Best Soundbars of 2026
Wirecutter’s top soundbar is the Vizio Elevate 7.1.4 Pro at about $450. The TCL S55H is the best cheap soundbar at about $110, and Samsung’s Q990H is the surround-sound upgrade.
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Quick answer
Wirecutter’s top soundbar is the Vizio Elevate 7.1.4 Pro at about $450. The TCL S55H is the best cheap soundbar at about $110, and Samsung’s Q990H is the surround-sound upgrade. Best overall: Vizio Elevate 7.1.4 Pro Soundbar, $448. Best budget: TCL S55H Soundbar, $109. Best full surround: Samsung HW-Q990H Soundbar, $1,498. Best one-piece: Sonos Arc Ultra, $1,099.
Last updated Prices checked Oct 2026
Key facts at a glance
| Pick | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Vizio Elevate 7.1.4 Pro Soundbar | most people | $448 |
| Best budget | TCL S55H Soundbar | a budget | $109 |
| Best full surround | Samsung HW-Q990H Soundbar | full surround sound | $1,498 |
| Best one-piece | Sonos Arc Ultra | a single bar | $1,099 at Sonos |
This list draws on Wirecutter’s[2] soundbar guide (updated September 2026) and PCMag’s[3] (updated August 2026), with prices checked October 2026. A soundbar is the easiest audio upgrade for a new TV. See best 65-inch TVs and best OLED TVs.
Which should you buy? Our quick picks
How do they compare?
| Soundbar | Price seen | Channels | Pick | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vizio Elevate 7.1.4 Pro | $448 (Walmart) | 7.1.4 with sub and surrounds | Wirecutter top pick | Most people |
| TCL S55H | $109 (Amazon) | 2.1 | Wirecutter budget pick | A budget |
| Samsung HW-Q990H | $1,498 | 11.1.4 | Wirecutter upgrade pick | Full surround sound |
| Sonos Arc Ultra | $1,099 | 9.1.4 one-piece | PCMag best one-piece | A single bar |
| Sonos Beam (Gen 2) | $499 | Compact Atmos | PCMag best midrange | Smaller rooms |
| JBL Bar 1300X | $1,199.95 | Detachable rears | PCMag best modular | Flexible surrounds |
| LG S70TY | $299 | 3.1.1 | PCMag best budget spatial | Cheap Atmos |
| Bose Lifestyle Ultra | $1,798 with sub; $1,090.98 bar only | Atmos bar | Wirecutter style pick; PCMag | — |
| Roku Streambar SE | $113.99 | 2.0 with streaming | PCMag best media hub | A streamer and bar in one |
The picks in detail
1. Vizio Elevate 7.1.4 Pro Soundbar
Best for: most peopleWirecutter’s[2] top pick gives you a full Atmos system for about $450: motorized up-firing speakers, four surround channels and a subwoofer. The catch is connectivity. It has one HDMI eARC port and Bluetooth, but no Wi-Fi or remote, and its app needs a Walmart account.
Price (Oct 2026): $448 Source
Pros
- Full 7.1.4 system for the price
- Motorized up-firing speakers
- Sub and surrounds included
Cons
- No Wi-Fi
- No remote
- App needs a Walmart account
2. TCL S55H Soundbar
Best for: a budgetWirecutter[2] calls this 2.1-channel bar the best it has heard under $200. It was $109 at Amazon. It’s a big step up from TV speakers for little money.
Price (Oct 2026): $109 Source
Pros
- Best 2.1 bar under $200 (Wirecutter)
- Cheap
Cons
- No surround or Atmos height
3. Samsung HW-Q990H Soundbar
Best for: full surround soundWirecutter’s[2] upgrade pick has 11.1.4 channels with a subwoofer and two wireless surrounds. Wirecutter says it has the strongest overhead effect and the best voice clarity it tested, plus AI Adaptive Sound. PCMag’s[3] full-surround pick is last year’s Q990F at $1,597.99.
Price (Oct 2026): $1,498 Source
Pros
- Strongest overhead effect (Wirecutter)
- Best voice clarity
- Sub and surrounds included
Cons
- Expensive
- Lots of boxes in your room
4. Sonos Arc Ultra
Best for: a single barPCMag’s[3] best one-piece soundbar has excellent bass, Atmos and clear dialogue. It lists at $1,099 at Sonos (PCMag saw $1,087) and is large. Wirecutter[2] had connection issues with it on Android and with the Sub 4.
Price (Oct 2026): $1,099 at Sonos Source
Pros
- Excellent bass for one bar
- Clear dialogue
- Sonos multiroom
Cons
- Expensive
- Large
- Connection issues in Wirecutter’s tests
5. Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Best for: smaller roomsPCMag’s[3] midrange pick is compact and supports Atmos for $499. It has no Bluetooth, little bass without a Sonos sub, and its Trueplay tuning only works with an iPhone.
Price (Oct 2026): $499 Source
Pros
- Compact
- Sonos ecosystem
Cons
- No Bluetooth
- Little bass without a sub
- Trueplay is iOS-only
6. JBL Bar 1300X
Best for: flexible surroundsPCMag’s[3] best modular soundbar has wireless rear speakers that detach from the bar. They need charging when you use them as surrounds. It costs $1,199.95.
Price (Oct 2026): $1,199.95 Source
Pros
- Detachable wireless rears
- Surround without wiring
Cons
- Rears need charging
7. LG S70TY Soundbar
Best for: cheap AtmosPCMag’s[3] budget spatial-audio pick is a 3.1.1 system for $299. It has no Wi-Fi.
Price (Oct 2026): $299 Source
Pros
- Atmos height channel for $299
- Dedicated center channel
Cons
- No Wi-Fi
8. Roku Streambar SE
Best for: a streamer and bar in onePCMag’s[3] media hub pick adds Roku streaming to a basic soundbar for $113.99. It’s a good pick for a bedroom TV.
Price (Oct 2026): $113.99 Source
Pros
- Built-in Roku streaming
- Cheap
Cons
- Basic sound
Also considered
Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar: Wirecutter’s[2] style pick ($1,798 with sub) and PCMag’s[3] Sonos alternative ($1,090.98 bar only). No remote or aux input.
Marshall Heston 120: PCMag’s best design pick at $1,299.99.
What the channel numbers mean
The first number is the main speakers, the second is the subwoofer and the third is the up-firing height speakers for Dolby Atmos. A 2.1 bar like the TCL S55H has left and right speakers plus a sub. A 7.1.4 or 11.1.4 system adds surround and height speakers.
Connect with HDMI eARC
Use your TV’s HDMI eARC port for the best sound and to control volume with the TV remote. If your TV has only a few HDMI ports, check before buying. PCMag[3] noted the Hisense U8QG has only three. See best 65-inch TVs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best soundbar?
What is the best cheap soundbar?
Do I need a subwoofer?
Will a soundbar work with any TV?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Oct 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
- Sonos: Arc Ultra (US store, Oct 2026) (sonos.com)
- Wirecutter: The best soundbars (Sept 2026) (nytimes.com)
- PCMag: The best soundbars (Aug 2026) (pcmag.com)
Related
Sonos Arc Ultra vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
The Arc Ultra is Sonos’s flagship, with 14 drivers, Sound Motion bass and 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos for large rooms. The Beam (Gen 2) costs less than half as much and simulates Atmos height. The new Beam Ultra sits in between.
comparisonSonos vs Bose Soundbars: Arc Ultra vs Lifestyle Ultra
Buy the Sonos Arc Ultra if sound quality and room to grow matter most. Buy the Bose Lifestyle Ultra only if you stream with Google Cast and want one simple upgrade path.
best ofBest 65-Inch TVs of 2026
The Samsung S95H is the best 65-inch OLED if you can pay for it. The LG C6 is the OLED value pick, and the Hisense U6SF Pro is the best budget 65-inch TV at about $700.
best ofBest 4K TVs of 2026
The Samsung S90H is the best TV for most people who can spend about $1,400. On a budget, Vizio’s Mini LED Quantum starts around $250, and TCL and Hisense mini-LEDs are the midrange value picks.
best ofBest OLED TVs of 2026
The Samsung S90H is the best OLED for most rooms. Get the LG C6 if you want Dolby Vision, and the S95H if you watch in a very bright room.
best ofBest Bluetooth Speakers
The JBL Charge 6 is the best all-rounder. The Soundcore Boom 2 is the value pick, and the JBL Clip 5 is the one to clip to a bag.
best ofThe Best Streaming Devices in 2026
The Google TV Streamer is Wirecutter’s best streaming device. Roku is the simplest, Fire TV suits Alexa homes, and Apple’s new Apple TV 4K is the best for iPhone owners, but it now costs $299. Prices went up across the board in 2026.
best ofThe Best Projectors in 2026
The Hisense C2 Ultra is the projector most reviewers agree on for living rooms. Get the Epson LS11000 for a dark home theater, the BenQ TK710 for 3D on a budget, the Nebula X1 for a very bright all-rounder, or the AURZEN ZIP for a cheap pocket projector.