10 Best HDMI Soundbars 2026 in the United States

The Sonos Arc Ultra is a powerful soundbar designed for those who want a top-notch audio experience with their TV and music. It offers an impressive 9.1.4 channel setup with Dolby Atmos, which means it can create highly immersive, three-dimensional sound that seems to come from all around you. The sound is clear and detailed, especially dialogue, thanks to AI-powered speech enhancement that helps you catch every word.

It connects easily to your TV using a single HDMI eARC cable, making setup straightforward, and offers multiple ways to control it, including voice commands via Sonos Voice Control or Alexa, your TV remote, or the Sonos app. You also get flexible streaming options like WiFi, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect, which means playing music from your phone or other devices is hassle-free. The design is sleek and minimalist, fitting well on a tabletop without drawing attention away from your screen.

The Arc Ultra itself doesn’t include a built-in subwoofer, but you can add one separately for deeper bass, as well as additional rear speakers to create a full surround sound system. It’s a bit heavy and large, so placement needs some space, but this size helps deliver powerful sound. This soundbar is ideal if you want premium, room-filling audio and smart features, especially if you’re willing to expand your setup over time for an even richer surround sound experience.

The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 is a powerful soundbar designed to bring a cinematic surround sound experience into your living room. It features 13 speakers and supports advanced audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, which help create immersive, multi-directional sound. With 585 watts of power, it can fill medium to large rooms with clear, dynamic audio. A standout feature is the 360 Spatial Sound Mapping and Sound Field Optimization, which adapts the sound to your room’s unique acoustics for better clarity and impact.

Connectivity is versatile, including HDMI 2.1 with ARC/eARC support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, Spotify Connect, and Apple AirPlay 2, making it easy to stream music wirelessly from your devices. The soundbar can be expanded with additional wireless subwoofers and rear speakers if you want to enhance the surround sound further. It comes with essential accessories like a remote, HDMI cable, and mounting bracket, and its sleek, rectangular design fits well in most home setups.

A potential drawback is that the subwoofer connection is wired, which might limit placement flexibility compared to fully wireless setups. While the soundbar excels in cinematic audio, it might be more than what casual listeners require given its size and price. It is not water-resistant, so it is strictly for indoor use. Weighing around 12 pounds and measuring over 4 feet wide, it requires sufficient space and proper placement to achieve the best audio performance. This soundbar is an excellent choice for users who prioritize immersive home theater audio with modern streaming options and room-adaptive sound, though those seeking a simpler, more compact model or wireless subwoofer might want to consider other options.

The Bose TV Speaker is a compact soundbar designed to enhance the audio experience for TV viewers. With 2 full-range drivers, it aims to provide a wide, natural sound and is particularly good at clarifying dialogue, which is a significant strength for those who struggle with understanding speech on TV shows or movies. The small size makes it easy to place in front of the TV or mount on a wall, ensuring it fits comfortably in most living spaces.

Connectivity options are diverse, including Bluetooth, HDMI ARC, Optical in, and AUX in, which makes it versatile for different setups and allows for streaming music and podcasts from other devices. However, some essential items like the HDMI cable and wall brackets are sold separately, which could be seen as a drawback.

The included remote control provides useful features like dialogue mode and bass boost, which can enhance the audio experience further. While it lacks an included subwoofer, it can be expanded with the Bose Bass Module 500 or 700 for those seeking deeper bass. Despite this, the Bose TV Speaker is a solid choice for users looking for an easy-to-use, compact soundbar that significantly improves TV audio, especially in dialogue clarity.