10 Best TV Sound Bars 2026 in the United States

The Sonos Arc Ultra is a premium soundbar designed to deliver an immersive 9.1.4 surround sound experience with Dolby Atmos, making it an excellent choice for those who want theater-quality audio for both TV shows and music. Its sound is enhanced by AI-powered speech clarity, ensuring dialogue is easy to hear—a big plus if you often miss words during movies or shows. The soundbar’s large size (over 46 inches wide) and tabletop mounting mean it’s better suited for medium to large rooms and might not fit comfortably in smaller setups.

Connectivity options cover all bases with HDMI eARC, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, plus support for Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect, allowing easy streaming from various devices. Voice control is strong with built-in microphones supporting Sonos Voice Control and Amazon Alexa, providing hands-free operation. Setup is straightforward, guided through the Sonos app, and the Trueplay tuning feature helps optimize sound for your room.

The Arc Ultra doesn’t include a wireless subwoofer but supports adding a Sonos Sub for deeper bass, which is ideal if you want the fullest surround experience. The elegant white design blends well with modern decor and avoids distracting from your screen. Considering its premium features and size, it comes at a higher price point and might be more than casual listeners need. This soundbar is well suited for users seeking top-tier immersive sound with flexible connectivity and voice control, especially in larger living spaces.

The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 is a premium soundbar designed to deliver a rich, cinematic audio experience for your TV setup. It features 13 speakers with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support, providing immersive surround sound that fills the room, enhanced by Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping. Its size is substantial at over 51 inches wide, making it suitable for larger TV setups and living rooms. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI 2.1, Apple AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect, allowing easy streaming and connection to various devices.

Although it doesn’t come with a subwoofer included, it supports adding a wireless subwoofer and rear speakers for deeper bass and a fuller surround sound experience. The soundbar offers room calibration through Sound Field Optimization, adjusting audio to match your specific space for clearer and more balanced sound. It includes several sound modes tailored to movies, music, or games but lacks built-in voice control features, which might be a downside if you prefer voice commands. Weighing just over 12 pounds, it’s easy to mount on a wall or place on a tabletop. For those seeking a high-quality, expandable sound system that enhances TV sound with cinematic effects and wireless streaming, this Sony model performs well, though users needing voice assistant integration or a built-in subwoofer might consider additional components.

The Bose TV Speaker is a compact soundbar designed to improve your TV sound experience, making it ideal for anyone looking to enhance their home entertainment setup. With its two angled full-range drivers, it creates a wide and natural sound, giving a more immersive audio experience. One of the standout features is its enhanced dialogue mode, which focuses on clarifying speech, making it especially useful for watching movies or sports where dialogue can become muddled.

In terms of connectivity, the soundbar offers Bluetooth pairing, allowing you to stream music and podcasts wirelessly. It also includes various input options, such as HDMI-ARC, optical, and AUX, which makes it versatile for different setups. The setup process is simple, requiring just one connection to your TV, which is great for users who may not be tech-savvy.

The design is compact, with a height of just over 2 inches, allowing it to fit well in front of most TVs without obstructing the screen. If you're looking for deeper bass, the Bose TV Speaker can be paired with compatible Bose Bass Modules, although these are sold separately. While the speaker excels at dialogue enhancement, it may lack the full range of sound that some users desire for a richer audio experience, especially in bass-heavy scenarios unless paired with an additional subwoofer. Additionally, while the Bluetooth range is decent at 30 feet, some users might find it limiting if they want to move further away from the source. The Bose TV Speaker is a solid choice for those primarily interested in improving the clarity of TV audio and enjoying music streaming, but it may not satisfy audiophiles looking for a comprehensive home theater system.