Buying a soundbar is the easiest and the least expensive method to upgrade your TV’s built-in sound. With some TVs, a basic soundbar will be a necessity to simply hear dialogue, especially if you’re experiencing any degree of hearing loss. For others, a soundbar can improve the experience of watching movies and TV shows by bringing out the dynamic and immersive qualities of soundtracks, particularly ones mixed in the Dolby Atmos format.
You can easily find basic 2.1-channel soundbars for less than $200 / £160 / AU$300, including some models from top audio brands like JBL, Yamaha, and Bose, and they are almost guaranteed to improve on the sound of your TV’s own speakers. But capping your soundbar budget at that level will also entail compromises. The best Dolby Atmos soundbars provide a full-scale 11.1.4-channel surround sound experience that rivals what you’d get with the best A/V receivers hooked up to a separate speaker system. But with prices for top soundbar systems such as the JBL Bar 1300X hovering at $1,600 / £1,300 / around AU$2,460, they won’t be the preferred upgrade path for everyone.
