These Dolby Atmos Soundbars are Smart, Good-Looking, and Sound Phenomenal

A soundbar oughta sound good, right? That's what we're here for. To spend the hours upon hours listening and comparing, so we can tell you what sounds good. Objectively. Beyond, there are other criteria when determining which Dolby Atmos soundbar is best for you. Everything from the internal hardware, size, connectivity, and smart assistant support has the potential to be a deal maker (or dealbreaker) for someone. Find out what yours are from the list below.

Drives: Drivers are the speakers within the soundbars. Woofers handle the deep bass tones while tweeters take care of the high-pitched sounds. In general, the more drivers a soundbar has, the wider the range of sound it can produce.

Channels: Channels act like pathways that deliver sound to specific drivers. Common setups include 2.0 (stereo) for left and right channels, 2.1 (stereo with subwoofer) adding a dedicated bass channel, and 5.1 (surround sound) incorporating left, right, center, rear-surround, and subwoofer channels. Dolby Atmos soundbars take things a step further with numbers like 5.1.2 or 7.1.4. These extra digits represent the number of height channels (usually 2 or 4) that create a more realistic, three-dimensional sound.

Connectivity: While soundbars offer wireless convenience, premium models often rely on wired connections like HDMI ARC or eARC.Also look for a soundbar that can connect to your smartphone, tablet, or laptop through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi makes it easy to set up a connected sound system by wirelessly linking other compatible speakers. Meanwhile, Wi-Fi offers compatibility with Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Chromecast systems, allowing you to stream music with higher quality than Bluetooth.

Size: The right size for a soundbar is a balancing act between space and sound. A soundbar too large for your room might not fit on the piece of furniture you need it too. Or maybe it will look too small and awkward and not fill up the space. Either way, the key is finding the perfect fit. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, as room size, TV size, and available media-stand space all play a role.

Smart features: Many soundbars come with built-in support for popular virtual assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri. While not essential, these features offer a big perk: hands-free control. Instead of fumbling for a remote, you can tell Alexa to play your favorite song. Voice control not only adds convenience but also makes your soundbar experience more accessible and user-friendly.