With any luck, everyone knows by now that even the best-sounding TVs sound pretty rubbish by home cinema standards.
But we don’t all have the space, budget or patience for a full system comprising an AV receiver, speaker package and the cables required to wire everything up.
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So, what’s the solution for those who’ve forked out for a gorgeous, premium TV and want equally gorgeous sound without all of the boxes and/or cables?
The premium solo soundbar, that’s what. In fact, that’s exactly the problem that the soundbar was originally designed to solve.
Here, we’re pitching four such soundbars against one another.
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This isn’t a head-to-head test, though: two newer soundbars are looking to disrupt the Sonos vs Sony scuffle.
However, we’ve decided to include it here as the ability to connect the surround speakers to the main bar means it can function as a solo bar – albeit one that also comes with a subwoofer.
Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0
Price
Connectivity
3D Audio support
Music streaming
JBL Bar 1000MK2
£749
$1200
AU$1599
HDMI eARC
3 x HDMI in
Optical
Bluetooth 5.3
Dolby Atmos
DTS:X
AirPlay 2
Spotify Connect
Tidal Connect
Qobuz
Amazon Music
LG Sound Suite H7
£899
$1000
around AU$1680
HDMI eARC
Bluetooth 5.4
Dolby Atmos
AirPlay 2
Spotify Connect
Tidal Connect
Sonos Arc Ultra
£999
$1099
AU$1799
HDMI eARC
Bluetooth 5.3
Dolby Atmos
AirPlay 2
Spotify Connect
Tidal Connect
Qobuz
Amazon Music
Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9
£999
$1498
AU$1799
HDMI eARC
1 x HDMI in
Bluetooth 5.2
Dolby Atmos
DTS:X
AirPlay 2
Spotify Connect
Picking a winner
Each of these premium soundbars proves that you don’t need a stack of separates and a room full of speakers to get genuinely enjoyable cinematic sound from your TV.
Of course, they all tackle that challenge in slightly different ways.
The JBL leans into flexibility and sheer spectacle, the LG focuses on design and cutting-edge tech, the Sony majors on immersion and detail, and the Sonos aims to blend simplicity, sophistication and sonic excellence into one sleek package.
4. LG Sound Suite H7
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
All four are good products in their own right, but there is a clear hierarchy here, and in fourth place is the LG Sound Suite H7.
The H7 is certainly an interesting proposition. Its styling is refreshingly different from the norm, and those who own a compatible LG TV will appreciate the way it integrates visually and functionally with the screen. It’s also packed with features, including Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, which will be a real boon if you decide to expand your system in the future.
There’s no denying, either, that the H7 sounds impressive out of the blocks. It goes loud, delivers plenty of bass weight and throws effects around the room enthusiastically enough to create a decent sense of scale.
Ultimately, though, it lacks the refinement and subtlety of the best soundbars here. Dynamics are a little blunt, detail levels aren’t especially high, and there’s a hardness to its delivery that can become fatiguing over longer listening sessions. Dolby Atmos effects are present, but they don’t knit together cohesively enough to fully convince.
It’s a decent soundbar, then, but against this level of competition, decent simply isn’t enough.
Today’s best LG Sound Suite H7 deals
3. JBL Bar 1000MK2
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
Third place goes to the JBL Bar 1000MK2 – and this one is perhaps the trickiest to judge.
Strictly speaking, it’s not really a solo soundbar at all, thanks to the inclusion of a wireless subwoofer and detachable surround speakers. But because those surrounds can be physically attached to the main unit, we felt it deserved a place in this test – and we’re glad we included it.
There’s no question that the JBL delivers the biggest and most overtly cinematic presentation here. With the surrounds deployed, it creates an impressively expansive soundfield, and the dedicated subwoofer gives action scenes a level of low-end heft that the true solo bars simply can’t match.
It’s a hugely entertaining listen, too, with a bold, energetic character that makes blockbuster movies enormous fun.
The problem is that it’s not the most nuanced or controlled performer on test. Bass can occasionally become overbearing, subtle details are sometimes overshadowed by sheer bombast, and musicality isn’t really its strong suit. In stereo music playback, particularly, the Sonos and Sony sound noticeably more balanced, cohesive and sophisticated.
If your priority is maximum home cinema impact with minimum hassle, the JBL remains a very appealing option. But as an all-round premium soundbar package, it falls short of the class leaders.
Today’s best JBL Bar 1000MK2 deals
2. Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi? / Netflix / Drive To Survive)
Which brings us to the Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9.
When this soundbar first launched, its pricing made it difficult to recommend wholeheartedly, but now that it can regularly be found for around the same money as the Sonos Arc Ultra, it becomes a much stronger proposition.
And it really is an excellent soundbar. Sony has managed to produce an impressively spacious and immersive presentation from a single bar, with Dolby Atmos effects projected with remarkable precision. Its sense of verticality is particularly convincing, and it fills a room with sound more effectively than almost any rival.
It’s detailed and dynamic, too, with crisp dialogue, excellent placement of effects and plenty of punch when movie soundtracks demand it. The inclusion of HDMI passthrough and DTS:X support also gives it a useful edge in the features department.
Ultimately, though, while the Sony is deeply impressive, it doesn’t quite achieve the same all-round balance and naturalness as the Sonos. There are moments where its presentation becomes just a touch forward or forceful, and while it sounds spectacular with movies, it’s not quite as consistently musical or cohesive across all content types.
Today’s best Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9 deals
1. Sonos Arc Ultra
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
The Sonos Arc Ultra nails the brief.
It delivers Dolby Atmos with scale, precision and convincing height effects, but it never loses sight of subtlety or cohesion in the pursuit of spectacle. Dialogue is crystal clear, effects are expertly placed, and there’s an openness and spaciousness to the presentation that makes movie soundtracks utterly engrossing.
Crucially, it’s also the most musical soundbar here. Whether you’re watching films, gaming or simply streaming music, the Sonos sounds balanced, expressive and refined in a way that its rivals can’t quite match.
The lack of HDMI passthrough will be an annoyance for some, and the Sonos app isn’t quite back to its slick best yet, but many buyers are unlikely to bother with the app after initial setup and the superb performance of the Arc Ultra far outweighs those relatively minor niggles.
The Sonos Arc Ultra will surely be beaten one day – but today isn’t that day.
Today’s best Sonos Arc Ultra deals