Soundbars

How to choose a soundbar

A thin TV has no room for a proper speaker: dialogue drowns in background noise and there is no bass at all. A soundbar fixes that with one cable, but there is a big gap between a 2.1 and a 7.1.4 system in both sound and installation effort.

• Channels. 2.0 and 2.1 give stereo and bass — enough for news and series. 3.1 adds a centre channel that makes dialogue clear. 5.1 surrounds you, and a .2 or .4 at the end (5.1.2, 7.1.4) means up-firing speakers for Dolby Atmos height sound.
• Subwoofer. A separate wireless subwoofer (LG S40T, TCL S55H, Sony HT-S400) gives film explosions a depth a soundbar alone cannot. A model with built-in bass (Hisense HS2000) is more compact and suits a bedroom.
• Connection. HDMI eARC is the only right way: one cable, the TV remote controls volume and Atmos passes through. Optical suits an older TV, Bluetooth is for music from a phone.
• Power. 100–300 W is enough for an ordinary living room; 500–860 W (TCL Q65H–Q85H, LG S90TY–S95TR) fills a large open-plan space. Look at the channel count rather than the watts.
• Size. An 80–100 cm soundbar fits under a 55-inch TV, 100–120 cm under a 65–75-inch one. Check it does not block the TV's infrared receiver.
• Ecosystem. A TV and soundbar from the same maker (LG WOW Orchestra, TCL) play together with the TV speakers and share one menu. Rear speakers (Sharp AQUOS, included with the LG S95TR) complete the surround field.

Soundbars in our range

2.1 and 3.1 systems with a subwoofer are the core of the range: LG S40T and S60T with a centre channel, LG S40TR 4.1 with rear speakers, the compact TCL S45HE, TCL S55H 2.1 with Dolby Atmos, Sony HT-S400 and Hisense HS2000 with built-in bass. Dolby Atmos soundbars are the LG S70TY, SG10TY, S90TY 5.1.3 and S95TR 9.1.5 with wireless rears, the LG SC9S with a TV-mount design, and TCL Q65H 5.1, Q75HE 5.1.2 and Q85H Pro 7.1.4 at 860 W. Rear speakers from Sharp AQUOS extend an existing system. PC soundbars are the Trust GXT 619 Horne RGB and Arys and the Genesis Helium 312BT with Bluetooth.

Brands

LG offers the widest choice of Atmos models and the WOW Orchestra mode, in which an LG TV and soundbar play together. TCL gives the most channels and watts for the money — the Q series 5.1 and 7.1.4 are the strongest in their class. Sony HT-S400 is a simple, dependable 2.1 with a wireless subwoofer, Hisense the cheapest step up from TV sound. Sharp covers rear speakers, while Trust and Genesis are made for the computer desk.

Related products

A soundbar suits any TV; for wall mounting see TV mounts. If music comes first, look at Hi-Fi speakers; a home cinema with a projector also needs separate sound. The full selection is in TV and audio.

Frequently asked questions

Is Dolby Atmos worth it? Yes, if you watch films and series on streaming services where Atmos sound is now standard and the soundbar has up-firing speakers (5.1.2 or more). For news and sport, 3.1 is enough.

Does a soundbar work with an old TV? Yes, over an optical cable or Bluetooth. Without HDMI ARC you adjust the volume with the soundbar's own remote.

What is the difference between ARC and eARC? eARC carries up to 32 times more data — full-quality Atmos and DTS:X. ARC is limited to compressed surround, which is still better than optical.

Does the subwoofer need a cable? Only for power — it links to the soundbar wirelessly. Put it on the floor near the TV; in a corner the bass sounds stronger.

How is a soundbar delivered? A compact model reaches an Omniva, DPD or Venipak parcel locker in 1–2 working days; a set with a subwoofer comes by courier.