Best soundbars in 2025 (UK)

If you have a Samsung TV, getting a Samsung soundbar, such as the highly-rated Samsung HW-Q990D, is an absolute no-brainer. They sync with something called Q-Symphony technology, which integrates the sound from the TV and soundbar — meaning both the TV speakers and soundbar work together — and creates an immersive surround sound experience.

For those who don't have a Samsung TV, it's still an incredible option for home cinema viewing, with surround sound coming via three types of speakers within the soundbar itself — front-firing, side-firing, and up-firing — which combine with the included subwoofer and rear speakers. You can place the subwoofer anywhere in the room and throw on an action-packed blockbuster — the floor will literally shake with bass power.

The entire system has 23 built-in speakers in total. Not only that, this soundbar boasts SpaceFit Sound Pro, a clever bit of tech that analyses the room using internal mics and optimises the audio for that particular space.

There are various audio modes, including standard, bass, and gaming. Adaptive sound switches modes depending on what you’re watching, like changing to a different acoustic when watching football. You might find yourself switching it back from the supposedly fancier settings. Standard mode sounds best.

Other features include Personal Listening mode, which just uses the rear speakers to direct sound to your ears — essentially a way of minimising the sound and not disturbing other people in the house — plus Active Voice Amplifier Pro, which boosts dialogue and scales down background noise.

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The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar packs AI-assisted features into its compact, lightweight body. It has a total of nine speakers, with ADAPTiQ technology, which fine-tunes the sound specifically for the shape and size of your room

Bose technology works with Dolby Atmos and creates its distinct sound by separating all the elements — instruments, dialogue, sound effects, explosions — and scattering them around the room, so it sounds like the action is happening around you. In the absence of Dolby Atmos, Bose TrueSpace kicks in and adds “height”, so the sound comes from above. An AI dialogue feature beings speech to the foreground — great for those annoying movies and shows that sound mumbly, no matter how much you crank the volume.

The idea is that the sound is totally immersive whatever you watch — even content from platforms that don't support Dolby Atmos. TrueSpace is always working away in the background to create the best possible sound.

And it's called "Smart" for a reason, with Alexa built-in for all your smart device needs. Bose Voice4Video tech boosts your Alexa voice capabilities even more, allowing you to jump to your favourite TV channel or switch between inputs with simple voice commands. It's also compatible with Google Assistant.

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Just because you don't have the space for larger soundbars doesn't mean you have to sacrifice quality. Most compact options are as good as their oversized brethren. That's certainly true of the Sonos Beam, which gives you that incredible Sonos performance in a smaller package. Don't forget, the Sonos Arc is often rated as the best soundbar around (though availability is an issue). The Sonos Beam is basically just a scaled-down version of the Sonos Arc.

Regardless of the size, the Beam packs in five digital amplifiers, a centre tweeter, and four elliptical midwoofers. The best rooms for the Beam are smaller or mid-size rooms, though it has Trueplay, which measures the acoustics of the room then fine-tunes the soundbar to suit the space. 

On its own, most audio will come through clearly. Dialogue is where it shines, thanks to fine-tuning from Oscar-winning sound engineers. A Speech Enhancement feature in the Sonos app boosts it further. It’s not just about dialogue and movies, though. Sonos boasts that the Beam is made for music, with support for the hi-res formats that include Dolby Atmos Music.

Like most Sonos devices, it can easily be integrated to a whole home audio network, too. You can connect and zone it with the rest of the Sonos speakers you have throughout the house. 

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As we’ve mentioned elsewhere in this round-up, it often makes sense to get a soundbar made by the same manufacturer as your smart TV. If you own a Sony Bravia TV, for instance, the Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9 is a solid choice. That said, it’s also a great choice for anyone who wants sensational sound. That’s pretty much a guarantee when you’re buying from Sony in this price bracket.

The audio is clear, punchy, detailed, and all-encompassing, with 360 Spatial Sound Mapping tech that places the sound all around you. It’s cinema quality sound, and comes via a system of 13 speakers, including side and up-firing speakers and specially designed, highly powerful “X-Balanced” speakers.

As with other high-end soundbars on this list, it adapts to the room, optimising the sound for the space. If you do have a Sony TV, it combines with the TV’s speakers. And if you’re bored of trying to make out mumbly or unclear dialogue, this soundbar also has its own version of dialogue enhancement, Voice Zoom 3. We also like the fact you can control the soundbar using the Bravia app on your smartphone — there’s no need to go searching for that pesky remote control all the time.

It will also sync with streaming platforms on your phone via Bluetooth. If there’s one thing Sony absolutely excels at, it’s great speakers for music and this soundbar is no exception — it’s made for music as much as home cinema viewing, so it will suit anyone who plans to use a soundbar as part of a universal sound system for all kinds of listening.

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POLK is known for delivering good quality speakers at very reasonable prices. The POLK Audio Signa S4 is no different — a soundbar plus subwoofer combo with decent features. And all for just a touch under £330.  

Thanks to the additional wireless subwoofer, you’ll find a good amount of rumbling bass, plus Dolby Atmos-powered 360-degree surround sound. That comes via upward firing speakers, creating a broad soundstage and supporting the kind of expansive audio effect needed for big scale movies.

It offers various listening modes, including a Night Mode for late night watching (great for when others in the house are fast asleep) and POLK’s patented VoiceAdjust, which helps crank up dialogue during particularly quiet scenes. There are also modes specifically for both movies and music. And Bluetooth allows you to stream music directly from your smartphone.

The fact it has eARC is a major bonus too — something that's often missing on lower-priced soundbars. Obviously it can’t compare to the more premium-level options out there, but if you’re working with a lower budget this is a fantastic option. There are even cheaper models in the POLK range too, including the Signa S2 and Signa S3. They all sound like a bargain to us.

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This isn't the only soundbar on our list to come equipped with a wireless subwoofer and two rear speakers, but it is the more premium version. Which is saying something at this level of audio tech. Yes, say hello to the LG US95TR — a seriously premium option for immersive audio. And though it's more of a bundle than a soundbar, the soundbar itself is very much the centrepiece.

It's driven by innovative technology, including a clever up-firing centre speaker that makes dialogue sound as if it’s coming from the mouths of the people on screen. Beyond that, the soundstage is all-encompassing, like you’re slap bang in the middle of the action. It’s a true home cinema set-up.

Dolby Atmos and DTS:X surround sound are boosted by IMAX Enhanced and input from hi-res sound specialists, Meridian. The AI Sound Pro algorithm optimises sound scene-by-scene. Another nice AI feature is AI Room Calibration Pro, which scans the room to find both you and the rear speakers and adjusts the sound and volume for the best possible listening experience. You can also control the soundbar via Alexa or Google Assistant, and stream using the likes of Chromecast, AirPlay, or Spotify.

Yes, it’s expensive. That’s the good and bad of this model. You know you’re getting a premium kit. That doesn’t make forking out £1,700 any less painful but check out the Amazon listing: You may find a generous discount.

You’ll also get more from the sound and features if you're already part of the brand's ecosystem. If you've already got an LG smart TV, this is one for you.

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When it comes to everyday consumer audio devices, Sony is pretty much the best in the business. We've made that much clear already. But it also applies when you're shopping at the lower end of the price bracket. Which is why we strongly recommend the Sony HT-SF150, a classy looking, highly competent soundbar at a super affordable price.

Equipped with HDMI ARC, it has three listening modes: Standard, cinema, and music. Cinema mode makes use of S-Force Front Surround technology. That's not quite proper surround sound, but rather Sony's budget equivalent. It emulates cinematic surround sound by combining an S-Force front surround and a Bass Reflex speaker. The result punches well above the price point.

Does it deliver the very best sound? Well, no, not at this price. But that's to be expected when you're buying for under £100. But assuming you're looking for something that handle movies and TV shows with a bit of oomph, it's more than capable. It's looks the part too, and — unlike other budget speakers — this soundbar doesn't have those cheap eyesore vibes.

It's relatively low on features and spec overall — it's lacking Dolby Atmos, for instance — but another nice touch is the ability to boost the dialogue levels, along with with Dolby Dynamic Range Control, which adjusts the difference between the loudest and quietest sounds, lowering the loudest sounds and boosting the quieter sounds. Just set it to your preferred levels.

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