9 Best Soundbars of 2024

Your TV’s built-in speakers are doing their best. Unfortunately, their best is often “whispering dialogue” followed by
“exploding background music,” like the audio mix was designed by a mischievous raccoon. A great soundbar fixes that
fastbigger sound, clearer voices, and (when you want it) that delicious, couch-rumbling bass that makes action movies
feel like a theme-park ride.

Below are the 9 best soundbars of 2024picked for real-life needs: movie nights, sports, apartments,
gaming, tiny TVs, big TVs, and the universal desire to stop yelling “WHAT DID THEY SAY?!” at the screen. I’ll also
show you what matters (Dolby Atmos, HDMI eARC, room calibration, subwoofers, rear speakers) without turning this into
a graduate seminar in “Audio Wizardry 401.”

Quick Comparison: The 9 Best Soundbars of 2024

1) Samsung HW-Q990D Best Overall Soundbar of 2024

If you want the closest thing to a “real” home theater without running speaker wire like you’re auditioning for a job
as an electrician, the Samsung HW-Q990D is the all-in package. You get the soundbar, a wireless
subwoofer, and two rear speakersso the surround sound isn’t pretending. It’s actually happening behind you.

Why it’s great

• Dolby Atmos done right: big, spacious sound with height cues that feel like “above you,” not “vaguely… somewhere.”
• Excellent for gaming setups: HDMI 2.1 passthrough support matters if you care about 4K/120.
• Room-filling bass: the included sub brings the thunder when the scene calls for it.

Who should buy it

Anyone building a serious living-room setupespecially if you watch movies, stream Atmos content, or game on a PS5/Xbox
Series X and don’t want your soundbar to become a video bottleneck.

Small downside

It’s not “small-and-cute.” This is a full-size system. If your room is tiny, it can feel like bringing a concert PA
system to a coffee shop.

2) Sonos Arc Ultra Best Premium Stand-Alone Soundbar

The Sonos Arc Ultra is for people who want premium immersion from a single bar (no rear speakers
required on day one) and also want the option to expand later. Sonos makes that expansion painfully easy: add a
subwoofer, add surrounds, spread music around the housesuddenly you’re the person with “zones.”

Why it’s great

• Big, cinematic sound: excellent clarity for dialogue and strong Atmos presence for movies.
• Ecosystem magic: easy multiroom audio, simple expansion, and tight app-based control.
• Clean design: it looks like it belongs under nice TVs (and not like a Wi-Fi router from 2009).

Who should buy it

If you want a premium Dolby Atmos soundbar that sounds great nowand can grow into a fuller surround setup laterthis is
a top-tier move.

Small downside

Like most Sonos gear, it’s “premium priced,” which is a polite way of saying your wallet may briefly leave the chat.

3) Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 Best for Sony TV Owners

Sony’s BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 is a sharp pick for people with Sony TVs (especially newer models) who want
strong integration and a detailed, dynamic sound. Sony’s spatial processing can make movies feel wide and immersive,
and the bar aims for clarity without turning every “S” sound into a snake convention.

Why it’s great

• Detailed sound: crisp effects and strong separation make action scenes feel organized, not chaotic.
• Atmos support: great for modern streaming and 4K Blu-ray setups.
• Great match for Sony TVs: integration perks can make setup/control smoother.

Who should buy it

Sony TV owners who want a premium bar with a “Sony-to-Sony” handshake that just works (and sounds excellent doing it).

Small downside

Like many premium “bar-only” options, bass isn’t as huge without adding a subwoofer later.

4) Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Best Midrange Soundbar

The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is the soundbar equivalent of ordering the “best-selling entrée” and realizing
the internet was right. It’s compact, stylish, and shockingly capableespecially with dialogue and everyday TV.
It also virtualizes Dolby Atmos in a way that feels bigger than you’d expect from its size.

Why it’s great

• Great dialogue clarity: voices come through cleanlyideal for shows with whispery plot twists.
• Smart streaming: plays nicely with Wi-Fi audio and multiroom setups.
• Expandable: add a Sonos Sub or surrounds later if you catch the home-theater bug.

Who should buy it

Anyone who wants an excellent “do-it-all” soundbar that fits apartments, bedrooms, and most living roomswithout
committing to a full surround kit immediately.

5) Bose Smart Soundbar (2024) Best for Crystal-Clear Dialogue

Bose has always cared about voice clarity, and the Bose Smart Soundbar (2024) leans hard into that
strength. It’s a great choice if your household constantly rewinds scenes to decode mumbled lines. It also brings
modern streaming convenience and Bose’s own sound processing tricks for a bigger, more enveloping soundstage.

Why it’s great

• Dialogue-first tuning: voices stay front-and-center without sounding thin.
• Smart features: streaming-friendly and easy to live with day-to-day.
• Upgrade options: you can add a sub later if you want more low-end punch.

Who should buy it

People who watch lots of TV, sports, news, or dialogue-heavy filmsand want the “spoken word” to finally win the battle
against background music.

6) Bose Smart Soundbar 600 Best Compact Dolby Atmos Soundbar

Want Dolby Atmos but don’t have space for a bar that looks like it belongs on an aircraft carrier?
The Bose Smart Soundbar 600 is compact and still delivers a surprisingly immersive presentation.
It’s one of those soundbars that makes you say, “Wait, that sound is coming from that?”

Why it’s great

• Big sound for small rooms: great for apartments, bedrooms, and tighter living spaces.
• Excellent clarity: Bose tends to keep dialogue intelligible even in busy scenes.
• Easy setup: minimal fuss, quick payoff.

Small downside

For deep bass, you’ll still want an optional subwoofer. Physics is rude like that.

7) Vizio M-Series Elevate M512E-K6 Best Value Dolby Atmos Surround Kit

If you want “real surround vibes” without paying premium-flagship money, the
Vizio M-Series Elevate M512E-K6 is a classic value play. It includes a subwoofer and surround speakers,
and it’s designed to create convincing height effects for Atmos contentexactly the kind of upgrade that makes your TV
feel brand new.

Why it’s great

• Surround included: you’re not buying rear speakers later and pretending it was “the plan.”
• Strong for movies: action scenes get wide, immersive, and satisfyingly punchy.
• Great price-to-performance: one of the best “full kit” values in its class.

Who should buy it

Movie lovers who want a true surround package (sub + rears) and don’t want to spend flagship dollars to get it.

8) Polk Signa S4 Best Budget Soundbar with Dolby Atmos + Subwoofer

The Polk Signa S4 is the “plug it in and instantly enjoy life more” choice. It’s straightforward,
affordable, and includes a wireless subwooferso you get real low-end support for movies and games. It also leans into
features that normal humans actually use, like dialogue enhancement and simple sound modes.

Why it’s great

• Dolby Atmos on a budget: a rare feature at this price tier (and it’s genuinely fun).
• Wireless sub included: explosions finally explode like they mean it.
• VoiceAdjust: makes dialogue easier to hear without turning everything else into mush.

Who should buy it

Anyone shopping for the best budget soundbar in 2024 who still wants Atmos flavor and real bass.

9) Klipsch Flexus Core 100 Best Modular Starter Soundbar

The Klipsch Flexus Core 100 is for people who want a solid, affordable start nowwith a plan to expand
later. It’s not trying to be a full surround system out of the box. Instead, it’s trying to be the first chapter in
your home-audio story. (A story that may end with you comparing subwoofer placement like it’s an Olympic sport.)

Why it’s great

• Great entry point: strong performance for the money.
• Expandable ecosystem: add compatible pieces later instead of replacing everything.
• Simple upgrade path: ideal if you’re easing into home theater.

How to Choose the Best Soundbar in 2024

1) Decide: “One bar” vs. full surround kit

A standalone soundbar is clean and easyperfect for smaller rooms or minimalist setups. A soundbar with rear speakers
and a subwoofer is the closest you’ll get to true surround without installing an AV receiver and speakers.

2) Dolby Atmos matters (but only if your setup supports it)

Dolby Atmos soundbars can create height effects using upfiring drivers or virtualization. For best results, you’ll want
a TV with HDMI eARC, and a room where the ceiling isn’t 30 feet high or shaped like a cathedral.

3) HDMI eARC is your friend

If you care about consistent lip-sync, simple control, and higher-quality audio formats, HDMI eARC is the easiest win.
Optical still works, but it’s more “reliable old car” than “new EV with all the features.”

4) Don’t underestimate dialogue modes

Many of the best soundbars now include dialogue enhancementsometimes even AI-powered modes. If you watch a lot of TV,
that feature can matter more than one extra “virtual channel.”

Setup Tips That Make Any Soundbar Sound Better

• Center it under the TV (not off to the side like it’s being punished).
• Run room calibration if your soundbar supports itthis is free performance.
• Turn on eARC in your TV settings and set audio output to Bitstream/Auto when appropriate.
• Give the subwoofer breathing roomcorner placement boosts bass but can get boomy; experiment.
• Update firmware once at setup, then go live your life.

Conclusion

The best soundbars of 2024 cover every kind of viewer: the “I want the full cinema” crowd (hello, Samsung HW-Q990D),
the “premium but tidy” crowd (Sonos Arc Ultra), the “I just want to hear words” crowd (Bose), and the “give me Atmos
without draining my bank account” crowd (Polk, Vizio, Klipsch). Pick the soundbar that matches your room, your TV, and
your tolerance for extra speakersand you’ll get a massive upgrade instantly.

Real-World Soundbar Experiences (A Very Practical 500-ish Words)

Here’s what usually happens in real homes: you buy a soundbar, set it up in five minutes, and then spend the next
forty-five minutes wondering why the TV remote won’t control the volume. (Spoiler: it’s almost always an HDMI ARC/eARC
setting, and the TV is quietly judging you.) Once eARC is enabled and the sound output is set correctly, everything
suddenly clicksand you wonder how you ever lived with TV speakers that sounded like they were trapped inside a
shoebox.

The next “real world” moment is dialogue. People buy a soundbar for Atmos, bass, and cinematic vibesthen stay for the
simple joy of hearing conversations without subtitles. A good dialogue mode doesn’t just boost treble; it tends to
nudge vocal frequencies forward while keeping explosions from flattening your ears. The best part? It makes late-night
viewing better because you don’t have to crank the volume to catch whispers and then dive for the remote when the
soundtrack suddenly turns into a stadium concert.

Subwoofer placement is the third act of the soundbar experience. Most folks start by placing the sub next to the TV
stand because it looks tidy. Then they realize bass is basically a moody houseguest: put it in the wrong spot and it
gets boomy, muddy, or weirdly shy. Move it a couple feet, and suddenly kick drums tighten up and movie rumbles feel
deep instead of “blurry.” Corners typically boost output, but can exaggerate certain notes. If you have the patience,
try the classic approach: put the sub where you sit, play something bass-heavy, walk around the room, and place the sub
where it sounds best. Yes, you’ll feel silly. No, you won’t regret it.

Another surprisingly common experience: you discover you don’t actually want “maximum surround” all the time. For
sports, news, and YouTube, many people prefer a cleaner, center-focused mode. Then for movies, it’s “give me the
full Atmos spaceship flyover.” The best soundbars make switching modes easybecause nobody wants to do a three-button
secret handshake just to make announcers sound normal.

Finally: expectations. A soundbar can absolutely transform TV audio, but it won’t rewrite the laws of physics. If you
want truly pinpoint surround behind you, rear speakers helpa lot. If you want bass you can feel in your ribcage, a
subwoofer matters. And if your ceiling is vaulted like a mountain lodge, upfiring Atmos effects may be less dramatic.
The good news is that 2024’s top soundbars are strong enough that even with imperfect rooms, you still get the big
upgrade: clearer voices, wider sound, and a far more satisfying “movie night” feel.