William Carpenter
Best Soundbars
With TV and movie streaming services becoming increasingly popular, having the best sound quality to go with your viewing experience is necessary. Soundbars have become the go-to solution for enhancing your TV’s audio without the clutter of multiple speakers. Much like workout leggings, a good soundbar is a versatile addition to your entertainment setup, delivering powerful sound whether you’re watching an action-packed movie or listening to your favorite tunes. After testing and comparing various models, we have narrowed down the top soundbars that offer impressive sound quality, connectivity options, and sleek designs to elevate your home entertainment experience.
Sony S100F 2.0ch Soundbar with Integrated Tweeter
A powerful theater-like experience in the comfort of your home, the Sony S100F 2.0ch Soundbar with Integrated Tweeter delivers deep sound with a Bass Reflex speaker and high-quality audio. The easy setup and slim design make it a perfect fit for any room or small living space. The built-in tweeter and Voice Enhancement feature are highlights, ensuring crystal clear sound for TV content or conference calls. With simple Bluetooth connection, HDMI ARC compatibility, and S-Force Pro Front Surround technology, this soundbar truly immerses you in surround sound.
On top of that, the easy TV setup and wall-mounting options make this soundbar a versatile addition to your home entertainment setup, enhancing your viewing experience with minimal effort.
An area for improvement could be the lack of advanced sound customization options for more avid audiophiles. Despite this, the Sony S100F Soundbar remains a top choice for those seeking a high-quality audio solution for their home entertainment needs.
| Pros | Cons |
| Deep sound with Bass Reflex speaker | Limited sound customization options |
| High power with a slim design | – |
| Voice enhancement feature for clear dialogue | – |
SAMSUNG HW-C450 2.1ch Soundbar with DTS Virtual X
To enhance your home theater experience, look no further than the Samsung HW-C450 2.1ch Soundbar with DTS Virtual:X. This soundbar truly elevates your listening experience with its spacious 3D sound, putting you front and center of the action. The included subwoofer delivers rich, powerful bass that brings movies, games, and music to life. With features like Adaptive Sound Lite and Game Mode, you’ll be fully immersed in whatever you’re watching or playing. An added bonus is the One Remote Control, making it easy to navigate your entertainment setup. There’s also Bluetooth Multi Connection for effortless wireless streaming.
An impressive feature of the Samsung HW-C450 is the Bass Boost function, allowing you to feel the depth of distant thunder and truly enhance your audio experience. The Voice Enhance feature ensures clear dialogue even in the midst of action-packed scenes. Plus, the Wireless Surround Sound compatibility means you can easily expand your setup to create a full surround sound system with optional Samsung speakers. There’s even a Night Mode for quieter listening sessions.
There’s just one downside to the Samsung HW-C450, and that’s the lack of HDMI inputs. This may limit connectivity options for some users. However, overall, the soundbar offers exceptional sound quality and a range of features that make it a great choice for anyone looking to upgrade their home entertainment setup.
| Pros | Cons |
| – DTS Virtual:X for immersive 3D sound | – Limited HDMI inputs |
| – Included subwoofer for powerful bass | |
| – Adaptive Sound Lite and Game Mode for optimized audio | |
| – Bluetooth Multi Connection for seamless streaming | |
| – Voice Enhance feature for clear dialogue |
VIZIO M-Series 2.1 All-in-One Sound Bar
Before I probe the details of the VIZIO M-Series 2.1 All-in-One Sound Bar, I must say that I am truly impressed by the immersive audio experience it provides. With Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio technologies, this sound bar delivers realistic sounds above and behind you, completely immersing you in your entertainment.
With 98dB of premium audio powered by 6 high-performance speakers, the M-Series All-In-One Sound Bar brings your favorite content to life like never before. It boasts a minimalist design with built-in dual subwoofers and a fully integrated design, ensuring it sounds its best without the need for external components.
A standout feature of this sound bar is its sleek, low-profile design that fits discreetly beneath your TV. However, I did find the lack of waterproofing to be a drawback, especially for those looking to use the sound bar outdoors or in damp environments.
Pros– Immersive audio experience with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X technologies – Premium audio quality with 98dB of sound and high-performance speakers – Sleek, low-profile design that fits discreetly beneath the TV |
Cons– Not waterproof, limiting outdoor or damp environment use |
Sony HT-S400 2.1ch Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer
Even the most discerning audiophiles will be impressed by the Sony HT-S400 2.1ch Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer. With S-Force PRO Front Surround and Dolby Digital technology, this soundbar creates a cinematic style surround sound experience that truly brings your content to life. The Bluetooth version 5.0 connectivity allows for wireless audio streaming, and the powerful 330W of total output ensures rich, clear dialogue and deep, rich bass sound from the wireless subwoofer. The compact remote and OLED display window make operation simple and convenient, while the wall-mountable design minimizes cable clutter.
Another standout feature of the Sony HT-S400 is the X-Balanced speaker technology, which delivers clear, immersive sound without the need for multiple speakers cluttering your space. The wireless connection to compatible BRAVIA TVs enhances your viewing experience, and the flexible layout options make it easy to find the perfect setup for your space. With HDMI ARC or optical connection options, connecting to your TV is a breeze.
An area of improvement for the Sony HT-S400 is the lack of built-in voice assistant compatibility, which may be a downside for users who rely on voice commands for their home entertainment setup. Additionally, while the sound quality is impressive, some users may find the setup process slightly complicated compared to other soundbars on the market.
| Pros: | Cons: |
| Immersive cinematic surround sound | Lack of built-in voice assistant compatibility |
| X-Balanced speaker technology for clear dialogue | Setup process may be slightly complicated for some users |
| Wireless subwoofer for deep, rich bass sound | |
| Bluetooth connectivity for wireless audio streaming |
Saiyin 40W Small Soundbar for TV
Little in size but big on sound, the Saiyin 40W Small Soundbar for TV is a compact and sleek audio device that is perfect for small to medium-sized living rooms or bedrooms. With 2 full-range speakers, this soundbar delivers a realistic, spatial audio experience that truly brings movies and music to life. The multiple connectivity options, including Bluetooth, optical, and auxiliary input, allow you to easily connect it to your TV, smartphone, PC, or other devices.
The Saiyin soundbar also features three equalizer modes (Music, Movie, News) that enhance the dialogue, bass, and treble of your content, making it sound more realistic and engaging. The remote control makes it easy to switch between modes and adjust settings. The setup is a breeze, as you can either place it on your desktop or mount it on the wall with the provided kits.
Cool addition is the “SUB OUT” port, which supports the connection of an active subwoofer for an even more immersive audio experience. The compact size (17″ * 3.5″ * 2.5″) and the included accessories, such as the remote control, wall mounting kit, optical cable, and user manual, make this soundbar a versatile and convenient choice for your entertainment setup.
| Pros | Cons |
| Compact and sleek design | Remote control not compatible with universal or TV remotes |
| Various connectivity options | Not the most powerful soundbar on the market |
| Enhanced audio features with three equalizer modes |
Yamaha SR-B20A Sound Bar with Built-in Subwoofers
Some sound bars claim to offer deep bass, but the Yamaha SR-B20A Sound Bar with Built-in Subwoofers truly delivers. With its slim design, it seamlessly fits into any setup while still providing powerful sound. The Clear Voice feature enhances dialogue clarity, making movie nights even more enjoyable.
Sound is truly immersive with the DTS Virtual:X virtual 3D surround sound, creating a theater-like experience from the comfort of your home. Bluetooth streaming allows for easy connectivity to multiple devices, perfect for switching between your TV and smartphone effortlessly.
Any setup headaches are eliminated with the simple setup using HDMI or optical inputs. The included remote control makes adjusting settings a breeze. However, the lack of waterproofing is a downside for those looking to use the sound bar in outdoor settings.
| Pros | Cons |
| Built-in subwoofers for deep bass | Not waterproof |
| Clear Voice for enhanced dialogue clarity | |
| DTS Virtual:X virtual 3D surround sound | |
| Bluetooth streaming for easy device switching | |
| Simple setup with HDMI or optical inputs |
