10 Best Soundbars 2025 in the United States

The Bose TV Speaker is a compact soundbar that aims to enhance your TV audio experience, especially when it comes to dialogue clarity. With its two angled full-range drivers, it provides a wide and natural sound, making it a good choice for movie watching, sports events, or just enjoying your favorite shows. One standout feature is its enhanced dialogue mode, which specifically focuses on making voices clearer, a major plus for those who often struggle to catch every word during dialogue-heavy scenes.

Connectivity is user-friendly, supporting Bluetooth, HDMI-ARC, Optical, and AUX, allowing you to easily pair your devices for streaming music or podcasts. The setup is straightforward, as a single cable connection links the soundbar to your TV, making it accessible even for those who aren't tech-savvy.

In terms of size, the Bose TV Speaker is just over 2 inches tall, making it easy to fit in front of your TV or mount on a wall, which is perfect for smaller spaces. The included remote control adds convenience, enabling features like bass boost and the dialogue mode. However, there are a few drawbacks to consider. While the sound performance is solid for a small unit, it lacks a dedicated subwoofer, which might disappoint those looking for deeper bass. Although you can connect it to an external Bose Bass Module, that requires extra investment and isn't included. The soundbar is also not waterproof, limiting its use in more diverse environments.

The Bose TV Speaker is well-suited for individuals who primarily watch TV shows and movies and prioritize dialogue clarity. It’s user-friendly and compact, making it a practical choice for enhancing home entertainment. If you're seeking a robust bass experience or a more immersive sound setup, exploring additional speaker options or investing in the compatible subwoofer may be beneficial.

The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus is designed for users who want an easy-to-set-up sound upgrade that improves TV audio without adding complexity. Its 3.1 channel setup includes a built-in subwoofer, which means you get balanced sound with decent bass without needing extra speakers. The soundbar supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, offering immersive 3D audio that enhances movies and shows. A dedicated center channel helps make dialogue clearer, which is great for catching every word in movies or sports.

Connectivity is straightforward with HDMI eARC/ARC, optical, USB-A, and Bluetooth, allowing you to easily connect to your TV and stream music from your phone. The size is moderate at 37 inches wide, fitting well under most TVs without being obtrusive. It also offers several sound modes like Movie, Music, Sports, and Night, letting you customize audio depending on what you watch. Fire TV integration means you can control both TV and soundbar with one remote, simplifying use if you’re already in the Amazon ecosystem.

A potential downside is that while the built-in subwoofer is convenient, it may not deliver the deep bass some users expect from a separate subwoofer unit. Also, the soundbar is optimized for TVs with HDMI eARC/ARC ports, so older TVs without these might not experience full feature support. This soundbar is well suited for those looking for a stylish, straightforward upgrade to their TV audio with smart features and solid surround sound effects, especially if they use Fire TV devices.

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a versatile soundbar designed to elevate your home entertainment experience with its Dolby Atmos support, providing a 3D surround sound effect. With a power output of 200 Watts, it offers vibrant bass and clear dialogue for an immersive audio experience. This soundbar is highly compatible, featuring Wi-Fi, Ethernet, HDMI, and wireless connectivity for the subwoofer, making it easy to integrate into your existing setup.

Controlling the soundbar is convenient with multiple options including the Sonos app, TV remote, Apple AirPlay 2, and voice control through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Setting up the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is straightforward, requiring only two cables and guided assistance from the Sonos app, along with smart Trueplay tuning for optimal sound performance. The compact design with dimensions of 3.9 inches deep, 25.6 inches wide, and 2.7 inches high makes it suitable for various living spaces without being intrusive.

However, it lacks a standalone subwoofer, which may impact the depth of bass for some users. Additionally, while it supports multiroom audio and has a built-in microphone, it does not include an MP3 player or water resistance, which limits its versatility in certain environments. The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is ideal for users looking for a compact, easy-to-use soundbar with advanced audio features and seamless integration into a smart home ecosystem.