The 5 Best Dolby Atmos Soundbars - Spring 2020
Reviews

The Samsung HW-Q90R is the best Dolby Atmos soundbar we've tested so far. Coming with a main soundbar, subwoofer, and two satellite speakers, the 7.1.4 setup ensures you'll get an immersive listening experience all around you. It's very well-built and provides amazing overall performance.

This setup has a neutral sound profile with just enough bass extension to deliver rumble and thump, making it suitable for all kinds of audio. If you like to further fine-tune your sound experience, it comes with a graphic EQ inside its app. This soundbar comes with a variety of inputs such as 4k HDMI passthrough, HDMI ARC, and optical. You can also stream wirelessly using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi if you want to play music or podcasts from your favorite streaming platform.

As this soundbar comes with satellite speakers, they'll need to be plugged into a power source, which could clutter your setup. Fortunately, they connect to the soundbar wirelessly. While they underperform when compared to dedicated down-firing speakers, this soundbar does a decent job of creating a sense of height in Dolby Atmos content, making this one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars available.

The best 5.1 Dolby Atmos Soundbar that we've tested so far is the Samsung HW-Q80R. If you don't have space for separate rear speakers and would prefer a 5.1 setup that just comes with a bar and a subwoofer, this is a good choice.

This soundbar looks and feels premium, thanks to its solid build. With its balanced sound profile, it's suitable for everything from action movies to audiobooks. Those who like to fine-tune their sound will appreciate the graphic EQ. This soundbar also has great connectivity options such as two fill HDMI-in ports, HDMI ARC, and optical-in. Still looking for more? You can expand this soundbar's system with two additional rear speakers sold separately.

Unfortunately, you won't be able to pass the aux cord with this soundbar as it doesn't have a regular audio jack. There's also no USB port. However, you can play audio from your phone or tablet wirelessly, which is great when you're having a party. If you're tight on space at home, this is a good 5.1 option.

The best standalone Dolby Atmos soundbar we've tested so far is the Sennheiser AMBEO soundbar. Its unique 13-speaker integrated design creates an immersive experience with only a standalone bar. It's definitely an eye-catcher with such a massive design and high-end look.

While not as great as dedicated down-firing speakers, it still produces good surround sound thanks to its unique 3D audio mode. Its room correction feature helps adapt audio to your room: using an external microphone, the soundbar can correct some sound and enhance your listening experience. This soundbar has an impressive amount of connectivity options including Bluetooth and Chromecast built-in. This soundbar also has a standby mode triggered by 20 minutes of inactivity. If you need to clean them, you can remove the fabric covering the speakers.

On the downside, this soundbar is large and its positioning is quite difficult. If you don't have AMBEO mode activated, the sound signature also lacks bass and instead leans more bright. On the upside, if you don't like this sound profile, you can customize the EQ with the companion app. If you're looking for a standalone soundbar that can do it all without a dedicated subwoofer, this one is a good choice.