If you don't have a lot of space in your living room, a standalone soundbar is a great option to upgrade your TV speakers. These setups are designed to offer an immersive listening experience without the need for a dedicated subwoofer or satellite speakers. Thanks to side-firing and up-firing drivers built into the bar, many all-in-one setups can play surround and Dolby Atmos content.
We've tested over 230 soundbars; below, you'll find the best soundbars without subwoofers to buy. You can see our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, and the best small soundbars.
Our recommendations are built upon our thorough testing and rigorous reviews. Every soundbar we evaluate goes through multiple testing stages with different teams to ensure accurate, authentic results. No cherry-picked units or data.
Curious how we've tested over 200 soundbars (and counting)? Look at our How We Test Soundbars article for a behind-the-scenes look at our lab and process.
-
Best All-In-One Soundbar
Mixed UsageMoviesDialogue/TV ShowsBuild QualityStereo Frequency Response With Preliminary CalibrationCenterMusicSee all our test resultsStereo SoundstageThe best all-in-one soundbar we've tested is the Klipsch Flexus Core 300. This 5.1.2 offering from the venerable American Hi-Fi manufacturer gives you the right balance of cinematic sound and modern connectivity options. This premium bar is a collaboration with Japanese brand Onkyo and features a free version of Dirac live room correction with the option to upgrade for paid features. You get comprehensive format support, covering all major Dolby and DTS formats, as well as HDMI 2.1 connectivity with 4k passthrough at 120Hz, in case you want to use it as a hub between a console and display.
The default sound is very balanced for a standalone bar, with plenty of detail in the mid and treble ranges. While it can't output as much bass as a setup with a dedicated subwoofer, it's still an impressive amount of low-end for an integrated sub, adding boom and punch to cinematic sequences. The soundstage is quite wide too, and it does a solid job of reproducing 5.1 and Atmos content, despite its lack of rear speakers. If you find yourself craving some extra width and low-end rumble, there's a clear upgrade path via the Klipsch Flexus Core 300 with Sub 200 + Surr 200.
That said, if you already own some Sonos products, like the Sonos Ace headphones, the Sonos Arc Ultra offers a comparable performance and easy integration within the Sonos ecosystem. It can get a bit louder than the Klipsch without as much compression, but it doesn't offer HDMI passthrough capabilities, and its app is still prone to bugs.
-
Best Mid-Range All-In-One Soundbar
Mixed UsageMoviesDialogue/TV ShowsBuild QualityStereo Frequency Response With Preliminary CalibrationCenterMusicSee all our test resultsStereo SoundstageThe Samsung HW-S60D is a solid mid-range standalone soundbar. It's a well-made 5.0 soundbar that stylishly blends in with your decor without drawing too much attention to itself. That said, its stereo soundstage isn't as wide, and due to the absence of up-firing drivers, the Dolby Atmos height is lacking compared to the high-end Klipsch Flexus Core 300. However, the Samsung gets a bit louder at max volume and offers more manual control over the sound settings. You can use the room correction tool, which automatically adjusts the sound to suit your space's unique acoustics. Plus, a plethora of tools like graphic EQ and EQ presets, as well as dialogue and night modes, alongside additional height adjustments, let you tweak the sound further.
With its expansive wireless connectivity, you can easily connect via Bluetooth and Chromecast, alongside Wi-Fi and more, so you can hit play on your tunes at a moment's notice without the fuss of setup. There's support for Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, and DTS, which works for most media, though it has to downmix Atmos content, which makes it sound a bit more artificial than dedicated up-firing drivers found on the Klipsch Flexus Core 300. Still, for TV shows and music, it's a nice choice that offers you a lot of control over the sound.
-
Best Budget All-In-One Soundbar
Mixed UsageMoviesDialogue/TV ShowsBuild QualityStereo Frequency Response With Preliminary CalibrationCenterMusicSee all our test resultsStereo SoundstageThe TCL S45H is the best budget all-in-one soundbar that we've tested. It represents an upgrade to your TV's built-in speakers at a price that's easy on your wallet. While it's a 2.0 soundbar, so it doesn't have a dedicated center channel like the Samsung HW-S60D, it's decently built and is compatible with Dolby Atmos content (even if it has to downmix it). The soundbar includes a surprising array of features for an affordable price, such as room correction, dialogue and night modes, alongside EQ presets and bass and treble sliders, so you can sculpt the sound to your tastes and space, even if it doesn't output much bass rumble.
It gets louder with less compression at max volume than most TV built-in speakers, and it supports Dolby Digital and DTS, too. Unlike the Samsung, however, it doesn't offer as much wireless playback compatibility, and the TCL is limited to Bluetooth. While it lacks a discrete center channel for greater speech clarity, you get a few tools to enhance the dialogue, and it's a reasonable choice for watching TV shows and listening to music. For tight spaces and tight budgets, it's a great option that includes features you won't find on many soundbars under $100.
-
Best Small All-In-One Soundbar
Mixed UsageMoviesDialogue/TV ShowsBuild QualityStereo Frequency Response With Preliminary CalibrationCenterMusicSee all our test resultsStereo SoundstageWant a smaller all-in-one soundbar without compromising on quality? Check out the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). At less than 26 inches in width, like the Samsung HW-S60D, this soundbar is a great choice for those who don't have space for a larger standalone bar. Despite its small size, the bar can still bring a wide and immersive sound, thanks to its side-firing speakers that beam sound throughout your room. Compared to the first-generation model, this version adds support for Dolby Atmos content commonly found on streaming services. Plus, support for DTS means you can watch Blu-rays too. As a result, you enjoy a clear, life-like feel with all your favorite movies and TV shows.
You'll find a selection of sound enhancement features similar to the Klipsch Flexus Core 300. Like most premium bars, there's a room correction feature, 'TruePlay,' accessed via the app on compatible iOS devices. With it on, vocals and lead instruments reproduce pretty clearly, and there's a touch of extra boom in the bass to bring action-packed scenes to life. If you want to customize it, bass and treble adjustments are available. That said, since this setup is on the smaller side, it doesn't get very loud. It brings an immersive feel with Atmos content, but it's not as life-like as what you get with the Klipsch. Still, it's a solid pick for those without a lot of space who want a premium bar.
For more recommendations that work well for speech-heavy viewing, like reality TV and dramas, check out the best soundbars for dialogue.
-
Best All-In-One Soundbar For Gaming
Mixed UsageMoviesDialogue/TV ShowsBuild QualityStereo Frequency Response With Preliminary CalibrationCenterMusicSee all our test resultsStereo SoundstageThe Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 is the best all-in-one design for taking advantage of HDMI 2.1's high bandwidth. While its Dolby Atmos height isn't quite as tall, and the stereo soundstage and surround 5.1 performance aren't quite as immersive as the Klipsch Flexus Core 300, the Sony has greater HDMI connectivity. Next-gen gaming consoles and sports fans can use the 4k at 120Hz and G-SYNC variable refresh rate for a clear image with uncompressed audio while retaining high-resolution visuals on the screen.
Besides its expansive connectivity, the soundbar also works with most surround sound formats, such as DTS:X, which is used on most streaming platforms and Blu-ray, as well as object-based surround sound, Dolby Atmos. It includes room correction and a few limited listening modes like 'Voice' and 'Sound Field' to shape the sound, but lacks a full EQ. For a standalone bar, it outputs a good amount of low-end, though it's not as rumbly as the Klipsch Flexus Core 300. Still, if you study the law of diminishing returns, the step-down Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 offers similar HDMI In capabilities for less cash with nearly the same features, so you can pass-through video for gaming, too. However, it compromises more on the BRAVIA Theater Bar 9's already somewhat uneven surround sound and Atmos tuning further.
Notable Mentions
-
KEF XIO:
The KEF XIO is a premium and stylish all-in-one soundbar. If the sight of yet another black rectangular box fills you with dread, the Silver Grey edition of the XIO could be the bar for you. It looks good and has even better Atmos performance than the Klipsch Flexus Core 300. The catch is the KEF's extremely high price, which outpaces its performance.
See our review -
Klipsch Flexus Core 200:
The Klipsch Flexus Core 200 is a straightforward soundbar that offers a good low-end extension for an all-in-one and plenty of features like EQ to tailor the sound. It has up-firing drivers to correctly deliver 3D audio formats like Atmos, which the Samsung HW-S60D lacks, but it downmixes surround sound and lacks room correction.
See our review -
Marshall Heston 120:
The Marshall Heston 120 employs the brand's iconic amplifier livery, adorning a 5.1.2 bar that features dual built-in subwoofers. It can output a solid amount of bass and comes with a 5-band EQ for dialing in adjustments. Its soundstage isn't as wide as the Klipsch Flexus Core 300, though, and it's a fair bit pricier.
See our review -
LG Sound Suite H7:
The LG Sound Suite H7 is an expandable standalone bar with a built-in subwoofer that's able to output quite a bit of low-end. It's equipped with up-firing Atmos drivers too, giving it a comparable height performance to the Klipsch Flexus Core 300. It lacks compatibility with DTS formats, though, which limits its functionality with Blu-Rays and the Disney+ platform.
See our review
Recent Updates
Mar 27, 2026:
We've swapped out the Sonos Arc Ultra as the top pick and replaced it with the Klipsch Flexus Core 300. The Arc Ultra is still mentioned in the text as a comparison. We've also revamped the Notable Mentions, adding the Marshall Heston and the newly tested LG Sound Suite H7.
Dec 18, 2025:
The Klipsch Flexus Core 300 is our new Best Integrated Sub pick for its strong performance and broad set of connectivity options. We also added the KEF XIO to our Notable Mentions for anyone who'd prefer a more stylish, if expensive, all-in-one bar. Finally, we removed the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Plus from our Notable Mentions.
Aug 04, 2025:
This article's format has been updated without any changes to the picks, with minor adjustments to the text. The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 is mentioned as an alternative to the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9, and the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Plus was added to the Notable Mentions. Discontinued and out-of-stock soundbars were removed from the Notable Mentions.
Feb 26, 2025:
We added the Klipsch Flexus Core 200 as a Notable Mention. Otherwise, the picks are unchanged, and we've checked the text for accuracy with only minor edits.
Dec 04, 2024:
This article's picks have been updated to include the Sonos Arc Ultra, Samsung HW-S60D, and TCL S45H, with adjustments to the text throughout. The Bose Smart Soundbar has been added to the Notable Mentions.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best all-in-one soundbars and the best soundbars without subwoofer add-ons for most people to buy. We factor in the price (a cheaper soundbar wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no soundbars that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to choose for yourself, here's the list of all our standalone soundbar reviews. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. No soundbar is perfect. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.