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The Curator independently decides what topics and products we feature. When you purchase an item through our links, we may earn a commission. Promotions and products are subject to availability and retailer terms.
Your huge TV is a dream to watch, but how does it sound? Perhaps a bit weak and tinny? That’s because the amazing slimness of modern flatscreen TVs imposes a very real physical constraint on their built-in speakers. A surround sound system is the dream fix, but they can be tricky to properly install and take up space.
The perfect middle ground? Soundbars. They generate rich, natural, theatre-quality audio, and in some cases will even trick you into experiencing a pseudo-surround sound effect. We’ve rounded up some great options for you to consider from Polk, JBL, Bose and beyond.
A basic bar with a premium feel, Polk’s Signa S3 is a straightforward TV audio upgrade with a sleek design. At just 5 cm tall, it’s pleasantly unobtrusive when mounted to the wall under your TV or placed below the screen on a sideboard or shelf. You also get to enjoy a wireless soundbar, for a signature Polk audio experience marked by rich, natural dialogue and bum-rattling bass. Plus, Polk’s Voice Adjust technology–combined with Dolby Digital 5.1 decoding–keeps dialogue crisp, with three customizable settings to suit everything from late-night streaming to action-packed sports.
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If money means nothing and sound quality means everything, consider this absolute dream soundbar from the audio geniuses at Sennheiser. It delivers 100 watts of power for crystal rich, clear sound, uses virtualization technology to create a theatre-like 7.1.4 surround sound effect, and features built-in 4-inch dual subwoofers for natural, resonant lows. Sound from a bar doesn’t get much better.
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8 Pack Cable Concealer – $22.99
Pipishell Full Motion TV Wall Mount – $39.98
Sonos Sub Mini – White – Compact Wireless Subwoofer – $649
Compact but seriously clever, this Bose soundbar is designed to make everything you watch (or stream) feel bigger, richer, and far more immersive than its size suggests. With Dolby Atmos and Bose’s proprietary TrueSpace technology, it goes beyond standard surround sound–analyzing and upmixing everything from stereo to 5.1 audio into a spacious, multi-channel experience that feels remarkably close to the real thing. Dialogue gets a major upgrade here, too, thanks to an A.I.-powered Dialogue Mode, which ensures voices stay front and centre. When it comes to streaming, it covers all the bases: Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Chromecast are all built in, making it easy to switch from movie night to music mode in seconds.
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Not everyone is an audiophile. If all you want is a basic upgrade over your built-in TV speakers—louder, clearer volume without tinny-ness or distortion—this two-channel soundbar will do the trick. Plus, unlike some of the pricier options on this list, it actually comes with everything you need to get it set up, including an HDMI cable and a wall-mounting kit.
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JBL thought a little outside the box with this one. It’s a 5.1 channel system with a wireless subwoofer that delivers an authentic surround sound simulation. But you can transform it into a true surround sound system by detaching the two speakers on either end of the bar and placing them behind you. They’re battery-powered, so you can just set them on a table and they’re ready to go.
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You may also like:
Universal Speaker Stands – $71.99
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