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How to Choose the Best Soundbar for Your Living Room

  • Writer: Dave Hall
    Dave Hall
  • Apr 7
  • 5 min read

Let’s be honest, modern tellies look stunning, but they sound like they’re trapped in a shoebox. Ultra slim bezels and minimalist designs leave next to no room for decent built in speakers. That’s where soundbars come in: sleek, powerful, and surprisingly versatile, they’re the unsung heroes of home audio.


But the soundbar market is crowded. From budget friendly and all in ones to premium Dolby Atmos systems with upfiring speakers and wireless subwoofers, choosing the right one for your living room can feel like decoding a secret language.


Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Whether you're upgrading your TV’s sound for movie nights, gaming sessions, or just casual YouTube binges, this guide will help you cut through the noise and find the best soundbar for your space and setup.


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Why Choose a Soundbar?


Soundbars are a brilliant middle ground between tinny built in TV speakers and full-on AV receiver systems. They're:


  • Compact and sleek: minimal visual clutter

  • Easy to set up: often plug and play via HDMI ARC/eARC

  • Versatile: many double as Bluetooth speakers for music

  • Cost effective: you get impressive performance without the speaker jungle


1. Know Your Space (Room Size Matters)


The first step in choosing the right soundbar is understanding the size and acoustics of your living room.


  • Small rooms (up to ~15 m²): A compact 2.0 or 2.1 soundbar will often do the trick. You don’t need huge drivers or complex Atmos setups. Look for clarity and dialogue performance.


  • Medium to large rooms (15–30+ m²): Consider a 3.1 or full Dolby Atmos soundbar with a subwoofer and satellite speakers to fill the space with immersive sound.


  • Open plan spaces: Go bigger. You’ll want something with a powerful sub and maybe even rear speakers to avoid your audio getting swallowed by the room.


Pro tip: Don’t over buy. A massive soundbar in a tiny lounge often just creates boom and muddiness.


2. Choose the Right Soundbar Configuration


Soundbars come in various configurations. Here's a quick breakdown of what all those numbers mean:


  • 2.0: Two front speakers (left and right), no subwoofer

  • 2.1: Adds a subwoofer

  • 3.1: Adds a centre channel for clearer dialogue

  • 5.1: Surround sound with rear speakers

  • 5.1.2 or 7.1.4: Includes upward firing speakers for Dolby Atmos height channels


For most people:

  • 2.1 or 3.1 is a sweet spot for a big audio upgrade without clutter

  • 5.1 or Atmos setups are best if you want a full on cinematic experience


3. What About Dolby Atmos?

Dolby Atmos brings an extra layer of immersion by adding height to the soundstage. You’ll hear helicopters above you, rain falling from the ceiling, or echo effects that seem to move through the room.


But here’s the catch: not all Atmos soundbars are created equal.


  • Virtual Atmos: Some soundbars simulate Atmos using clever processing. It’s decent, but not quite the real deal.


  • True Atmos: These have dedicated upfiring drivers to bounce sound off the ceiling for actual height effects.


Best in class (2025):

  • Sonos Arc: Minimalist, but surprisingly effective virtual Atmos

  • Samsung HW-Q990D: Full fat 11.1.4 Atmos system with real rear and height speakers

  • LG S95TR: Another monster Atmos performer with wireless rears and sub


If your ceiling is vaulted or open, Atmos may not perform at its best. Flat, low ceilings work best for bouncing audio.


4. HDMI ARC vs eARC vs Optical: What’s the Difference?


Connection options affect both convenience and audio quality.


  • HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel): Sends audio from your TV to the soundbar using a single HDMI cable. Supports Dolby Digital, DTS, and basic surround.


  • HDMI eARC (enhanced ARC): Supports high bitrate formats like Dolby Atmos TrueHD and DTS:X. If you want uncompressed surround sound, go eARC.


  • Optical (Toslink): Works fine for stereo or compressed surround, but no Atmos or advanced features.


Pro tip: Make sure your TV supports eARC if you're buying a high end soundbar, it’s the only way to unlock its full potential.


5. Subwoofer or No Subwoofer?


Bass brings the boom and makes all the difference for movies, games, and music.


  • With subwoofer: You’ll feel explosions, rumble, and cinematic low end. Ideal for action films and immersive gaming.


  • Without subwoofer: Cleaner look, often better for smaller spaces or apartments with noise concerns.


Many soundbars now come with wireless subs that connect automatically. Make sure it’s wireless, not wired, unless you like running cables under the rug.


6. Smart Features and Voice Assistants


Many modern soundbars double as smart speakers:

  • Sonos Beam (Gen 2): Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and AirPlay 2

  • Bose Smart Soundbar 600: Has Alexa built in and integrates with Bose’s Music app

  • Amazon Fire TV Soundbar: Budget option with Alexa voice control


If you're building a smart home setup or want multi room audio, it's worth considering how your soundbar plays with your ecosystem (Apple, Google, Alexa, etc.).


7. Music Matters Too


Don’t forget, you’ll likely use your soundbar for music as much as telly.


Look for:

  • Bluetooth and Wi-Fi streaming

  • Support for Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, or Chromecast Audio

  • Hi res audio formats (FLAC, ALAC) if you're picky


Some soundbars, like the Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 or Sonos Arc, offer superb music playback thanks to better tuning and driver quality.


8. Don't Ignore the Remote and App Experience


This might sound basic, but clunky controls can ruin an otherwise great product.


Look for:

  • Intuitive remotes: with clear volume, input, and sound mode buttons

  • Mobile apps: for setup, firmware updates, EQ tweaking

  • TV remote compatibility: HDMI CEC lets you control volume with your TV’s remote (very handy)


9. Sound Modes: Use Them Wisely


Most soundbars offer modes like:

  • Movie: Big, wide soundstage with boosted bass and surround

  • Dialogue/Speech: Boosts vocal clarity, ideal for dramas or news

  • Game: Prioritises directional cues and latency

  • Night Mode: Limits volume spikes, great for late night sessions


Use these. They genuinely make a difference based on what you're watching.


10. Price vs Performance: What’s Worth Paying For?


  • £150–£300: Great for budget buyers. Expect a solid 2.1 system with Bluetooth and decent clarity.

  • £300–£700: This is the sweet spot, expect 3.1 setups, some Atmos support, wireless subwoofers.

  • £700–£1,500+: Premium multi channel systems, true Atmos, smart features, better build and audio quality.


Don't overspend on features you won't use. But don’t underspend either, you’ll only end up upgrading sooner.


Final Thoughts: Let Your Ears Decide


The "best" soundbar isn’t necessarily the most expensive one. It’s the one that fits your space, your ears, and your habits. Are you binging Netflix? Hosting game nights? Streaming hi res audio? These should all influence your decision.


Wherever you land, even a modest soundbar will be miles better than your TV’s tinny internal speakers. So trust your ears, check your room layout, and level up your living room sound without needing a full-blown home cinema rig.


— Dave Hall, Audio & Sound Technology | The Tech Advisor

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