14 best speakers we tested and reviewed (2025): Sonos, Sony, Bose

There are so many great speakers out there, we don’t have room to showcase them all. Here are some other things you may want to consider.

LG S95TR at $1000-1300: LG 9.1.5 channel soundbar (8/10, WIRED recommends) doesn’t perform as well as Samsung’s flagship Q990 series, but it may be a better option for those with newer LG TVs like C4which can connect wirelessly and use its own speakers in conjunction with the bar for added immersion. It also supports gaming features like 120Hz scrolling, but only includes one spare input.

Vizio Soundbar 2.1 (SV210M) for $170: Vizio’s curvy little package offers attractive value, with solid sound quality and some cinematic footage from the smallest subwoofer you’ll ever see. There’s no optical input or remote, but the Vizio app makes adjusting settings or switching to Bluetooth simple enough. The main drawback is that dialogue is sometimes (but not always) lost, which reduces the main appeal of cheap speakers. However, good music bits and features like DTS Virtual X expansion make it worth considering for sale.

Samsung HW-Q800C, priced at $598: If the Samsung HW-Q990C Everything Bar is too rich for your blood, the two-piece HW-Q800C (WIRED recommends, 8/10) can be a good compromise. This bar offers a similar sound signature as Samsung’s flagship bar with many of the same features, packed into a smaller bar and subwoofer combo for a notable discount — especially since it’s almost always on sale.

Sennheiser Ambio Mini for $700: This luxurious pint-sized bar is great for those with money to burn on very small spaces. Sennheiser’s built-in Ambeo virtualization technology brilliantly emits sound all around you for immersive TV and movie enjoyment, and provides advanced features like Google Assistant and Alexa support.

Sony HT-X8500, $300: Sony’s HT-X8500 is getting harder to find, but it’s still one of our favorite options for those looking for a single bar with strong bass response and expansive sound, including decent Dolby Atmos virtualization. Although it’s more expensive than our top bar, it’s a great alternative for those looking for a slightly higher price, and is worth considering while it’s still available.

Roku Streambar for $130: If you’re looking for a soundbar that doubles as a great streaming device, WIRED reviewer Adrienne So swears by the Roku Streambar. After going years without one, she was so moved that she shouted it from the rooftops. Setup is easy, and since it includes Roku’s simple streaming interface, you can stream movies and shows in up to 4K HDR from almost every streaming service. You can also add a Roku subwoofer or surround speakers down the line. We encourage Get sub.

Vizio Elevate M-Series for $500: If you want full-featured Dolby Atmos and like a little flair, Vizio’s second Elevate bar is worth considering. The drivers emerge from the side and aim at the ceiling while playing Atmos content, giving it a cool party trick to show off to your friends. Sound quality is also strong, and we like the compact design and easy setup. However, you will have to route some speaker cables to the rear surround.

Yamaha SR-C30A, $276: This SR-C30A speaker model actually looks very similar to the SR-C20A, and that’s because they’re the same thing when it comes to dimensions, specifications, and sound quality. The difference is that the SR-C30A comes with a compact wireless subwoofer (335 x 160 x 364mm) for some authentic Hollywood-style rumble. —Simon Lucas

Sennheiser Ambio Plus, $1,200: Given the price and physical dimensions of the soundbar—which doesn’t even include a subwoofer—the Ambeo Plus may seem like a bad deal. But thanks to its 400 watts of power and nine more carefully developed and carefully placed speaker drivers, the Sennheiser is able to produce big, enveloping sound with a strong suggestion of sonic height that the Dolby Atmos soundtrack thrives on. By the looks of it, it turns out to be a very capable wireless speaker when you want to listen to some music as well. -Simon Lucas

Polk Reaction for $269: This speaker works if you want to eventually get surround sound but don’t have the money right now. The Alexa-enabled speaker is good on its own, with Polk surround speakers and subwoofers available if you want to upgrade.

Vizio Elevate P-Series for $700: It’s a great-looking speaker with side speakers that swivel skyward when you’re watching content with object-based audio. It’s a nice-sounding bar, and this is a cool gimmick, but there are better options for under $1,000.