10 Best Sound Bars 2025 in the United States

The Sonos Arc Ultra Soundbar offers an impressive audio experience, particularly for those looking to enhance their home theater setup. With its 9.1.4 surround sound powered by Dolby Atmos, it delivers immersive audio that fills the room, making it an excellent choice for movie lovers and music enthusiasts alike. One standout feature is the Speech Enhancement, which ensures clear dialogue, a great advantage for viewers who struggle to hear conversations over background noise.

In terms of connectivity, the Arc Ultra is versatile, supporting HDMI eARC for easy setup, as well as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Apple AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect for streaming music. The Trueplay tuning feature allows users to tailor the sound to their room, which can significantly enhance the listening experience. Additionally, its elegant design makes it a stylish addition to any living space, without being visually intrusive.

While the soundbar excels in many areas, it isn't without drawbacks. The price point may be a concern for budget-conscious consumers, as higher-end features often come at a premium. Also, while it can work as a standalone unit, users looking for the absolute best experience may need to purchase additional components like the Sonos Sub and Era 300 rear speakers, which further adds to the cost. Another aspect to consider is that, despite its robust feature set, some users might find the various control options—TV remote, Sonos app, voice control—overwhelming or confusing at first. Additionally, it's important to note that the soundbar is not waterproof, which could be a consideration for certain environments.

For those seeking a high-quality soundbar that delivers a cinematic audio experience and has smart features, the Sonos Arc Ultra is a strong contender. Just keep in mind the investment required to maximize its capabilities.

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a soundbar designed to enhance your home audio experience with a compact and sleek design. With Dolby Atmos, it provides an immersive 3D surround sound effect, which can significantly elevate your movie-watching or gaming sessions. The sound clarity, especially for dialogue, is impressive, making it a great option for home entertainment enthusiasts who value high-quality audio.

The soundbar includes vibrant bass without needing an extra subwoofer, although adding one could enhance the experience further. Connectivity options such as Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and HDMI make it easy to integrate into your existing setup, and it supports streaming from various services like music, radio, and podcasts when the TV is off. You can control it using the Sonos app, your TV remote, and even voice commands via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.

Setup is straightforward with two cables and the Sonos app's step-by-step guidance. Smart Trueplay tuning adjusts the sound according to your room's acoustics, ensuring optimal performance. On the downside, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 lacks a built-in MP3 player and water resistance, which might not be deal-breakers but are worth noting. While the soundbar’s power output of 200 watts is decent, audiophiles seeking extremely high-power audio systems might look for alternatives. For most users looking for a high-quality, easy-to-use soundbar with modern features and expandability for multi-room audio, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is an excellent choice.

The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus, released in 2024, is designed for those looking to create a cinematic audio experience at home. Its 5.1 channel setup, which includes a soundbar, subwoofer, and two surround sound speakers, promises immersive sound through Dolby Atmos and DTS:X technology. This means that you can expect sound to move around you, providing a lifelike and multi-dimensional audio experience. Additionally, the dedicated center channel ensures that dialogue is crystal clear, making it easier to follow conversations in your favorite movies and shows.

The soundbar also offers various sound modes like Movie, Music, Sports, and Night to tailor the audio to what you're watching, enhancing the experience. Setup is straightforward as the subwoofer and surround speakers connect wirelessly to the soundbar, minimizing cable clutter. Another convenience is that it works seamlessly with smart TVs and TVs with streaming media players, and you can even control it using a single remote. Bluetooth connectivity is a plus, allowing you to stream music from your phone or tablet.

However, there are some considerations to keep in mind. The subwoofer and surround speakers are not built into the soundbar, so you'll need space to arrange these components around your room. The soundbar itself is quite large at 37 inches, which might be an issue for smaller spaces. Additionally, while it comes with a 1-year warranty, extended warranties are sold separately. This product is best suited for users who are looking for a high-quality, comprehensive home theater sound system and have the space to accommodate the additional components.