Best soundbars in Australia

Top Pick for

Overall soundbar

Sonos Arc

Top Pick for

Soundbar under $700

Samsung HW-T650

Top Pick for

Soundbar under $300

Yamaha YAS-108/ATS-1080

Top Pick for

Dolby Atmos soundbar

LG SN7Y

The best soundbars in Australia

• Best overall soundbar: Sonos Arc
• Best soundbar under $700: Samsung HW-T650
• Best soundbar under $300: Yamaha YAS-108/ATS-1080
• Best Dolby Atmos soundbar: LG SN7Y
• Best premium soundbar: Yamaha MusicCast YSP-2700
• Best soundbar for small spaces: JBL Bar 2.0
• Best smart soundbar: Sonos Beam 2

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Sonos Arc

Best overall

Finder Score:

★★★★★

Read Sonos Arc Review

Pros

• Great audio quality
• Even better with a Sonos Sub and surround speakers

Cons

• Expensive
• Best features may not work if your TV isn't new enough

Why we chose it

With plenty of impressive features, an average rating of 4.7/5 from JB Hi-Fi customers and lots of positive reviews around the World Wide Web, the Sonos Arc is our best overall pick.

The Arc features 11 Class-D digital amplifiers, 8 elliptical woofers and 3 silk-dome tweeters. It can be controlled using your voice, via remote, through a compatible app or by using Apple Airplay 2. You can use the app to adjust bass, treble and volume, plus use Trueplay software to tune the Arc to suit the acoustics of your space.

For more information, check out our full review of the Sonos Arc.

Samsung HW-T650

Best under $700

Not yet rated

Pros

• Built-in centre speaker
• Wireless subwoofer

Cons

• No Dolby Atmos
• Some users criticise sound quality

Why we chose it

If you're searching for a mid-range soundbar, there are plenty of reasons why the Samsung HW-T650 is well worth a closer look. Priced at less than $600, this 3.1-channel soundbar boasts positive ratings from customers at retailers like The Good Guys and Harvey Norman.

Designed to offer 3D surround sound, the HW-T650 features a built-in centre speaker and a 6.5-inch wireless subwoofer. An HDMI ARC connection allows for high-quality sound, although it's possible to connect to your TV wirelessly using Bluetooth. You can also control the soundbar by using your Samsung TV remote.

Yamaha YAS-108/ATS-1080

Best soundbar under $300

Not yet rated

Pros

• Dual built-in subwoofers
• Low-profile design

Cons

• Some buyers would prefer a separate subwoofer for better bass
• Not suitable for larger spaces

Why we chose it

If you're on a tight budget, make sure you check out this impressive unit from Yamaha. With lots of positive reviews from customers at stores like The Good Guys and Bing Lee, it's our choice as the best soundbar under $300.

With a 120W total output, this model can be mounted on the wall or placed in front of your TV. It features dual built-in subwoofers, virtual 3D surround sound thanks to DTS Virtual:X and Bluetooth connectivity for wireless streaming from your mobile or Amazon Alexa. The Yamaha also includes Bluetooth Multipoint so you can connect two devices at the same time.

LG SN7Y

Best Dolby Atmos soundbar

Not yet rated

Pros

• Affordable Atmos option
• Room calibratio

Cons

• No rear speakers
• There are still cheaper soundbars with Dolby Atmos

Why we chose it

If you're in the market for a Dolby Atmos soundbar, the Sonos Arc, which we chose as our best overall pick, is obviously a top contender. But if you're looking for something a whole lot more affordable, the LG SN7Y has been well received by consumers and tech reviewers.

This 3.1.2-channel soundbar supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X and is the result of a partnership with Meridian. It also offers Bluetooth connectivity, 4K pass-through and a room-calibration feature that lets you tailor sound delivery based on the size and shape of your room.

Yamaha MusicCast YSP-2700

Best premium

Not yet rated

Pros

• Surround sound
• Multi-room audio options thanks to Yamaha MusicCast

Cons

• May not be suited to every space
• Some users report having to tinker with settings during the set-up process

Why we chose it

The Yamaha MusicCast YSP-2700 scores an average of 4.8/5 or higher from JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman and The Good Guys customers. It also scores an average of 4.5/5 from more than 15 ratings on productreview.com.au, so it's our pick if you're shopping for a high-end soundbar.

This 7.1-channel surround sound system features 16 speakers designed to create "beams of sound". It's also quite sleek, with the height of the centre unit measuring 51mm, and features a wireless cubic subwoofer for bass.

JBL Bar 2.0

Best soundbar for small spaces

Not yet rated

Pros

• Affordable option
• Sleek design

Cons

• Lacks advanced features
• Some users would prefer better bass performance

Why we chose it

If you're looking for an affordable soundbar to suit a smaller room, the JBL Bar 2.0 is well worth checking out. It's been positively rated by consumers and can be purchased for under $300.

This two-channel all-in-one soundbar features Dolby Digital and JBL Surround Sound technology. It boasts a low profile to help it fit easily in front of your TV, while it features built-in Bluetooth so you can stream music from your mobile device. Other features include HDMI ARC or optical cable connection and a remote control.

Sonos Beam 2

Best smart soundbar

Not yet rated

Pros

• Big sound from a compact design
• Good 3D audio with an easy set-up

Cons

• Lack of passthrough means it relies on new TVs
• Reliant on the broader Sonos ecosystem

Why we chose it

Last but not least on our list of the best soundbars in Australia, the Sonos Beam 2 builds on the original gen by including eARC and Dolby Atmos support.

It's easy to set up, works with voice assistants and works 40% faster this time around. This allows for improved depth of sound and speaker array - all of which contributes to better sound overall.

It also supports Trueplay, which dynamically adjusts the sound by sensing the acoustics of your room. The downside here is that there is no Android support for this yet.

It's worth noting, however, that the HDMI ARC to HMDI eARC upgrade has raised an issue. While allowing for HDMI 2.1 future proofs the soundbar and is great news for anyone with an Xbox Series X or PlayStation - it means there is only one HDMI port on the soundbar itself. This means your TV has to handle passthrough which may only be possible on more modern televisions

You can read more about the Sonos Beam 2 in our full review.

Methodology

15
Brands considered

50+
Products compared

7
Best soundbars chosen

• We compared soundbars from 15 leading brands.
• We based our recommendations on in-house expert testing as well as reviews from real customers (as of September 2020) and key product features.
• The products on this list are chosen by our editorial team and are not selected based on commercial relationships.

• Why you can trust our picks

  To find the best soundbars in Australia, we started by searching for the highest-rated products at retailers like JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman and The Good Guys. Once we'd worked up a shortlist of soundbars, we then compared them with other highly-rated products in the same category. We considered key product features, price points and ratings from customers and reviewers around the World Wide Web.

  We considered soundbars from the following companies:

  • Bose
  • Denon
  • Harman Kardon
  • Hisense
  • JBL
  • Klipsch
  • LG
  • Panasonic

  • Polk
  • Samsung
  • Sonos
  • Sony
  • TCL
  • Yamaha
  • XCD

  We value our editorial independence, basing our comparison results, content and reviews on objective analysis without bias. However, Finder may receive compensation when you click some links on our site. Learn more about how we make money from our partners and why you can trust our guides.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Are soundbars better than surround speakers?

  Soundbars are easier to install compared to surround speakers because they only require a plug-in-and-play process. They also sound a lot better than your TV's built-in speakers, providing various useful features like Bluetooth and HDMI connectivity. Not to mention, they look sleek and add a touch of sophistication to any home theatre set-up.

  On the other hand, surround speakers offer better audio quality. They have true surround sound effects as well as a richer tone. They also have customisable bass settings. However, these are more expensive and more difficult to set up compared to soundbars.

• Can you use a soundbar with any TV model?

  You can pair your soundbar with any TV size you have. However, it's best to get a soundbar that is as wide as your TV for easy installation and a sleek look. Make sure that your TV also has the correct connectivity for your new soundbar, especially if it's an older model.

• Are soundbars compatible with laptops and PCs?

  Most soundbars are compatible with laptops and PCs. This can help improve the sound of your audio system, especially if you're looking for a surround sound experience.

• What is the difference between a 2.1 and a 5.1 sound bar?

  A 2.1 soundbar has 2 speakers on the left and right channels. It also has a subwoofer. A 5.1 option offers 5 speakers located at the front left, front right, front centre, surround left and surround right. This also has a subwoofer.

  2.1 soundbars are more compact and easier to install. They also support HDMI and Bluetooth connectivity. On the other hand, 5.1 models offer rich surround sound and clear audio channels. But these are typically more expensive.

Still not sure which soundbar is best for you? Check out our buying guide for more on how to choose between all the options.