You never want to rely on the speakers built into your TV if you can avoid it. TV speakers are almost always tinny, lacking in bass and detail and they can hinder your ability to fully enjoy your movie or TV show. But you don’t have to invest in a full-on surround sound system to get high-end, immersive audio. Instead, the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, like our top pick, the Samsung HW-Q990C, create an almost-as-immersive audio experience in a more compact, and usually more affordable, setup.
The Samsung HW-Q990C 11.1.4ch Soundbar is the best Dolby Atmos soundbar you can buy right now.
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailer
Dolby Atmos is a technology that’s aimed at taking surround sound to the next level, introducing an added dimension of height to surround sound audio. In other words, in a Dolby Atmos setup, not only will you get audio from in front, beside and behind you—you’ll also get it from above you. In most practical home setups, it’s achieved through speakers built into soundbars that fire audio up at the ceiling, which then reflects down at you, the listener. And, if the Samsung doesn’t feel splurge-worthy, you can also opt for a more affordable option like our budget pick, the Vizio M512a-H6 5.1.2 Sound Bar. Here are the best Dolby Atmos soundbars you can buy in 2024.
Best for: Spatial audio of the highest quality, in your living room.
If you’re looking for a Dolby Atmos setup of the highest quality, then the Samsung HW-Q990C is the way to go. It’s perhaps not fully accurate to call this system a “soundbar.” It’s all built around a soundbar, but also comes with a subwoofer and two rear speakers that all work together to create an immersive audio. All together, the system offers an 11.1.4 configuration, which includes four up-firing channels and side-firing speakers that make it sound like audio is coming from all around you. Through this setup, the system can support both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. It also supports Alexa and Samsung SmartThings smart home ecosystems.
The speakers don’t just make for a high level of immersion—they sound excellent too. There’s plenty of bass response, with excellent detail and clarity in the high end, and it all works together to create a realistic and exciting frequency response. Like other systems, you can toggle between different modes for different kinds of content, including Sports, News, Games, Music and Movies.
What our writers say: Our soundbar-testing contributor noted that the Samsung HW-Q990C is among the pinnacle of soundbars. “The HW-Q990C is incredibly detailed and responsive, and it’s able to create an excellent level of immersion with its up-firing and side-firing speakers. Dolby Atmos sounds excellent here.”
Pros:
Soundbar, subwoofer and surround speakers all included
Incredibly immersive Dolby Atmos performance
Support for AirPlay, Alexa and Bluetooth
Cons:
Expensive
No support for Google Chromecast
Best Budget Dolby Atmos Soundbar
Full Immersion At A Low Price
Amazon
Vizio M512a-H6 5.1.2 Soundbar
Size: 3.5 x 2.2 x 40 inches | Channels: 5.1.2 | Inputs: HDMI, optical | Subwoofer: Yes | Wireless: Bluetooth | Spatial Audio: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X
Best for: Immersive audio at a low price.
While our top pick is in another league of audio quality, you don’t have to pay that much for a soundbar that supports Dolby Atmos. The Vizio M512a-H6 showcases Vizio’s experience in building great audio gear on a budget. Not only do you get the soundbar itself, but you also get a pair of surround speakers and a subwoofer, all for a relatively low price. The soundbar offers two height channels on top of the five speaker channels and bass channel, so while it’s perhaps not as immersive as some others, you’ll still get that all-encompassing audio that makes listening to Dolby Atmos content such a unique experience.
The Vizio M512a-H6 can connect to your TV through HDMI or an optical connection, however the soundbar also supports Bluetooth, allowing you to stream music from your phone. Unfortunately, there’s no AirPlay or Google Chromecast support here, so you won’t be able to integrate the soundbar with other speakers in a multi-room speaker setup. However, unless that’s a feature you’re looking for in a particular, the Vizio M512a-H6 does the trick for those looking for Dolby Atmos on a budget.
What the reviews say: One Amazon customer says “This soundbar has a wonderful sound. It’s super easy, with plug-and-play set up with a Vizio TV. I haven’t tried setting it up with a different brand yet, but it should be just as easy. It’s larger than I hoped it would be, but not a deal breaker at all. Great product! Worth the price if you want some great sounding TV action!”
Pros:
Inexpensive
Comes with surround speakers and sub
Bluetooth built-in
Cons:
No AirPlay or Chromecast support
Best Dolby Atmos Soundbar Under $1,000
Elevate Your Listening
Amazon
Vizio M-Series Elevate Soundbar
Size: 4.7 x 41.3 x 2.6 inches | Channels: 5.1.2 | Inputs: HDMI, optical, 3.5 mm | Subwoofer: Yes | Wireless: Bluetooth | Spatial audio: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X
Best for: Heightened audio without the need to go all out on price.
Vizio may make ultra-affordable soundbars, but it also makes a great of great options in the mid-range—like the Vizio M-Series Elevate Soundbar. This soundbar also comes with surround speakers and a subwoofer, supports Atmos and DTS:X and also offers excellent value for money.
The main reason to go for this option over lower-end Vizio Solutions is the improved audio. In particular, you get more detail and clarity in the high end, along with a little more oomph in the low end. Vizio makes it easy to customize the audio response too, ensuring you can tweak it to your preferences. Unfortunately, like Vizio’s lower-end soundbars, this soundbar doesn’t have Wi-Fi connectivity—which means it also doesn’t support AirPlay or Chromecast for multi-room audio. Thankfully, there’s still Bluetooth, so you can still stream audio from your phone.
What the reviews say: One Amazon customer says “You can’t beat this for the price. It has great bass response, and the surrounds are fantastic as well. There is lots of adjustability with the settings. I’m very happy with this purchase at the price point.”
Pros:
Balanced, high-end sound
Decently affordable
Good audio customization
Cons:
No AirPlay or Chromecast
Best All-In-One Dolby Atmos Soundbar
Ultimate Sound In One Simple Soundbar
Amazon
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max
Size: 49.8 x 6.7 x 5.3 inches | Channels: 5.1.4 | Inputs: HDMI, optical, RCA | Subwoofer: No | Wireless: AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect | Spatial audio: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, 360 Reality Audio
Best for: Getting quality audio in an all-in-one package.
If you want a high-end Dolby Atmos experience but don’t want to have to place subwoofers or rear speakers, then the Sennheiser Ambeo Max is the soundbar for you. Unfortunately, this soundbar doesn’t support subwoofers or surround sound speakers at all—if you want them, you should go for our top pick instead.
But even without those, you’ll get a very immersive spatial audio experience, with excellently detailed high-end sound and good bass response in the low end. The audio quality you can get out of this soundbar is impressive as well as how convincing the spatial audio is without rear speakers. This soundbar also supports wireless standards like AirPlay and Chromecast, and it has a high-end, premium-looking build. It should look right at home in any living room.
What the reviews say: One Amazon customer says “This is the soundbar that rules them all! The unit is solidly built and weighs quite a bit. The connectivity options are plentiful. I can now have Atmos at home without running cables everywhere. This unit has sufficient power to rattle the rafters. Buy it! I promise you, you won’t regret it.”
Pros:
Incredible sound
Good wireless connectivity
Strong and well-built
Cons:
Reports of poor software
Doesn’t support subs or surrounds even if you want them
Best for: Immersive and detailed audio in a compact soundbar.
Not everyone wants a massive soundbar on their TV stand, and if you want something a little more compact, then the Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX soundbar is a great option. This soundbar shrinks all of its speakers into a soundbar that’s just over 14 inches wide while still delivering a Dolby-certified Atmos experience and generally sounding great overall.
The side-firing and up-firing speaker tech isn’t perhaps quite as immersive as some other soundbar options on this list, but that’s to be expected given its size. The soundbar also supports wireless tech like AirPlay, Chromecast, and Bluetooth, which makes it easy to use beyond TV-watching.
What our writers say: Our soundbar contributor noted that this soundbar sounds a whole lot bigger than it actually is. “The Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX soundbar leverages a range of technologies to deliver a full-bodied and generally immersive sound despite its size, and it really sounds great.”
Pros:
Full-bodied sound quality
Great bass response
Good wireless support
Cons:
Not quite as immersive as some others
How I Chose The Best Dolby Atmos Soundbar
To find the best Dolby soundbars I began with extensive research, focusing on renowned brands such as Samsung, Bose, Sonos and others known in the home entertainment space. I meticulously sifted through customer reviews, prioritizing options that consistently earned no less than 4 out of 5 stars.
Next, I meticulously evaluated each soundbar based on crucial criteria, including size, performance and key features such as Dolby channels, connectivity options, wireless capabilities and the inclusion of a subwoofer. This thorough analysis ensured that only the most exceptional models made it onto my shortlist.
To add a personal touch, I also sought recommendations from the Forbes Vetted team. Many of our top Dolby Atmos soundbar picks, including the top choice, the Samsung HW-Q990C, come highly endorsed by them, having undergone rigorous testing in their own living spaces.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted tech team is well-versed in all things digital, having written hundreds of articles in the category. A couple of staffers, including Dave Johnson, our deputy editor, have even authored a number of books on the subject.
Christian de Looper, the writer of this story, is an audio expert, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Technology. Christian has fully tested the top choices for the best gaming headsets, and has reviewed dozens of soundbars and home speaker solutions. With years of experience in the consumer tech space, de Looper’s other bylines include CNN Underscored, Tom’s Guide, Digital Trends and many more.
The tech vertical is overseen by Rebecca Isaacs, the consumer tech and electronics editor at Forbes Vetted.
How To Choose The Best Dolby Atmos Soundbar For Your Home
When adding a Dolby Atmos soundbar for your home, there are are few features you want to consider. Here is a breakdown of how you should choose the best Dolby Atmos soundbar for your needs.
Dolby Sound Experience
When aiming for the best Dolby soundbars, prioritize models that support Dolby Atmos or Dolby Digital Plus. These technologies deliver immersive, three-dimensional audio, making you feel like you’re in the middle of the action.
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