TechStage | Top 10: The best soundbars with Dolby Atmos, subwoofers & Co. for home cinema

However, if there is a lack of space and patience to place several speakers in the living room, a soundbar comes into play as a compact alternative. Despite their small dimensions, these offer a significantly better sound and significantly more richness than the speakers integrated in TVs. Although they do not reach the level of high-performance surround systems, they are on a completely different acoustic level compared to the measly sound of a television.

In this list of the best, we present what we think are the ten best soundbars from our tests. We offer pure 2.0 systems as well as combinations with a wireless subwoofer. The focus is on the sound experience in this list of the best, but the price-performance ratio and the support of common sound formats also play a role in the evaluation.

A distinction must be made between compact soundbars and variants with an additional subwoofer. There are also loudspeakers in which a woofer is already integrated. A simple device without an additional sub is also called a 2.0 system. In the 2.1 system, an additional subwoofer is used, which hums along either with a cable or wirelessly. Which variant you prefer ultimately depends on the available space, the nerves of the neighbors and your own preferences.

The mini soundbar LG DQP5W (test report) offers an interesting solution. It is a 3.1.2 sound system. At just under 30 cm wide, the soundbar itself is the most compact solution in this top 10 – if you leave out the subwoofer. The other soundbars have a width of 65 to 95 cm. A center speaker and two stereo speakers are used in the LG DQP5W. Two height channels create a surround sound here by sending the sound towards the ceiling, which in turn is reflected. Ideally, this sounds as if there were loudspeakers around the viewer.

This is made possible by Dolby Atmos. The system tricks your hearing. For the listener it sounds as if the sound is coming from the left, behind or right. This doesn’t work equally well for everyone, but technology has made impressive advances in recent years. The counterpart to Dolby Atmos is DTS:X.

As object-based systems, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are able to imitate spatial sound. The respective soundbar must support one of the systems. Some devices can also handle both. However, supporting one of these technologies is no guarantee that the soundbar will sound great. Other important sound formats for soundbars are Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD, DTS Surround and DTS.

The standard way of connecting the soundbar to the television is now HDMI. An exception here is the Sonos Ray (test report). The correct variant for the sound is the HDMI socket on the TV marked with ARC or eARC. The abbreviations stand for (enhanced) Audio Return Channel.

As the most modern level, eARC allows the transmission of uncompressed sound with Dolby Atmos and/or DTS:X. However, this requires that the devices are compatible with HDMI 2.1 – which also applies to the cable used. We explain more about this topic in the article HDMI cables from 5 euros: Differences, HDMI 2.1, 4K, HDR.

An alternative are optical inputs on the soundbars, such as those used by the Sonos Ray. However, the data throughput is lower than with HDMI 2.1 and is not sufficient for Dolby Atmos. Some soundbars still offer analogue connections such as a 3.5 mm jack. A remote control is usually also included. Some soundbars use Bluetooth for a wireless connection, while other devices connect to the home WiFi network.

The Denon Home Sound Bar 550 (test report) is right at the top. The classic 2.0 soundbar with a width of 65 cm owes this primarily to the excellent sound with decent bass and the high-quality workmanship. The “sound bar” offers only the finest technology: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, app and WLAN connection as well as Bluetooth. Apart from the lack of a display, the soundbar has no real weaknesses. From 469 euros the Denon Home Sound Bar 550 is available.

The Bose Smart Soundbar 600 (test report) is also at an excellent level. Apart from the unintuitive light strip that serves as a display replacement, there is nothing to complain about here. In addition to excellent sound, optionally with Dolby Atmos, Bose offers app control as well as Alexa voice control, Airplay, Bluetooth and Chromecast. At 70 cm, it is slightly wider than the Denon model and slightly more expensive at 500 euros.

As a 2.1 system with subwoofer, the Teufel Cinebar 11 (test report) offers great value for money and is the ideal compromise between space-saving hardware and great sound. This catapults the set onto the podium of our top 10. The workmanship is first class, the sound very balanced.

In addition, the device is very discreet and compact. Thanks to its size of 12 × 42 × 42 cm, the subwoofer can be easily stowed away. The soundbar itself is very thin at just over 8cm deep and around 95cm wide. Bluetooth is on board, but not a WLAN connection. The price is extremely affordable at 349 euros.

As a classic 2.0 system, the Nubert Nuboxx AS-425 soundbar (test report) still offers a great and, above all, voluminous sound with powerful bass – even without a subwoofer. Bluetooth and eARC are on board, but the soundbar does not support Dolby Atmos. Ease of use could also be better. With a size of 86 × 34 × 12.9 cm, the Nuboxx AS-425 is already a “chunk”. With 598 euros it is the most expensive model on this leaderboard.

Anyone who has little space but wants surround sound should take a look at the LG DQP5W (test report). The system consists of a soundbar and a wireless subwoofer – but offers 3.1.2 sound. In combination with Dolby Atmos, the mini soundbar creates a spatial sound. The effect doesn’t work for everyone, but it’s an exciting alternative if you don’t want to move numerous boxes in the living room.

The compact dimensions of 29.6 × 6.0 × 12.6 cm for the soundbar and 38.8 × 29.1 × 18.5 cm for the subwoofer, which is also wireless, speak in favor of the LG DQP5W. There is no display and the control buttons on the back are difficult to access. Thankfully, there’s a remote control. The price of 284 euros is extremely fair.

The Sonos Ray (test report) is also compact and inexpensive. Set up is easy, with an optical TV input serving as the connection. There is no HDMI and therefore no Dolby Atmos either. The soundbar also works as a multiroom speaker (guide). However, due to the lack of a subwoofer, the bass is rather weak. Anyone who already uses Sonos products should see the soundbar primarily as an additional speaker. The Sonos Ray is currently available 245 euros.

The Soundbar Polk React (test report) is one of the inexpensive models in this list of the best. In return, it offers a solid sound, voice control and a good remote control. The tonal precision is only mediocre, there is no display. Bluetooth is part of the equipment, Dolby Digital and DTS are supported, but no Dolby Atmos. At Otto, the entry-level soundbar costs about 200 euros. As an extension, there is a sub and wireless surround speakers.

The Panasonic SC-HTB496 (test report) is even cheaper with a price starting at 169 euros – and even with a wireless subwoofer. The entry-level soundbar thus offers a 2.1 system. The setup is easy to do. However, there is a lack of ease of use. The sound also has room for improvement, Dolby Atmos or DTS:X does not exist.

Like the Ray, the Sonos Beam (test report) is also a multi-room speaker with a WLAN connection. The sound is good, but lacks sufficient depth. If in doubt, you have to buy a suitable subwoofer like the Sonos Sub Mini (test report). If you already have several Sonos components, the Sonos Beam is a useful extension from 419 euros. The soundbar also supports eARC and thus Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. If you’re just looking for a new soundbar, you might find a cheaper option with a 2.1 system.

As a 3.1 system, the Sony Soundbar HT-G700 (test report) offers a round and balanced sound, but it cannot keep up with the front-runners in this top 10. The soundbar also masters Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, and the price-performance ratio is pretty good for 299 euros. It looks bad with the connectivity for WLAN – this is not available. After all, there is Bluetooth.

The frontrunners from Denon and Bose have the best sound. Both 2.0 systems are impressive even without a subwoofer. Teufel offers a compact and inexpensive solution with a subwoofer with the Cinebar 11, but without Dolby Atmos. The mini soundbar LG DQP5W with surround sound and Dolby Atmos as well as DTS:X is also very exciting. Panasonic’s 2.1 system is the best choice for those on a tight budget.