The 6 Best Dolby Atmos Soundbars - Spring 2021 Reviews

The Samsung HW-Q950T is the best Dolby Atmos soundbar that we've tested. This well-built 9.1.4 setup comes with two satellite speakers and a dedicated subwoofer to help provide an immersive movie-watching experience. Though we don't test for it, it comes with Q-Symphony, which can create a speaker-like sound by using your compatible Samsung QLED TV's speakers in addition to the soundbar.

Out-of-the-box, it has a neutral, balanced sound profile that can reproduce both thumps and rumbles in action-packed scenes and dialogue clearly. You can use the graphic EQ and presets to help customize its sound, and there's even a surround level adjustment for watching movies. It has a good soundstage performance, so objects in the stereo image like footsteps seem to come from an accurate, pinpoint location, and it gets really loud.

Unfortunately, unlike some of the other premium soundbars we've tested, it doesn't come with a room correction feature, so your audio may sound a bit different depending on the room you use it in. Also, the tight fabric covering the speakers seems like it could collect dust easily over time. However, if you like watching Atmos movies, it offers versatile overall performance.

The best Dolby Atmos soundbar with a 5.1 setup that we've tested is the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers. This 5.1.2 setup comes with a dedicated subwoofer and two satellite speakers so you can immerse yourself in your favorite movies. When you watch Dolby Atmos content, it uses up-firing speakers on the bar itself to bounce sound off the ceiling to simulate height.

It has a room correction feature that automatically optimizes its audio reproduction based on the unique acoustic characteristics of the room you're listening in. With this feature turned on, it has a very neutral, balanced sound profile that's suitable for listening to lots of different audio content, and it can get pretty loud, too. It also has an impressive soundstage performance, and objects like voices and footsteps seem to come from an accurate location rather than a general area.

Unfortunately, while it comes with bass and treble adjustment features, it lacks a full graphic EQ for greater sound customization. Also, the full setup isn't widely available as a full package at the moment, so you may have to buy the components separately on the Sonos website. However, if you're looking for a premium soundbar that can immerse you in your favorite Atmos content, it's a solid choice.

The best standalone Dolby Atmos soundbar we've tested is the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar. Its unique 13-speaker integrated design creates an immersive experience with only a standalone bar. It's 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 to enhance your listening experience. It has an impressive amount of connectivity options, including Bluetooth and Chromecast built-in. It 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.

Unfortunately, it's large, and finding the right position for it is 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. While it may be difficult to find on some third-party retailers, you can still purchase it on the Sennheiser website. If you're looking for a standalone option that can do it all without a dedicated subwoofer, this one is a good choice.

The best Dolby Atmos soundbar in the budget category that we've tested is the TCL Alto 8i. This 2.1 setup has two subwoofers integrated into the bar, which helps with bass production. It's advertised as Roku TV Ready, so it should be easy to pair it with your Roku TV.

When set to the 'Music' EQ preset, its sound profile is punchy and boomy overall, though its mid-range is well-balanced, so dialogue sounds clear and present in the mix. There are bass and treble adjustments, as well as three EQ presets, letting you tweak the sound profile to your liking. It has a wide soundstage, and it's suitable for large rooms since it can get very loud. You can also stream audio wirelessly from your smart device via Bluetooth.

Unfortunately, since it doesn't come with satellite speakers, it has to downmix surround sound content into stereo, which results in a less immersive surround sound experience. Also, it lacks a dialogue enhancement feature and room correction feature, so its sound profile may vary depending on the room it's in. That said, if you're looking for a soundbar at a more affordable price point and don't mind a simpler design, it's worth considering.