Best soundbars of 2026: our top 7 compared

For most people, the best soundbar of 2026 is the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar: Dolby Atmos from a single compact bar with genuine upfiring drivers, dialogue enhancement that keeps voices intelligible and a user score of 4.65 at our partner shops. At around €590, it is the most complete all-round package in this comparison. When choosing, pay particular attention to the number of channels (2.0 to 5.1.2), the subwoofer (separate, built-in or none), Dolby Atmos and an HDMI eARC port on your TV. After something different? On a small budget, the TCL S55H 2.1 with its wireless subwoofer is the smartest buy (around €125), audiophiles go for the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus (score 4.95), and if you want deep bass straight away, pick the Bose Smart Ultra with Bass Module 500.

Below you'll find why each soundbar made this list, what to look for when choosing, and answers to the most frequently asked questions. All prices are indicative for July 2026 — the product pages always show the current lowest price at the connected shops.

At a glance

Soundbar	Best for	Score	Price
Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar	Most people	4.65	around €590
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus	Best sound quality	4.95	around €975
Denon Home 550	Compact + multiroom	4.3	around €490
TCL S55H 2.1	Budget with subwoofer	4.2	around €125
TCL S45H 2.0	Smallest budget option	4.4	around €105
Bose Smart Soundbar	Mid-range with smart features	4.05	around €380
Bose Smart Ultra + Bass Module 500	Complete set with deep bass	4.65	around €1,030

Our 7 favourites

1. Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar — best choice for most people

The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar does everything you'd expect from a top soundbar in 2026: Dolby Atmos with dedicated upfiring drivers, room correction via ADAPTiQ and dialogue enhancement that keeps voices intelligible even through explosive action scenes. The only real downside is that deep bass requires a separate subwoofer, which you can add later. User score of 4.65 at our partner shops, available from 2 shops for around €590. Also available in white: Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar (white).

2. Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus — best sound quality

If you simply want the best-sounding soundbar without extra boxes in your living room, the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus is the answer. Nine drivers and Sennheiser's Ambeo virtualisation deliver a strikingly wide 7.1.4 soundstage, and the built-in dual subwoofers make an external sub unnecessary in most rooms. With a user score of 4.95 at our partner shops, this is the highest-rated soundbar in this round-up. The price of around €975 is steep, but that top score is what you get in return.

3. Denon Home 550 — best compact all-rounder

At 65 cm, the Denon Home 550 is remarkably compact, so it also fits under smaller TVs or in a TV cabinet where wider bars won't go. Despite its size, it supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, and thanks to HEOS it pairs seamlessly with other Denon speakers for multiroom audio. User score of 4.3 at our partner shops, available from 2 shops for around €490.

4. TCL S55H 2.1 — best budget buy with subwoofer

For around €125, the TCL S55H 2.1 gives you something rare in this price bracket: a genuine wireless subwoofer. It makes films and games sound a class fuller straight away than subwoofer-less soundbars that sometimes cost twice as much. Don't expect Atmos height effects or audiophile finesse, but do expect a huge step up from your TV speakers. User score of 4.2, and with 3 connected shops this is also the model where comparing prices pays off the most.

5. TCL S45H 2.0 — smallest budget option

If you're short on space or budget, the TCL S45H 2.0 at around €105 is a fine entry point. No subwoofer, so the bass stays modest, but voices and music sound noticeably clearer and fuller than from built-in TV speakers. With a user score of 4.4 at our partner shops, it actually rates slightly higher than its bigger sibling — buyers particularly appreciate the simplicity: plug in and go.

6. Bose Smart Soundbar — mid-range with smart features

The Bose Smart Soundbar brings the core of the Ultra — Atmos playback, the Bose app, AirPlay 2 and Chromecast — down to a friendlier price point of around €380. The soundstage is smaller and the bass lighter than the Ultra's, but for an average living room this is a very complete smart soundbar. User score of 4.05 at our partner shops, available from 2 shops.

7. Bose Smart Ultra + Bass Module 500 — complete set with deep bass

If you want the Atmos sound of our number 1 plus the deep bass the bar alone lacks, go for the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar + Bass Module 500. The wireless Bass Module fills in exactly what films and games demand, without you having to match separate components later on. At around €1,030 you're sorted in one go — with the same 4.65 user score as the standalone Ultra.

What to look for in a soundbar

Channels: 2.0, 2.1, 5.1 and up. The first number is the channel count; the second stands for the subwoofer. A 2.0 model such as the TCL S45H mainly improves speech and clarity; a 2.1 set adds genuine bass. From 5.1 you get surround information, and a third number (such as 5.1.2) means height channels for Dolby Atmos.

Subwoofer: built-in, separate or none. A separate (wireless) subwoofer delivers the deepest bass, but needs its own spot and a power socket. Soundbars such as the Sennheiser Ambeo Plus prove that built-in subwoofers go a long way these days. For pure speech listening, you can do without.

Dolby Atmos: real or virtual. Real Atmos soundbars have upfiring drivers that bounce sound off the ceiling (Bose Smart Ultra); a flat ceiling works best for this. Virtual Atmos processing (Denon Home 550, Sennheiser Ambeo) sounds surprisingly good, but depends more on your room's acoustics.

Connections: go for HDMI eARC. Connect the soundbar via the HDMI port on your TV that supports eARC (or at least ARC). eARC passes through the bandwidth that lossless Atmos needs and lets your TV remote control the volume. Optical (Toslink) works as a fallback, but without Atmos. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (AirPlay, Chromecast, HEOS) are handy for music.

Size. Measure your TV cabinet and check the height: a soundbar that's too tall will block your TV's infrared receiver or the picture itself. Rule of thumb: for TVs up to 50 inches, a compact bar such as the Denon Home 550 or TCL S45H is the right fit; from 55 inches you can go wider.

Frequently asked questions

Is a soundbar better than TV speakers?

Almost always. TVs keep getting thinner, leaving no physical room for decent speakers. Even an entry-level model of around €105 such as the TCL S45H 2.0 sounds fuller and more intelligible than the built-in speakers of virtually any TV.

Do I need a separate subwoofer?

That depends on what you watch and where you live. For films and games, a subwoofer makes a big difference; for the news and series it's unnecessary — and in a flat it can even be a nuisance for the neighbours. The Sennheiser Ambeo Plus shows that built-in subwoofers are a fine middle ground.

What is Dolby Atmos and do I need it?

Dolby Atmos adds height to the sound: a helicopter genuinely sounds like it's above you. Streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+ are offering more and more content in Atmos. Do you need it? No. Does it make films noticeably better? Absolutely — provided your soundbar can handle it and you connect via HDMI eARC.

Can I expand a soundbar later?

Often, but only within the same brand ecosystem. With Bose you can add a Bass Module or surround speakers later, and the Denon Home 550 is available as a ready-made surround sound set with extra speakers. Check before you buy whether the brand offers expansion options — budget models such as the TCL soundbars usually aren't expandable.

How much should I spend on a soundbar?

Under €150 buys you a big step up in speech clarity (TCL). Between €350 and €650 is the sweet spot, with Atmos, apps and streaming (Bose, Denon). Above €900 you're paying for audiophile quality (Sennheiser) or a complete set with subwoofer (Bose Ultra + Bass Module). Spending more than your TV cost is rarely worthwhile.

Compare and grab the lowest price

Prices vary considerably between shops, especially around sales. So browse all televisions and TV audio on Productvraag, compare current prices per retailer and order from the shop with today's best deal.