15 best soundbars

The soundbar is a compact and self-contained sound element designed to replace a whole set of home theater alone. Until recently, the purchase of a TV with a large screen diagonal was invariably accompanied by the acquisition of an overall acoustic set, since such a measure was the only best solution offered by manufacturing companies.

The appearance of soundbars has made its own adjustments to the distribution of forces in the open spaces of the market segment - consumers got a chance to choose and naturally tended to purchase exactly compact acoustics. Despite the fact that the sound quality and maximum power did not reach the level of home theaters, users received an inexpensive (relatively full-size counterparts) non-stylish, stylish addition to the TV, which does not clutter up the extra space and perfectly fulfills its main function.

To date, the market segment of television acoustics is experiencing a period of glut - consumers are provided with a huge number of soundbars from the masters of the production of sound equipment. To choose from one of these varieties one thing seems very difficult, since quite often there are frankly bad and unbalanced instances. As a good recommendation for future purchases, we selected for you 15 of the best sound panels, divided into three price categories. All places in the ranking were distributed according to the following criteria:

• the prevalence of goods in Russia;
• consumer reviews and expert opinion in the field of acoustic systems;
• balance of the main characteristics, the value of power indicators;
• combination of price and quality of the goods;
• the degree of reliability of the assembly and component parts.

The best inexpensive saunbars: a budget of up to 15,000 rubles.

5 JBL Bar Studio

The budget audio panel opens with a total power of 30 W, which has enough potential to improve the standard TV acoustics in a room of 15‒20 square meters. This is not a 5.1 system, the floor of its bass does not shake, but the sound becomes much richer, regardless of the type of player, whether it is a TV, smartphone or laptop. You can connect the soundbar in any convenient way - through the "optics", stereo input, USB (type A), HDMI (ARC) or bluetooth. In the early reviews, there are complaints about the picture lagging behind the voice acting when devices are connected by a wireless method.Now the bug is no longer mentioned, so the manufacturer, most likely, has already eliminated it.

In general, users call the device the best option, where there is no possibility to put the overall sub, and believe that out of 5 presets, everyone can find a suitable one for their style. In addition, they advise you to experiment with the location of the panel - it can be installed on the wall, at the top of the TV, under it or next. Another caveat - you can not save on AUX-and HDMI-cables, the quality of which depends largely on the purity of the audio signal. By completing all these conditions, you can achieve exceptional audio detail and enjoy your favorite tracks.

4 Samsung HW-M360

The notions of what compact audio projectors are capable of have largely turned upside down thanks to this model. It appeared in 2017 and so far, judging by the reviews and availability in all stores, remains very popular. The impressive 200-watt housing conditions, the bass-reflex enclosure and 2.1 configuration with a stand-alone subwoofer do wonders, turning a quiet and flat sound into a rich variation. A separate wireless sub provides pleasant bass - it may seem insufficient to a demanding lover of rock, but it is a pleasure to listen to pop music or a film with special effects.

For those who want more powerful sound and more volume, the developers have provided for setting up a multichannel audio system using the optional Wireless Surround SWA-8500S rear speaker kit. Its speakers further enhance and enrich the sound, thereby, the buyer in the future receives the 5.1 system. Other soundbar features are equally well thought out: a hidden display, USB and Bluetooth module, an automatic shutdown function along with TV, as well as dimensions that are ideal for a 40 "TV.

3 Sony HT-SF150

There is no soundbar cheaper than Sony in the Sony line, however, it got into our TOP thanks to a deep and clear sound, the quality of which is the responsibility of the S-Force Front Surround system. Being the successor of the older model HT-CT80, the 2-channel device has a total output power not 80, but 120 W - 30 for each of 4 speakers: 2 - low-frequency and 2 - high-frequency. Compactness (90 cm in length, 3.5 kg in weight) and the absence of a subwoofer makes it an excellent solution for a small (up to 25 sq. M.) Living room or bedroom, where there is no need to install more powerful outdoor audio systems.

As befits a brainchild of a distinguished brand, its minimalist design is worthy of the highest praise. The soundbar, albeit an entry-level, but with such an appearance and with the inscription Sony suggests the idea of ​​a premium. As for the interface, it is built on an omnivorous Bluetooth, standard optical audio input and one HDMI with ARC technology. It allows you to have only one connection between a TV and several audio output devices, but to implement this feature it is necessary that the TV also supports ARC.

2 Polk Audio Signa Solo

A company that focuses solely on the production of audio products and owns 55 patents in the field of audio technology is simply obliged to create a unique product. And she did it - in the case of the Signa Solo model, several proprietary chips are hidden at once, thanks to which it is capable of sounding convincingly even without an additional subwoofer. The expressiveness, surroundness of the surround and the extension of the low-frequency range are provided by the patented SDA audio processor, and the Voice Adjust technology gives you a clearer and more natural speech adjustment.

There are 3 modes for streaming various audio materials - “Film”, “Game” and “Music”.You can flexibly adjust the sound from the remote control by individually adjusting the overall volume and bass level. And in order not to be confused in the remotes, it is better to train the staff to work with the soundbar, from the TV - the good is that the Smartbar system allows you to do this in a matter of seconds. In general, Signa Solo is configured very simply, in fact, it is ready to work immediately after connecting to a TV via Bluetooth, analog or optical input (cable included).

1 LG SJ3

The first line of the rating is taken by the representative of the LG company - a powerful and “evil” SJ3 sound panel of standard 2.1. For the sound quality of medium and high frequencies there are two speakers, the total power of which is 100 watts. It seems to be quite good, but when playing tracks independently, one can feel complete disregard for the bass, and therefore a 200-watt subwoofer was assigned to the model. This, of course, is not the limit, however, it would be enough to “beat the neighbors” or “shake the curtains” more than enough.

We can only say one thing about the disadvantages of the LG SJ3: they are uncritical, and if the panel were a couple of positions lower in the rating, they would have gone unnoticed. First, users are confused by the lack of a standard HDMI connector, the lack of which is fully compensated by a stable wireless connection. Secondly, some owners were not delighted with the lack of a hardware equalizer, but to its credit the models can be noted that such a “chip” does not differ and some of the more expensive sound bars. The rest of the LG SJ3 compares favorably with its competitors, gives a very pleasant impression and takes the lead with every right to do so.

The best soundbar of the middle class: a budget of up to 40,000 rubles.

5 Denon DHT-S316

The design of the soundbar from a well-known Japanese company specializing in the production of Hi-End audio equipment is designed for one simple, but completely non-trivial goal - a compact device to provide the best sound in any conditions. The sound panel is only 5 cm high (miniature dimensions often have a decisive factor because of the limited space), but it also contains 2 midrange speakers and 2 tweeters. The included wireless subwoofer can be hidden in any part of the room, which does not prevent him from producing a legible musical bass.

In the user reviews and reviews there are a lot of life hacks about the correct location and settings of the device. For example, the front panel of the audio system is recommended to be flush with the edge of the TV stand, but not further to the wall, otherwise the horn effect will appear.And to get a realistic illusion of multidimensionality of sound, the soundbar is better to put closer to the listener. After all the manipulations to find the optimal point, you can enjoy the result in the form of a dynamic and, in terms of users, “adult” sound.

4 LG SK6F

LG engineers did their best to make the small, elegant SK6F soundbar with one front speaker sound almost as solid as a 5.1 audio system or even higher. No miracles and violation of the laws of physics - the lack of bulky speakers in it is compensated by the presence of special amplifiers and clever sound processing algorithms. We don’t know what the secret of the Bass Blast preset is, but the bass on it is a sound speaker, which is called killer, and when watching movies with dynamic scenes, the effect of being in a cinema is guaranteed.

Do I need to be a technically savvy tuner or a fine music lover to perfectly adjust the track playback? Absolutely not - the system of adaptive control is able to automatically determine the type of content and select the appropriate mode for perfect sound. It is equally convenient to stream audio and video content from popular applications over a wireless network using the Chromecast embedded media player. And although someone does not like that adjustment is possible only from a smartphone, and someone lacks a separate bass player, we believe that the gadget is very good and deserves a place in our TOP.

3 Samsung HW-M550

Samsung’s policy of creating low-budget acoustics is twofold: on the one hand, the company seeks to prepare devices of a high level of reliability and visibility, and on the other, it is ready to sacrifice proper sound quality. Model HW-M550 is a typical representative of the line of powerful middle-level soundbars, which was created in the hope of correcting "family schools" ... and inherited almost all of them.

Among the indisputable advantages of the panel include a high level of nominal power - 340 W from three speakers and one phase inverter subwoofer. The paradox is that, having as many as three dual-band HF / MF sources, the Samsung HW-M550 cannot boast an impeccable sound quality. Users note the presence of extraneous noise and some inaccuracies in reproduction characteristic of high-frequency sounds. But on the part of the subwoofer, everything is much better: saturated low frequencies create a kind of volumetric bass, the power of which is enough for decent-sized rooms. It is very difficult to talk about the relationship between quality and cost parameters in such a situation: the soundbar is good-looking, but exactly until an analogue of cheaper or higher quality appears.

2 Canton DM 55

The powerful monoblock soundbar Canton DM 55 is a bright representative of the middle segment and has one remarkable positive feature. It's no secret that the sound bars are not capable of providing the proper volume of sound, contrary to their competitors from the home theater segment. In such a situation, manufacturers go for various kinds of tricks, in the hope of launching the only unique product on the market and somehow improving the overall quality of reproduction.

German developers from Canton did a very original and unpretentious: the DM 55 panel is designed as a TV stand, which adds a couple of extra centimeters to the internal volume. This was enough to accommodate side-mounted tweeters and subwoofer woofers mounted in the center of the subwoofer in a monolithic package.

It is also noteworthy that the panel is devoid of the usual HDMI connection for many interfaces, offering consumers only analog and optical ports, complemented by the ability to connect the device via Bluetooth.There is little bad, but users persistently include this feature in the list of shortcomings, complaining about the decent cost and poor technical equipment.

1 YAMAHA YAS-306

The Yamaha company is one of the few who allows to evaluate the advantages of a multi-room system gradually, starting with the low cost of the usual YAS-306 soundbar and any portable speaker, for example, the WX-010. The effect of multidimensional sound is achieved through a built-in bass machine with upward drivers, thoughtful speaker layout and Air Surround Xtreme technology, simulating the 7.1 system. In the reviews of the sound opinions are unambiguous - it is fantastically pleasant.

But the most important opportunities are opened by the corporate application MusicCast Controller. With it, the user gets all the necessary information about the state and control over the sound panel control, doing without buttons on the case and even without a regular remote control. Moreover, in the application, you can collect all the devices compatible with MusicCast via Wi-Fi or “bluetooth” in order to assign them to certain rooms and for each enter the required settings. Expanding over time your own MusicCast system, you can create a home multiroom like the one that is optionally integrated into the “smart home” systems.

Top premium soundbars

5 Klipsch Reference RSB-8

The name of Paul Klipsch, the founder of a large American company manufacturing hi-fi acoustics, is listed on the Hall of Fame of the United States of America along with Thomas Edison and the Wright brothers. His success is associated with technological innovations developed by him personally and implemented in most products, including the RSB-8 soundbar. Its retail price belongs to the same segment as other top-of-the-line models; nevertheless, the device successfully confronts competitors due to many factors: stylish decoration, high-quality assembly, and a special, “clip-like” energetic sound.

The initial setup is done with one click. There is both a "bluetooth" and Wi-Fi with support for Klipsch Stream technology. The latter is in fact a popular premium function in acoustics, also called Play-Fi. Through a special application for Android and iOS, the device is able to broadcast music from a smartphone, network drive or streaming service. In addition, using Klipsch Stream easily connect compatible hardware, for example, speakers RW-1, and even create a multi-room system into which you can embed AV-equipment of any brands and manufacturers that supports Play-Fi.

4 Bose SoundTouch 300

Updating the home multimedia system with the SoundTouch 300 model, the user gets a very elegant gadget, in black glass and with a metal grill. Included with it comes an interesting thing in the form of overhead headphones - a system for audio settings in specific conditions of ADAPTiQ. They are put on the head, after which the sound calibration of the device takes place - a complete analogue of the equalizer settings, but in automatic mode and very effective.

The unit's belonging to the SoundTouch line indicates that it can be controlled from the application on your gadget, if necessary, connecting into the 5.1 system other components from the same family: the Acoustimass 300 bass module and the rear speakers of the Virtually Invisible 300. Do I have to say that after all the manipulation of the sound of any movie scene becomes large-scale, what is happening on the screen surrounds the listener from all sides, and the small soundbar actually turns out to be the real entertainment machine.

3 Focal dimension

Focal Dimension - this is a rare case of the soundbar, when low frequencies are reproduced normally and without the help of a complete subwoofer. Indeed, the standard of this model does not imply the presence of a source of bass in the standard kit: all work is performed by five broadband speakers with a diameter of 100 millimeters. However, to ensure a clearer sound, the panel can be equipped with an additional subwoofer, since there is a special outlet for this purpose for connecting it.

The performance characteristics are also impressive: the Focal Dimension has a power of 450 W, and the frequency range varies from 50 to 25,000 Hz (without the presence of additional equipment). There is a convenient remote control and as many as two connectors for HDMI-connection, and as an alternative provides linear and optical inputs.

With all its purely positive features, the soundbar is not very popular - either the domestic consumer is confused by the brand, or it is a matter of sheer chance, but people who are close to the musical theme buy Focal Dimension. And it is worth noting that they do not regret their choice at all.

2 Sonos playbar

The next place in the ranking of the best soundbars of 2019, the premium class, is the Sonos Playbar model. This is one of the most functional systems - thanks to a combination with satellites, it can be rebuilt from 3.1 to 5.1 and vice versa. Two connectors for connecting an Ethernet cable allow you to connect the device to an external network to play tracks from the Internet. The front speaker is attached to the ceiling, where it can be optimally positioned to improve the sound quality.

Among the strengths of this soundbar, buyers call affordable price, good sound quality at all frequencies, and a convenient control system. Optical input allows you to transfer a digital signal to external devices. Thanks to the support of Wi-Fi, it is possible to pair the system with carriers for playing music directly from them. The weak points of this soundbar are narrow EQ settings and not very high-quality assembly.

1 Sony HT-ZF9

Previously, in order to get home an audio system that supports Dolby Atmos multi-channel audio format, you had to invest in a serious home theater with a price and size. Today everything is much simpler - the Sony HT-ZF9 soundbar transmits three-dimensional sound, which creates an effect of presence no worse than a theatrical system. Unlike other sound panels, there are no tall speakers, and the design consists of 2 front drivers and a wireless low-frequency transducer.

The vertical audio signal becomes especially impressive after digital processing in Dolby Atmos and DTS: X formats (today they are used in the most modern theaters in the world). The sound processor performs another important task - scaling the virtual audio scene, so that movies can be felt in both width and height. In general, as a media accompaniment system, this soundbar can be called flawless. But music connoisseurs are not satisfied with everything - an equalizer, they say, no, and the sound is too embellished. But the true audiophiles still found an uncompromising way out as a set of Sony SA-Z9R native speakers. With them, watching movies and listening to music is a pleasure.

How to choose a good soundbar

As in the case of any other type of technology, soundbars have a number of key features and capabilities, which should be given priority attention in the upcoming purchase. What is behind the line of the important, and what can be completely excluded from the list of priority parameters - we will specify in the list of recommendations for purchase.

Type of system. This parameter determines the number of auxiliary elements required to connect the soundbar (and any other acoustic element) to the sound source.Prefer purely active sound bars, as they are self-contained systems and can reproduce sound without the inclusion of amplifiers or receivers from other sound devices.

Standard. The parameter indicating the ratio of the number of speakers and subwoofers in the actual scheme of the acoustic set. The most popular standard in sound bars is the ratio of 5.1, which “migrated” to compact panels from the design of the eternal rival in the face of home theater. There are also standards 2.1 and 7.1, but the latter is used primarily by Yamaha. If the question of sound detail is in the first place, then models of the standard not lower than 5.1 will be selected.

Power playback. Regarding this characteristic, everything is very simple: the higher the power of the soundbar, the louder the sound can be obtained at the output of the device. The optimal value of this parameter lies in the range of 100-200 W, therefore, when choosing, it is better to build on the given values.

Connection Interfaces Since modern TVs are equipped with a whole set of standard interfaces (here both USB, and HDMI, and a connection via a wireless connection), the possibility of miscalculation with those on the sound bar approaches zero. However, in order to comply with the principle of “reserve”, we recommend that you select an acoustic device, the connection ports of which will coincide as closely as possible with those on the TV.

Frequency level. Despite the fact that the sound bars are very strong in reproducing high and medium frequencies, low bass remains out of reach for them. To avoid the "empty" sound of the low-frequency bands, choose sound panels, complete with which comes standard subwoofer.

The presence of a sound projector. Since the sound quality of sound panels is obviously lower than that of full-fledged home theaters, the developers are looking for ways to solve this problem. One of those is the introduction of a sound projector into the design, thanks to which (and with a certain configuration of the speakers in the case) a 3D sound effect is achieved. This element in the soundbar is optional, but it plays a key role for true music lovers ... and significantly increases the cost of acoustics.

Popular vote - who is the best soundbar maker?
We vote!

Samsung

Jbl

LG

Yamaha

Sony

Sonos

Onkyo

Canton

Philips

Bose

Polk audio

Klipsch

Denon

Total votes: 853

Vote results