Nowadays, our TV screens are getting bigger and bigger, the picture quality is sharper and the pictures are more detailed and colorful. Those hoping for an immersive home cinema experience with their Full HD or 4K television are often disappointed by the sound that accompanies our favorite series and films. Inferior sound systems are often hidden in the increasingly narrow frames of the boobs.
This can be remedied with a soundbar: the stylish loudspeaker strips not only enable cinematic top sound in your own four walls, but also nestle inconspicuously under the screen thanks to their slim design. Whether for TV, films, music or gaming – soundbars are conquering our living rooms and creating a cinema atmosphere that takes you to another world. If you are still looking for a suitable soundbar for your own television experience, TECHBOOK has put together the 5 best soundbars in every price range for you – because good sound should not fail because of the wallet.
What must be considered when buying a soundbar?
A quick search shows that the prices of soundbars are often far apart and, especially as an audio newcomer, confusion quickly arises with terms such as HDMI or TOSLINK, which stand for standard connections for technical devices.
Introductory questions such as “What is the size of the living room and what is the size of your own TV screen?” bring some clarity to the matter. A 300-watt soundbar will suffice for a small to medium-sized room, while a 500-watt audio system should be considered for additional square footage. The width of your own TV set also plays a role, because the soundbar should not protrude beyond the screen for a balanced overall picture.
Other simple questions are: is the focus more on listening to music, watching movies, gaming, or maybe all at once? Is surround sound enough or should it be Dolby Atmos? And above all: How high is the budget? TECHBOOK has found the best soundbars for every budget and presents them below.
The test winner over 1000 euros: Samsung HW-Q950A/ZG
The test winner in terms of all-round sound in the category over 1000 euros is the Samsung HW-Q950A/ZG soundbar. Although it surpasses the actual definition of a soundbar with its four individual components, the Samsung HW-Q950A/ZG makes up for it with pure horsepower of 616 watts and an incredible 15 loudspeakers. The automatic bass calibration of the subwoofer creates excellent room acoustics in any room size and, in combination with the Dolby Atmos surround sound technology, ensures excellent sound. If you have a little more space, you can already purchase a cinema system with separate speakers in this price range. But those who rely on compact quality will not find a model that is more convincing at the moment.
Features of the Samsung HW-Q950A/ZG
| Samsung HW-Q950A/ZG | |
|---|---|
| product type | Soundbar with subwoofer, Dolby Atmos soundbar, Alexa soundbar |
| components | rear speakers |
| transmission | Wireless (WLAN, Bluetooth) |
| connections | Digital inputs: HDMI, HDMI x2, optical (TOSLINK) Digital output: HDMI |
| audio features | A/V sync, equalizer (DSP), external subwoofer |
| video capabilities | HDR passthrough, 4K passthrough |
| surround formats | DTS:X, Dolby Atmos, DTS Digital Surround, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD |
| comfort properties | Learning function (control via TV remote control), voice assistant, HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel), HDMI CEC, smart home control |
| voice assistants | Alexa, Bixby |
| Dimensions | 1,232 × 69.5 × 138 mm (W × H × D) 7.1kg |
| scope of delivery | Batteries, user manual, remote control, HDMI cable, wall mounting hardware, power adapter |
Advantages and disadvantages of the Samsung HW-Q950A/ZG
Per
- + Excellent sound quality and room acoustics
- + Compatible with Alexa, AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect
- + Dolby Atmos
cons
- – Slightly dust-sensitive fabric covering
- – Unfavorable placement of the display
Premium soundbar under 1000 euros: Sonos Arc
Slim and extremely chic, the Sonos Arc ducks under almost any screen in white or black. A bit inconspicuous at first glance, the soundbar from the Californian manufacturer impresses with its ease of use: With the help of the Sonos app, it is ready for use within a few minutes. In addition, the Sonos Arc 11 hides digital amplifiers, 8 woofers and 3 tweeters, thus ensuring a remarkably pleasant sound. Other interesting features include night mode to throttle loud noises and voice enhancement that accentuates conversations. Music lovers in particular get their money’s worth with voice-controlled access to almost every music streaming service.
Features of the Sonos Arc
| Sonos Arc | |
|---|---|
| product type | Soundbar without subwoofer, Dolby Atmos soundbar, Alexa soundbar |
| transmission | Wired, wireless (WLAN) |
| connections | Digital inputs: HDMI, optical (TOSLINK) Digital output: HDMI Additional connection: LAN network (Ethernet) |
| audio features | Night mode, equalizer (DSP), 3D sound |
| surround formats | Dolby Atmos |
| comfort properties | Language assistant, smartphone remote control compatible, learning function (control via TV remote control), sensor buttons, software update possible |
| voice assistants | Alexa, Google |
| Dimensions | 1,141.7 × 87 × 115.7mm 6.25kg |
| scope of delivery | Remote control, warranty card, batteries, HDMI cable, power cord, optical audio cable |
| Remarks | AirPlay 2 |
Advantages and disadvantages of the Sonos Arc
- + Immersive 3D sound with Dolby Atmos
- + Voice control by Alexa and Google Assistant
- + Simple operation
- + Also works well for playing music
cons
- – Price a bit high
- – Only one HDMI connection
Also read: Easily improve the sound on the TV
Soundbar and receiver combo under 1000 euros: TechniSat Sonata 1
Here the name says it all: The TechniSat Sonata 1 comes with plenty of technology that is hidden in the housing of a soundbar. Because the audio bar is so much more than just a slim sound system. Although the TechniSat Sonata 1 does not have a subwoofer, it is also a hard disk receiver that enables HDTV reception via cable, satellite and antenna. If the sound depths of the TechniSat Sonata 1 are not booming enough, you can convert it into a surround system by purchasing a subwoofer such as the Klipsch R-120SW. TV fans who like to record programmes, watch pay TV and access media libraries and streaming portals will be very happy with this soundbar combination.
Features of the TechniSat Sonata 1
| TechniSat Sonata 1 | |
|---|---|
| product type | Soundbar without a subwoofer |
| components | Receiver, FM radio, digital radio/DAB+ radio |
| transmission | Wired |
| connections | Analog inputs: AUX 3.5 mm jack (line in), audio (cinch), composite video (cinch) Digital inputs: HDMI, USB Other connections: CI+ slot x2, antenna connection, hard drive slot, card reader, LAN network (Ethernet) |
| audio features | Equalizer (DSP) |
| video capabilities | 4K passthrough, HDR passthrough |
| surround formats | DTS |
| comfort properties | Internet access, playback from external hard drives, USB recording (PVR ready), USB host |
| Dimensions | 101 × 7.3 × 18.0 cm (W × H × D) 8.5kg |
Advantages and disadvantages of the TechniSat Sonata 1
- + Soundbar and hard disk receiver in one
- + Good sound quality
- + Expandable to a surround system
- + Smart TV functions
cons
- – Extras such as subwoofers expensive
- – Not wireless
Best value for money under 500 euros: Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
In the price range under 500 euros, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is a cheaper alternative to the Sonos Arc, which is twice as expensive. Chic in black or wonderful in white – the soundbar promises room-filling and natural sound thanks to Dolby Atmos technology and 3D sound, even if a subwoofer is not included. The practical Sonos app from the manufacturer makes commissioning and all settings as easy as usual. In any case, use should be made of the Trueplay technology, which automatically calibrates the loudspeakers and adapts them to the room conditions. If you have an Atmos-capable TV, the surcharge compared to the previous model is definitely worth it and you invest in a compact audio bar with good features with the Sonos Beam (Gen 2).
Features of the Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
| Sonos Beam (gen 2) | |
|---|---|
| product type | Soundbar without subwoofer, Alexa soundbar |
| transmission | Wireless, wired (WLAN) |
| connections | Digital input: HDMI Additional connection: LAN network (Ethernet) |
| audio features | 3D sound, multiroom |
| surround formats | Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, PCM |
| comfort properties | HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) |
| voice assistants | Alexa, Google Assistant |
| Dimensions | 651 × 69 × 100 mm (W × H × D) 2.8kg |
Advantages and disadvantages of the Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Per
- + Clear voice reproduction and good sound quality
- + Sonos app with Trueplay measurement
- + Voice control by Alexa and Google Assistant
- – No subwoofer included
- – Few improvements compared to the 1st generation
For bargain hunters under 100 euros: Creative Stage V2
No doubt: the Creative Stage V2 is so affordable that it fits into the budget of almost every film and television fan. But which demands are realistic for a soundbar under 100 euros? The everyday test shows that the Creative Stage V2 has too little power to fill more than a studio apartment or small living room with sound. Instead, it should be seen as a performance boost for the small to medium-sized TV screen, because that’s where its strengths lie. It can also be connected to a desktop or function as a Bluetooth speaker by connecting to a smartphone. Especially those who like to watch films and series with a lot of word battles will like the dialogue mode, which clearly puts conversations in the foreground. All in all, the Creative Stage V2 is a good budget model in a small space.
Equipment of the Creative Stage V2
| Creative Stage V2 | |
|---|---|
| product type | Sound bar with subwoofer |
| transmission | Wireless, wired (Bluetooth) |
| connections | Digital inputs: optical (TOSLINK), USB-C Analog input: AUX 3.5 mm jack (line in) Digital output: HDMI |
| video capabilities | WiFi, Bluetooth |
| surround formats | Rear camera 8 PM, front camera 12 MP |
| comfort properties | HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) |
| Dimensions | 116 × 423 × 250 mm (W × H × D) 3.3kg |
| scope of delivery | User manual, audio cable (3.5 mm to 2x cinch), without batteries, remote control, wall mounting material, USB cable |
Advantages and disadvantages of Creative Stage V2
Per
- + Suitable as speakers for TV and PC
- + Low price
- + Easy to set up
- – Only suitable for smaller rooms
- – Music sounds a bit flat
Conclusion
Let yourself be treated with sound on a grand scale: This is what soundbars promise and are establishing themselves on the technology market as a practical addition to the suboptimal audio systems of the high-end screens in our living rooms. If the purchase of a cinema system is too expensive or space-consuming, you will find a good alternative in the elongated audio sockets.
However, with the soundbar – as is so often the case when purchasing a new technical device – the question arises as to how deep one has to dig into one’s pocket in order to buy good quality with interesting features. Fortunately, well-known manufacturers are bringing soundbar models onto the market in every price range, enabling every audiophile TV owner to experience the big screen in a small space.