The 5 Best Dolby Atmos Soundbars - Summer 2020
Reviews

The best Dolby Atmos soundbar that we've tested so far is the Samsung HW-Q90R. This well-built 7.1.4 setup comes with a soundbar, a subwoofer, and two satellite speakers. The up-firing speakers on the bar and the rear speakers help make it sound like your favorite movies are happening all around you. Overall, it provides amazing performance.

With a good, neutral sound profile, this soundbar does well with most audio content, including music, movies, and TV shows. Its extended bass can reproduce the thump and rumble found in movie scores and action-packed scenes. At loud volumes, it reproduces sound clearly and with little compression, which is excellent. There are even some options for customizing the sound profile of the bar based on your preferences, including an available EQ.

On the downside, this soundbar lacks some sound enhancement features such as room correction and night mode. It also underperforms when compared to dedicated down-firing speakers from home theater setups, although it still does a decent job of creating a sense of height with Dolby Atmos content. In 2020, the updated Samsung HW-Q950T was released, but we haven't tested that model yet and can't confirm its performance. However, this is still 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. It 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 around 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 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.