Best Premium Soundbars and Home Theater Speaker Systems
-SOURCE-Ryan-Waniata.jpg)
Contrary to what some folks on A/V forums and sites like Reddit would have you believe, modern soundbars are actually very good. They deliver clear, impactful sound in place of your TV's subpar onboard speakers. Even a budget soundbar can make a big impact on everything from sports to movie night. Spending up is where most forum lovers will jump down your throat: People claim an A/V reciever and speakers is the only way to go, but my experience says a premium soundbar system can take your experience from adequate to transformative, and is easier to hide around a modern living room than a receiver, wires, and speakers.
WIRED colleagues and I have tested nearly every major soundbar model over the last few years. For this guide, I gathered a short list of my favorite premium soundbars, as well as other plug-and-play systems that left a lasting impression on me. From swirling Dolby Atmos surround sound to striking performance with music, these top picks deliver performance worthy of your premium TV. They'll cost you more than the average bar, but you will certainly hear the difference.
For more tips and a deeper pool, check out our Best Soundbars guide, our walk-through on choosing the right soundbar, and our Best Bookshelf Speakers and Best TVs guides.
How WIRED Defines Premium Soundbars
To find the best premium soundbars, I curated models at the top of their respective fields in a variety of designs and styles. Every model clears a high bar (pun inteded) for quality in its audio performance and features, but also in daily usability. Each pick also supports high-quality audio formats, including Dolby Atmos to provide an immersive experience with supported content from streaming services like Netflix, HBO, Disney+, and Amazon Prime, and 4K HDR Blu-rays.
Other features I looked for include support for Wi-Fi music streaming to go along with basic Bluetooth, apps for adjusting settings like EQ (equalization) and speaker volume/velocity, automated calibration to tune the sound to your room, and networking features that allow you to grow your system with other speakers in a true surround or whole-home audio system.
What Is Dolby Atmos and Why Do I Want It?
Traditional surround sound systems incorporate five or more channels along the horizontal plane, including at least two behind you, as well as a bass channel from a subwoofer. This is referred to as 5.1 surround (the bass is the “.1”), 7.1 surround, and so on. These systems respond to surround sound mixes in TV shows and movies by spreading sound effects across each channel in order to provide a realistic sonic environment that corresponds with on-screen images to “surround” you in sound.
Dolby Atmos and rival 3D audio systems like DTS:X supplement traditional surround sound by adding a height element that spreads sound effects not just across the horizontal plane, but also the vertical one to create what is referred to by Dolby and others as a “dome” or hemisphere of sound. A basic Dolby Atmos system offers 5.1.2 or 5.1.4 channels, with the extra “2” or “4” indicating the number of height channels.
Multi-component home theater systems usually employ a separate speaker cabinet for each represented channel, including speakers either mounted on the ceiling or designed to bounce sound from the floor to the ceiling to represent the overhead height channels in Dolby Atmos and other 3D sound mixes.
Dolby Atmos soundbars use a similar design concept, including up-firing drivers and, for some, separate speakers for the surround sound elements, referred to as rear or satellite speakers. Others use a mix of digital signal processing, up-firing and side-firing drivers (often a mix of both) to bounce sound off your ceiling and walls. These systems can be very effective, but especially when it comes to rear surround sound channels, there's no substitute for real speakers placed behind you.
How We Test Soundbars
My colleagues and I test soundbars in our homes, using them the same way you would. We watch whatever comes across our daily screens to get a lived-in feeling, alongside regimented testing material, including Dolby Atmos demo discs from Spears and Munsil and specific scenes in movies and TV shows we've seen dozens of times, like Mad Max: Fury Road, Ant-Man (it's got great Dolby Atmos scenes), and many others.
We test all the features, use (and sometimes lose) the remote, setup Wi-Fi for streaming and network connection, and stream music to test for streaming consistency and how the different sound registers work across our favorite test tracks. We also measure the volume in decibels (dB) using meters or phone apps to see how loud the sound gets in various situations.
Best Soundbar System
It's no shocker that my favorite all-in-one Dolby Atmos system is also my favorite multispeaker premium soundbar. Samsung's HW-Q990 series hasn't changed much in recent years because it didn't have to. The Q990D has the processing and wattage to rev up your living room, including a powerful subwoofer and immersive rear-surround sound speakers. Those connect wirelessly to the sizable main bar for a total of 22 speakers (!) to spit sound in all directions (including upward) for fluid music, surround sound, and Dolby Atmos performance.
The system is also very easy to use and loaded with features. You get HDMI inputs for high-end gaming from a PS5 or Xbox Series X, Wi-Fi streaming alongside Bluetooth, and a convenient app and remote to control it all.
There are newer versions, including 2025's Q990F, but its performance is a minor improvement at a much higher cost, and that's unlikely to change with this year's Q990H (testing to come). If you want a singular box of gear that does it all, this is my top pick.
Specs Ports HDMI eARC, HDMI 2.1 in (x2), optical Surround/3D Audio 11.1.4 channels, Dolby Atmos/DTS:X Wireless streaming Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (Spotify Connect, AirPlay) Smart assistant Alexa Dimensions Bar: 48.5 x 2.7 x 5.4 inches; Sub: 8.6 x 16.2 x 16.1 inches; Surrounds: 5 x 7.9 x 5.5 inches Best Expandable Soundbar
The Sonos Arc Ultra, an upgrade of the original Arc soundbar, is an impressive piece of engineering in its own right. The improvements here are subtle but effective, including more impactful bass, clear and crisp dialog, and more immersive surround sound and Dolby Atmos performance from its collection of 14 speaker drivers. It's easy to set up and use, connecting to your TV and Wi-Fi network in minutes, and it offers a loaded controller app for adjusting settings, engaging smart features, and sourcing dozens of streaming services.
The Arc Ultra is an anchor point for other Sonos speakers, allowing them to bring this system into elite territory. Connect the Sonos Sub 4 and Era 300 surround speakers to the bar wirelessly, and the system provides immersion on par with wired multispeaker setups powered by an A/V receiver (with, unfortunately, a price to match).
You can expand further by grouping speakers throughout the home, letting you stream music or even TV audio, all controlled with your phone. The Sonos app has been under scrutiny due to the brand's self-inflicted wounds from a mishandled 2024 update, but a few lingering connection woes aside, the Arc Ultra is a robust system worth considering, and the sound is excellent.
Specs Ports HDMI eARC, Ethernet Surround/3D Audio Front/side-firing/up-firing drivers, Dolby Atmos Wireless streaming Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (AirPlay, Spotify Connect, Sonos multi-room) Smart assistant Alexa, Sonos Voice Control Dimensions 46.4 x 3.0 x 4.35 inches
Best Stand-Alone Bar
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
Sennheiser's Ambeo Max has been around in some form since 2019, but I still haven't heard a more powerful or expansive performance from a single log of speakers.
The Max's size and shape remind me of a fabric-wrapped version of the widowmaker limbs that come down from time to time here in the Pacific Northwest. This thing is big and heavy, and you'll need plenty of room for it on your console, but its sheer potency and musicality could make it worth the effort for those after a minimalist system that still legitimately rocks.
Within the Ambeo Max's hefty frame is an impressive collection of components, including multiple full-range drivers and 1-inch tweeters designed to bounce audio forward, to the sides, and up toward the ceiling for a virtual 3D effect that will trick your brain into thinking you're enveloped in speakers.
The Ambeo's size and cabinet help it reproduce effective bass, which is great in a bar that obviously doesn't come with a stand-alone subwoofer. It does actually offer a traditional subwoofer output, though, so you can add any powered sub you like, or build one into the wall of your home later if bass doesn't feel deep enough. Thanks to other traditional inputs, like RCA analog, you can even connect a legacy source like a turntable (as long as it has a phono preamp), for a versatile, comprehensive home audio solution that works in very aesthetic spaces.
Specs Ports HDMI eARC, HDMI 2.0 in (x3), digital Optical, RCA analog, subwoofer out Surround/3D Audio 5.1.4 channels, Dolby Atmos/DTS:X/Sony 360 Reality Audio Wireless streaming Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (Spotify Connect, AirPlay, Tidal Connect) Smart assistant N/A Dimensions 49.8 x 5.3 x 6.7 inches Best for Hidden Audio
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
Unlike every other pick on this list, there's no “bar” present in Sony's Bravia Theater Quad. Instead, you'll find four felt-wrapped cubes, each connecting wirelessly to a small input hub that plugs into your TV. The speakers can be mounted on stands or (more conveniently) wall-mounted for a discreet look that virtually disappears into the background of your listening room.
Features include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth streaming and Sony's sound correction software that compensates for placement to balance the soundstage, so you can mount the speakers in the most convenient orientation for your decor.
Each of the four units is loaded with four speakers (16 total) that shoot sound forward, sideways, and upward to submerge you in surround and 3D audio content. Where most setups have a dedicated center channel for dialog, the Quad creates a “phantom” channel that works nearly as well in a profile that will have guests scratching their heads as to where the sound is coming from.
The downside is that it isn't quite as good for music, and the inputs are surprisingly limited for this price (there isn't even an analog connection). You'll also likely want to add a Sony subwoofer, which raises the already high cost. Then again, I've yet to find another system this unobtrusive that sounds as good, so if you have a pretty place where you'd like to hide a TV for surround sound viewing, this is a great choice.
Specs Ports HDMI eARC, HDMI 2.1 in (x1), Ethernet Surround/3D Audio 4.0.4 channels, Dolby Atmos/DTS:X/Sony 360 Reality Audio Wireless streaming Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (Spotify Connect, AirPlay) Smart assistant N/A Dimensions Speakers: 11.5 x 10.88 x 2.25 inches
Honorable Mentions
Not every premium soundbar reaches my elite list, but that doesn't mean they're not worth consideration, depending on your budget and setup. Here are some other choices that I or other WIRED reviewers tested and liked.
Marshall Heston 120 for $1,300: This first soundbar from the legendary amplifier and (more recently) Bluetooth speaker maker provides some real perks. I love the classy design highlighted by sparkling gold control knobs and groovy strips of vinyl that recall Marshall's iconic instrument amplifiers. The sound is musical, detailed, and balanced, and adds solid Dolby Atmos expression. The main drawback is that the sound feels restrained, something I was especially aware of when the action ramps up, which is the opposite of what you'd expect from a bar steeped in rock 'n roll heritage. The price also rose $300 after launch, further dampening the vibe.
Yamaha True X Surround 90a for $3,500: Yamaha's return to the soundbar market certainly has the “premium” part down in the staggeringly expensive 90a. The package includes a wireless subwoofer and two fully wireless, battery-powered surround speakers that can also be used as Bluetooth speakers outside your home. Reviewer Simon Cohen says the sound is excellent, with impressive detail and surround sound clarity, alongside support for Dolby Atmos and other advanced 3D audio formats. It's got some drawbacks though, including fewer connection options and features than I'd expect, and some issues with dialog out of the box.
Bluesound Pulse Cinema for $1,499: If you're concerned about Sonos' software reliability, Bluesound has become a refuge for many folks looking for a powerful networking system in place of Sonos speakers. The Bluesound Pulse Cinema offers many of the same features as the Sonos Arc Ultra, including the ability to expand with other speakers for multiroom audio, along with acoustic additions like up-firing speakers for Dolby Atmos. Unfortunately, it lacks common options like EQ and channel adjustment, and our reviewer found the performance doesn't reach the same heights as the Sonos bar, making its high price harder to justify.
Sony Bravia Theater 9 for $1,200-$1,500: Sony's latest flagship soundbar performs well in a vacuum, but it's not as good as the bar it replaces, the HT-A7000. The design is simplified (read more boring), with fewer inputs and sound settings, and its sound is not as weighty in the midrange or bass. It's still a Sony flagship soundbar, and that means good detail, solid music performance, and good immersion with 3D audio formats like Dolby Atmos. A new design (with a higher price) doesn't guarantee an upgrade, though, and this bar feels like a step back.
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