Greatest Dolby Atmos Soundbar for 2023

On the subject of soundbars, there are many options you will wish to search for, however by far the preferred 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 flicks for a extra dynamic and immersive sound and higher listening expertise. The very best Dolby Atmos soundbar choices are capable of ship distinctive audio high quality that fills your room. 

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

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

Although you’ll be able to simply cease on the $500 mark, there are advantages available from the dearer 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 glorious multiroom capabilities.

If you need 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 evaluation new merchandise. Bear in mind: A few of these merchandise are at present on backorder, so verify again to see if a particular mannequin is as soon as once more in inventory.

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The Vizio M512a improves on its predecessor in virtually each method: it appears to be like 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. For those who’re in search of essentially the most cost-effective method so as to add Dolby Atmos to your tv that is the one.

Learn our Vizio M512a-H6 evaluation.

 

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The Polk Signa S4 is the most cost effective soundbar with Dolby Atmos on board but, nevertheless it would not sacrifice efficiency to get that worth down. This can be a 3.1.2 channel soundbar with a bunch 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.

Learn our Polk Signa S4 evaluation.

 

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For those who 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 contains the whole lot else you need from a contemporary soundbar, together with a number of HDMI inputs and Wi-Fi music streaming.

Learn our Vizio Elevate P514A-H6 evaluation.

 

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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 to this point succeeded. The Bose Good Soundbar 600 gives devoted top audio system in a compact soundbar, and its sound high quality is high notch. The speaker additionally provides in multiroom music and the Alexa voice assistant as nicely.

Learn our Bose Good Soundbar 600 evaluation.

 

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If you need the perfect 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 will want a 2019 or newer 4K TV to benefit from it, and but it nonetheless performs higher than most. The Arc gives a bunch of nice options too, together with a alternative of voice assistant and Sonos’ glorious streaming structure.

Learn our Sonos Arc evaluation.

 

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Need the last word Atmos audio dwelling theater sound system expertise with only a single field? It might be a grand greater than the Sony however the Sennheiser Ambeo Max standalone soundbar gives the perfect immersive sound we have ever heard. It contains each Google Chromecast built-in and Bluetooth for streaming connectivity. The Ambeo is ready to sound full with out a subwoofer and this must be particularly enticing to condominium dwellers.

Learn our Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar evaluation.

 

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How I check

At CNET I check audio gear from compact soundbars although to {surround} sound audio system techniques, however whatever the machine my methodology is basically the identical. I at all times examine merchandise towards a number of reference gadgets which provide the perfect efficiency at an identical worth. 

On the subject of soundbars I wish to see how nicely a system performs with music in addition to with films, as most individuals will wish 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 variety of check music tracks and consider any streaming options resembling Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It is techniques that may carry out nicely with each forms of leisure that inevitably rating the best.

Different soundbars I’ve examined

I’ve examined the next soundbars within the CNET audio lab towards fashions of an identical worth. Every if these soundbars are worthy in their very own method, however aren’t fairly as recommendable as our major picks.

• Sonos Beam Gen 2 ($499) The Beam might solely supply simulated top audio system, nevertheless it’s the perfect simulated Atmos I’ve heard but. The Sonos Beam additionally gives plenty of options, whereas the Bose Soundbar 600 and Vizio M512a-H6 ship even higher Atmos efficiency for a similar cash. Learn CNET’s evaluation of the Sonos Beam Gen 2.
• Bose Good Soundbar 900 ($899): This can be a nice Bose soundbar, and it pairs nicely with the corporate’s QuietComfort headphones for late-night listening, nevertheless it’s merely not as sturdy because the Sonos Arc. Learn CNET’s evaluation of the Bose Good Soundbar 600
• LG QP5 Eclair ($599): Very cute, minimalist system which gives actual Dolby Atmos from two packing containers. Nonetheless, I discovered that its efficiency would not match the $500-$600 asking worth with a surprisingly over-bright sound. Learn 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 gives most of the identical options together with Chromecast built-in and voice help. I discovered the sound was enveloping and music to be extra nuanced than a few of the cheaper ‘bars. But, at its retail worth of $1,500 it isn’t fairly $600 higher than the Sonos Arc, neither is {surround} sound as convincing because the Max. Learn CNET’s first take of the Sennheiser Ambeo Plus.

Take a look at my soundbar shopping for information for extra concerning the options and issues it’s best to think about when in search of a brand new system.

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