Not everyone has the space for a surround phone organization or even a full - sized soundbar . If you ’re search for a soundbar that ’s small enough to fit your blank , we ’ve got several options that ’ll work for you .
We review a wide image of soundbars , and we ’ve tried to ensure with this tilt of the best small-scale soundbars that there ’s an choice for everyone . If you ’re looking or a soundbar that can do Dolby Atmos , one that works with an older , non - HDMI embrasure TV or even one that could duplicate up as a video pennant , we ’ve got an array of options to take from .
We reexamine any soundbar by see lots of movies and hear to muckle of medicine , examining how each deal dialogue , effects , and different writing style of music . We also make trial the lineament usable to see if they work as the manufacturer intended ; and from those resultant , we determine which ones are worth your money .
Keep reading to discover all the best small soundbars available right now . We have other guides to have a facial expression to , which includes ourbest soundbarsand thebest Dolby Atmos soundbars .
We ’ve also contract down thebest surround auditory sensation systemsfor those with the outer space and budget to create a bigger phone organisation .
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Learn more about how we test soundbars
Soundbars were created to advance TV effectual quality – which mean we end up watching a caboodle of TV . We play everything – news reports for voices , motion picture for scale and effects steerage – to ensure that the soundbars that come through the doors at Trusted Reviews are given a proper challenge . We ’ll play dissimilar genre of euphony , too , since a right soundbar should be capable of doubling - up as a bang-up euphony system .
More complex soundbars feature web functionality for hook up to other speakers and playing medicine around the dwelling house , so we quiz for connectivity exit and ease of use . We get over the spectrum of models available , everything from cheesy soundbars cost less than £ 100 to those over £ 1000 , to ensure our review profit from our extensive market knowledge . Every product is compare to similarly priced rival , too .
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Pros
Cons
Samsung HW-S61B
Sonos Ray
Polk MagniFi Mini AX
Roku Streambar
Trusted Score
compare to theoriginal Beam , theBeam Gen 2has been updated to match the appearance of its bigger and more expensive sibling , the Arc . It add up with addition of an eARCHDMIport that allow it to play full - fat lossless Atmos soundtracks . That also stand for you ’ll need aneARCcompatible TV to get the best out of it . Otherwise , things remain the same with the Beam 2nd Gen , with it good suit for TVs up to and including 49 - inch .
The current Beam corroborate Wi - Fi and the Sonos S2 app , which offer memory access to a multitude of cyclosis services such as Tidal , DeezerandQobuz , as well as Sonos ’ own Radio service . you could also call on vocalization assistance in Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa , as well as initiateTrueplay(as long as you ’ve engender an iOS gimmick ) , which optimises the Beam ’s audio operation harmonize to the environment it is in .
During examination we found it produced an first-class audio operation , offering a whole low oddment and a generally balanced strait across the frequency range . It also plow music impressively , with no detectable deformation , handling more subtle elements with nuance . The plus ofDolby Atmosisn’t achieved through upfiring speakers but through virtual processing , and it offers a expert performance with a decent sense of dimensionality when we watch Captain Marvel onDisney+ . An alternate Atmos stripe is thePolk Signa S4 , which offers a secure good sense of acme with its upfiring utterer , and while its cheaper it is not as compact .
There is a foot swing in the focussing of DTS but keep for this audio format is not complete . The likewise compendious and pricedPolk Magnifi Mini AXandDenon Home Sound bar 550do supportDTS :X , and like the Sonos both can be paired with a subwoofer for tot ‘ oomph ’ . A slightly more expensive but still telling alternative is theSennheiser Ambeo Mini .
While the Beam 2 is not perfect , as a means of bugger off Atmos into the domicile , the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a great mode of doing so .
TheSamsung HW - S61Bis an splendid compendious soundbar , a more low-cost challenger to theSonos Beam Gen 2 .
Its a succinct speaker cabale of producing a crisp , unclouded and punchy sound . It offer plenty of energy and outright attack that easy betters anything a TV can produce . Its built - in subwoofer put up shock to action scene , and with Atmos substance , the soundstage is gravid than the dimension of the bar and TV , get slew of sizing and scale to go with Hollywood blockbusters .
It ’s pretty solid performer with music content whether over Wi - Fi orBluetooth , though the former produces a clearer , more elaborate performance . The want ofHDMI eARCis a letdown as it means you wo n’t be get the high timbre Dolby Atmos audio potential , and we ’re not big buff of the conception when it comes to placement of the LED screen . We can barely see it at the best of times given how little it is .
Features includeAmazon Alexavoice mastery , though this would need another connected loudspeaker system to be able to use . AirPlay 2is another means of playing audio recording to the system , while if you have a Samsung Galaxy smartphone , you may tapdance it on the aerofoil of the soundbar and play music to it . If after you ’ve bought the speaker , you ’re looking to upgrade and add more , the S61B does support the SWA-9200S wireless rear loudspeaker system . Anyone with Samsung Q - Symphony compatible TV can also take advantage of that feature of speech , whereby the TV and soundbar speakers combine for a braggart speech sound .
There are other alternative in the market if you are look for a soundbar and subwoofer combo , most notably thePolk MagniFi Mini AX , but its Atmos performance is n’t as convincing as the Samsung .
If you ’re something with an older TV ( say a Pioneer Kuro ) or have a second , smaller telecasting that does n’t have HDMI comment , then theSonos Rayis tailor made for you .
It only supports audio frequency through an optical link , so you wo n’t have to concern about the scourge ofHDMIhandshake issues . Audio through an optic connection keeps matter simple enough , though you do miss out on ripe 3D sound recording like Dolby Atmos andDTS : X. There ’s only enough bandwidth for Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks .
It ’s also not a chic soundbar either as it does not sport any built - in microphone for vox mastery from the likes of as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant . you could still have those smart features , but you ’ll call for to connect the Ray to another overbold utterer .
The design looks a piffling different from otherSonos soundbarswith its tab - shaped look and curved final stage . Our reviewer feel it was a less in - your - aspect purpose that gain the Ray well to blend in with its surroundings more . you’re able to also fit it into an Ab rack if you want to conceal it from aspect .
The sound is surprisingly wide of the mark for its size , with effective basso carrying out too . It offers a clear and obvious improvement on a TV with dialogue realize audio tracks much easier to understand . With music we felt it sounded enough , perhaps not quite as honest as it is with TV series and film , but passable enough . For its primary problem of make audio clearer , the Sonos Ray does a brilliant task .
While a small soundbar is helpful in term of reduce space , its size is n’t always great for producing a more cinematic strait , especially when it come to freshwater bass . ThePolk MagniFi Mini AXhas you covered in that respect .
This an ultra - compactDolby Atmos / DTS :X soundbar from American make Polk , and it disagree from other options on this listing in that it is not just an all - in - one try but one that comes with sizeable subwoofer . This allow it produce and energetic and dynamic performance , and given the weight and big businessman behind the subwoofer ’s carrying out , it ’s probably one that ’s certain to alarm the neighbours to what you ’re watch .
In our opinion the Polk does n’t full suffice as an immersive soundbar but performs better than theCreative Stage 360 . It can do a decent impression of height effect but not with the greatest gumption of definition , while its soundstage is front sullen , though you may add Polk ’s SR2 fence speakers as literal line for a expectant sense of space . Dialogue can be enhance with Polk ’s VoiceAdjust technology , although we find out that while it did its job of boosting voices , it also had a leaning to stir ring randomness as well .
Tonally we felt the soundbar go accurate and there ’s good grade of point and clarity to enjoy when the soundbar is put into its 3D musical mode , which also gives a bigger , across-the-board soundstage to Atmos andDTS :X soundtracks . With music it ’s a solid performing artist , playing music with a crispness that we found head off sibilance or harshness .
It has an regalia of connections that ’s swell than LG’sÉclair soundbar , with Chromecast available along with Bluetooth , AirPlay 2 , Spotify Connect and a USB connection that can roleplay MP3 medicine . With Atmos and DTS :X support for the same price as theSonos Sub Mini , this is a good economic value soundbar / subwoofer combination .
TheRoku Streambaris a rarified machine in that is does two thing for the damage of one . You get a soundbar and video pennant all rolled into one for the comparatively low price of £ 129 / $ 130 . If you see them during a sales agreement , you’re able to get them for even less .
This is a smart trivial option for those after a no - folderal performance for both video and sound . There ’s no Dolby Atmos support so all you ’ll get is a two-channel performance . For its size it has a good grasp over dialogue , though it ’s not as cinematic as some of the models on this inclination .
It does put in a decent performance in terms of sea bass , giving the low oddment some slug , and the soundstage is wider than you ’d think for a soundbar of its sizing as it fires sound out towards its side .
It ’s not too tatty at performing its duties as a video streamer either . If your TV is n’t the smart , it has all the major pour apps track inNetflix , Prime Video , Disney+and theFreeview Playcatch - up apps ( in the UK ) . It back up 4 K HDR content , putting in a colourful performance , and its upscaling is comme il faut enough that you could get away with watch 720p streams on a4 K television .
Like Roku ’s tv set , it comes with a range of feature film that includesAirPlay 2andApple HomeKit , although there ’s no built - in interpreter help if that ’s what you ’re looking for . The interface is wide-eyed and easy to use , making this an approachable gadget for people of all ages to employ and understand .
FAQs
No , but it ’s full for them to at least be standardized in size . For a full - size soundbar , it ’s best to partner them with TVs 50 - in and above . With thick soundbars that TVs ’ 49 - in and smaller would be the good fit .
No , you wo n’t ask a soundbar that ’s the same stigma as the TV . Any soundbar can figure out with any TV it is connected to . Where you may require to view is whether the soundbar and TV have been optimised to work well with each other . LG and Sony both have soundbars that ploughshare features with their respective TVs .
Test Data
Full Specs
