Modern TVs are thinner than ever, which leaves almost no room for proper speakers. Even excellent sets like the LG C6 and Samsung S95H get criticised for weak or quiet sound. A soundbar is the single biggest upgrade most living rooms can make. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune: real 5.1.2 surround systems now sell for little more than €300 in Europe.
Below are the soundbars that specialist reviewers, What Hi-Fi above all, rate most highly in 2026. They range from a compact €299 bar for clearer dialogue to full Dolby Atmos systems with subwoofer and rear speakers. Prices are European street prices checked in autumn 2026.
Our picks at a glance
- Best overallSonos Arc Ultra
- Best mid-sizeSonos Beam (Gen 2)
- Best budget surroundHisense AX5125H
- Best with HDMI 2.1Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9
- Best complete packageSamsung HW-Q990H
- Best premiumKEF XIO
- Best compactSonos Ray
Prices are approximate and change often. Ad
1. Sonos Arc Ultra: the best soundbar overall
Sonos’ flagship produces precise, spacious Dolby Atmos sound from a single bar. Reviewers consistently single out its tuneful bass, which is unusual for a one-box design. Its 9.1.4-channel processing creates a convincing sense of height. It also plugs into the wider Sonos ecosystem, so you can add a Sub and rear speakers later, or stream music to the rest of the house.
The list price is €999, but Amazon.de had it for around €804 in May 2026, and deals around €777–799 have appeared. Be aware that it has no HDMI passthrough and no DTS support. If you play a lot of DTS discs or need a spare HDMI 2.1 port, look at the Sony below.
Sonos Arc Ultra
Precise, spacious Dolby Atmos sound with surprisingly tuneful bass from a single bar — and it grows into a full Sonos system later.
- Channels
- 9.1.4
- Connection
- HDMI eARC
- Formats
- Dolby Atmos
- Streaming
- Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2
Pros
- Precise, spacious sound
- Tuneful bass for a single bar
- Excellent multiroom ecosystem
Cons
- No HDMI passthrough
- No DTS support
- Some reported app issues
2. Sonos Beam (Gen 2): the best mid-size soundbar
At 65 cm wide, the Beam suits 43–55-inch TVs and smaller rooms. It is a What Hi-Fi award winner thanks to its warm, full sound and excellent streaming features. Virtual Atmos won’t match the Arc Ultra’s height effects, but it is a huge step up from any TV speaker.
Its limitations are one HDMI port, no Bluetooth and no DTS:X. If you stream mainly via apps on your TV, none of that matters much. The list price is €499.
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
A What Hi-Fi award winner that fits under smaller TVs: warm sound, virtual Atmos and strong streaming features.
- Width
- 65 cm
- Connection
- HDMI eARC
- Formats
- Virtual Dolby Atmos
- Streaming
- Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2
Pros
- Warm, room-filling sound for its size
- Excellent streaming features
- Compact enough for 43–55" TVs
Cons
- Only one HDMI port
- No Bluetooth
- No DTS:X
3. Hisense AX5125H: the best budget surround system
What Hi-Fi calls this the best budget package. For around €326 on Amazon.de you get a soundbar, a wireless subwoofer and two rear speakers in a true 5.1.2 setup. It supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X over HDMI eARC. Nothing else at this price comes close for sheer cinematic scale.
The subwoofer can be overzealous, so turn it down a notch. Voices can also sound slightly muffled, so try the dialogue enhancement mode. For action films and games on a budget, it is outstanding value.
Hisense AX5125H
What Hi-Fi's best budget package: a full 5.1.2 system with rear speakers and subwoofer for little more than a basic soundbar.
- Channels
- 5.1.2 (bar, sub, rears)
- Connection
- HDMI eARC
- Formats
- Dolby Atmos, DTS:X
Pros
- Real rear speakers and sub at a budget price
- Atmos and DTS:X support
- Big, cinematic scale
Cons
- Subwoofer can be overzealous
- Voices can sound a little muffled
4. Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9: the best for gamers (HDMI 2.1)
Most soundbars connect only via the TV’s eARC port. That is a problem if your TV has just two HDMI 2.1 inputs and you own several consoles. The Bravia Theatre Bar 9 adds an HDMI input with 4K/120 Hz passthrough, which is why What Hi-Fi names it the best soundbar with HDMI 2.1.
Its 13 speakers deliver clear, detailed and punchy sound with Atmos and DTS:X. Some listeners find it slightly clinical, and it has no display. netzwelt estimates around €900, so check current offers.
Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9
What Hi-Fi's pick for HDMI 2.1 passthrough: 13 speakers deliver clear, detailed and punchy sound, ideal for gamers who need a spare 4K/120 input.
- Drivers
- 13 speakers
- Width
- 130 cm
- HDMI
- 1× 4K/120 Hz input + eARC
- Formats
- Dolby Atmos, DTS:X
Pros
- Clear, detailed and punchy
- HDMI 2.1 passthrough for a console
- Atmos and DTS:X
Cons
- Slightly clinical presentation
- No display
5. Samsung HW-Q990H: the best complete surround package
If you want genuine surround without building a system piece by piece, the Q990H comes with a soundbar, subwoofer and rear speakers in one box. What Hi-Fi rates it the best package. It offers two HDMI 2.1 inputs, Atmos and DTS:X support and even Roon Ready music streaming.
The design is familiar, and the outgoing predecessor is very close in performance. If you can still find the older model discounted, it is a smart buy.
Samsung HW-Q990H
What Hi-Fi's best package: soundbar, subwoofer and rear speakers in one box, with two HDMI 2.1 inputs and Roon Ready streaming.
- System
- Bar + subwoofer + rear speakers
- HDMI
- 2× HDMI 2.1 inputs
- Formats
- Dolby Atmos, DTS:X
- Streaming
- Roon Ready
Pros
- Full surround system in one purchase
- Two HDMI 2.1 inputs
- Atmos and DTS:X
Cons
- Familiar design
- Cheaper predecessor is very close in performance
6. KEF XIO: the best premium soundbar
KEF brings its hi-fi heritage to the living room. The 121 cm, 10.5 kg XIO earns What Hi-Fi’s premium recommendation for its detailed sound and tight, controlled bass. It is the bar to pick if you listen to as much music as you watch films.
It has no display and no HDMI passthrough, and it costs considerably more than the Arc Ultra. For music lovers with a large TV, it is worth an audition.
KEF XIO
What Hi-Fi's premium pick: detailed sound and tight bass from a 121 cm hi-fi-grade bar.
- Width
- 121 cm
- Weight
- 10.5 kg
- Connection
- HDMI eARC
- Formats
- Dolby Atmos, DTS:X
Pros
- Very detailed sound
- Tight, controlled bass
- Atmos and DTS:X
Cons
- No display
- No HDMI passthrough
- Premium price
7. Sonos Ray: the best compact and budget option
The Ray is the cheapest way into Sonos at €299. Its main job is to make speech clear, and it does that very well. The catch is a single optical input: no HDMI eARC, no Atmos and no lossless audio. With music the highs can sound slightly forward. For a bedroom or a small flat with a 40–50-inch TV, it is a tidy, simple fix.
Sonos Ray
An affordable entry into Sonos with clear speech — a big upgrade on TV speakers for smaller rooms.
- Connection
- Optical only
- Formats
- Stereo (no Atmos)
- Best for
- Small rooms, clearer dialogue
Pros
- Very clear speech
- Compact and affordable
Cons
- Optical input only — no HDMI or Atmos
- Highs slightly forward with music
Compare our top soundbars
| Model | Sonos Arc UltraBest overall | Sonos Beam (Gen 2)Best mid-size | Hisense AX5125HBest budget surround | Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9Best with HDMI 2.1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TechHive score | 9.0/10 | 8.6/10 | 8.3/10 | 8.7/10 |
| Approx. price | €804 | €499 | €326 | Varies |
| Channels | 9.1.4 | — | 5.1.2 (bar, sub, rears) | — |
| Connection | HDMI eARC | HDMI eARC | HDMI eARC | — |
| Formats | Dolby Atmos | Virtual Dolby Atmos | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X |
| Streaming | Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 | Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 | — | — |
| Width | — | 65 cm | — | 130 cm |
| Drivers | — | — | — | 13 speakers |
| HDMI | — | — | — | 1× 4K/120 Hz input + eARC |
| Shop Ad | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
Other models worth a look: the Bose Smart Ultra (around €759), the Teufel Cinebar Ultima (around €530) from the Berlin-based direct seller, and the Sony Bravia Theatre System 6, another What Hi-Fi award winner.
How to choose a soundbar
Check your TV’s HDMI ports
Connect via HDMI eARC for the best quality, including lossless Dolby Atmos. If your TV has only two HDMI 2.1 ports and one of them is the eARC port, you lose a gaming input. In that case a bar with HDMI 2.1 passthrough, such as the Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9 or Samsung Q990H, solves the problem.
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
Netflix, Disney+ and Apple TV+ stream Atmos. DTS:X matters mostly for Blu-ray collectors. Samsung TVs don’t support DTS, so check what your TV can pass through. A bar that decodes formats your TV can’t forward won’t help.
Single bar or full system?
A single bar like the Arc Ultra is simple and tidy. True surround with rear speakers, as on the Hisense AX5125H and Samsung Q990H, creates a much more immersive bubble of sound, at the cost of extra boxes and cables.
Size and placement
Match the bar’s width roughly to your TV. Check that it won’t block the screen or IR receiver. Some TVs have feet at the far edges, which makes it hard to fit a bar in between, so measure first.
Buying in Europe
Soundbar prices fluctuate a lot. Sonos models in particular regularly drop 15–20% below list price. Every purchase in the EU comes with at least a two-year legal guarantee from the retailer, and online orders generally have a 14-day withdrawal right, which is handy for testing a bar in your own room.
How we choose
We don’t run listening tests in-house. Our recommendations combine the verdicts of established audio reviewers, mainly What Hi-Fi plus German outlets such as hifi.de and netzwelt, with current European prices. We favour bars that several sources rate highly, and we list the drawbacks they report.
FAQ
Do I need a subwoofer?
For films and games, a separate subwoofer adds weight that a slim bar can’t produce. The Arc Ultra and KEF XIO have surprisingly good bass on their own. Budget bars benefit most from a sub, which is why the Hisense AX5125H includes one.
Is a soundbar better than TV speakers for dialogue?
Almost always. Even the €299 Sonos Ray makes speech much clearer than typical TV speakers.
Can I use a soundbar with any TV brand?
Yes. HDMI eARC/ARC and optical are universal. Some features, such as Samsung’s Q-Symphony or Sony’s Acoustic Center Sync, work best with the same brand of TV.
Which soundbar suits the LG C6?
The Sonos Arc Ultra is a great match for a 65-inch C6. If you game on several consoles and need HDMI passthrough, consider the Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9. See our best TVs guide for TV picks.
