Improving your TV soundscape: The best soundbars to work with your TV

Our pick for the best overall soundbar has to be the MAJORITY Teton Plus. It does a little bit of everything, ensuring that it is versatile enough to handle whatever content you want to see and hear. It comes with a wireless subwoofer that really adds to the audio quality and detail, producing a well-balanced sound with ease.

One of our tech experts, Chris Duffill, has reviewed the MAJORITY Teton Plus and had this to say – "I tested shows, videos and movies - from apps like YouTube, to top streamers including Netflix and Disney+. My experience of using the Teton Plus was very similar across all of them. After all, this system is simply taking a digital signal and amplifying it; and without any of the complex options and more that you’d get with a full AV amp and surround speakers. And thankfully the default sound of the system is balanced, wide and reasonably neutral."

For those looking to get the best performance on a tight budget, the Groov-e Soundbar 50 hits a great balance between sound quality and affordability. With an output of 50W, it's plenty powerful for this price range. It comes with all you need to get started on improving your audio setup.

When Olivia Sheed, one of our tech writers, reviewed the Groov-e 50, they said the following – "The display LEDs are handy when connecting to the soundbar as they display the selected input method. I connected it to my computer via an AUX cable, but I often switched to Bluetooth to listen to music from my phone. The connection was stable and had an impressive range. I tested this, and if one device was at the other end of the house, the other was still connected fine. Your mileage may vary, but since I could see this being the perfect size for a living room in a flat or dorm room, the range shouldn’t have to factor in so much."

While the gaming angle may make this seem like an unusual choice, the versatility of the Stealth Light-Up Gaming Soundbar should not be understated. The 10W output might not blow you away, but the audio clarity is outstanding and more than suitable for anything you listen to, whether it's music, sound effects, or dialogue.

When another one of our tech writers, Kyle Purves, reviewed the Stealth Soundbar, they had this to say: "At first glance, this may look like a standard soundbar with an RGB gimmick, but in practice, it is very reliable with surprisingly distinct audio clarity.

"Whatever kind of social gathering you're heading to, whether it's a flat party with music or a simple hangout with friends, this is a fantastic speaker to take with you. The lights help create a fun atmosphere, it should fit fine in a decently-sized backpack, and it's reasonably affordable. 

"For a reasonable price, you get a solid soundbar with some fun and unique quirks. The lighting effects can liven up an otherwise basic setup, and it doesn't take up as too much room."

One of the best situations to have a soundbar is when making a home cinema setup, and that is where the Denon DHT-S216 shines. It has plenty of audio features to enhance its output, with DTS Virtual and Dolby Digital being especially notable. Thanks to them, movie dialogue comes off as very clear and distinct, and music sounds excellent.

What's The Best's editor, William Austin-Lobley, has reviewed the Denon DHT-S216 – "The audio quality adds weight, drama and excitement to entertainment in all the right places and can be fine-tuned using the remote control. Its design is far from cheap, with a soft finish that makes it disappear in the living room – well, as much as a big black stick can.

"While I had some foibles with lag near start-up, the day-to-day use of the soundbar falls neatly into place. A true jack of all trades, the DHT-S216 will please TV bingers and gamers, movie buffs and party throwers."

If you want a simple soundbar that's easy to use, we suggest considering the Groov-e Soundbar 75. It's nothing groundbreaking, but its no-frills design means it will work in most situations. Even though it's on more of the budget side, it still sports a respectable 75W output, and the drivers are nothing to overlook either.

Harvey Isitt, a tech writer for What's The Best, has previously reviewed the Groov-e Soundbar 75 – "The built-in subwoofers deliver a decent bass response, eliminating the need for a separate subwoofer, which is a bonus for those with limited space. Bluetooth connectivity is seamless, making it easy to stream music from your smartphone or tablet. The soundbar's ability to retain your audio settings even after being powered off is a small but valuable feature, ensuring a consistent listening experience each time you use it."

The Sharp HT-SB700 is quite a compact soundbar, making it ideal for taking up minimal space, but don't mistake it for lacking power. With a 140W output and a solid array of drivers, the audio is surprisingly refined and capable of handling a variety of mediums. That's due in part to the Dolby sound.

David Ker, What's The Best's deputy editor, has reviewed the Sharp HT-SB700 – "The Sharp HT-SB700 Compact Dolby Atmos Soundbar is a robust, well-designed unit. For a slightly higher price point than most small space soundbars you are assured quality audio thanks to its four speakers and Dolby Atmos-focus.

"It is easy to switch between different settings and there is a clear difference in sound when you do so. Trying it out using my PS4, I was able to pick out audio in games that had been completely obscured when emitted through the television's speakers (and which had still been hard to discern when linked up to my older, more budget soundbar)."

This list's budget option, featuring huge value for money - the Majority Snowdon brings virtual surround sound to your living room and has a subwoofer built into the bar itself to cut down on its footprint, making it ideal for compact spaces and budgets. Other devices like smartphones and tablets can also stream audio through Bluetooth or via the 3.5mm line-in cable too.

This sleek offering pushes your audio through a 2-channel speaker and by utilising S-Force, Sony has managed to produce a frontal surround sound experience. There's a Bass Reflex speaker too, which is a real boon for this device as its bass is both punchy and clear, plus there's no fuzzing out at higher volumes. You can also stream wirelessly with a Bluetooth connection.

The Sonos Arc is simple to set up and can be used on its own or with extra Sonos speakers that offer surround sound. It produces rich and accurate audio that is guaranteed to satisfy. It's compatible with Dolby Atmos, so you'll easily get excellent sound. As it's Sonos, it'll also play music from your streaming services and link to an Amazon Echo.