Best Soundbars of 2025: Latest Picks From Sonos, Bose, Yamaha
Everyone’s audio needs are different, so be sure to consider your preferences, space, and listening habits. Use this guide to browse the options and find the best soundbar for you. If you need a little extra help, check out my complete guide on how to buy a soundbar in 2025.
Budget
The most important consideration when choosing a soundbar is determining how much you can spend, and I’ve found that there are excellent soundbars at every price point, starting at $100. If you’re looking for more premium, feature-rich models, be prepared to spend a lot more – upwards of $3,000. I have a rule of thumb: Once the price of a soundbar exceeds $500, you may find it more worthwhile to save up for an AV receiver and speakers.
If you’re a movie buff, consider splurging on features like Dolby Atmos to bring the cinema experience home. Music lovers will want to prioritize audio reproduction and multiroom or wireless streaming to fill their space with sound. Gamers should look for soundbars with dedicated gaming presets that improve dialogue clarity and directional audio cues.
Room size
Consider the size and layout of your room. Smaller spaces, like bedrooms and offices, can be overwhelmed by high-powered soundbars with separate subwoofers. Single bar systems are perfect for small rooms and TVs because their length allows for built-in stereo sound while being compact. Larger rooms or home theater setups will benefit from more robust soundbars with additional speakers and subwoofers to produce booming surround sound.
Also consider where you will place it: will it be placed on an entertainment console, will it be mounted on a wall, or placed under your TV? Make sure your soundbar can physically fit in your desired space by checking dimensions and mounting capabilities.
Use the following guide to see what soundbar length we recommend for each size TV.
| Speaker Length (in inches) | Recommended TV screen size |
|---|---|
| 12 | Any |
| 38 to 45 | 42 inches to 50 inches |
| 50 | 55 inches to 65 inches |
| 60 | 70 inches and more |
Audio format compatibility
Adapt your soundbar’s audio format to the content you enjoy most. Here are some of the most important audio formats and their use cases to consider when choosing a soundbar:
- Dolby Atmos for 3D soundscapes with height channels that create immersive experiences perfect for movie fans
- DTS:X for object-based sound that adapts to your specific speaker setup, ideal for home theater enthusiasts
- PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) for uncompressed digital audio commonly found on Blu-ray discs and game consoles
- Dolby digital 5.1 for traditional surround sound with five speakers and a subwoofer, the standard in DVD content
- Bluetooth audio codecs (AAC, aptX, LDAC) for wireless streaming with different quality levels, essential for streaming music from mobile devices
Check your TV’s connection options (HDMI ARC/eARC, optical) to ensure compatibility with the soundbar you choose.
