The design of the HS214 features a simple and intuitive interface, with sensitive control buttons conveniently located on the top of the soundbar for easy access.

As well as wired connections, many soundbars also support Bluetooth for wirelessly connecting phones and tablets and some also have Wi-Fi, allowing for higher-quality music streaming, potential integration in a multiroom wireless speaker network and support for digital voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. Best of all, a decent soundbar doesn’t need to cost a fortune and, unlike stereo speakers, soundbars blend much more discreetly into your living room decor, resulting in a cleaner, more minimalist look.We assess every aspect of a soundbar during testing, from build quality and ease of setup to audio performance and customisation options.

This cookie is set by Bazaarvoice. This is a session cookie used for internal Bazaarvoice web analytics to be correlated to the same user browsing session for interactions within a particular client domain. This is because as TVs have become slimmer, their in-built speakers have shrunk and are often positioned at the rear or underneath the screen – hardly the ideal position as large speakers that face forward will always be clearer and louder than tiny speakers pointing in another direction. We used the music EQ setting without the surround enhancement for most of our testing. Both cinema and surround use processing to give the impression of width, but this has the effect of over-emphasising high frequencies and creating artefacts. The soundbar also has a small LED display that shows the current status, such as volume level and input source.

The best soundbars you can buy in 2023

Hisense HS214 Soundbar is fully compatible with any Roku TV through one cable HDMI ARC and uses only one Roku TV remote to control both, easier setup and better integrated on-screen Soundbar settings experience during use. The Dolby Audio support enhances the audio quality, delivering clear and dynamic sound and making movies and games more engaging. If you’re seeking to recreate a cinematic experience at home, there are no two ways about it, you need the best soundbar you can afford.

This cookie is set by the Bazaarvoice. The cookie allows internal Bazaarvoice web analytics to be correlated to the same user for interactions across the Bazaarvoice network. The absence of an in-built voice assistant and the decision not to include a remote sting a little, particularly given how much the Dione costs, but in terms of style and performance, few standalone soundbars get close to the Dione. There is little more frustrating than not being able to hear dialogue when watching a TV show or movie, but inevitably, varying levels of speech clarity combined with how busy the soundscape is and the overall style of the mix can mean that whispery, mumbly vocals hinder even a top-quality, room-tuned soundbar.Soundbars with Atmos generally have upwards-firing speakers that bounce audio off the ceiling to achieve this audio height and this can be very effective, although how effective they are depends on how high your ceilings are. There’s usually an optimal height, which you can find in the specifications. As most of the models listed don't have app support, you should also look for a decent remote control, ample connections appropriate for your set-up and of course that all-important sound quality. But rest assured, all of the soundbars above sound good – you can read the full, in-depth review attached with each if you need further information and if a model's not on this list, it's because we wouldn't recommend it.

Sports mode is one of four EQ presets available, with movie, music and night modes also on offer. They all do a good job at enhancing your audio experience when watching the content they’re designed to cater to, while Polk’s Voice Adjust technology allows you to increase how prominent dialogue is in the audio and works very well. ARRAffinity cookie is set by Azure app service, and allows the service to choose the right instance established by a user to deliver subsequent requests made by that user. Fortunately, most soundbars have speech enhancement feature settings that will typically raise the volume of the centre channel and crispen up the EQ to help improve dialogue audibility. Not every brand implements this with sophistication, and sometimes these modes can sound thin and harsh, but once again, it's always worth experimenting to find what works for you and your space. How we test soundbarsTartalom személyre szabása Ezek a sütik lehetővé teszik számunkra, hogy az Önről rendelkezésre álló információk alapján tartalmakat és hirdetéseket jelenítsünk meg Önnek, hogy a lehető legjobban ki tudjuk elégíteni az Ön igényeit. Ez legfőképpen ahhoz kapcsolódik, hogy milyen tartalmat tekintett meg, illetve milyen eszközzel lépett be az oldalunkra. If your soundbar comes with its own automatic calibration software, then make sure you run it, so the soundbar’s audio output is matched to your room’s layout and characteristics. The Sonos Beam (Gen 2), for example, uses Sonos's Trueplaysoftware in conjunction with your smartphone's microphone to tailor its sound. If you’re part of the Alexa smart home ecosystem and want an affordable soundbar to slot neatly into it, the Polk React is the best choice around. If you’ve got a bit more cash to play with and want superior audio quality, we recommend you take a look at the Sonos Beam 2. The SF150 also features Sony's S-Force Front Surround technology, which applies processing to give the acoustic impression of a more encompassing sound stage. While it's certainly no replacement for proper surround sound,it does add a more dramatic sense of weight and separation.