Soundbars
TV soundbars, judged on dialogue, music, surround effects and connections.
The best soundbar, according to professional reviewers, is the Samsung HW-Q990F: critic score 92 out of 100 from 11 reviews, 11 of them positive. Critics praise its sound quality and performance. The most common complaint is price.
Samsung HW-Q990F
All 11 reviewers recommend Samsung's top soundbar system, a bar plus subwoofer and rear speakers that deliver real surround sound and plenty of connections. It is very expensive and needs room for all the speakers; the Sonos Arc Ultra is the single-bar alternative.
The catch: Very expensive, and needs room for the speakers.
6 of these 11 outlets print no score. We estimated theirs from the review text and corrected for the known tendency of estimates to run high.
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Not the Samsung HW-Q990F? Pick by situation
How do they compare?
| Product | Score | Reviews | Agreement | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung HW-Q990F | 92 | 11 | High | Full surround system |
| Sonos Arc Ultra | 89 | 11 | Medium | Best overall |
| Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar | 85 | 8 | Medium | Clearest dialogue |
| Sonos Beam (Gen 2) | 84 | 9 | High | Mid-size rooms |
| Sonos Ray | 79 | 13 | High | Small rooms |
Common questions
What is the best soundbar?
The Samsung HW-Q990F, with a critic score of 92 from 11 professional reviews. Critics praise its sound quality and performance. The most common complaint is price.
Samsung HW-Q990F vs Sonos Arc Ultra: which is better?
Critics score the Samsung HW-Q990F 92 and the Sonos Arc Ultra 89. We list the Sonos Arc Ultra under “Best overall”. Its main drawback: expensive, and no HDMI passthrough.