Dolby Atmos soundbars are the simple way to home theater paradise, no matter how big your room is

(Image credit: flatpanelshd)

You can enjoy more natural and immersive audio from your favourite TV series and films with the best Dolby Atmos soundbars. This is because Dolby Atmos is a surround sound system that, instead of being fixed to a specific speaker in a setup, isolates sounds to individual objects – a dog barking, a helicopter overhead, or someone yelling – and can be mapped in 3D space.

It will therefore sound as though a helicopter is flying over your head if you can see one flying above you on screen. In essence, sound is more precisely and effectively positioned than with standard surround sound, depending on what you’re watching on the screen.

When combined with a surround sound speaker system, the best AV receivers don’t provide the same flawless presentation of Dolby Atmos soundtracks, but those configurations can be costly and take up a lot of room. The greatest soundbars excel in this situation, and the best Dolby Atmos soundbars are a simple solution for creating an amazing home theatre experience.

The best soundbars of 2024

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As our top choice, the Samsung HW-Q800C is a Dolby Atmos soundbar that offers excellent performance that belies its budget. It is likely to be suitable for most users. Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are supported by the HW-Q800C, which uses two upfiring drivers to deliver the height channels. It also has extensive compatibility for a variety of music files, including high-resolution FLAC. Additionally, you get an HDMI passthrough system and Samsung’s Q-Symphony technology if you pair the soundbar with a current Samsung TV.

We discovered during testing that the Q800C provides amazing power and superb channel navigation for TV series and films. Even without any back speakers, the bass is very deep, the dialogue is understandable, and the spatial effects are believable.

It has an industrial vibe to it. The main part of the Samsung HW-Q800C soundbar is similar to other bars in the series, and at 1111mm (43.4 inches) wide, it’s not too big to fit under your TV; in fact, it’s about the same width as a 50-inch TV.

Samsung did away with the rear speakers and part of the size and power of its top Q990C soundbar, which is why the HW-Q800C is so inexpensive. Its “bar-plus-subwoofer” combo, however, nevertheless promises 5.1.2 genuine channels and more power than most competing soundbars at this price range. This is the reason it’s our best choice for Dolby Atmos—in addition to being a competent soundbar, it’s also reasonably priced.

Sony performed flawlessly when it came to producing powerful sound in a small package. Its low-cost soundbar, the HT-S2000, achieves the ideal mix between taking up minimal valuable screen space and providing your TV’s audio with a significant boost in immersive audio strength.

During our testing, we remarked that we were taken away by its “impressive level of immersion given its basic speaker array and compact form factor – much of this is owed to Sony’s proprietary processing”. Aside from the exceptionally powerful immersive audio processing capability, two other standout aspects of the sound quality that we reviewed were the distinct bass and crisp conversation.

But it’s not all positive feedback. The HT-S2000’s reasonably low price tag comes with a price price: just Bluetooth 5.2 wireless streaming capabilities, one HDMI connection, and an optical digital input. However, you can still pair the HT-S2000 with other Sony speakers and subwoofers.

Previous sales have seen the Sony HT-S2000 drop from $499 and £449 in the US and the UK to $349 and £299 in the UK, respectively. As such, if you are able to purchase one of these alternatives to the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) (ranked #9 in our list), it is worth keeping an eye out for a deal.

Budget-friendly Dolby Atmos soundbars are usually single-unit devices that use virtual processing to provide surround sound and Atmos height effects. The Hisense AX5125H breaks with that tradition by using actual upfiring speakers on its main soundbar, combined with wireless surround speakers and a subwoofer for an astonishingly low $350 / £350 / AU$450 price.

When we examined Hisense’s low-cost 5.1.2-channel system, we were taken aback by its “effective Dolby Atmos delivery” and unexpectedly expansive soundstage, which allowed every element of the soundtrack plenty breathing room. In our evaluation of the sound quality of the AX5125H system, dialogue was also “crystal clear.”Though the surround speakers’ performance occasionally became overpowering when exposed to loud soundtrack mixes, overall the system’s powerful sound amazed us considering its low cost.

You wouldn’t expect excellent build quality for a $350 soundbar system, and the Hisense falls short in that regard. Although it has a quite plain and simple appearance, it does have a front-panel alphanumeric display that gives you visual feedback as you alter the system using the included remote control. This is a valuable feature that is uncommon at this price point.

The Hisense AX5125H doesn’t have the best sound quality when it comes to music because it only has Bluetooth onboard for wireless music streaming, but we still found that listening to music was pleasurable and that it could be played loudly without overtaxing the system. A 5.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos sound system that performs better than this Hisense kit will cost you a lot more money, and for most people, we believe that Hisense’s low-cost soundbar will be more than adequate.

We have the perfect bar and subwoofer combo for you if your budget is precisely $549.99 / £599 / AU$899, since Samsung has priced its HW-Q700C squarely in the middle of the Dolby Atmos soundbar market. Of course, it must be mentioned that the Samsung HW-Q800C, ranked #1 on this list, offers even more powerful audio quality if you are willing to pay a little bit extra.

With 3.1.2 channels of sound coming from a centre, two wide-range tweeters, two dedicated upward firing drivers, and a wireless 6.5-inch subwoofer, the HW-Q700’s soundstage nevertheless feels extraordinarily broad.It obviously doesn’t match the flagship HW-Q990C’s audio capabilities without the rear speakers, which are ranked #4 on our list, but it is still less than half the price.

With the HW-Q700C, you still enjoy excellent sound quality. As we stated in our evaluation: “The Samsung HW-Q700C soundbar did indeed fill my room with sound that evidently had greater height, and during Avengers: Endgame in the main, epic battle at the end, sounds of various spaceships and otherworldly beasts flying in from the sides of the screen did sound as they had come from my side or behind me.”

Its feature list is as diverse, with support for hi-res sound formats like FLAC, AAC, ALAC, WAV, WMA, and MP3 in addition to a variety of networking choices like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, and Tidal Connect.It is shocking to see the HW-Q700C priced at this level given how well-equipped it is and the exceptional value it provides.

The greatest available Dolby Atmos soundbar package is the Samsung HW-Q990D. With 16 “real” audio channels spread across 22 speakers, it offers a powerful, immersive, and controlled Atmos experience, building on the success of its predecessor, the Samsung HW-Q990C.

The Q990D is first and foremost a terrific surround sound system without all the boxes and wires of a full home theatre system. It boasts excellent sound quality. The Q990D’s bass is meaty and powerful, but it also has a delicate touch, giving other aspects of the sound ample space to be heard.

While the Q990D adds 4K 120Hz pass-through on its HDMI connections, it retains many of the same capabilities as the Q990C, including Dolby Atmos music streaming and Tidal and Spotify Connect. One benefit of that feature is that when PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles are connected to the soundbar, gamers may use the Q990D to receive a quicker refresh rate.

It’s true that this soundbar bundle is expensive. However, the Q990D offers best-in-class audio quality and immersion for those who can stretch their budget and are searching for a more elegant alternative to a full home theatre setup.

The best Dolby Atmos soundbar: FAQs

Are Dolby Atmos soundbars worth it?

They are, without a doubt, the most immersive soundbar experience available; they are mostly on the more expensive end of the spectrum. Because of their ability to produce spatial audio with 3D effects, speakers with a large number of angled drivers and sophisticated processing make the most of them. It’s good for cheap soundbars to be able to access the audio quality of Atmos, but it’s considerably less needed because they won’t create the same kind of ‘dome of sound’ effect.

Not every new soundbar, meanwhile, is a Dolby Atmos soundbar. These days, several models from well-known companies, like as LG, Samsung, Sonos, and Sony, come with Dolby Atmos pre-installed. They also come in a variety of sizes and shapes with various capabilities. These days, soundbars are usually an excellent option, regardless of whether you buy a normal or Dolby Atmos model. The greatest TVs now have thinner screens thanks to advancements in screen technology, but this means less room for large speakers. The answer is soundbars.

What are the key features of a Dolby Atmos soundbar?

There is no other way to send Atmos sound between your TV and a Dolby Atmos soundbar other than via HDMI ARC or HDMI eARC. Otherwise, upfiring drivers—two or more speakers pointing upward in addition to speakers facing forward—will be present in the best Atmos soundbars. Dolby Atmos is known for its ability to add height in addition to surround sound, and the best method to do this from a soundbar is with upfiring drivers. Certain Dolby Atmos soundbars employ deft digital processing instead of upfiring drivers to give the audio more height. However, it never works as well as having actual upfiring drivers.

Do I need a Dolby Atmos soundbar with a separate subwoofer?

Some soundbars are one-in-one systems that incorporate all the speakers needed to express Dolby Atmos. Others include a subwoofer, a speaker made expressly to handle the low frequency effects (LFE) and bass in Atmos soundtracks. The subwoofer in most systems is wirelessly connected to the soundbar and can be positioned close by or concealed behind furniture.

Does a soundbar with a wireless subwoofer really need one? Not required, though systems that incorporate one often produce higher bass impact and can play louder than all-in-one designs. Some of the all-in-ones on our list, such as the Bose Smart Soundbar 600 and the Sonos Arc and Beam (Gen 2), can be updated with a wireless subwoofer for an additional price. This allows you to test the soundbar out first and then, if you think the bass is missing, add that option later.

Do I need a Dolby Atmos soundbar with wireless surround speakers?

Not all technology with Dolby Atmos support is available as a soundbar. For instance, the Sonos Era 300 has significantly changed this area. Wireless surround sound speakers are included with some Dolby Atmos soundbars, which contributes to a more immersive audio experience.

Although many Dolby Atmos soundbars are made to produce a “wraparound effect,” in which the sound spills over the edge of the TV screen, these aren’t strictly necessary. However, our testing has revealed that surround sound systems perform better than those without them.

Similar to optional wireless subwoofers, wireless surround sound speakers are also available from Dolby Atmos soundbar manufacturers, such as Sonos, Bose, Samsung, LG, and Sony. These speakers can be added to the system at a later time to improve performance.