Top 5 best soundbars of 2023

A good soundbar will enhance your home theater sound system. While audiophiles may prefer a more traditional speaker setup, soundbars are easier to set up and control and can fit perfectly onto your TV.

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Top 5 best soundbars of 2023 Picture 1

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is the sequel to the "blockbuster" product line. with features you typically don't find in soundbars in this price range. It's the ideal choice for those who want 3D sound for just a small amount of money.

The biggest plus point of this soundbar is its compatibility with Dolby Atmos. Although it lacks upward-facing speakers, it makes up for it with two of the five front drivers that specialize in reproducing sound from high up when watching Dolby Atmos content. The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) also has four mid-woofers and a center tweeter for clear dialogue. Overall, the soundstage is wide and has excellent depth.

Roku Streambar

Top 5 best soundbars of 2023 Picture 2

This soundbar is extremely compact and offers quality sound as well as a built-in 4K streaming platform. If you're looking for an affordable audio setup that can be easily expanded, it's an ideal choice.

The Roku Streambar is a 2.0 system with two forward-facing and two-angled 1.9-inch drivers for an impressively wide soundstage. It's understandable that low frequencies don't resonate as much as on higher-end soundbars. However, dialogue is clear and high-pitched passages are surprisingly detailed.

You can improve the bass by selecting the Streambar with Wireless Bass option. There are many other plans, including those to enjoy full surround sound, but they come at price points that you can use to invest in a higher quality soundbar.

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max

Top 5 best soundbars of 2023 Picture 3

While it can be huge, heavy and expensive, and may require a bit of experimentation during setup, the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max is great value and will satisfy even the most demanding audiophiles best. It contains a total of 13 front, side and upward-facing drivers, delivering 5.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos sound quality.

The large driver covers a significantly wider frequency range than most soundbars, from the deepest bass to the highs, with precise clarity. In fact, low frequencies can reach 30Hz, meaning you probably won't need to buy an additional subwoofer.

Polk MagniFi Mini AX

Top 5 best soundbars of 2023 Picture 4

If you want a space-saving soundbar, consider the Polk MagniFi Mini AX. However, don't be fooled by its compact size; This soundbar still produces extremely impressive sound quality. With a five-speaker array along with a Dolby Atmos and DTS:X certified soundstage, immersive audio has impressive clarity.

With the included wireless subwoofer, the low frequencies are also excellent. Additionally, you can adjust the bass to find the right level for what you're watching or listening to. This feature is especially useful when you are concerned about other people sleeping in the house.

Sonos Arc

Top 5 best soundbars of 2023 Picture 5

If you're looking for a premium, feature-rich soundbar equipped with incredible Dolby Atmos, look no further than the Sonos Arc. With 11 drivers producing 360-degree sound, including two upward-facing speakers, the Arc delivers both power and clarity. The bass produced by this soundbar is so good that you may not even need an additional subwoofer.

Sonos Arc is designed for Dolby Atmos and delivers the highest quality audio separation. You can also make advanced Trueplay adjustments to automatically tailor the sound to your room for ultimate surround sound. However, this feature is only available on iOS devices.

Kareem Winters

Update 15 December 2023