10 Best Soundbars 2025 in the United States

The Sonos Arc Ultra is a premium soundbar designed to deliver an immersive 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos surround sound experience, making it ideal for users who want rich, room-filling audio for both TV and music. Its advanced Sound Motion technology and AI-powered Speech Enhancement ensure clear dialogue and precise sound placement, which enhances movie watching and music listening alike.

With multiple connectivity options including HDMI eARC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and support for Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect, it offers flexible streaming choices and easy setup via the Sonos app. The smart features, such as voice control through Sonos Voice Control and Amazon Alexa, add convenience, while the elegant white design fits well in most living spaces without drawing too much attention.

On the downside, this soundbar does not include a wireless subwoofer by default, relying instead on a wired connection if you add the Sonos Sub separately, which might be less convenient for some users. Also, at over 46 inches wide, it's best suited for larger TVs and rooms. If you want the full surround sound experience, you’ll need to invest further in additional rear speakers. The Sonos Arc Ultra is a top-tier choice for those seeking superb sound quality, smart integration, and stylish design, especially if you plan to expand your system over time.

The Samsung Q990D soundbar is designed to deliver a rich home theater experience with its 11.1.4 channel setup, including a wireless subwoofer and rear speakers. This means you get immersive, surround sound with Dolby Atmos, making movies and games feel very lifelike. Its wireless Dolby Atmos feature helps reduce cable clutter, which is great if you want a clean setup. The soundbar also uses Q-Symphony technology to work seamlessly with Samsung TVs, enhancing audio without needing extra devices.

One of the highlights is the SpaceFit Sound Pro, which automatically adjusts sound based on your room's shape and size, so you get clear, balanced audio without fiddling with settings. Adaptive Sound and Active Voice Analyzer features focus on making dialogue clear even at low volumes or in noisy rooms, which is handy for TV shows and sports. The Game Mode Pro offers 3D sound tailored for gaming, giving a more immersive experience.

Connectivity is solid with support for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Chromecast, AirPlay 2, and built-in Alexa voice control, making it easy to stream music or control the soundbar with voice commands. The tap-to-play feature is a simple way to start streaming from your phone. The soundbar is quite large and heavy (over 50 pounds and nearly 4 feet wide), so it requires good placement and may be challenging for smaller rooms or simple setups. While it is wireless for speakers, it still needs power cords and wall mounting could be required. The price and complexity might be more than casual listeners need, making it best suited for those wanting a full home theater setup rather than just casual music listening. This makes the Samsung Q990D a premium choice for users seeking immersive, multi-channel surround sound with smart features and easy integration with Samsung TVs. Its powerful sound and room-optimization features stand out, but its size and setup needs mean it’s ideal for dedicated home theater spaces rather than compact or basic audio needs.

The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus is designed for users who want an easy-to-set-up sound upgrade that improves TV audio without adding complexity. Its 3.1 channel setup includes a built-in subwoofer, which means you get balanced sound with decent bass without needing extra speakers. The soundbar supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, offering immersive 3D audio that enhances movies and shows. A dedicated center channel helps make dialogue clearer, which is great for catching every word in movies or sports.

Connectivity is straightforward with HDMI eARC/ARC, optical, USB-A, and Bluetooth, allowing you to easily connect to your TV and stream music from your phone. The size is moderate at 37 inches wide, fitting well under most TVs without being obtrusive. It also offers several sound modes like Movie, Music, Sports, and Night, letting you customize audio depending on what you watch. Fire TV integration means you can control both TV and soundbar with one remote, simplifying use if you’re already in the Amazon ecosystem.

A potential downside is that while the built-in subwoofer is convenient, it may not deliver the deep bass some users expect from a separate subwoofer unit. Also, the soundbar is optimized for TVs with HDMI eARC/ARC ports, so older TVs without these might not experience full feature support. This soundbar is well suited for those looking for a stylish, straightforward upgrade to their TV audio with smart features and solid surround sound effects, especially if they use Fire TV devices.