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 Sonos Arc Ultra Soundbar is a high-end option designed to deliver an immersive audio experience for both TV and music. Its main strength lies in its 9.1.4 channel configuration supported by Dolby Atmos, which ensures superior spatial audio, filling the room with well-placed sounds. This soundbar also includes Speech Enhancement for ultra-clear dialogue, which is a great feature if you watch a lot of movies or shows with intricate dialogue.

The design is elegant and modern, blending seamlessly with most home décor without being a distraction. Setting it up is straightforward with a single HDMI eARC connection and helpful guidance from the Sonos app. For control, it offers multiple options, including your TV remote, voice control via Amazon Alexa, and the Sonos app, ensuring flexibility and ease of use. The Sonos Arc also supports various streaming options like WiFi, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect, making it versatile for playing music from different sources.

One potential drawback is that the subwoofer is not included and must be purchased separately if you want deeper bass. Additionally, it is a corded electric device, which might limit placement options to areas near power outlets. It is also quite large, measuring over 46 inches, so it may not be suitable for very small spaces. Despite its premium features and high quality, it does come with a higher price tag, which is something to consider depending on your budget. In conclusion, if you are looking for a top-tier soundbar with excellent audio quality, multiple control options, and modern connectivity features, the Sonos Arc Ultra is a compelling choice, especially if you are willing to invest in additional components like the subwoofer for a complete surround sound experience.

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a compact and stylish soundbar designed to enhance your TV audio with rich sound and clear dialogue. It supports Dolby Atmos, which creates a 3D surround sound effect that makes movies and shows feel more immersive, even though it uses a 2.0 channel configuration without separate surround speakers. With 200 watts of power, it delivers strong and vibrant audio suitable for most living rooms. The built-in subwoofer helps provide decent bass, but it may not satisfy those who want deep, thumping lows without adding an external subwoofer.

Connectivity is flexible with HDMI eARC for high-quality audio from your TV, plus Wi-Fi and Ethernet for music streaming through the Sonos app or Apple AirPlay 2. Setup is straightforward with just two cables, and the system can be expanded later with additional Sonos speakers for full surround or multiroom sound. Sound modes and automatic tuning via Trueplay optimize performance depending on your room. The soundbar’s small size and white finish make it easy to fit into different spaces, but it lacks water resistance so it’s best kept indoors.

It serves as a great option for those wanting a simple, powerful upgrade to TV sound with smart features and voice control. However, those seeking a dedicated multi-channel system or stronger bass might want to consider adding extra speakers or a subwoofer.