While massive, multi-speaker home theater systems are great, sometimes you don’t have the space and don’t want the hassle of wires and setup. There’s a soundbar for that.
But what should you be looking for? Is a $2,600 soundbar really that much better than a $280 option? You’ve come to the right place to find out.
You’ll want to have an idea of what the room you are going to be using your soundbar in will be like. Some of these soundbars can simulate surround sound and Atmos without any additional mounted hardware, but they rely on bouncing that sound off hard surfaces — walls. So, if you are hoping to set up a soundbar in a large room with vaulted ceilings and hear voices calling to you from above or behind, then you may want to look at one of the systems that includes surround speakers.
Bose TV Speaker
Our first option, the Bose TV Speaker, is our most affordable. Currently priced at $280, it is an easy way to boost the sound coming from your TV. Recommended for small rooms, this compact soundbar also features special modes for dialogue and additional bass. If you need even more low end, then the TV Speaker features a Bass output for an external subwoofer.
With a single ARC HDMI port, if you have multiple devices to connect, then you’ll need to either run them through your TV or look at one of our upcoming options. But for a simple setup in a small room, the Bose TV Speaker is a great step in the right direction.
Klipsch Flexus Core 200
Next up, we have the Klipsch Flexus Core 200. While it has quite a few differences from the Bose TV Speaker, the most notable might be the up-firing height channels with Dolby Atmos support.
Two 2.25-inch drivers aim at the ceiling, while four front-firing drivers handle crisp, clear audio. Dual 4-inch subwoofers provide a surprising amount of low end.
A single eARC HDMI port means you’ll need to run other devices through your TV, but that connection will enable simple control between your TV and your soundbar.
A standout feature of the entire Klipsch Core line, though, is the ability to add additional speakers when necessary — without running any speaker wires.
Klipsch’s Surr 100 speakers are perfect for surround sound, and the Surr 200s feature upward-firing drivers for additional Atmos immersion.
If the dual 4-inch subwoofers built into the soundbar aren’t enough bass for you, then Klipsch offers two different subwoofer models for room-shaking low end.
With extended use of this soundbar in our own homes, we’ve been impressed with how easy the Flexus Core 200 is to set up and use. Paired with the optional subwoofer, it provides a very immersive listening experience.
Marshall Heston 60
If rock ’n’ roll style is important to you, then look no further than the Marshall Heston 60 and the optional Heston Sub 200.
For this iconic brand, design is just as important as sound; the Heston comes in two distinct black-and-cream colorways featuring vintage-style brass accents. It can be placed on a TV stand, but it’s also designed to be mounted directly on a wall with its movable magnetic Marshall logo and control-label plate.
The features go far beyond style. As a 5.2.2 soundbar, the Heston 60 offers immersive Dolby Atmos compatibility. With speakers firing to the sides and from the top of the soundbar, sound stretches beyond the compact physical dimensions.
With Wi-Fi compatibility, the Heston 60 can also stream music from your favorite platforms, such as Spotify, TIDAL Connect, and Apple AirPlay.
A single HDMI ARC/eARC handles connection to your TV for easy control and a fully immersive Atmos experience. Additional HDMI devices will need to be routed through a TV, but the eARC connection ensures easy audio control.
When style is just as important as sound and features, the Marshall Heston 60 deserves a close look.
Polk Audio MagniFi Max AX SR
If you’re in a larger room where a soundbar would struggle to bounce audio, then this Polk system has everything you need right in the box to deliver immersive sound.
With dedicated surround speakers and a subwoofer included, the Polk MagniFi Max AX SR can greatly enhance the immersive experience in larger rooms.
Packing 11 drivers in the soundbar alone, the MagniFi Max AX SR has an impressive arrangement for immersive audio: four drivers and two dual tweeters handle the L/R channels, while two drivers and a tweeter deliver a clear center channel. Dual 2.5-inch drivers create immersive height channels.
Adding the dual wireless satellites with this SR package enhances the surround sound experience and makes this system well-suited for larger listening areas where a soundbar would struggle to bounce audio off surfaces.
The included 10-inch wireless sub fills out the low end for a great-sounding, all-in-one package that’s easy to set up.
With Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capability, it’s also ready to stream music from all your favorite platforms; it has Chromecast, Spotify Connect, and Apple AirPlay compatibility.
Four HDMI ports support 4K at 60Hz. With one of these ports handling ARC/eARC, the MagniFi Max AX SR can act as a mini AVR, sending video to your TV while handling input switching and delivering full Atmos immersion.
Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar
While the Bose TV Speaker sets the bar for great soundbar audio, the Smart Ultra Soundbar raises that bar with Dolby Atmos, Wi-Fi, and ADAPTiQ audio calibration.
Delivering immersive, enhanced 5.1.2 audio, it takes movies, shows, and music to the next level in your living room.
Every room is different, and ADAPTIQ is Bose’s automatic calibration method that uses a headset to measure audio in various listening positions.
Even with ADAPTiQ enabled, you can tweak levels for the center, height, bass, and treble. In my office, it made vocals clearer while drastically reducing some of the higher frequencies that induce music fatigue. It was very noticeable when listening to music and less so when watching movies.
A single HDMI eARC port enables easy control of a connected TV. Additional HDMI sources will need to be routed through your TV, but the eARC connection makes it easy to control audio.
If you’re using the Smart Ultra Soundbar in a larger room or just want a more immersive home theater experience, then you may want to add some Bose surround speakers as well.
Klipsch Flexus Core 300
Next up, let’s take a look at the Klipsch Flexus Core 300. It takes what makes the Flexus Core 200 a great option and turns it up to 11.
With the addition of side-firing drivers, as well as two additional up-firing woofers, the Core 300 delivers bigger, fuller, room-filling sound with the option of adding additional speakers and a subwoofer for larger rooms and even more immersion.
Beyond additional hardware, the Flexus Core 300 also includes a license for Dirac, a third-party software built for tailoring speakers to your specific room.
Designed to measure and analyze the sound of your room with an included microphone, the included Dirac will measure and address frequencies from 50Hz to 500Hz, and it can be upgraded to analyze the full spectrum from 20Hz to 20,000Hz for just $99.
The Flexus Core 300 features dual HDMI ports (including one with eARC), supports connection to a TV, and provides full immersion with Dolby Atmos.
As a gamer, this soundbar speaks to me because it can do 4K120Hz pass-through to take full advantage of the latest consoles and TVs with variable refresh rate and auto low-latency mode support, as well.
JBL Bar 1300XMK2
Our next soundbar has a number of tricks up its sleeve and pumps some serious power. The JBL Bar 1300XMK2 comes with a beefy 12-inch subwoofer and dual detachable speakers. These can be used as surrounds for your home theater but can also be taken on the go and used as Bluetooth speakers.
The whole system can draw an eye-opening 1,570 watts, making it more than enough to fill a room — that is some serious power for a home theater setup.
Calibration is easy, as the detachable rear speakers are placed in the listening areas to measure how your room responds to the system.
Out of the box, this is an immersive, 11.1.4-channel system with powerful bass, wireless surrounds, and easy app control. For those who want an easy do-it-all system that’s also great for music around the house, this is worth a close look.
ARC/eARC HDMI outs and three additional HDMI ports allow the JBL Bar 1300XMK2 to work as a small AVR, as well.
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar | Plus
Now, let’s take a look at part of Sennheiser’s Ambeo lineup. With nine speakers and 400 watts of power, the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar | Plus can deliver 7.1.4 sound right out of the box and hits an impressive 38Hz, even without the optional subwoofer.
The Ambeo line features self-calibration for tailoring the sound to your specific room, as well as Sennheiser’s Ambeo mode, which dials immersion up another notch. If you want even further control, then the Soundbar | Plus has multiple EQ options to dial in your sound.
With Wi-Fi, the Ambeo Soundbar | Plus works with AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, and Chromecast.
HDMI eARC with dual HDMI inputs provides flexibility with other devices while enabling easy control of a TV.
Hard-core gamers interested in optimal performance may want to look at different options, such as the Klipsch Flexus Core 300 — as the Ambo Plus only goes up to 4K 60 fps, you’ll need to connect a capable gaming system directly to a capable TV. But most casual gamers will be more than happy with the immersive audio experience this soundbar delivers.
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max
Our final soundbar is one we have set up in the Sweetwater Music Store’s Home Audio demo room, and it is a beast – the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max features 13 drivers and hits down to an insane 30Hz without a subwoofer (though one can be added, as well).
As soon as you turn it on, the Ambeo Soundbar Max asks you to calibrate it to your room, ensuring you get great audio from the start.
Music sounds great on it, too, and it supports Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect. It can even play lossless audio from TIDAL Connect up to 24-bit/192kHz.
Sennheiser’s Ambeo Upmix Technology will even transform stereo or 5.1 audio into a three-dimensional sound experience. If you want to get the most out of a soundbar, then this is where you’ll want to look.
HDMI 2.1 eARC handles connection to your TV, while three additional HDMI inputs provide easy control of other devices.
Hard-core gamers interested in optimal performance may want to consider different options — as the Ambo Max only goes up to 4K at 60 fps, you’ll need to connect a capable gaming system directly to a capable TV. But most casual gamers will be more than happy with the immersive audio experience this soundbar delivers.
Outro
From small, cozy bedrooms to large, expansive rooms, there is a soundbar for your needs. If you still have questions about which option will best fit your room, then give your Sweetwater Sales Engineer a call. They’d be happy to explore the best options with you.
