The 6 Best Soundbars For Music - Fall 2024

The Samsung HW-Q990D is the best soundbar for music that we've tested. This bar is the successor to the popular Samsung HW-Q990C and, thanks to its versatile sound, is the perfect choice for all kinds of genres, from classics to modern-day pop. Its dedicated subwoofer means it can reproduce a thumpy low-bass that brings genres like EDM and hip-hop to life. At the same time, its mids are quite neutral, so vocals and instruments like guitars and pianos sound clear and natural in mixes.

If you crave a different sound, you're in luck! This bar has a lot of customization features, like a 7-band graphic EQ and presets to help you finetune its sound. It also has a room correction feature to optimize its output based on your room's unique acoustics. And, if that's not enough, the bar can get loud enough to fill a large room, which is great for parties. There's even Tap to Play support, so you can easily launch into your favorite tunes just by tapping your phone to the bar once connected via Bluetooth.

While it's hard to rival this bar, if you don't need as many customization features, you'll want to consider premium competitors like the Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc. It's a great alternative, especially if you already own audio products in these manufacturers' ecosystem—however, it isn't as customizable as the Samsung soundbar since it lacks a graphic EQ. You may also want to hold off and wait for its replacement, the Sonos Arc Ultra + Sub 4 bundled with a subwoofer, though we've not reviewed it at the time of writing.

The Samsung HW-Q930C is a great alternative if you want a standout performance at a more affordable price. This bar is a great value buy, especially since it offers many of the same functions and features as the more premium Samsung HW-Q990D. Right out of the box, this bar brings a clear and accurate reproduction of voices and lead instruments in all your favorite tracks, from vocal-centric pop to bass-heavy EDM and hip-hop. Its dedicated subwoofer also brings out all the thump and rumble in the bass. At least in the US, it seems to be available only through Best Buy and the manufacturer's website.

You'll find many of the same sound customization tools as with the more premium HW-Q990D. For example, its room correction feature automatically adjusts the sound to the unique needs of your listening space. If you prefer to switch it up on your own, there's a 7-band graphic EQ available in its companion app, so you can brighten the treble and bring more boom in the bass. This bar doesn't get quite as loud as its more premium cousin, though, and there's more compression when you push it to max volume, which muddies audio reproduction a bit. Still, it's worth a look for music lovers who want versatility and the ability to watch multi-channel content.

Looking for a more affordable setup? Don't have room for satellites? You're in luck. The Samsung HW-Q900C is another great pick for rocking out to your favorite tunes, and it comes with a lot of the same features as the manufacturer's more premium counterparts. You can access many premium sound customization features, including bass and treble adjustments and a graphic EQ. Its room correction tool is also designed to optimize its output based on your room's acoustics. With a clean and clear sound right out of the box, this soundbar is suitable for all your favorite music.

Unlike the more premium models on our list, though, this setup lacks discrete satellite speakers. This can be a plus, especially if you don't have a lot of space behind your couch. If you're just listening to stereo content like music, you probably won't need satellites in the first place. However, this bar doesn't shine as bright with other content like surround sound compared to the Samsung HW-Q930C and the Samsung HW-Q990D.

If you want satellites for better surround sound performance for watching concerts mixed in 5.1, the LG S90TR is worth looking into, but it doesn't sound quite as balanced out of the box as the Samsung and doesn't get as loud. So, it'll depend on your listening habits as to whether this is a fair trade-off or not. Keep in mind that if you're also a movie lover, you can always add satellites to the Samsung separately, which is a nice touch.

The Vizio M Series M512a-H6 is an even more wallet-friendly option for music lovers. Out of the box, you get a clear and detailed audio reproduction that's great for listening to everything from rock to pop to EDM to classical music. Voices and lead instruments reproduce accurately, and the dedicated sub brings the rumble in the low bass. You can crank up the volume to enjoy your favorite songs as loud as you want. This soundbar doesn't have a full graphic EQ like the Samsung HW-Q900D, but you can still adjust its bass and treble to get the best possible sound.

This bar is a great fit if you want to use your soundbar for more than just listening to music. Since it comes with satellites, it offers an immersive sound with surround content, and it also supports Dolby Atmos, which is commonly found on streaming platforms and Blu-rays. You can check out the similarly priced LG SP8YA if you don't watch many movies. It's a good alternative without satellites, meaning it's better suited for smaller rooms. Of course, its surround sound isn't as good as the Vizio, so it's not quite as versatile, but it's still worth noting for those who only want a bar for listening to music.

The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is a solid pick if you're shopping on a tight budget. It's a 5.1 setup that's quite simple but still does a very good job with music. Thanks to its balanced mids, it reproduces clear and accurate vocals and lead instruments, and its dedicated subwoofer ensures that you feel the punch and rumble in basslines. Its neutral sound makes it suitable for listening to everything from classical music to rock to hip-hop. There's a standard selection of sound enhancement features for its budget price point. You won't find a graphic EQ or a room correction feature, but there are bass and treble adjustments that give you some control over its sound.

If you want a versatile bar, this bar delivers. Despite its budget-friendly price, you still get satellites with this soundbar. It's especially handy if you want concerts mixed in Dolby Digital. There's no Dolby Atmos support like with the Vizio M Series M512a-H6, though this isn't a huge deal if you don't listen to much content mixed in this format. Those who don't have room for satellites can check out the similarly priced Samsung HW-B550, too. Still, those who want to enjoy multi-channel content will want to check out the Vizio instead.

Whether in a small room or a tight apartment, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is a great pick that won't take up a lot of space. It has the same compact design as the original Sonos Beam, measuring under 26 inches in width, with a sleek and premium style that blends in easily with your decor. Compared to its predecessor, it supports Dolby Atmos content frequently found on streaming platforms and Blu-ray discs. Using psychoacoustic principles, it stretches sound well past the edges of the bar itself, so you get a wide and immersive-sounding experience with your audio, just like if you were seated right in the middle of the action.

Like the premium Sonos Arc, this soundbar has many customization tools, including a TruePlay room correction feature that adjusts audio output based on your room's acoustics. Voices and lead instruments are clear right out of the box, but its bass and treble adjustments give you extra control over its sound. Bass lovers can add on a separate sub if they want, and Sonos sells compatible satellites, too—the full Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers is a great option if you have space for the extra components. Of course, compared to the Arc, this smaller soundbar doesn't get quite as loud and can't reproduce as much height in the soundstage. That said, it's still a solid pick overall.