Getting one of the best soundbars is the easiest way to upgrade your home movie theater. There's no doubt about it. I was skeptical before I tried my first soundbar, but now I can't imagine my life without one.
I've tested sixteen soundbars this year, and to help you find one that suits your needs and budget, I've rounded up my top picks under $200, $500, and $700. The cheapest option is Sony's classic, the HT-S100F. Next is the $449 soundbar + subwoofer Polk Audio Signa S4. Finally, Samsung's cheapest premium "Q" series soundbar, the Q600F, which is the best mid-range bar I've ever tested.
Under $200: Sony HT-S100F
The Sony HT-S100F is widely regarded as the best cheap soundbar, and for good reason.
Most budget soundbars I've tested suffer from various connectivity, sound, and tinniness issues. Not the Sony HT-S100F.
Most budget soundbars I've tested suffer from various connectivity, sound, and tinniness issues. Not the Sony HT-S100F.
With a surprisingly powerful built-in woofer (not subwoofer, though), the HT-S100F brought my test movies to life. In 'Top Gun: Maverick', ‘Danger Zone’ sounded great and didn’t overpower the sounds of the jets taking off.
Balancing OST, dialogue, and diegetic sound effects is tricky for cheap soundbars, but the HT-S100F isn't like the rest. I was majorly impressed by how deftly the HT-S100F handled a complex soundscape, especially in the dogfighting scenes. In my review, I wrote, "I could hear all the headset dialogue clearly. There was no muffled speech, and I wasn’t straining to hear even over the radio crackling sound effect."
If you want the best TV upgrade for less, it's got to be the Sony HT-S100F.
Under $500: Polk Audio Signa S4
The Polk Audio Signa S4 is criminally underrated. This Atmos-enabled soundbar and subwoofer combo is top-notch, especially for under $500.
This Atmos-enabled soundbar and subwoofer combo is top-notch, especially for under $500.
There are cheaper soundbar and subwoofer combos out there, but the 3.1.2 channel configuration means your Dolby Atmos movies will sound truly immersive.
When I was testing the Signa S4, I watched 'The Wild Robot'. If you haven't seen this movie, there's a fantastic Atmos scene around halfway through. I really felt like I was in the water with the scene. When the gosling is encircled by goose bullies, the jibing dialogue sounded 360-degree and the splashing sound effects almost had me grabbing a towel.
Like any soundbar worth its salt, the Signa S4 also has a "Voice adjust" mode. Thankfully, "Voice adjust" doesn't negative impact the diegetic (in-scene) sounds. The ambient noises and sound effects still very audible but, as promised, the dialogue was clearer and more instantly intelligible.
Under $700: Samsung Q600F
If you can spend a little more — but a $1,700 full-room setup like the JBL Bar 1300X is a little out of your budget — then I'd recommend the Samsung Q600F. This is my favorite mid-range soundbar, with fiery bass and expansive sound.
This is my favorite mid-range soundbar, with fiery bass and expansive sound.
When I was watching 'Top Gun: Maverick', ‘Let’s Dance’ by David Bowie sounded as if it was coming from beside the TV, rather than the TV itself. This was the first time I was genuinely impressed with the Q600F’s 360-degree audio performance. Even over the soundtrack, the hushed dialogue was clear and audible.
However, the Q600F really shone with 'The Batman'. The motorbike scene with 'Something in the Way' playing was a huge standout. The creepy voiceover by Pattinson; the harrowing acoustic guitar from Cobain; the diegetic news broadcast playing over it all. The soundbar did well with all these different elements, and left me wanting to rewind it just to experience it again.
I couldn't get enough of how incredible 'The Batman' sounded on the Q600F. If you know the movie well, there's a scene where Batman and Gordon enter an orphanage. The Dolby Atmos performance blew me away here. I could hear raindrops coming from all around me, and the metallic clinking of boots on staircases reverberated around my brain. This was one of the best surround performances of the entire movie.
Surprisingly, I was also impressed with the music playback — soundbars are famously poor for music listening — thanks to the punchy, room-filling bass.
For the price, you can't go wrong with the Q600F.
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