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Dolby Atmos is an object-based surround sound format that supports height channels, which means sound can come from above your head. It results in an even more immersive listening experience since, depending on your home theater setup, you can hear sounds coming from all directions. Many 4k Blu-rays and even some streaming services like Netflix support Dolby Atmos—but not all soundbars do. The ones that do tend to be more expensive than most, but if you're after a more natural listening experience, they're worth considering. Soundbars usually use up-firing speakers to simulate an illusion of height by bouncing the sound off the ceiling and back to the listener. It won't be as accurate or immersive as down-firing speakers with a more traditional home theater setup.
We've tested over 215 soundbars, and below, you'll find the best Dolby Atmos soundbars to buy. See our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best soundbars for music, and the best soundbars for movies.
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Best Dolby Atmos Soundbar
Samsung HW-Q990D 136
Current Deal: The Samsung HW-Q990D has dropped in price by $500 at amazon.com.
Mixed Usage
8.6
Dialogue/TV Shows
8.8
Music
8.5
Movies
8.5
Channels
11.1.4See all our test results
The best Atmos soundbar we've tested is the Samsung HW-Q990D. This premium 11.1.4 soundbar replaces the previous Samsung HW-Q990C, and it comes with HDMI 2.1, though for the time being, that mostly benefits gamers, who might value the Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and support for content that runs at 120 frames per second. Thanks to its two discrete satellites, sound effects spread around your living room, so the action onscreen feels like it surrounds you. Its sub also brings plenty of bassy thump and rumble, which is great for intense, action-packed scenes. Dialogue is clear in the mix, so it's easy to follow along with the conversation on screen.
This soundbar stands out from the crowd thanks to its wide array of sound enhancement features, including room correction, which optimizes the audio reproduction based on your room's unique acoustics. If you prefer to adjust the sound manually, there's even a 7-band graphic EQ on hand. You can also check out other premium Dolby Atmos models like the Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc Ultra, which is handy if you already own products in its ecosystem. Both offer better stereo soundstage performances but don't have as many customization tools as the Samsung model. As a result, the Samsung reigns as the better pick overall.
See our review
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Best Mid-Range Dolby Atmos Soundbar
Samsung HW-Q930D 27
Mixed Usage
8.3
Dialogue/TV Shows
8.4
Music
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Movies
8.2
Channels
9.1.4See all our test results
If you want a great Dolby Atmos soundbar at a more affordable price, check out the Samsung HW-Q930D. Despite having two fewer surround channels than its more premium cousin, the Samsung HW-Q990D, this soundbar can still provide an immersive, all-around feel with height content. It comes with two discrete satellite speakers that you can set up around your couch to bring sound effects to life in the space around you. Dialogue is easy to follow in the mix, and thanks to its subwoofer, there's plenty of rumble in the bass during intense movie scenes. This item isn't always available at all the online retailers we link to, but you can usually find it in stock at the manufacturer's website and Best Buy.
This soundbar has many of the same sound enhancement features as the Q990D. Its room correction tool is designed to automatically adjust its output based on your room's unique acoustics. Plus, the 7-band graphic EQ is on hand for when you want to switch up its sound on your own. It also supports FreeSync and G-SYNC passthrough and Chromecast wireless connectivity. You can even control it using its built-in Alexa support. The bar doesn't get quite as loud as the Q990D, and there's a bit more compression in the bass and treble ranges when you push it to max volume. Still, its stellar Dolby Atmos performance makes it a worthwhile option.
See our review
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Best Lower Mid-Range Dolby Atmos Soundbar
TCL Q85H 9
Mixed Usage
8.0
Dialogue/TV Shows
8.1
Music
8.0
Movies
7.9
Channels
7.1.4See all our test results
The best lower mid-range Dolby Atmos soundbar we've tested is the TCL Q85H. Despite coming in at a lower price than the Samsung HW-Q930D, this 7.1.4 soundbar still performs comparably well with Atmos media. That said, it's a bit more pared back when it comes to refinements out of the box compared to the Samsung, such as a somewhat less even Atmos, center channel, and surround sound, which you might choose to EQ, though it lacks a full graphic equalizer. Its four up-firing drivers are parcelled out to the bar and satellites, so the height channels ricochet sound off the ceiling and the sound lands around you from behind and in front. It's one of the most immersive soundbars in this tier with solid tracking.
The soundbar also uses AI Sonic, the brand's room correction tool, to tune the bar to your space. It also handles most audio formats with height dimensions like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, and the HDMI In capability offers flexibility within your home theater setup. However, if you also use your soundbar for music playback too, its wireless connectivity is limited to Bluetooth and Apple AirPlay 2. In all, the bar offers great value in the lower mid-range tier for movies, shows, and games.
See our review
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Best Budget Dolby Atmos Soundbar
Hisense AX5125H 32
Mixed Usage
7.7
Dialogue/TV Shows
7.9
Music
7.6
Movies
7.6
Channels
5.1.2See all our test results
Shopping for a soundbar with Dolby Atmos doesn't have to hurt your wallet if you nab the Hisense AX5125H, our best budget soundbar pick. The 5.1.2 setup ensures height channels are given their own discrete up-firing drivers rather than downmixed, which tends to happen with affordable soundbars. While it lacks the same degree of customization, such as room correction and app compatibility on the TCL Q85H, the Hisense eschews extra complexity for functionality and pure performance. Out of the box, it provides a clear sound with a good amount of low-end punch, with a handful of sound enhancements at your fingertips on the remote.
The dual up-firing drivers that handle the height dimension of your audio add immersiveness to your content, but it's not quite as all-encompassing as the four drivers handling height channels (including the rear satellites) on the TCL Q85H. Like the TCL, this soundbar is capable of playing back Dolby Atmos and DTS:X and with solid connectivity, so you can use the HDMI In port for video passthrough too. This soundbar proves you don't need to empty your bank account to get a quality Atmos experience for movies and gaming.
See our review
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Best Dolby Atmos Soundbar For Soundstage
Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad with Bass Module 46
Mixed Usage
8.0
Dialogue/TV Shows
7.9
Music
8.1
Movies
7.9
Channels
4.1.4See all our test results
Part of Dolby Atmos's biggest appeal is its immersive sound, and the Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad with Bass Module takes this a step further by using satellites with discrete speakers instead of conventional single-unit soundbars. You might not consider it a soundbar in the traditional sense, given its unique design that forgoes the standard "bar" in favor of a small control box and four discrete surround speakers that you can move around your room based on your preferences. That said, it offers one of the best soundstage performances on the market, and the flexible design of the speakers means that you can move their placement around your living room to create the best possible sound.
Overall, this setup's representation of Dolby Atmos content gives a very clear and real feel. Thanks to its unique design, audio stretches around you and above you, so you feel immersed in your movie from all angles. The dedicated subwoofer adds a little more rumble in the bass range, providing the best possible experience. Compared to our top picks, like the Samsung HW-Q990D, you'll notice that the center channel for dialogue isn't quite as clear because there isn't a discrete speaker to use in the center. On the upside, if you love the design and want a wide soundstage, it might be a fair trade-off for your needs. The previous generation Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module is still a very immersive kit and one that might suit you better if you're mainly gaming and prioritize low latency without latency compensation, though it's a bit less accurate sounding.
See our review
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Best Small Dolby Atmos Soundbar
Bose Smart Soundbar 1
Mixed Usage
7.2
Dialogue/TV Shows
7.3
Music
7.3
Movies
7.0
Channels
3.0.2See all our test results
Whether you live in a small apartment or have a cramped living space, a more compact soundbar is a great way to enhance your Atmos experience without taking up a lot of room. The best we've tested is the Bose Smart Soundbar, a premium soundbar that measures less than 28 inches in width. The trim and sleek design helps it fit under narrower TVs or on smaller tables, so you can enjoy your favorite Atmos movies and TV shows without needing a larger soundbar or satellite speakers. The bar also comes with built-in Alexa support.
Despite its small size, the bar does a passable job of creating a sense of height using its up-firing drivers. Of course, the sound doesn't feel as immersive as a larger set-up, but side-to-side movements are easy to track, and there's a palpable sense of vertical height to the audio. Sounds do tend to feel like they're in front and above you rather than around you, but that's to be expected given the limitations of a small, narrow bar. If you're more of a music listener and are willing to sacrifice dedicated up-firing drivers for a bigger stereo soundstage, you might prefer the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). The Sonos creates a wider soundstage than the Bose, which is especially impressive given it's less than 26 inches wide, and it also supports Dolby Atmos, which is great for watching movies. That said, the Sonos doesn't have dedicated up-firing drivers, so it can't quite create the same sense of verticality the Bose can.
See our review
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Best Atmos Soundbar For Large Rooms
Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 eARC 8
Mixed Usage
7.9
Dialogue/TV Shows
8.1
Music
7.5
Movies
7.9
Channels
9.2.4See all our test results
The shape and size of your living room impact how you perceive sound. If you have a larger, more open living room, you're in luck—some options on the market are designed to spread sound evenly throughout your space to bring that cinematic feel to every corner of your living room. The Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 eARC is the best we've tested. Its unique design offers two subwoofers and four satellites that you can position horizontally or vertically, depending on your needs. The additional subwoofer ensures an even bass reproduction throughout your space, without any "holes" in the soundstage to take away from the immersive feel. Similarly, the extra satellites mean sound effects spread throughout your room for a cinematic feel.
This soundbar is the next generation of the Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2Ch, and it adds eARC support so you can stream more advanced formats like DTS:X, often found on Blu-rays. You won't find a traditional room correction feature like on the Samsung HW-Q990D since there's no microphone to measure your room's unique acoustics. Still, you can use its Spatial Surround Elevation tool to customize its performance to your room, choosing between three different size-based presets to adjust its sound. If you have a big space to fill with sound, it's a solid pick.
See our review
Recent Updates
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Apr 17, 2025 :
Due to price fluctuations, the Vizio Elevate has been removed from this article because other soundbars perform better for less. The TCL Q85H has been added as the lower mid-range pick, and the Hisense AX5125H replaces the out-of-stock Vizio M Series M512a-H6 for the budget pick. The Nakamichi DRAGON and Vizio Elevate SE SL512X-0806 are now Notable Mentions.
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Jan 14, 2025 :
The Samsung HW-Q930D replaces the Samsung HW-Q930C as our upper mid-range pick because it performs similarly to its predecessor with some additional features like G-SYNC and FreeSync. The Bose Smart Soundbar is also our new pick for Best Small Dolby Atmos Soundbar because it has up-firing drivers for better Atmos support. The Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc is replaced by the Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc Ultra as an alternative to our top pick. Finally, because the Vizio M Series M512a-H is getting harder to find, we've added the Hisense AX5125H as an alternative.
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Aug 26, 2024 : The soundstage pick is now the Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad with Bass Module, replacing the previous-generation Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module.
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May 17, 2024 : We've swapped out the Samsung HW-Q990C with the next-generation Samsung HW-Q990D.
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Mar 20, 2024 : We've made minor changes to this article's text to improve accuracy and clarity, but there hasn't been a change in our recommendations.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best soundbars 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 reviews of soundbars sorted by their Atmos 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.
