Best Soundbar of 2025: Top Picks From Roku, Yamaha and More
When choosing which speaker to buy, CNET also uses the following criteria as part of its selection process:
price
The most important consideration when choosing a speaker is how much it costs, and I found that there are great speakers for every price point starting at $100 and above. I have thought a lot about the features that the soundbar has compared to other features that cost the same. I do have a rule of thumb: Once the soundbar is priced above $500, you may find it more worth saving for AV receivers and speakers.
Wireless Streaming
Whether it’s connecting to your phone via Bluetooth, or advanced streaming technologies like Spotify Connect or Apple Airplay 2, the more streaming technology options Soundbar has.
Dolby Atmosphere
Dolby Atmos is one of the most popular features in Soundbars, over $400, so I looked at features that help maximize the sound quality of space. For example, does the soundbar provide dedicated height speakers or simulate the atmosphere? See my overview The best Dolby Altos Soundbars.
HDMI connection
At the lowest point, speakers for sale in 2025 should have at least one HDMI input, preferably more. The ability to connect multiple HDMI cables will help users provide a lot of resources (Xbox Series X, Apple TV, Nintendo Switch, Blu-ray Player, etc.). There are obvious exceptions to this rule. For example, the Sonos Ray only offers optical output, but this is acceptable as it is best suited for older TVs or smaller TVs.
Subwoofer and surrounding speakers
Single-rod systems are ideal for smaller TVs as their length allows for built-in stereo sound while still being compact. However, the combination of sound bar and complements is better suited for a living room home theater setup to produce a thriving surround sound. So I pay attention to the size of the system and how it provides wireless or wired peripherals. For example, most sound bars with submarines are wireless, while systems with surround type can be connected, such as in the case of Vizio elevation.
