Dolby Atmos soundbars are now more affordable than ever, offering a budget-friendly alternative to traditional Atmos receivers and surround sound speaker setups. These soundbars are also more compact and simpler to install. However, they cannot quite match the performance of larger systems. Keeping that in mind, here are my top Atmos soundbar picks currently on the market.
What’s the best Dolby Atmos soundbar?
My top choice for a budget Dolby Atmos soundbar is the Vizio M512a-H6, which replaces the highly regarded Vizio SB36512-F6. It features dedicated height and surround speakers and delivers excellent sound quality for both TV and music. More expensive models offer additional benefits, including enhanced sound quality and built-in virtual assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa. The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar exemplifies this, with outstanding sound, high-quality construction, and excellent multiroom functionality.
Many simulated Dolby Atmos soundbars, such as the Sonos Beam Gen 2, can process Atmos but lack up-firing speakers. Even the best virtual systems I’ve tested are outperformed by those with dedicated drivers when it comes to 3D spatial audio. There’s simply no substitute for physical height speakers.
