Soundbars are a great and compact way to enhance your music listening experience when you don't have space for a full home theater setup. You can get great stereo audio reproduction with soundbars and excellent bass performance when your system has a dedicated subwoofer, although one isn't necessary to enjoy good audio fidelity. Not all soundbars are the same, and you should choose one that suits your needs, whether you prefer using Bluetooth, your home Wi-Fi network, or even AirPlay to stream your favorite tracks.
We've tested over 230 soundbars, and below are our recommendations for the best soundbars for music. Also, check out our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best Dolby Atmos soundbars (if you watch a lot of movies), and the best budget 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.
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Best Soundbar For Music
The Samsung HW-Q990F is the best soundbar for music that we've tested. This bar is the successor to the popular Samsung HW-Q990D and, thanks to its versatile sound, it's the perfect choice for all kinds of genres, from classics to modern-day pop. Although the differences between them are small, the HW-Q990F's redesigned sealed subwoofer doesn't chuff with deep bass frequencies like the previous model. The sub can reproduce a thumpy low-bass that brings genres like EDM and hip-hop to life with satisfying boom on kick drums. The mids are quite neutral, so vocals and instruments, such as 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 seven-band graphic EQ and presets to help you fine-tune 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 Sound support, so you can easily launch into your favorite tunes just by tapping your phone to the bar once connected via Bluetooth. It also features built-in Spotify, AirPlay, Chromecast, and Wi-Fi for easy audio playback.
If you already own audio products in the Sonos ecosystem, the Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc Ultra is also a viable alternative. However, it isn't as customizable as the Samsung since it lacks a graphic EQ. Overall, the Samsung performs marginally better across the board, with the exception of the soundstage, where the Sonos boasts a slightly wider sound.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Soundbar For Music
If you're looking for the top-tier performance of the Samsung HW-Q990F for a cheaper price, with minimal trade-offs, the JBL Bar 1000MK2 is a very solid choice. The JBL offers you a number of flexible listening options within its 7.1.4 configuration, as its detachable satellites let you configure it as a bar and sub combo, or a setup with dedicated satellites. This can make it a compelling choice for smaller living rooms and listening setups, especially if you like switching between stereo music playback and surround sound movie content.
It offers a balanced default frequency response that outputs plenty of bass, though it has a darker treble range presentation compared to the Samsung. Still, it features a wide stereo soundstage that does justice to expansive orchestral recordings, and the great dynamics performance means you can crank the tunes without encountering much compression. There's a raft of sound customization options too, like a seven-band graphic EQ and room correction tool. If you like the JBL's detachable satellite design but want a higher channel count, you can also pay a little extra for the JBL Bar 1300XMK2. Both JBL bars feature 3 HDMI In ports, but neither feature 4k @ 120Hz passthrough.
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Best Mid-Range Soundbar For Music
Looking for a feature-rich setup that works well for music listening, but at a more mid-range price? The LG S90TR is one of the best soundbars we've tested in this price range. Its room correction feature helps it deliver a balanced sound right out of the box, with satisfying thump and rumble and clear, present dialogue. If you prefer a different sound, you also get a few EQ presets to tailor its sound to your taste. With its wide range of connectivity options, support for many audio formats, and wireless features like Spotify Connect and Apple AirPlay, it's a convenient choice for streaming your favorite playlists and albums.
If you're spending this kind of money on a soundbar, you probably also want to know how well it performs reproducing movie and TV audio, and this bar does not disappoint. Its included satellites help create a spacious and dimensional soundstage, which works well when you switch from music to other content. That said, its Atmos performance is more limited. Because it relies only on the bar's up-firing speakers for height effects, scenes with overhead motion don't feel as full or as deep as what you'll hear on the JBL Bar 1000MK2, which offers up-firing drivers in the rear satellites.
If you like the sound of the LG's performance but don't have room for rear speakers, you might prefer something like the Samsung HW-Q800F, which is a simple bar and sub offering. While the Samsung saves on space and offers a balanced sound for music listening, it's less versatile with other types of content due to its lack of satellites.
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Best Budget Soundbar For Music
The Hisense AX5140Q is a great value proposition for those looking for a 5.1.4 setup that'll enhance your music listening experience at a comparatively low price point. This bar offers a generally balanced frequency response across the full range, with the dedicated sub reproducing kick drums with plenty of punch. It doesn't fare so well with low-bass, though, so sub-bass-heavy rap tracks can sound a little muted. Still, it can get loud enough to fill the average living room without any noticeable compression that can cause pumping artifacts.
Of course, being a budget bar, there are tradeoffs. You don't get the LG S90TR's advanced customization tools or sound enhancement features, such as room correction (unless you own a compatible Hisense TV), but the Hisense's graphic EQ helps you cover a lot of ground. If you're looking for a soundbar setup with a little more low-bass oomph for a similar price, it's worth considering the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus with Sub + Speakers instead. This 5.1 bar sacrifices up-firing drivers and sound customization features in favor of a more balanced sound that extends lower than the Hisense.
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Best Small Soundbar For Music
If you don't have the space for a full setup like the The Hisense AX5140Q, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is well worth considering. Whether in a small room or a tight apartment, the Sonos won't take up a lot of space. It has the same compact design as the original Sonos Beam, measuring under 26 inches wide, and a sleek, premium style that blends in easily with your decor. Compared to its predecessor, it supports Dolby Atmos content, which is frequently found on streaming platforms and Blu-ray discs. Using psychoacoustic principles, it stretches sound well past the edges of the bar itself, giving you a wide, immersive-sounding experience, just like if you were seated right in the middle of the action.
Like the premium Sonos Arc Ultra, 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 Ultra, 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.
This soundbar can also stream audio using AirPlay, but for more targeted picks, check out the best soundbars with AirPlay.
Notable Mentions
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Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad with Bass Module:
The Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad with Bass Module is a high-end soundbar with a four-speaker and subwoofer configuration. This setup lets you create a very wide and immersive stereo soundstage, which is pleasing for adding an expansive quality to your music. On the other hand, it's less versatile than the Samsung HW-Q990F, with fewer sound enhancements to customize the experience.
See our review -
LG S95AR:
The LG S95AR is a high-tier 9.1.5 soundbar that sounds great out of the box for stereo music with stereo dynamics and stereo soundstage performance that matches the JBL Bar 1000MK2. However, the LG is slightly more expensive and lacks the JBL's detachable satellite design.
See our review -
Klipsch Flexus Core 300:
Unlike most of the picks on this list, the Klipsch Flexus Core 300 is an all-in-one soundbar. That can be handy for anyone looking for a simpler setup that saves space. Of course, it also means you won't get a dedicated sub or satellites, like you do with larger setups like the LG S90TR. That means you'll miss out on some low-bass thump, and surround content will sound less immersive. But if your main use case is listening to music, that tradeoff could be well worth it.
See our review -
TCL S55H:
The TCL S55H is a no-nonsense 2.1 soundbar that doesn't come with many frills whatsoever, or offer as much versatility as the Hisense AX5140Q and its 5.1. configuration. However, for stereo music mixes, the TCL sounds good with a pretty balanced tuning, ample low-end, and a room calibration tool for an affordable price.
See our review
Recent Updates
Mar 24, 2026:
We've replaced the Samsung HW-Q800D with the JBL Bar 1000MK2 as the mid-range pick, due to the JBL's versatile design and performance. The Hisense AX5140Q is the new budget pick, replacing the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus with Sub + Speakers. We've also edited the text throughout our picks and notable mentions to improve flow.
Dec 01, 2025:
The LG S90TR is our new mid-range pick, and we've removed our lower mid-range entry as it was not offering extra value for our readers. The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus with Sub + Speakers is our new budget pick. Finally, in our Notable Mentions, we added the Klipsch Flexus Core 300 as an all-in-one solution, and replaced the LG S95TR with the LG S95AR.
Feb 06, 2025:
We've made some changes to align this article with other recommendation articles. The Samsung HW-Q930D replaces the HW-Q930C. The lack of availability for Vizio soundbars has meant that we've removed the lower mid-range pick and added the Hisense AX5125H as a budget pick, with the Vizio M Series M512a-H6 added as a comparison.
Nov 07, 2024:
This article has been updated to remove discontinued products like the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module and the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module. The LG S90TR has been added as an alternative to the Samsung HW-Q900C, while the LG S95TR, Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad with Bass Module, and TCL S55H have been added as Notable Mentions. A note about the Sonos Arc Ultra + Sub 4 was also added.
Aug 12, 2024: We've removed the Klipsch Cinema 800 from the Notable Mentions as it's no longer available.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the top soundbars for music 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 soundbar reviews, sorted by their music performance. 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.