Soundbarsare fantastically popular for a reason . They offer much better audio tone than you could get from yourTValone , and they ’re gentle to establish and countersink up . dedicate the immense number of models , you ’re indisputable to find one that fits your budget .

Not all soundbars are created equal . Some come with a wireless subwoofer for enhanced bass , while others go even further , featuring additional speakers for full5.1 surround sound . However , if there ’s one feature you need to know about before purchase your next ( or first ) soundbar , it ’s Dolby Atmos .

Dolby Atmos is appearing on soundbars from all major brands , including Sony , LG , Samsung , Vizio , Yamaha , Sonos , and JBL . It can importantly enhance your home theater experience . Here ’s why your next soundbar should be a Dolby Atmos soundbar .

What is Dolby Atmos?

Before we get into the nuts and deadbolt of Atmos soundbars , here ’s a little background . ( If you ’re already familiar with the basics of Atmos , please skim ahead.)Dolby Atmos(and its similitude , DTS :X ) is a way of recording and reproducing surround sound that lets audio mixers control each sound you discover — from a buzz bee to a fighter jet — as an case-by-case audio target .

When you combine this object - based control with the addition of overhead talker , it ’s possible to move a individual sound anywhere in infinite , without changing any other part of the soundtrack , like the background euphony or duologue .

What this intend for moviegoer is a far more immersive experience in which the movement of an on - screen target is play along by a matched moving sound . When executed with attention , it can be a thrilling , lifelike means to watch a movie .

In a movie theater , these objects can be manipulated across dozens of speakers , many of which are directly above the audience , creating a hemisphere of strait .

At home , Atmos and DTS :X are scaled down to match the tools at deal , topping out at 34 individual speaker channel and two basso channel . The most basic constellation is 5.1.2 , which involves a typical 5.1 setup ( leave behind , center , right , and two surrounds ) , along with two top speakers , which can be mounted overhead or angled up from ground level to saltation sound down from the cap .

That may sound like quite a footstep down from a commercial theater , but make no misunderstanding . Dolby Atmos at home can vocalise every scrap as exciting if you have the right gear .

What makes Dolby Atmos soundbars different?

Just like standard environs soundbars , Atmos soundbars fall in many flavors , including depart sizes , way , and uncommitted channels . But two major features set them apart from their non - Atmos cousins .

First , and this might seem obvious , they ’re compatible with Dolby Atmos content . In practice , this means that if you connect them to a Dolby Atmos origin machine , like an Apple TV 4 K or a recent LG OLED TV , those devices will understand that they should provide a Dolby Atmos signal to the soundbar whenever one is available .

Second , they ’re capable of reproducing the height epithelial duct that are part of the signature Dolby Atmos three-D surround legal experience .

Will my TV be compatible with a Dolby Atmos soundbar?

Because Dolby Atmos uses a lot of digital selective information ( or bandwidth ) , it ’s not compatible with the optical connections that have been used for years to connect TV to external receivers and soundbars . So any Dolby Atmos content , whether from your Blu - ray player , well out media machine , or the television receiver itself , must be top along to the soundbar via HDMI .

If the audio is coming from a Blu - beam of light player or media streamer , you may usually swear on one of the soundbar ’s HDMI inputs . If it ’s coming from your TV , your television receiver needs to have anHDMI ARC or eARCport . alas , some old TVs do not have one .

If your boob tube does n’t have HDMI ARC , you might still be capable to link up it to the soundbar if the soundbar in motion also has an ocular input . If it does , you ’ll get sound to the verbaliser , but it wo n’t be Dolby Atmos phone . If it does n’t , you will be stick using your TV ’s internal speakers for any sound that fare from the TV itself ( like work up - in apps , or free over - the - air telecasting channels ) .

Before buying a newfangled Dolby Atmos soundbar , two-fold - chink the connection on both your goggle box and the soundbar to void frustration later . See our section on “ What are some of the features I should look for in a Dolby Atmos soundbar ? ” below for more helpful buying pourboire .

What is required to get Dolby Atmos sound?

Even if your soundbar is Dolby Atmos compatible , and it has a muscular wireless subwoofer as well as consecrated surround speakers , you wo n’t get true Dolby Atmos sound if you do n’t have a origin of Dolby Atmos content . Your soundbar will still voice great , even with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio , but those object - base sounds we mentioned earlier merely wo n’t be a part of the experience .

It ’s a little like play HD subject on a 4 KB HDR TV . The TV will do its good to make that HD content search amazing — and it will see considerably best than on a likewise sized HDTV — but it will never seem as good as genuine 4 K HDR cognitive content .

Making sure that you ’re getting literal Dolby Atmos sound can be a bit slick , however , which why we ’ve tack this handyguide to getting great Dolby Atmos sound .

Why do some Dolby Atmos soundbars have separate speakers?

Technically speaking , to get a full Dolby Atmos experience , you require ( at lower limit ) a 5.1.2 speaker shape . This means one center speaker , will and right front speaker , allow for and right surround speakers , leave and right altitude speakers , and a subwoofer .

Some Dolby Atmos soundbars , like theVizio SB36514 - G6 , go all the means by providing discrete speakers for each of these epithelial duct , and even upping the ante by throwing in a second set of height channels ( thus its denomination as a 5.1.4 system ) .

But you’re able to still get excellent Dolby Atmos from a single piece of equipment , and Sennheiser ’s Ambeo soundbar is a great example . It contains a banging 13 drivers in a single natural enclosure , including two consecrate upward - burn drivers .

Drivers , by the way , are the single elements like tweeter , woofer , and mid - woofer that physically create the sound you hear . An single speaker can have just one or multiple driver .

The Ambeo ’s machine driver use a proficiency live as environment virtualization , which mimics the effect of having dedicated speaker beside you . Dolby Atmos ’ stature channels can also be virtualized , which we ’ll discuss in a present moment .

The recently releasedSonos Arc Ultradoes the same thing , but with few drivers . As tempting as it is to say that Dolby Atmos soundbars with separate speakers will sound better than those that commit all of the drivers in one enclosure , it ’s not necessarily true . There are a good deal of factors that impact levelheaded tone , and the bit of distinct speakers is just one of them .

What are Dolby Atmos soundbars with height virtualization?

Strange as it may sound , a Dolby Atmos soundbar can use as few as two speakers — what we ’d ordinarily consider 2 - canal stereo . When a Dolby Atmos soundbar does n’t have any upward - firing driver for the acme channels , it can virtualize them using the other drivers . When it does n’t have extra drivers to avail with the environs sound or kernel channel , it can virtualize these too .

We ’ve never tested a soundbar that virtualizes the Dolby Atmos height channel , so we ca n’t say how in force it is . However , TVs that support Atmos via their internal speakers do n’t vocalize perceptibly better than their non - Atmos counterparts . For now , we urge sticking with Dolby Atmos soundbars that possess dedicate , upward - fire driver to deliver height channel sound .

What are some of the features I should look for in a Dolby Atmos soundbar?

Today ’s Dolby Atmos soundbars have tons of features . Which of those features will matter most to you will come down to how you be after to utilize it . or else of separate you what you should buy , here ’s a lean of the most common features and how they might enhance your enjoyment of a Dolby Atmos soundbar .

What are some examples of Dolby Atmos soundbars?

At Digital Trends , we ’re invariably on the lookout for novel Dolby Atmos soundbars to retrospect so that you may do your research before buying . Here ’s a inclination of our most recent inspection :

Sonos Arc Ultra ($999)

The Sonos Arc Ultra is the tardy flagship soundbar from Sonos , building on the success of the original Arc with significant carrying out enhancement . Released in late 2024 , this bounty Dolby Atmos soundbar feature an raise raiment of drivers , admit consecrated up - kindle speaker unit with improved dispersion for more convincing height effects . The Arc Ultra incorporates Sonos ’ advanced TrueSound technology , which utilise multiple microphones to mechanically calibrate audio output based on way acoustic . It supports Wi - Fi 6E for quicker streaming , include enhance HDMI 2.1 connectivity with eARC , and sport Bluetooth 5.3 for verbatim gadget connection .

The soundbar seamlessly integrates with the Sonos ecosystem , grant for wireless expansion with additional speakers and subwoofer . articulation dominance is usable through multiple helper , and the refined purpose maintains the elegant aesthetic Sonos is acknowledge for while caparison more powerful internal components . The Arc Ultra particularly excels at extradite clear dialogue and precise spatial audio , cause it every bit suited for movies , medicine , and gaming app .

interpret our in - depth Sonos Arc Ultra recapitulation

Samsung HW-Q990D ($1,700)

The Samsung HW - Q990D is the flagship soundbar for 2024 - 2025 , providing an immersive 11.1.4 - channel Dolby Atmos and DTS :X audio experience . It includes a soundbar , two wireless rear talker , and a wireless subwoofer for 3D spatial audio frequency . feature article include Q - Symphony for sync with compatible Samsung TVs , AI SpaceFit Sound Pro for automatic audio optimization , and Active Voice Amplifier Pro for decipherable dialogue . Connectivity option include Wi - Fi , Bluetooth , and multiple HDMI inputs with 4K/8 K passthrough . Control is easy with Samsung ’s SmartThings app . With a processed design and about 656 James Watt of power output , the HW - Q990D is one of the most hefty Dolby Atmos soundbars useable .

Vizio SB36514-G6 ($700)

The SB36514 - G6 is Vizio ’s shot across the bow of all other Dolby Atmos soundbars . In typical Vizio fashion , this soundbar with discrete surround verbalizer and a wireless sub sounds way better than its low-cost monetary value suggests . If you want separate speakers on the small budget , this is your soundbar .

Read our in - depth Vizio SB36514 - G6 review

Sennheiser Ambeo ($2,500)

It does n’t have separate speaker system or a subwoofer , but one listen to Sennheiser ’s vast ( and dear ) Ambeo and you in all probability wo n’t worry . If price is no object and you ’re looking for a one - verbaliser Dolby Atmos solution , you ca n’t do better right now than the Ambeo .

Read our in - deepness Sennheiser Ambeo recap

Vizio Elevate Soundbar (under $999)

The Vizio Elevate is a revolutionary Dolby Atmos soundbar system know for its unique adaptive top loudspeaker that physically revolve upward when Atmos content is detected . This 5.1.4 system delivers 18 high - performance talker , including a muscular wireless subwoofer and two rearward planet speaker for dead on target surround strait . The Elevate ’s standout feature is its patented rotating speakers on both ends that automatically adapt their position based on content — point forward for standard stereoscopic photograph and up for summit effects in Dolby Atmos or DTS :X content . Connectivity options are panoptic with HDMI eARC support , multiple HDMI inputs with 4K / HDR passthrough , Bluetooth , and Wi - Fi for streaming . The organization output up to 107 decibels with impressive bass part response down to 30Hz . Voice adjunct compatibility , customizable EQ options , and a backlit remote enhance the drug user experience .

Read our in - profundity Vizio Elevate review

JBL Bar 9.1 ($1,000)

JBL ’s Bar 9.1 use two fully wireless , battery - powered detachable surround speakers hold back up - fire number one wood , make Dolby Atmos both effortless and satisfying . It ’s an ambitious idea that mostly shape — except for the somewhat muddy dialogue . all the same , it has enormous bass thanks to a monumental wireless submarine sandwich and stands up to most freestanding - verbalizer Atmos soundbars with its competitive pricing .

Read our in - depth JBL barricade 9.1 review

Should you buy a Dolby Atmos soundbar?

A Dolby Atmos soundbar is a fantastic choice to a set up with consecrate A / V receiver and verbalizer . Many house theatre owners often put up with the foiling of building a scheme with separate A / V components . Still , with a Dolby Atmos soundbar , they can get amazing sound without dealing with a complicated setup .

You wo n’t regret husk out the extra cash for the Dolby Atmos soundbar because it provides the same high - calibre execution as a organization with separate A / 5 components .

Dolby Atmos soundbars are on the expensive side , and there are n’t manybudget - friendly options out just now . If you ’re on a tight budget , do notdespair . We recommend theYamaha YAS-209or theSonos Beam ( Gen 2)soundbars as dead adequate , low - price alternatives .

What’s new with Dolby Atmos soundbars?

Dolby Atmos engineering has evolve importantly for soundbars in recent years . The late generation of Atmos - enabled soundbars feature more upward - firing speakers with improved gadget driver technology , creating a more convincing overhead soundstage without require ceiling - mounted talker . Many insurance premium models now integrate wireless satellite speakers that can be placed behind listeners for true 360 ° immersion .

Signal processing has also improved , with AI - powered room calibration that mechanically optimizes phone found on room acoustic using structured microphones . Several manufacturers have introduce slim - profile Atmos soundbars that have telling height effects despite their thick form agent .

The newest units have enhanced connectivity options , include HDMI 2.1 with eARC , allowing for seamless passthrough of in high spirits - bandwidth audio sign from the latest play consoles and cyclosis gadget . Most premium Atmos soundbars now corroborate a wide range of spatial audio data format , including DTS :X and Sony ’s 360 Reality Audio , providing more versatility across content sources .