10 Best Smart Sound Bar 2025 in the United States

The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar stands out with its 2.0 speaker system, featuring DTS Virtual:X and Dolby Audio that deliver a three-dimensional surround sound experience. It's designed to enhance TV audio for clearer dialogue and deeper bass, all within a compact 24” design, making it suitable for most entertainment setups. The soundbar's easy setup involves simply plugging in the HDMI cable to your TV’s eARC/ARC port, ensuring that your audio is always in sync.

Additionally, the Bluetooth connectivity allows you to stream music directly from your phone or tablet, adding to its versatility. It's especially convenient for users of Fire TV, as it integrates seamlessly and can be controlled with one remote. The inclusion of multiple ports, such as HDMI and Optical, adds to its flexibility, making it compatible with a variety of smart TVs and streaming media players.

However, the soundbar's 2.0 channel system means it doesn't come with a separate subwoofer, which might limit the bass experience compared to other soundbars with dedicated subwoofers. While it offers a good sound quality for its size, audiophiles seeking the highest fidelity might find it lacking. Priced competitively, it provides good value for those looking for an easy-to-use soundbar with decent smart features and eco-friendly design aspects. If deep bass and the utmost sound quality are your priorities, you might need to consider higher-end models with additional audio channels and subwoofers.

The Bose TV Speaker soundbar is a compact and user-friendly option designed to enhance TV audio, particularly vocal clarity. It features two angled full-range drivers that create a wide, natural sound experience, making it well-suited for improving TV dialogue and sound quality. One of its major strengths is its simplicity in setup, with options to connect via HDMI-ARC, optical cable, or AUX in, and it includes Bluetooth connectivity for streaming music and podcasts from your devices. This flexibility in connectivity is a notable benefit, as it can handle multiple input sources. However, it does not support advanced smart features like voice assistants or app control, which might be a limitation for those seeking a fully integrated smart home audio system.

Its small size (just over 2 inches tall) allows for easy placement in front of a TV or wall mounting, though wall brackets are sold separately. It also comes with a remote control that offers dialogue enhancement and bass boost modes for customizing sound preferences. While it doesn’t include a subwoofer, it’s compatible with the Bose Bass Module 500 or 700 for those desiring deeper bass, but this requires additional purchase of the subwoofer and necessary cables.

Priced competitively, it offers good value for those primarily interested in enhancing TV sound without needing extensive smart features or built-in subwoofers. Potential buyers should weigh its limited smart features and lack of included subwoofer against its strengths in simplicity, sound quality, and ease of setup.

The Sonos Arc Ultra Soundbar is a premium soundbar offering a 9.1.4 surround sound experience enhanced by Dolby Atmos, which makes it ideal for immersive TV and music experiences. One of its standout features is the Sound Motion technology that fills the room with precise audio placement, ensuring a rich auditory experience. The sound quality is further bolstered by ultra-clear dialogue and a Speech Enhancement feature, making it great for watching movies and TV shows with clear audio clarity.

Smart features include control via TV remote, Sonos app, touch controls, Sonos Voice Control, and Amazon Alexa, adding convenience and versatility. It also supports multiple connectivity options like WiFi, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect, making it easy to stream music from various sources. The sleek and elegant design fits well in most home settings without being a distraction.

Setup is straightforward with HDMI eARC and guided by the Sonos app, ensuring a hassle-free experience. However, it lacks a built-in subwoofer and depends on optional additional purchases like the Sonos Sub and Era 300 rear speakers to maximize the surround sound experience. The soundbar's size (46.18 inches) and weight (12.7 pounds) may also be considerations for those with limited space. Its price might be on the higher side, but the extensive features and superior sound quality justify the investment for those seeking a high-end audio solution.