Best Surround Sound Bar System Reviews 2023

If you want better sound quality, you have two options: get a surround sound speaker system or a sound bar system. If you prefer speakers, we have a detailed review on that and it will help you make a better decision. If you prefer space saving sound bars, we have narrowed down the list to 5 good ones from top brands such as Sony and Samsung. For this review we focused on more affordable sound bars, if you would like more sophisticated products, the brands we have selected also make higher end sound bar systems.

In comparison with a “traditional” speaker system, a sound bar system occupies less space and it is more aesthetically pleasing. A sound bar discreetly placed next to your large TV set will make your living room look more elegant and minimalistic. A sound bar has multiple speakers built inside a single unit and they spread the sound throughout the entire room, just like surround sound speaker systems do. To enhance the quality of your listening experience, you can get a sound bar system that comes with a subwoofer, as well as ones that include additional rear speakers (usually compact in size, to you keep up with the space-saving design). You can also purchase a sound bar speaker by itself that will provide great sound, but just not as much of a “surround sound” feeling. For the purpose of this review, we are looking at systems, and if you choose one of the five on our shortlist of the best soundbars, you will have a truly immersive and exciting surround sound experience.

By the way, our birds told us that Onkyo and Polk Audio also make high-quality sound bar systems – we would have included them on our list but they fall on the “higher end” in terms of price range, and we wanted to focus on models that are more affordable for the average person. In the meantime, let's explore the main characteristics of a surround sound bar system.