10 Best Passive Soundbars 2025 in the United States

The Arc Ultra Soundbar stands out in the passive soundbar category with its impressive 9.1.4 surround sound experience, thanks to Dolby Atmos. This makes it an excellent choice for users who want immersive audio for both movies and music. The advanced Sound Motion technology enhances spatial audio, ensuring that sound feels like it's coming from various directions, which can significantly enhance your viewing experience.

One of its strongest points is its elegant design, which blends seamlessly into home decor without being an eyesore. Additionally, the setup process is simple, requiring only a single HDMI eARC connection, making it user-friendly for those who might not be tech-savvy. Control options are abundant, including a remote, the Sonos app, touch controls, and voice commands through Sonos Voice Control or Amazon Alexa. This flexibility allows users to choose their preferred method of operation, enhancing convenience.

In terms of room customization, the Trueplay feature is a nice touch, allowing you to fine-tune audio based on your environment, but it may require some extra effort from users. Additionally, while the sound is generally clear, some users might find that they need to utilize the Speech Enhancement feature to ensure dialogue clarity, especially in action-packed films. The Arc Ultra Soundbar is a top-tier option for anyone looking to enhance their home audio experience, especially for those who value high-quality surround sound and smart home integration.

The LG S95TR 9.1.5-Channel Soundbar is a premium offering designed to complement OLED evo TVs. Its standout feature is the impressive 9.1.5 channel system powered by Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, providing a rich, 3-dimensional sound experience. The included rear surround speakers are truly wireless and easy to set up, making it highly versatile for rooms of various shapes and sizes. The triple up-firing speakers, particularly the center channel, ensure clear dialogue and a wide soundstage, enhancing the home theater experience.

The WOW Orchestra feature allows synchronization with LG TVs for a cohesive audio setup, and the WOW Interface offers convenient control with a single remote. The Wireless Dolby Atmos and WOWCAST features eliminate the need for extra cables, maintaining audio quality and a clean setup. Additionally, the soundbar supports multiple platforms and voice assistants like Google Assistant and Alexa, adding to its convenience. Advanced Room Calibration optimizes sound based on room dimensions, providing tailored audio for any environment. For gamers, the VRR/ALLM feature ensures smooth and responsive gameplay with a high refresh rate.

The necessity of having an LG TV to fully utilize some features might be a drawback for non-LG TV owners. Also, while the soundbar offers numerous high-end features, its advanced settings and setup might be overwhelming for some users. This soundbar is a great choice for those looking for a high-end, immersive audio system that integrates seamlessly with LG TVs.

The Bose TV Speaker is a compact passive soundbar tailored for those looking to enhance their TV audio experience without a complex setup. One of its standout strengths is its ability to clarify dialogue, making it an excellent choice for users who struggle to hear speech clearly during shows or movies. With two angled full-range drivers, it delivers a wide sound that creates a more immersive experience, especially for its size. The soundbar’s design is sleek and unobtrusive, fitting nicely in front of most TVs or even mounted on a wall, which is a plus for space-conscious users.

Connectivity is another strong point; it offers Bluetooth pairing for streaming music, along with HDMI ARC, optical audio, and AUX options to connect multiple devices. The included remote control adds convenience, allowing you to switch modes to enhance dialogue or boost bass as needed.

There are a few limitations to consider. While the soundbar provides decent audio quality, audiophiles may find it lacking in deeper bass without the optional Bose Bass Module, which is an additional expense. Furthermore, the frequency response is somewhat narrow, which means it may not deliver a full-range sound experience compared to larger sound systems. Additionally, the absence of smart features like voice assistant integration might disappoint users seeking a more high-tech solution.