If you don't have a lot of space in your living room, a standalone soundbar is a great option to upgrade your TV speakers. These setups are designed to offer an immersive listening experience without the need for a dedicated subwoofer or satellite speakers. Thanks to side-firing and up-firing drivers built into the bar, many all-in-one setups can play surround and Dolby Atmos content.
We've tested over 225 soundbars; below, you'll find the best soundbars without subwoofers to buy. You can see our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, and the best small soundbars.
Quick Look
Our recommendations are built upon our thorough testing and rigorous reviews. Every soundbar we evaluate goes through multiple testing stages with different teams to ensure accurate, authentic results. No cherry-picked units or data.
Curious how we've tested over 200 soundbars (and counting)? Look at our How We Test Soundbars article for a behind-the-scenes look at our lab and process.
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Best All-In-One Soundbar
Mixed Usage7.7Movies7.3Dialogue/TV Shows8.1Build Quality8.0Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration7.6Center8.5Music8.0See all our test resultsStereo Soundstage8.0The best all-in-one soundbar we've tested is the Sonos Arc Ultra. It's a premium soundbar that sounds balanced out of the box with a wide and immersive soundstage that elevates your at-home cinema experience. With support for most audio formats like Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital, alongside DTS, you can reliably expect your audio to play nicely with streaming platforms and Blu-rays. Its discrete center channel ensures dialogue comes through as clearly and as intended by the filmmakers. If you have trouble making out speech, there's an adjustable 'Voice Enhancement' tool, in addition to room correction ('TruePlay'), and a handful of other digital-signal-processor (DSP) effects, height adjustments, and bass and treble sliders.
If you already have other Sonos products, you can integrate them via their app, including the Sonos Ace and their speakers, such as the Sonos Era 300, or select older subwoofer models. That said, the soundbar, on its own, has an integrated sub, which helps to add a bit more boom to explosions. Still, on the downside, it only has one HDMI port and doesn't have any HDMI In ports, so if video passthrough is essential, check out our pick for gaming. It doesn't include a remote, so you'll need to use your device's app (for iOS and Android) or set it up to work with your TV's remote, and some features, like the 'advanced' room correction, require an iOS device to configure. If you want the same access to features regardless of whether your device runs on iOS or Android, such as room correction, check out the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar. It's another premium standalone bar with a wide and immersive soundstage, though its surround performance isn't quite as impressive as what you get with the Sonos, and it doesn't support DTS content.
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Best Mid-Range All-In-One Soundbar
Mixed Usage7.3Movies6.9Dialogue/TV Shows7.8Build Quality8.0Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration7.3Center8.3Music7.5See all our test resultsStereo Soundstage7.0The Samsung HW-S60D is a solid mid-range standalone soundbar. It's a well-made 5.0 soundbar and stylishly blends in with your decor without drawing too much attention to itself. That said, its stereo soundstage isn't as wide, and due to the absence of up-firing drivers, the Dolby Atmos height is lacking compared to the high-end Sonos Arc Ultra. However, the Samsung gets a bit louder at max volume and offers more manual control over the sound settings. You can use the room correction tool, which automatically adjusts the sound to suit your space's unique acoustics. Plus, a plethora of tools like graphic EQ and EQ presets, as well as dialogue and night modes, alongside additional height adjustments, let you tweak the sound further.
With its expansive wireless connectivity, you can easily connect via Bluetooth and Chromecast, alongside Wi-Fi and more, so you can hit play on your tunes at a moment's notice without the fuss of setup. There's support for Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, and DTS, which works for most media, though it has to downmix Atmos content, which makes it sound a bit more artificial than dedicated up-firing drivers found on the Sonos Arc Ultra. Still, for TV shows and music, it's a nice choice that offers you a lot of control over the sound.
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Best Budget All-In-One Soundbar
Mixed Usage6.6Movies6.3Dialogue/TV Shows6.8Build Quality7.0Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration6.5Center6.7Music6.8See all our test resultsStereo Soundstage6.5The TCL S45H is the best budget all-in-one soundbar that we've tested. It represents an upgrade to your TV's built-in speakers at a price that's easy on your wallet. While it's a 2.0 soundbar, so it doesn't have a dedicated center channel like the Samsung HW-S60D, it's decently built and is compatible with Dolby Atmos content (even if it has to downmix it). The soundbar includes a surprising array of features for an affordable price, such as room correction, dialogue and night modes, alongside EQ presets and bass and treble sliders, so you can sculpt the sound to your tastes and space, even if it doesn't output much bass rumble.
It gets louder with less compression at max volume than most TV built-in speakers, and it supports Dolby Digital and DTS, too. Unlike the Samsung, however, it doesn't offer as much wireless playback compatibility, and the TCL is limited to Bluetooth. While it lacks a discrete center channel for greater speech clarity, you get a few tools to enhance the dialogue, and it's a reasonable choice for watching TV shows and listening to music. For tight spaces and tight budgets, it's a great option that includes features you won't find on many soundbars under $100.
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Best Standalone Soundbar With An Integrated Subwoofer
Mixed Usage8.0Movies7.8Dialogue/TV Shows8.5Build Quality7.5Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration8.3Center8.8Music7.6See all our test resultsStereo Soundstage7.0Are you a bass lover? If so, you'll want to check out the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX. It comes with an integrated subwoofer, and it's one of the only bars we've tested that can reproduce a deep and extended low bass without needing a dedicated sub. As a result, it's a great choice for smaller spaces or anyone who doesn't have floor space for a bulky subwoofer. The bar is quite large, tall enough to block a portion of your screen if you don't mount the bar or add some height to the TV. It's also heavy, so it's not ideal for everyone, but it packs a bassy punch, especially in the overall sound quality.
This soundbar is great for listening to everything from music to movies to TV shows, and its virtual surround feature, called AMBEO 3D, is a handy way to enhance your listening experience. It offers a wide, immersive sound, with plenty of rumble in the bass during action-packed scenes. There's even a room correction mode, like the other premium bars on our list, and a graphic EQ to manually customize its sound across the range. It's a unique bar with a powerful performance, and it's capable of reaching high volumes. That said, given the AMBEO Soundbar Max's size and price, if you're a bass lover and can spare the floor space, you might find it's a better value to add on a separate sub to the Bose or the Sonos instead, or consider choosing one of the best soundbars with subwoofers.
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Best Small All-In-One Soundbar
Mixed Usage7.4Movies7.2Dialogue/TV Shows7.5Build Quality8.5Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration7.4Center7.4Music7.5See all our test resultsStereo Soundstage8.0Want a smaller all-in-one soundbar without compromising on quality? Check out the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). At less than 26 inches in width, like the Samsung HW-S60D, this soundbar is a great choice for those who don't have space for a larger standalone bar. Despite its small size, the bar can still bring a wide and immersive sound, thanks to its side-firing speakers that beam sound throughout your room. Compared to the first-generation model, this version adds support for Dolby Atmos content commonly found on streaming services. Plus, support for DTS means you can watch Blu-rays too. As a result, you enjoy a clear and life-like feel with all your favorite movies and TV shows.
You'll find a selection of sound enhancement features similar to the Sonos Arc Ultra. Like most premium bars, there's a room correction feature, 'TruePlay,' accessed via the app on compatible iOS devices. With it on, vocals and lead instruments reproduce pretty clearly, and there's a touch of extra boom in the bass to bring action-packed scenes to life. If you want to customize it, bass and treble adjustments are available. That said, since this setup is smaller than the Arc Ultra, it doesn't get as loud. It brings an immersive feel with Atmos content, but it's not as life-like as what you get with the Arc Ultra. Still, it's a solid pick for those without a lot of space who want a premium bar.
For more recommendations that work well for speech-heavy viewing, like reality TV and dramas, check out the best soundbars for dialogue.
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Best All-In-One Soundbar For Gaming
Mixed Usage7.0Movies6.7Dialogue/TV Shows7.5Build Quality7.5Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration6.6Center8.5Music6.8See all our test resultsStereo Soundstage6.5The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 is the best all-in-one design for taking advantage of HDMI 2.1's high bandwidth. While its Dolby Atmos height isn't quite as tall, and the stereo soundstage and surround 5.1 performance aren't quite as immersive as the Sonos Arc Ultra, the Sony has greater HDMI connectivity. Next-gen gaming consoles and sports fans can use the 4k at 120Hz and G-SYNC variable refresh rate for a clear image with uncompressed audio while retaining high-resolution visuals on the screen.
Besides its expansive connectivity, the soundbar also works with most surround sound formats, such as DTS:X, which is used on most streaming platforms and Blu-ray, as well as object-based surround sound, Dolby Atmos. It includes room correction and a few limited listening modes like 'Voice' and 'Sound Field' to shape the sound, but lacks a full EQ. For a standalone bar, it outputs a good amount of low-end, though it's not as rumbly as the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX. It also lacks support for a voice assistant. Still, if you study the law of diminishing returns, the step-down Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 offers similar HDMI In capabilities for less cash with nearly the same features, so you can pass-through video for gaming, too. However, it compromises more on the BRAVIA Theater Bar 9's already somewhat uneven surround sound and Atmos tuning further.
Notable Mentions
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Bose Smart Soundbar:
The Bose Smart Soundbar is comparable to the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with similar specs and dimensions. It gets a bit louder than the Sonos, and unlike the Sonos, it has two dedicated up-firing drivers to somewhat improve the Dolby Atmos height effect. However, the Bose lacks DTS support, and it's not as immersive-sounding in stereo, with a slightly artificially wide soundstage that you can't modify.
See our review -
Bose TV Speaker:
The Bose TV Speaker is another budget-friendly all-in-one bar ideal for those already owning products in the manufacturer's ecosystem. Unlike the cheaper TCL S45H, it doesn't support Dolby Atmos content.
See our review -
Klipsch Flexus Core 200:
The Klipsch Flexus Core 200 is a straightforward soundbar that offers a good low-end extension for an all-in-one and plenty of features like EQ to tailor the sound. It has up-firing drivers to correctly deliver 3D audio formats like Atmos, which the Samsung HW-S60D lacks, but it downmixes surround sound and lacks room correction.
See our review -
Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Plus:
The Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Plus offers a great sound with an integrated subwoofer in a more workable size than the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX. Despite also having an integrated sub, the AMBEO Soundbar Plus can't quite replicate the same deep bass extension as its big brother. While it offers a more balanced sound performance than the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9, its HDMI In port isn't 2.1 class-compliant.
See our review
Recent Updates
Aug 04, 2025:
This article's format has been updated without any changes to the picks, with minor adjustments to the text. The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 is mentioned as an alternative to the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9, and the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Plus was added to the Notable Mentions. Discontinued and out-of-stock soundbars were removed from the Notable Mentions.
Feb 26, 2025:
We added the Klipsch Flexus Core 200 as a Notable Mention. Otherwise, the picks are unchanged, and we've checked the text for accuracy with only minor edits.
Dec 04, 2024:
This article's picks have been updated to include the Sonos Arc Ultra, Samsung HW-S60D, and TCL S45H, with adjustments to the text throughout. The Bose Smart Soundbar has been added to the Notable Mentions.
Aug 19, 2024: This article has been updated to add the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 as the 'Best All-In-One Soundbar With HDMI 2.1 Passthrough,' and to make minor text edits.
May 17, 2024: We've checked our picks for accuracy and product availability, but there hasn't been a change in our recommendations.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best all-in-one soundbars and the best soundbars without subwoofer add-ons for most people to buy. We factor in the price (a cheaper soundbar wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no soundbars that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to choose for yourself, here's the list of all our standalone soundbar reviews. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. No soundbar is perfect. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.