If you want better TV sound without finding room for a separate subwoofer or satellite speakers, an all-in-one soundbar keeps the setup simple. When choosing one, consider how much bass and surround or Atmos immersion you want from a single bar, along with its size, connectivity, and whether you might want to add speakers later.
We've tested over 255 soundbars. If you don't need a standalone design, see our recommendations for the best soundbars. If Atmos performance or a smaller footprint matters most, check out the best Dolby Atmos soundbars or best small soundbars.
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 250 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 UsageMoviesDialogue/TV ShowsBuild QualityStereo Frequency Response With Preliminary CalibrationCenterMusicSee all our test resultsStereo SoundstageThe best all-in-one soundbar we've tested is the 5.1.2-channel Klipsch Flexus Core 300. It's a strong choice if you want cinematic sound and flexible connectivity from a single bar and don't need the deepest bass a separate subwoofer can provide. The default sound is balanced, with plenty of detail in the mid and treble ranges. While it can't output as much bass as a setup with a dedicated subwoofer, it's still an impressive amount of low-end for an integrated sub, adding boom and punch to cinematic sequences. And if you find yourself craving more immersive listening and low-end rumble, there's a clear upgrade path via the Klipsch Flexus Core 300 with Sub 200 + Surr 200.
The soundstage is quite wide too, and it does a solid job of reproducing 5.1 and Atmos content, despite its lack of rear speakers. The soundbar can also automatically adjust its sound to your room, supports all major Dolby and DTS formats, and can pass through 4k signals at 120Hz if you want to connect a game console through the bar. All in all, that makes it the best all-in-one bar we've tested.
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Best Upper Mid-Range All-In-One Soundbar
Mixed UsageMoviesDialogue/TV ShowsBuild QualityStereo Frequency Response With Preliminary CalibrationCenterMusicSee all our test resultsStereo SoundstageThe 7.1.2-channel Samsung HW-QS90H is the best standalone soundbar we've tested in the upper mid-range of the market, offering versatile home theater performance in a simple package. Its four integrated woofers manage to deliver an impressive amount of low-end for a standalone bar, while its up-firing drivers give Atmos effects a more convincing sense of height than you might expect. That said, the Klipsch Flexus Core 300 does produce a wider-feeling soundstage, while objects tend to sound a bit quieter at either end of the Samsung's soundstage.
Still, the Samsung has extensive sound adjustment options and broad wireless music streaming support. The more premium Klipsch has the edge for connectivity, including high-refresh-rate 4k passthrough. But if you don't need those features and are looking for a simple bar you can stick under your TV to vastly improve the sound of your audio over your TV's built-in speakers, this is a great choice.
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Best Mid-Range All-In-One Soundbar
Mixed UsageMoviesDialogue/TV ShowsBuild QualityStereo Frequency Response With Preliminary CalibrationCenterMusicSee all our test resultsStereo SoundstageThe 5.0-channel Samsung HW-S60D is a good mid-range choice if you want to spend less than on the HW-QS90H and care more about sound customization than Atmos effects. Unlike the Samsung HW-QS90H, the HW-S60D lacks up-firing drivers and doesn't produce as much low-bass, so Atmos content feels less immersive. However, it retains a similarly extensive set of sound-adjustment tools. 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, 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. It supports Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, and DTS, covering most common formats, though it downmixes Atmos content. It's a good fit if you mainly watch TV shows or listen to stereo music and want plenty of control over the sound.
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Best Budget All-In-One Soundbar
Mixed UsageMoviesDialogue/TV ShowsBuild QualityStereo Frequency Response With Preliminary CalibrationCenterMusicSee all our test resultsStereo SoundstageThe 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-channel soundbar without a center channel, 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 loud enough for everyday listening with little compression at max volume, and it supports Dolby Digital and DTS, too. Unlike the Samsung HW-S60D, however, its wireless playback 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 Small All-In-One Soundbar
Mixed UsageMoviesDialogue/TV ShowsBuild QualityStereo Frequency Response With Preliminary CalibrationCenterMusicSee all our test resultsStereo SoundstageIf you want something smaller than the TCL S45H, check out the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). At less than 26 inches wide, it's noticeably more compact, yet its side-firing speakers manage to create a much wider sound. It also handles Dolby Atmos more convincingly and has a discrete center channel that makes dialogue easier to follow. The main trade-off is volume: the TCL gets louder and holds up better at max volume, so the Sonos is better suited to smaller and average-sized rooms.
The Sonos can automatically adjust its sound to your room through a compatible iOS device, and you can manually adjust the bass and treble. Its sound is fairly balanced through the mids, though it still lacks the deep low-bass rumble you'd get from a setup with a dedicated subwoofer. You can add a subwoofer and rear speakers later if you want a more substantial home theater setup. Still, the Sonos also gives you more wireless playback options than the TCL, including Wi-Fi and Apple AirPlay.
For more recommendations that work well for speech-heavy viewing, like reality TV and dramas, check out the best soundbars for dialogue.
Notable Mentions
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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 for more convincing Atmos height effects, which the Samsung HW-S60D lacks, but it downmixes surround sound and lacks room correction.
See our review -
Marshall Heston 120:
The Marshall Heston 120 is a 5.1.2 all-in-one bar with dual built-in subwoofers that deliver a solid amount of bass, and it gives you some control over the sound. Its soundstage isn't as wide as the Klipsch Flexus Core 300's, though, and it's considerably pricier.
See our review -
LG Sound Suite H7:
The LG Sound Suite H7 is an expandable standalone bar with a built-in subwoofer that's able to output quite a bit of low-end. It's equipped with up-firing Atmos drivers too, giving it a comparable height performance to the Klipsch Flexus Core 300. It lacks compatibility with DTS formats, though, which limits its functionality with Blu-rays and some streaming platforms.
See our review -
Sonos Arc Ultra:
The Sonos Arc Ultra is a strong option if you're already invested in Sonos and want a soundbar that fits into the brand's ecosystem. You can expand it with Sonos rear speakers and a subwoofer, and its stereo soundstage is wider than the Samsung HW-QS90H's. However, the Samsung delivers more convincing height effects, has a full HDMI In port, and offers more extensive sound adjustment options.
See our review
Recent Updates
Sep 23, 2026:
We added the Samsung HW-QS90H as a new upper mid-range pick for its impressive across-the-board performance in a compact package. We also added the Sonos Arc Ultra to our Notable Mention, as it's a strong choice for anyone already invested in the Sonos ecosystem.
Jun 24, 2026:
We've significantly trimmed the article to provide clearer buying guidance. Several picks mentioned as alternatives were removed, and we retired our gaming pick as our top pick supports HDMI 2.1 video passthrough and works for gaming just as well.
Mar 27, 2026:
We've swapped out the Sonos Arc Ultra as the top pick and replaced it with the Klipsch Flexus Core 300. The Arc Ultra is still mentioned in the text as a comparison. We've also revamped the Notable Mentions, adding the Marshall Heston and the newly tested LG Sound Suite H7.
Dec 18, 2025:
The Klipsch Flexus Core 300 is our new Best Integrated Sub pick for its strong performance and broad set of connectivity options. We also added the KEF XIO to our Notable Mentions for anyone who'd prefer a more stylish, if expensive, all-in-one bar. Finally, we removed the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Plus from our Notable Mentions.
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.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best soundbars without subwoofer 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.