Are you looking to upgrade your home theater setup? With countless impressive soundbar options available, finding the perfect fit can feel overwhelming. But don't worry; we've taken on the hard work for you.
Sonos is still at the peak of networked whole-home speaker systems, and its soundbars are some of the best. After extensive testing by our team of sound nerds, we’ve identified the best Sonos soundbars on the market to suit a range of needs and budgets.
First up is the all-new Sonos Arc Ultra, our top overall pick. It boasts immersive Dolby Atmos support, delivering exceptional surround sound and easy setup within a sleek, modern design.
For those seeking a more affordable option, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) stands out with its compact design and Dolby Atmos capabilities, too, making it perfect for smaller spaces without sacrificing performance.
If you’re on a tight budget, the Sonos Ray is an excellent choice. It offers impressive sound quality for its price, ensuring you get the best boom for your buck.
Curious which soundbar is right for you? Check out our in-depth roundup, where we delve into the pros, cons, and key specifications of each model.
The best overall Sonos soundbar
Sonos Arc Ultra
- Big, powerful bass
- Clear and intelligible dialogue
- Immersive Dolby Atmos
- Great for music and movies
- Lots of expansion options
- Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay
- No HDMI input
- No remote
- Highs can be slightly harsh
- Sonos app is still buggy
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Dolby Atmos | Yes |
| Ideal room size | Large rooms |
| TV connections | HDMI eARC, optical |
Curious about what sets the new Sonos Arc Ultra apart?
Sonos has recently unveiled its latest flagship Dolby Atmos soundbar, the Arc Ultra, and it truly stands out in a crowded market. As the successor to the popular Arc, this soundbar introduces remarkable enhancements in bass, dialogue clarity, and overall sound quality, making it a noteworthy upgrade.
One of the standout features of the Arc Ultra is its groundbreaking Sound Motion woofer, which delivers impressively deep and articulate bass. This innovation positions the Arc Ultra as a comprehensive sound solution that may not even require a separate subwoofer. Coupled with an increased number of tweeters, it provides an immersive Dolby Atmos experience like no other.
Beyond its audio capabilities, the Arc Ultra also offers Bluetooth connectivity and supports lossless audio, hi-res formats, and Dolby Atmos Music when used with the Sonos app. While the absence of an HDMI input (there is an eARC output, though) and a physical remote are minor drawbacks, the overall performance and features make the Arc Ultra a compelling choice for audio enthusiasts.
The best runner-up Sonos soundbar
Sonos Arc
- Excellent surround sound
- Easy and simple setup
- Decent Dolby Atmos from a single speaker
- Choice of Alexa or Google Assistant
- No HDMI inputs
- Not ideal for all music genres
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Dolby Atmos | Yes |
| Ideal room size | Large rooms |
| TV connections | HDMI eARC |
The Sonos Arc, like the Arc Ultra, is certainly an investment, but for those prioritizing audio quality, it justifies its price tag. But get one while they last, as they are being phased out to make way for the Arc Ultra. Or, just pay the extra $100 for the Ultra.
The Arc soundbar is designed for easy installation and optimization, seamlessly syncing with other audio equipment to enhance your overall sound experience. For shoppers seeking the best soundbar in the Sonos lineup, the Arc comes highly recommended.
Featuring up-firing drivers and support for Dolby Atmos, the Sonos Arc excels at delivering immersive audio. It creates remarkable soundscapes, allowing each effect to feel as if it originates from different locations throughout your room. Additionally, it boasts HDMI eARC support, touch controls, and voice assistant compatibility, making it a top contender in the market.
However, the primary drawback of the Sonos Arc is its price. At $900 (though you can find them for less now that they're on the way out), it is significantly more expensive than the Beam and Ray models, though it is somewhat less costly than the Arc Ultra. Nevertheless, if you're unwilling to compromise on quality, the Sonos Arc is definitely worth considering.
The best midrange Sonos soundbar
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
- Dolby Atmos support
- Room-filling sound
- Easy installation
- Lacks hardware found on the Arc
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Dolby Atmos | Yes |
| Ideal room size | medium to large |
| TV connections | HDMI eARC |
Clocking in at nearly half the price of the Arc, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) strikes an appealing balance between performance and affordability. While it supports Dolby Atmos, it lacks the extensive array of digital amplifiers, tweeters, and mid-woofers found in the Arc and Arc Ultra, which may deter dedicated audiophiles. However, for those seeking an upgraded home theater experience without committing $900 or $1,000 to a premium soundbar, the Beam (Gen 2) presents a compelling option.
The Beam is easy to install and integrates seamlessly with the Sonos app, allowing you to customize its EQ settings. It also features HDMI eARC for enhanced connectivity. Its more compact design makes it ideal for smaller spaces or TVs, a significant advantage over bulkier models.
Additional key features include Trueplay, which optimizes acoustics for your specific room, support for Apple AirPlay 2, and convenient voice controls for improved usability. If you’re exploring alternatives, be sure to check out our roundup of the best soundbars of 2024, showcasing several excellent options in the same price range as the Beam.
The best budget Sonos soundbar
Sonos Ray
- Compact for versatile placement
- Impressive sound for its size
- Expandable to a full 5.1 system
- Easy setup and control
- Pricey for a small soundbar
- Lacks a bit of midrange detail
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Dolby Atmos | Yes |
| Ideal room size | medium to large |
| TV connections | Optical |
The Sonos Ray is a compact soundbar that measures just 22 inches wide, making it an ideal choice for rooms of all sizes, particularly when paired with small TVs or gaming setups. While it does not support Dolby Atmos, its price point of under $300 makes that a minor trade-off.
This little powerhouse is designed with four Class-D digital amplifiers, two tweeters, and two midwoofers, delivering impressive sound quality. You can fine-tune its performance using the Sonos app, which features an adjustable EQ. Additionally, the Ray benefits from Trueplay technology, allowing it to measure the acoustic properties of your room and optimize its sound output accordingly. Though it lacks Atmos support, it does support DTS Digital Surround and Dolby Digital for a rich audio experience.
Another advantage of the Sonos Ray is its compatibility with Apple AirPlay 2, as well as its seamless integration with other Sonos products. This allows you to enhance your audio setup gradually by adding more speakers over time.
While the Ray may not be as fully featured as the Arc models, it stands out as a versatile soundbar in its price range, providing excellent value and performance for budget-conscious consumers.
How we chose the best Sonos soundbars
Sonos makes a handful of soundbars, and all of them are easy recommendations. However, they're all designed for different purposes – and different budgets. Here's a look at how we chose the best Sonos soundbars for 2024.
Sound quality
Above all else, a soundbar needs to produce incredible sound. Whether you're listening to quiet dialogue or booming explosions, a soundbar should be able to hit all the right notes. We also took into account how whether or not these Sonos soundbars can sync with other devices to create a robust sound system for your home.
Design
Let's face it – soundbar design is pretty boring. They're essentially long tubes stuffed with speakers and drivers and other audio components, and it's hard to make a soundbar look striking. Still, you're going to be seeing the device whenever you watch TV, so it's important that it's not so flashy it distracts from the action but not so clunky it's an eyesore. Sonos doesn't make cheap, clunky products, so this category was largely a tossup, as all its products are equally well designed.
Pricing
The more expensive a product, the more it should offer. We considered how much bang for your buck you're getting with every Sonos soundbar to ensure this list contains the perfect soundbar for every budget. If a product was overpriced and didn't pack in enough premium features, it was left out of the roundup.
