can add on Roku Sub

Cons:

• Only 2-channel
• Limited connectivity

Razer Leviathan – Best Soundbar for PC Use and Gaming

What soundbar you’ll use for movies, TV, and music differs from a soundbar for PC and gaming use. The Razer Leviathan is easily the best gaming and PC soundbar money can buy. With its Dolby 5.1 support, Bluetooth aptX technology, and a dedicated subwoofer, you’ll appreciate lush sound quality with deep, rich bass. The Leviathan handles Dolby audio codecs such as Dolby Digital, Pro Logic II, and Virtual Speaker. Despite the soundbar and sub set up, the Razer Leviathan maintains a space-saving form factor that doesn’t monopolize desk space.

A range of EQ presets optimize for various uses such as movies, gaming, and music. Considering its intended PC audience, the Leviathan packs in amazing connectivity including Bluetooth, as well as optical and AUX 3.5mm inputs. Although Razer brands it a 5.1 soundbar, you won’t appreciate true 5.1. Instead, it’s a simulated matrix 5.1 which works extremely well. Performance is top-notch and, if anything, a bit bass-heavy. Overall, the Razer Leviathan absolutely rocks for everything from movies and TV to music and gaming. Though it technically can pair with a TV, lack of HDMI inputs and outputs or a remote really makes the Leviathan better-suited to a PC setting. For a more modest PC soundbar without the sub, consider the Razer Leviathan Mini.

Pros:

• Great connectivity (Bluetooth aptX, 3.5mm AUX, optical)
• Dedicated subwoofer
• Emulated 5.1 surround sound
• Excellent performance
• Space-saving design
• Dolby compatibility

Cons:

• Not true 5.1
• No remote or HDMI

Best Soundbars You can Buy in 2021 – The Last Note

Soundbars continue to rise in popularity. And with this increase in adoption comes an influx of soundbar options for all needs and budgets. The soundbar you’ll need for movies and TV differs from a music-oriented soundbar. Likewise, the top PC soundbar won’t be ideal in a living room situation. For upgraded audio on a budget, Vizio is a go-to. Sonos is a solid pick for audiophiles already ingrained in the Sonos ecosystem or seeking upgrade to a whole-home streaming audio set up. Familiar names such as Polk and Creative provide excellent sound quality, and Nakamachi offers an underappreciated Dolby Atmos-compatible soundbar to end all soundbars.

What soundbars do you recommend?