Greatest Dolby Atmos Soundbar for 2023

In terms of soundbars, there are many options you may need to search for, however by far the most well-liked and oft-requested by CNET’s readers is Dolby Atmos audio. Like DTS:X, Dolby Atmos differs from customary {surround} sound by including top to your music and films for a extra dynamic and immersive sound and higher listening expertise. The perfect Dolby Atmos soundbar choices are capable of ship distinctive audio high quality that fills your room.

Dolby Atmos soundbars at the moment are extra reasonably priced than ever, particularly in contrast with a traditional Atmos receiver and surround-sound audio system. These soundbars are additionally extra compact and simpler to arrange than a home theater system, with the trade-off being they can not present the identical degree of efficiency.

The Vizio M512a is my favourite Dolby Atmos soundbar for beneath $500 — it presents each devoted top channels and {surround} audio system, and high quality sound into the discount. Some rivals on the value — such because the Sonos Beam Gen 2 and Sony HT-G700 — can solely provide simulated top audio system, when you can hear the distinction that the devoted top audio system of the Bose Smart Soundbar 600 make.

Although you may simply cease on the $500 mark, there are advantages available from the costlier fashions: improved sound high quality, music streaming and voice assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa. For instance, the $900 Sonos Arc is an all-in-one soundbar that gives nice sound, beautiful construct high quality and wonderful multiroom capabilities.

If you’d like a soundbar with Dolby Atmos audio, learn on. These are my favourite Atmos soundbar choices from $400 and up, periodically up to date as I assessment new merchandise. Remember: A few of these merchandise are at present on backorder, so examine again to see if a selected mannequin is as soon as once more in inventory.

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The Vizio M512a improves on its predecessor in nearly each approach: it seems to be higher, it sounds higher, and it is simpler to make use of. Whereas it retains Bluetooth functionality it does lose the power to stream over Wi-Fi. If you happen to’re on the lookout for probably the most cost-effective approach so as to add Dolby Atmos to your tv that is the one.

Read our Vizio M512a-H6 review.

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The Polk Signa S4 is the most affordable soundbar with Dolby Atmos on board but, however it would not sacrifice efficiency to get that value down. This can be a 3.1.2 channel soundbar with a number of helpful sound modes and Bluetooth streaming. The wi-fi soundbar and devoted heights assist it belt out Atmos soundtracks, and it sounds nice with music too.

Read our Polk Signa S4 review.

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If you happen to like a little bit of “excessive tech” in your tech then look to the Vizio Elevate. This can be a 5.1.4 soundbar system that makes use of motorized drivers to change between Atmos and regular {surround} sound. It is not only a gimmick — it additionally sounds good! As well as, the Elevate consists of every part else you need from a contemporary soundbar, together with a number of HDMI inputs and Wi-Fi music streaming.

Read our Vizio Elevate P514A-H6 review.

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Many corporations have tried making a compact, reasonably priced soundbar that may additionally play Atmos, however arguably just one firm has thus far succeeded. The Bose Good Soundbar 600 presents devoted top audio system in a compact soundbar, and its sound high quality is prime notch. The speaker additionally provides in multiroom music and the Alexa voice assistant as effectively.

Read our Bose Smart Soundbar 600 review.

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If you’d like the most effective Dolby Atmos sound from a single bar however balk at paying $1,000 or extra, the Sonos Arc is for you. This soundbar is a bit quirky, as you may want a 2019 or newer 4K TV to profit from it, and but it nonetheless performs higher than most. The Arc presents a bunch of nice options too, together with a alternative of voice assistant and Sonos’ wonderful streaming structure.

Read our Sonos Arc review.

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Need the last word Atmos audio residence theater sound system expertise with only a single field? It could be a grand greater than the Sony however the Sennheiser Ambeo Max standalone soundbar presents the most effective immersive sound we have ever heard. It consists of each Google Chromecast built-in and Bluetooth for streaming connectivity. The Ambeo is ready to sound full with out a subwoofer and this ought to be particularly engaging to condo dwellers.

Read our Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar review.

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How I check

At CNET I check audio tools from compact soundbars although to {surround} sound audio system programs, however whatever the machine my methodology is basically the identical. I at all times evaluate merchandise in opposition to a number of reference gadgets which supply the most effective efficiency at the same value.

In terms of soundbars I need to see how effectively a system performs with music in addition to with films, as most individuals will need to do each. I watch from a handful of check scenes from 4K Blu-ray or streamed from a 4K streaming service (Vudu, for instance) and consider features resembling bass efficiency and dialog readability. I additionally use a number of test music tracks and consider any streaming options resembling Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It is programs that may carry out effectively with each kinds of leisure that inevitably rating the very best.

Different soundbars I’ve examined

I’ve examined the next soundbars within the CNET audio lab in opposition to fashions of the same value. Every if these soundbars are worthy in their very own approach, however aren’t fairly as recommendable as our principal picks.

Sonos Beam Gen 2 ($499) The Beam might solely provide simulated top audio system, however it’s the most effective simulated Atmos I’ve heard but. The Sonos Beam additionally presents plenty of options, whereas the Bose Soundbar 600 and Vizio M512a-H6 ship even higher Atmos efficiency for a similar cash. Read CNET’s review of the Sonos Beam Gen 2.
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 ($899): This can be a nice Bose soundbar, and it pairs effectively with the corporate’s QuietComfort headphones for late-night listening, however it’s merely not as strong because the Sonos Arc. Read CNET’s review of the Bose Smart Soundbar 600
LG QP5 Eclair ($599): Very cute, minimalist system which supplies actual Dolby Atmos from two containers. Nonetheless, I discovered that its efficiency would not match the $500-$600 asking value with a surprisingly over-bright sound. Read CNET’s first take.
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 ($999): A superb soundbar with HDMI connectivity and multiroom music streaming. Whereas music is the place this soundbar shines, the system does value greater than the Arc and the peripherals are costly.
Sennheiser Ambeo Plus ($1,500): A cut-down model of the $2,500 Sennheiser Ambeo Max which presents most of the similar options together with Chromecast built-in and voice help. I discovered the sound was enveloping and music to be extra nuanced than among the cheaper ‘bars. But, at its retail value of $1,500 it is not fairly $600 higher than the Sonos Arc, neither is {surround} sound as convincing because the Max. Read CNET’s first take of the Sennheiser Ambeo Plus.

Take a look at my soundbar buying guide for extra concerning the options and issues it is best to think about when on the lookout for a brand new system.

FAQs

Do I would like HDMI 2.1 to hearken to Atmos?

Dolby Atmos could be performed over a standard HDMI ARC reference to streaming providers which use the Dolby Digital Plus codec, and when it really works it is nice. If you’d like the full-blooded Dolby Atmos expertise then it’s possible you’ll must improve to a brand new TV with an HDMI 2.1 port, as it can allow increased high quality Atmos streams from Blu-ray gamers and gaming consoles.

Is a Dolby Atmos soundbar price paying additional for?

If you happen to’re a gamer or take pleasure in watching the newest blockbusters, then sure, a Dolby Atmos soundbar is price paying extra for. However it is advisable to just remember to have a TV with an HDMI ARC port (for Dolby Digital Plus) and a Dolby Atmos-capable supply such because the Xbox Series X or the newest Roku streamers.

Which connection is greatest for a Dolby Atmos soundbar?

The brief reply is HDMI. The lengthy reply is that there is two methods to get Atmos into one in every of these audio system — the primary, and greatest, is to have a TV with an eARC port (HDMI 2.1). This port is a characteristic of many new TVs and allows Atmos info to be fed out of your TV (by way of both good apps or one other linked machine) to an exterior speaker. Regular HDMI ARC will work for some streaming services that offer Dolby Atmos.

Then again, when you have an older TV and an Atmos supply resembling a Blu-ray participant, you may want a soundbar that has multiple HDMI port. The Vizio M512a allows you to join exterior gadgets instantly by HDMI.