Rankings
The Polk MagniFi Max AX SR provides a flagship 7.1.2-channel wireless system with rear surrounds, supporting Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and extensive streaming options. Its premium price and limited warranty may be drawbacks for some buyers. Designed for enthusiasts seeking a full-home-theater experience without extensive wiring.
The Sonos Arc Ultra provides premium 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos sound with 14 drivers, Bluetooth 5.3, and integrated voice assistants. Its premium price and lack of detailed EQ may deter budget-focused buyers. Perfect for Sonos users wanting high-end performance in a single bar.
The LG Sound Suite H7 is a premium 9.1.6-channel wireless soundbar featuring Dolby Atmos FlexConnect and AI-driven room calibration. Its drawbacks are the sizable footprint, lack of native voice control, and the need to purchase optional rear speakers and subwoofer for full performance. Best for LG TV owners with large 65"+ displays who want a scalable, high-resolution Atmos experience.
The TCL Q85H is a flagship 7.1.4-channel soundbar system delivering up to 860 W peak power and immersive Atmos with a wireless subwoofer and rear speakers. Its basic EQ presets and reliance on subwoofer placement can limit fine-tuning and consistency. Ideal for home-theater enthusiasts and gamers who need high output and low-latency features.
The Philips Fidelio FB1 is a premium all-in-one 7.1.2 soundbar delivering powerful 310 W RMS output and immersive Dolby Atmos. Its marketing claim of a true 7.1.2 layout is disputed and a separate rear-speaker kit is needed for full surround. Best suited for medium-sized living rooms where design and integrated bass are priorities.
The Sony BRAVIA Theater System 6 is a 5.1-channel home-theater package delivering 1000 W of power and supporting Dolby Atmos and DTS:X for immersive audio. However, it lacks HDMI ARC/eARC and relies on bulkier analog/optical connections. Best for living-room setups where rear speakers can be placed and users want high-power surround sound.
The VIZIO 5.1 Soundbar SE is a compact 33-inch bar with a wireless subwoofer and surround speakers, delivering immersive Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound. Its limited input options, such as the lack of an optical port and a dedicated remote, may constrain flexibility. Ideal for budget-conscious small-room setups.
The Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Max is a premium 5.1.4 soundbar offering 500 W peak power and immersive 3-D audio without a separate subwoofer. Its considerable weight and size make placement challenging, and bass can be weaker on stereo music. Best for large-screen home-theater setups where space and handling are not constraints.
The JBL Bar 500MK2 is a 5.1-channel soundbar system delivering 750 W of total power, featuring Dolby Atmos, DTS Virtual:X and a wireless 10-inch subwoofer for deep bass. While its power and feature set are impressive, the added subwoofer weight and likely premium price may be drawbacks for budget-focused buyers. Best suited for users seeking a high-impact home-theater experience without the complexity of separate rear speakers.
The JBL Bar 700MK2 is a 7.1-channel soundbar system featuring a detachable wireless surround set and a 10-inch wireless subwoofer, delivering up to 780 W of power and Dolby Atmos immersion. Its premium performance comes with a larger footprint and higher cost, and Wi-Fi connectivity is not confirmed. Ideal for users who want a full-featured home-theater experience without extensive wiring.
The Hisense HS5100 provides a 5.1-channel, 540 W soundbar system with a wireless subwoofer and multiple sound modes. Wired rear speakers and occasional subwoofer drop-outs are drawbacks, and it lacks Wi-Fi. It targets budget-friendly home-theater fans wanting full surround without a high price.
| Attribute | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
— | — | 7.1best | — | 5.1 | 7 | 5.1 | 5.1 | — | — | 6 | |
— | — | 780 W | — | — | 860 W | 1,000 Wbest | 750 W | 500 W | 310 W | 540 W | |
— | — | 25.4 cmbest | — | 12.7 cm | 16.5 cm | 16 cm | 25.4 cmbest | — | — | — | |
| ↓ lower better | 5.83 kg | 5.76 kg | 5 kg | 7.7 kg | 2.33 kg | — | 2.609 kg | 2.9 kg | 18.5 kg | 7.2 kg | 1.59 kgbest |
1 years | 1 years | 1 years | 1 years | 1 years | 1 years | 1 years | 1 years | 1 years | 2 yearsbest | — | |
— | — | — | 6best | 3 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 6best | |
114.3 cm | 117.4 cm | 116.33 cm | 120 cm | 83.82 cm | 105.4 cm | 90.7 cm | 94 cm | 126.5 cmbest | 22 cm | 90.17 cm | |
11.8 cm | 7.95 cm | 5.08 cm | 6.3 cm | 5.79 cm | 12.4 cm | 6.6 cm | 5.05 cm | 17.1 cm | 38 cmbest | 9.144 cm |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Audio(6) | |||||||||||
Audio Channels | 7.1.2 | 9.1.4 | 7.1 | 9.1.6 | 5.1 | 7 | 5.1 | 5.1 | — | — | 6 |
Total Power Output (W) | — | — | 780 W | — | — | 860 W | 1000 W | 750 W | 500 W | 310 W | 540 W |
Supported Audio Formats | PCM, Dolby Mono, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Atmos True HD, DTS Digital Surround, DTS-HD, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS:X, DTS Virtual:X | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, DTS compatible | Dolby Atmos | Dolby Atmos, high‑resolution audio | Dolby Atmos; DTS:X; DTS Virtual:X | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD MA, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS, PCM | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X | Dolby Atmos, DTS Virtual:X | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, MPEG-H, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS Digital Surround | Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, DTS:X, DTS-HD, PCM, Dolby Digital, LPCM 2ch | Dolby Digital Plus, DTS:X |
Dolby Atmos Support | true | true | true | true | true | true | true | true | true | true | false |
Wireless Subwoofer | true | false | true | false | true | true | true | true | false | false | true |
Subwoofer Driver Size (cm) | — | — | 25.4 cm | — | 12.7 cm | 16.5 cm | 16 cm | 25.4 cm | — | — | — |
Connectivity(2) | |||||||||||
Bluetooth Version | — | 5.3 | — | 5.4 | 5.2 | — | 5.3 | 5.3 | 4.2 | 5 | 5.3 |
Optical Input | — | — | true | true | false | true | true | true | — | true | true |
Accessories(1) | |||||||||||
Remote Control Included | — | — | true | true | false | true | — | true | — | true | true |
General(1) | |||||||||||
Warranty Period (years) | 1 years | 1 years | 1 years | 1 years | 1 years | 1 years | 1 years | 1 years | 1 years | 2 years | — |
Features(2) | |||||||||||
Number of Sound Modes | — | — | — | 6 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 6 |
Voice Control | true | true | — | false | — | — | — | — | — | true | — |
Design(4) | |||||||||||
Soundbar Weight (kg) | 5.83 kg | 5.76 kg | 5 kg | 7.7 kg | 2.33 kg | — | 2.609 kg | 2.9 kg | 18.5 kg | 7.20 kg | 1.59 kg |
Soundbar Width (cm) | 114.3 cm | 117.4 cm | 116.33 cm | 120 cm | 83.82 cm | 105.4 cm | 90.7 cm | 94.0 cm | 126.5 cm | 22.0 cm | 90.17 cm |
Soundbar Height (cm) | 11.8 cm | 7.95 cm | 5.08 cm | 6.3 cm | 5.79 cm | 12.4 cm | 6.6 cm | 5.05 cm | 17.1 cm | 38.0 cm | 9.144 cm |
Soundbar Depth (cm) | 7.2 cm | 11.05 cm | 12.7 cm | 14.3 cm | 8.20 cm | 6.8 cm | 9.1 cm | 10.4 cm | 13.5 cm | 137.0 cm | 6.096 cm |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers praise the Arc Ultra as a clear step up from the original Arc, highlighting its richer driver array, Sound Motion bass technology and the ability to deliver high volume without noticeable compression. The soundbar's support for Dolby Atmos and a wide range of wireless protocols, combined with TruePlay room correction, earns it high marks for versatility. However, critics note the lack of any graphic EQ or granular tone controls and the limited low-frequency output of the built-in subwoofer as notable drawbacks.
Professional reviewers and editors are not represented in the available sources; product pages simply highlight the system’s Dolby Atmos, detachable speakers and easy setup.
“Major improvement over my previous TCL Alto 8i”
“clean, cinematic audio that's a huge improvement over TV speakers or basic soundbars”
“this will be the last purchase with this company”
Select the Q85H if you need higher power and full 7.1.4 surround; choose the Sonos Arc for premium processing and ecosystem integration.
Pick HS5100 for raw power and value; pick LG for more connectivity options
No consumer reviews were found in the research data, so specific praise or complaints from everyday users cannot be summarized.
Professional reviewers commend the H7's expansive driver array, AI-driven calibration and flexible FlexConnect expansion, noting it delivers cinema-grade Atmos sound that rivals wired setups. However, they caution that its considerable size, lack of voice control and the need to buy optional rear speakers and subwoofer may deter some buyers.
Everyday users praise the bar's impressive soundstage, deep bass and easy wireless connectivity, especially the convenience of the companion app. Recurring complaints focus on the bar's bulkiness, the extra cost of optional expansion modules, and occasional dependence on the app for optimal performance.
Professional reviewers commend the VIZIO 5.1 Soundbar SE for delivering cinema-grade Dolby Atmos and DTS:X performance at an affordable price, emphasizing its easy integration with VIZIO TVs via QuickFit and its compact design that suits smaller spaces.
Consumers appreciate the punchy bass, straightforward wireless setup, and the convenience of app control, especially in apartments or modest living rooms. Recurring frustrations center on the lightweight construction, occasional Bluetooth dropouts, and insufficient volume or dialogue clarity for larger rooms.
Professional reviewers commend the Q85H for its powerful 860W output, immersive Atmos height effects, low-latency gaming support, and sleek design, noting its full-bodied stereo response and minimal compression at high volumes. However, they point out that the EQ presets are simplistic and the processing can fall short in complex scenes compared to premium rivals.
Everyday users appreciate the immersive surround sound, deep bass, and straightforward wireless setup, often highlighting the dramatic improvement over older TCL models. Common themes include praise for easy installation and strong performance across media, while a few note the need for manual room calibration and wish for more advanced app controls.
Professional reviewers consistently highlight the Sony BRAVIA Theater System 6 for its rich, immersive soundstage, powerful bass response, and hassle-free setup. The inclusion of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, along with a dedicated center channel, delivers cinema-grade audio, while the wireless subwoofer adds flexibility without sacrificing performance.
Everyday users praise the system for delivering clean, cinematic audio that dramatically outperforms TV speakers, especially noting the deep bass that lets them feel the rumble in action scenes. The straightforward installation and slim profile are also frequently mentioned as positive aspects.
Professional reviewers commend the JBL Bar 500MK2 for its high power output and immersive Atmos experience, emphasizing its ability to fill medium-sized rooms with rich, cinematic sound despite a relatively lightweight chassis. The inclusion of a dedicated wireless subwoofer and advanced calibration tools are repeatedly cited as strengths, while no major drawbacks were identified in the available editorial content.
Professional reviewers commend the AMBEO Max for its studio-grade immersion, powerful 13-speaker layout and robust 500 W output, especially in Dolby Atmos and DTS:X playback. However, they repeatedly point out its extreme weight and size, noting that mounting is a hassle and that stereo bass performance falls short of expectations.
Everyday users love the sheer impact of the 3-D sound and the ability to get deep bass without a separate subwoofer, praising the premium build. The dominant complaints revolve around the bar's massive weight, difficulty installing or wall-mounting it, and occasional weak bass on music or stereo content.
Professional reviewers praise the FB1 for its elegant, premium design, powerful 310 W RMS output, and comprehensive connectivity that includes eARC and multiple streaming options. They also commend the built-in room-calibration mic and the slim form factor that fits under large TVs. However, they criticize the marketing claim of a full 7.1.2 driver layout when the hardware is actually 5.1.2, and note that true surround sound still requires optional rear speakers or a separate subwoofer, which adds to the overall cost.
Professional reviewers highlight the HS5100 as a strong value proposition, noting its impressive bass from a compact wireless subwoofer, lightweight construction that fits easily on TV stands, and a suite of sound modes that tailor audio for movies, games and music. They consider it a worthwhile investment for budget-conscious home-theater enthusiasts and state that it holds its own against similarly priced competitors.
Everyday users appreciate the immersive surround sound, the lightweight and space-saving design, and the unexpectedly deep bass from the small subwoofer. However, many complain about intermittent subwoofer drop-outs and the need to wire rear speakers, which detracts from the promised wireless experience.
