The Best Atmos Soundbars for 2023 - Reviews & Buying Guide

Your home theater may actually go to another level with a Dolby Atmos soundbar for TV, all without the effort and expense of a full installation. These sleek speakers can imitate the immersive, 3D audio experience you would have at the movies. The majority of high-end Atmos soundbars use upward-firing drivers to vertically spread sound and reflect it off your ceiling, creating the illusion of overhead speakers. There are also more affordable models that employ techniques to produce a virtual Atmos experience, which, in some circumstances, can be very potent.

Do you want to discover which Dolby Atmos soundbars will improve the audio on your TV? To assist you in selecting the model that is ideal for you, we've provided a list of the top Dolby Atmos soundbars we've recently tested in a variety of pricing ranges.

1. Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar

Important Specifications 

• Speaker Type: Wireless, Surround, Soundbar

• Speaker Connectivity: HDMI

• Special Feature: 5.1.4 channel 3D high-quality sound experience with deep 30Hz bass

• Audio Output Mode: Surround, Stereo

• Model Name: AMBEO

Product's highlights

The Ambeo Soundbar from Sennheiser is quite stunning in both senses of the term. It's a monster, measuring over 1.3 meters wide, notably wider than the rivals. (It's also much heavier, which is useful information if you're considering carrying it on the bus from the stores.) However, the extra room has been used to great effect. The Ambeo simply crams in larger, more powerful drivers, which works wonderfully in place of the extra subwoofer that most soundbars rely on.

Expect scintillating conversation, spine-tingling 3D audio that sounds completely effortless, and a lot of bottom-end grunt. With Chromecast for streaming and Bluetooth 4.2, connectivity is as remarkable.

It must be said that positioning is a little difficult due to its size. You might need to make a separate trip to your neighborhood hardware shop since it doesn't come with a wall mount. But once you've got everything in order, the outcomes are spectacular.

Pros

• Rich, organic sound

• Dynamic and thorough

• Believable 3D surround

Cons

• Large

• Fussy with placement

2. LG S95QR

Important Specifications 

• Speaker Type: Soundbar, wireless subwoofer, wireless rear speaker

• Speaker Connectivity: Bluetooth, HDMI, USB, Wi-Fi

• Model Number: S95QR

• Speaker Amplification Type: Active

• Audio Output Mode: Stereo

Product's highlights

The LG S95QR, the company's most recent immersive soundbar system, builds on the success of earlier models by including a center height channel, a first for the industry.

The S95QR boasts 9.1.5-channel audio with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks, making it less of a soundbar and more of a home theater system. LG's continuing collaboration with Meridian pays off with the addition of some exclusive audio enhancing technology.

Only the lack of 4K/120 and HDR10+ passthrough and the S95QR's limited number of inputs prevent it from competing with the best audio experiences available for the money. The system's scale and slam also cause a compelling, immersive audio experience.

Pros

• Strong and captivating soundstage

• Both DTS:X and Dolby Atmos

• Excellent design and construction

Cons

• No passthrough for 4K/120 or HDR10+

• There should be more HDMI inputs..

3. Sony HT-A7000

Important Specifications 

• Speaker Type: Wireless, Subwoofer, Surround, Soundbar

• Special Feature: Virtual 7.1.2-Channel Configuration; Dolby Atmos and DTS:X Compatible; Surround Made Simple with S-Force PRO Front Surround; Sophisticated Speaker Technology;…

• Audio Output Mode: Surround, Mono, Stereo

• Model Name: E9SNHTA7000

• Surround Sound Channel Configuration: 7.1.2

Product's highlights

A high-end 7.1.2 configuration called the Sony HT-A7000 was released in 2021. For a more immersive hearing experience, it is said to support S-Force Pro Front Surround and Vertical Surround Engine technologies. It is suitable for listening to most forms of audio content because of its generally neutral default sound profile with a little extra punch in the bass. It doesn't get too loud, though. Additionally, we discovered during our subjective listening testing that it's preferable to modify the EQ preset according to the content you're listening to, which may bother some people.

The Sony HT-A7000 soundbar is suitable for a variety of uses. It is appropriate for most sorts of audio content because of its balanced, neutral sound profile, and the bass has a little more punch. It struggles to replicate the low-deep bass's wallop, though. Additionally, its Atmos and surround sound performances are underwhelming. However, this configuration may always be upgraded with a dedicated sub and satellites.

Pros

• Numerous possibilities for wireless playback.

• Feature for room adjustment.

Cons

• Not very loud at all.

• Has no low bass.

4. Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3

Important Specifications 

• Speaker Type: Soundbar

• Special Feature: Multi Room Audio

• Audio Output Mode: Stereo

• Model Name: Panorama 3

• Speaker Amplification Type: Active

Product's highlights

The Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 is the company's first Dolby Atmos soundbar, and it will be released in 2022. It is a freestanding bar with thirteen different drivers set up in a 3.1.2 configuration. Since it's primarily intended to be simple, there aren't many other settings or calibration options accessible. Although there are two subwoofers built within the bar itself, it doesn't offer additional subwoofers or satellites in comparison to other high-end standalone bars on the market.

For a variety of uses, the Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 is adequate. It is a stand-alone bar with a high-end appearance that supports Dolby Atmos, but sadly, the sound quality isn't as impressive. Due to its recessed treble and paucity of bass, its default sound is murky and gloomy.

Pros

• Adjustments to the bass and treble.

• Built-in assistance for Alexa.

Cons

• Lacks low bass.

• The soundstage isn't particularly expansive.

5. Sonos Arc

Important Specifications 

• Speaker Connectivity: AirPlay, HDMI

• Special Feature: Subwoofer, Radio

• Audio Output Mode: Surround

• Control Method: App, Remote

• Compatible Devices: TV

Product's highlights

Sonos is no stranger to soundbars, but the Arc, is the first Sonos soundbar with vertical speakers that supports Dolby Atmos. It costs more than the Beam (Gen 2) and is suitable for TVs larger than 55 inches. 

On the bar are touch-sensitive play/pause and volume buttons, as well as LEDs that show status and when the built-in Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa is active. AirPlay 2, Ethernet, and eARC for Dolby Atmos from compatible TVs are all forms of connectivity.

The Sonos Arc uses 11 drivers to produce your soundfield, some of which are directed into your room and upward-firing to produce a more genuine Dolby Atmos experience by reflecting sound off your walls and ceiling. All in all, the soundbar delivers one of the most impressive Atmos performances available.

You are brought right into the action. The surround effects are expertly placed, and the sound has excellent vitality and weight. Although it could sound a little bit more direct, the tonality is beautifully balanced if you just want to listen to music. But there's no denying that for the money, this Dolby Atmos soundbar is quite remarkable.

Pros

• Dolby Atmos: Persuading

• Moving, specific, and substantial

• Typical Sonos intelligence is present.

Cons

• A more accurate projection of the music

• Heavily dependent on the technical specifications of your TV

1. Does Atmos require HDMI 2.1 for playback?

When it works, Dolby Atmos can be played through a standard HDMI ARC connection with streaming services that make use of the Dolby Digital Plus codec. A new TV with an HDMI 2.1 port may be necessary if you want the complete Dolby Atmos experience because it will support better quality Atmos broadcasts from Blu-ray players and gaming consoles.

2. Is a soundbar with Dolby Atmos value for money?

A Dolby Atmos soundbar is definitely worth the extra money if you enjoy playing video games or viewing the newest blockbusters. However, you must make sure that your TV has an HDMI ARC connector (for Dolby Digital Plus) and that your source, such as the Xbox Series X or the most recent Roku streamers, is Dolby Atmos-compatible.

3. What is the ideal connection for a Dolby Atmos soundbar?

HDMI, to keep it short. The best way to get Atmos into one of these speakers is to have a TV with an eARC port, which is the lengthy answer (HDMI 2.1). Many modern TVs have this connector, which allows you to feed Atmos data from your TV to an external speaker (either through smart apps or another connected device). For some streaming services that provide Dolby Atmos, standard HDMI ARC will function.

On the other hand, you'll need a speaker with more than one HDMI port if you have an older TV and an Atmos source, like a Blu-ray player. You can easily connect external devices via HDMI to the Vizio M512a.

We tested the top Dolby Atmos soundbars in typical household settings, just as they would be used there, and ranked them according to how well they performed in terms of audio quality with a variety of movies (including Dolby Atmos films), music, features, and price. We hope the model you select will meet your demands for immersive TV sound.