Soundbars are often seen as a more convenient alternative to traditional home theater speaker systems. But, as more drivers and radiators are packed into a soundbar setup, they can become quite large. Some are too wide to keep underneath your computer monitor or on a smaller media console. While the best small soundbars generally don't sound as spacious as their wider counterparts due to the drivers' physical placement, their compact form makes them easier to set up wherever you'd like. 

Still, our top picks can deliver a decently wide soundstage, great dialogue reproduction, and compatibility with object-based formats like Dolby Atmos. Many even come with built-in content streaming capabilities, giving you instant access to on-demand entertainment.