15 best soundbars - from budget to top models

Sound panels are in great demand every year. People like the relative compactness of such devices, as well as ease of installation. If the position of the speakers needs to be measured out correctly, then the soundbar is usually hung right above the TV, after which you can start watching a movie. In this article we will talk about the subtleties of choosing such a device, as well as offer you a selection of the best sound panels. It will be discussed not only about the top monsters, but also about the budget models available to the average buyer.

Soundbar or home theater: which is better?

1. If you compare the sound bar with speakers, then immediately the question arises: "What should I prefer?". It all depends on what kind of column you were going to buy. Of course, the soundbar will show itself much better than a pair of bookshelf speakers without a subwoofer. If you are considering the option of buying a full-fledged home theater, the cost of which starts from 60 thousand rubles, then a rare soundbar can be compared with such a set in terms of sound quality.
2. You need to understand that in the case of the speakers you are not exactly deceived, you get exactly the format of the speaker system that you plan to use. That is, a 5.1 home theater (5 speakers and 1 subwoofer) will be just that - the creators will not make one of the satellites fake. But in the case of the soundbar is not so simple. Such a device can be advertised as a 5.1 sound panel, but we can only talk about its imitation - in fact, the product can be endowed with only two or three speakers, complemented by one subwoofer. In a word, the creators of budget soundbars went along the path of headphone manufacturers, where now the so-called 7.1 virtual sound is also regularly used. Do not be fooled! Try to get a product endowed with a large number of speakers, as only in terms of sound will be comparable to a home theater. Our rating will help you with this.
3. Still it is impossible not to notice that the speakers can be installed in different places of the room, as a result of which you are guaranteed to get surround sound. The soundbar does the task of creating it not always in a dignified manner. In particular, low-end models may have virtually no rears. Therefore, before buying a device, you need to familiarize yourself with its review, read the reviews on it, and then also independently evaluate the sound bar sound in some store.

How to choose a soundbar?

What else to look for before buying a sound bar, in addition to reviews and reviews? Of course, on the shape of the device. The fact is that not all sound bars are hung on the wall above or below the TV. There are also models that serve as a stand. This is an ideal option for those who do not have thumbs, but at the same time and do not want to drill holes for the TV in the wall. In short, it all depends on how exactly you are going to place the equipment.

1. Not everyone is suspicious about this, but soundbars are not only divided by price category. These devices are active and passive. The first option is more popular - such sound panels are considered to be completely independent devices, as they have a power supply unit, an audio processor, and an amplifier, and a large number of connectors. That is, the active soundbar is connected to the TV, after which its use begins. Passive sound panel actually has in its composition only a speaker system. Her purchase is necessary only for owners of AV-receivers, which the Internet magazine expert.bigbadmole.com/en/en/ will definitely tell about.
2. No sound bar can do without subwoofer. However, its location may be completely different. Expensive soundbars most often have a built-in subwoofer. But this is not always a good solution, because the sound panel should be compact, and therefore low-frequency emitters are small. That is why now a large number of soundbars are being sold, the subwoofer of which is a separate part - usually it is placed on the floor near the TV. Only this option will provide the room with the most tangible bass.
3. As mentioned above, the sound bars differ from each other. number of channels. For example, technology 7.1 says that the user is waiting for seven high-frequency channels (the speakers can be even more) and at least one subwoofer. Do not forget to make sure that the device can be calibrated, because it can provide surround sound only by reflecting it from the walls. Another selection criterion is the number of interfaces. If you have a lot of equipment and no AV receiver, then you will need a lot of connectors. The built-in Wi-Fi module, which will allow you to control the soundbar using a smartphone, will not interfere either. By the way, a soundbar can also be wireless - he will need a cable only to get power. But from the CD-drive can be waived - it will only need owners of a large collection of films on DVD and Blu-ray discs.
4. Finally, one can not forget about power. If the installation of the soundbar is supposed to be in a relatively small room, then the total power of 100 W (excluding the subwoofer) is enough for you. Of course, to use a TV with a sound bar somewhere in the bar you will need a much more powerful option. And do not forget that a weak subwoofer is able to sound loud, but at the same time it will distort the sound. Therefore, look closely at its parameters.

Rating of the best soundbars

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
The best budget soundbars (price up to 15 000 rub.)	1	Sony HT-CT290 / HT-CT291	12 945 ₽
	2	LG SJ3	11 490 ₽
	3	Samsung HW-M360	11 357 ₽
The best sound bars in terms of price-quality ratio (price up to 40,000 rubles)	1	Sony HT-NT5	36 990 ₽
	2	Denon DHT-S514	37 990 ₽
	3	Harman / Kardon HK SB20	22 990 ₽
	4	Bose SoundTouch 300	34 990 ₽
	5	YAMAHA YAS-207	27 990 ₽
	6	Canton DM 55	31 340 ₽
Top premium sound bars	1	Sony HT-ST5000	71 900 ₽
	2	Bose CineMate 120	84 990 ₽
	3	Focal dimension	29 990 ₽
	4	Canton DM 90	78 709 ₽
	5	Onkyo LS-7200	34 700 ₽
	6	Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 2	129 000 ₽

The best budget soundbars (price up to 15 000 rub.)

Sony HT-CT290 / HT-CT291

Rating: 4.8

It must be the simplest soundbar among those existing at the time of this writing. It got into our rating due to the presence in the sale of two colors of the device at once - white and black. The price tag also cannot buy the buyer - for a soundbar they ask for no more than 15 thousand rubles. Wait for the money multichannel sound is not worth it, it uses a speaker system 2.1. That is, in the device there are two speakers, and low frequencies provide a separate subwoofer. This design provided a low weight of the soundbar - you can easily hang it even on drywall. As for the "saba", it belongs to the phase inverter type, and its weight is 6.3 kg.

The total power of the kit is 300 watts. This, it seems, will be enough for any buyer. It is unlikely that someone will complain about the number of connectors. Among them, you can find a USB port, thanks to which you can play movies and music here (the output of the picture on the TV provides an HDMI jack).Receiving sound from external sources is realized by optical input. The subwoofer is connected wirelessly, for this purpose Bluetooth-modules are embedded in both devices. But Wi-Fi or something similar is not here - you can control the soundbar using the remote control.

LG SJ3

Rating: 4.7

Another soundbar belonging to the system 2.1. There is no mark-up for the brand, therefore, with the same total power of 300 W, the kit costs only 12 thousand rubles. For the money the buyer will receive a sound panel and a separate subwoofer. The latter is also synced here via Bluetooth, the wire will only reach the outlet. Manage kit is proposed using the remote from the TV. Unfortunately, the device is not in any way functional. The fact is that there is no USB input or memory card slot. That is, the product can only reproduce the sound received from the outside through an optical or linear input. However, most users do not need anything else, because the TV itself can play content from a flash drive. Problems will arise only among those people who possess an excessively large amount of equipment - then you have to puzzle over how best to connect all this, because the set of connectors at the soundbar is not rich.

The soundbar itself has a power of 100 watts, the remaining 200 watts fall on the woofer. The soundbar weighs about 2.5 kg, it cannot be called heavy. Perhaps, with such a cost, the device should suit many customers, if not all. Please note that connecting the soundbar to the TV via Bluetooth is not recommended - regular interruptions of sound are possible. When using an optical cable, such problems do not arise.

Samsung HW-M360

Rating: 4.7

The soundbar belonging to the 2.1 system was also released by Samsung. Do not think that this is the first experience for South Koreans - this manufacturer has been on the home theater market for more than a year, and now it has been decided to transfer many technologies from speakers to a sound bar. This model is a budget, its value does not exceed 13 thousand rubles. In this regard, it is not worth waiting for a very loud sound - the total power of the kit is only 200 watts. Therefore, the product was created for a small room. You can even fasten the soundbar to drywall, because the weight of the device does not exceed 1.5 kg - it is noticeable that most of the space under the case is occupied by emptiness.

The subwoofer, by itself, is much heavier - its weight is 4.6 kg. Low frequencies are issued to them with the help of 165 mm dynamics. This part of the kit is connected to the soundbar via Bluetooth. You can connect the whole set to the TV in the same way, but here everything depends on the model of your “box”. And if you want to enjoy high quality sound, it is better to use a digital optical input or at least a linear stereo input.

To control the sound panel is used remote control that comes in the kit.Also in the box with the product can be found mounting. The drawbacks of the device are typical. There is no equalizer here - it is available only in a special application from Samsung when it receives music from a smartphone, whereas when receiving sound via “optics” only presets are offered. Also here are missing HDMI and Wi-Fi. The soundbar is not able to reproduce the content on its own, as it simply does not have a CD-drive or USB-connector.

The best sound bars in terms of price-quality ratio (price up to 40,000 rubles)

Sony HT-NT5

Rating: 4.9

The Japanese product is a completely different level. As discussed above in this device rating, this kit consists of a sound bar and a subwoofer. But here the user is waiting for the system 6.1, which implies a more pronounced surround sound. The total power of the kit reaches already quite decent 400 watts. Also sold for 45 thousand rubles. The soundbar can boast a three-lane construction. In short, the high and medium frequencies here are not exactly mixed in one pile, not to mention the low ones, for the issuance of which the 8 kg subwoofer is responsible.

As befits a high-quality sound panel, the subwoofer here has a wireless connection. Bluetooth can also be used to receive a signal, for example, from a smartphone. By the way, synchronization with a mobile device is carried out as quickly as possible, if one has an NFC chip. Also included in the soundbar is a Wi-Fi module, which allows, for example, to draw content from a hard disk connected to a router (this technology is called DLNA). However, no one forbids connecting an external drive to the sound panel itself, using a USB port. The device plays almost any media file, and the number of decoders here is incredibly large.

Perhaps, Sony HT-NT5 will suit the vast majority of ordinary users. It’s hard for an ordinary person to imagine what else to expect from the sound bar. You can only find fault with the price tag. Many people are not ready to give such money even for television, what can we say about acoustics ...

Denon DHT-S514

Rating: 4.8

Cheap equipment under the Denon brand is not worth looking for. This manufacturer focuses on the creation of exceptionally high-quality products, budget components in it are not used. For example, for Denon DHT-S514 they ask about 40 thousand rubles, and this is not the most expensive soundbar under this trademark. In essence, this is a budget solution belonging to the 2.1 standard. Nevertheless, the creators managed to achieve a relatively good three-dimensional sound. They also decided to make the system two-way - this means that the high and low frequencies are separated by different speakers, they definitely will not mix into porridge. Two high-frequency tweeters here have a 12-millimeter diameter, while a pair of bass-reflex low-frequency tweeters are significantly larger.

Added sound panel and a separate subwoofer, inside which there are two 133-millimeter speakers.In short, the manufacturer has focused on the bass - they pour on the viewer and the front and side. All sorts of explosions and shots felt great! And this is despite the power of the kit, which is by no means a record (although it cannot be called insufficient).

In terms of its functionality, the product turned out slightly limited. There is no USB-connector, so play the content from the flash drive will not work. The device is designed to receive a signal from a TV, game console or some other equipment. To do this, there are HDMI-jacks, as well as optical, coaxial and line inputs. The device is controlled by remote control.

Harman / Kardon HK SB20

Rating: 4.8

Another standard 2.1 sound panel from a well-known manufacturer of acoustic equipment, but with a slightly more affordable price tag - for the Harman / Kardon HK SB20 in the Russian retail ask about 23 thousand rubles. For this money, you can already forgive the minimum number of channels. By the way, the standard 2.1 does not mean that an insufficient number of speakers is built in here. The soundbar consists of two high-frequency radiators and as many as four subwoofers! Of course, the latter have not the largest diameter (55 mm), but it is also enough for a good bass reproduction. Yes, and you need to understand that basically the 5-kilo subwoofer is responsible for the low frequencies. The diameter of its dynamics is 165 mm. It connects to the sound bar via Bluetooth, you don’t have to pull an extra wire.

The number of connectors present here can not be called beyond. Line-in, optical cable jack and HDMI-out - that's almost everything that awaits the buyer. System management is assigned to the remote control. It remains to add that the total power of the soundbar and subwoofer is 300 W - this is a typical parameter for a budget set.

Bose SoundTouch 300

Rating: 4.8

One of the few representatives of our rating, devoid of a separate subwoofer. The creators of this device decided to make a bet on compactness. By the way, sold for 35 thousand rubles. The soundbar does have an output to the subwoofer. If the depth of the bass once seems to be insufficient, then no one bothers to buy a subwoofer separately, putting it somewhere in the corner of the room.

This model has not only a Bluetooth module, but also Wi-Fi support. This opens up a lot of possibilities for connecting the soundbar to other devices wirelessly. For example, via Wi-Fi, you can use DLNA technology by launching music from a computer or a drive connected to a router. Also, via Wi-Fi, the smartphone and the soundbar are synchronized - a special SoundTouch application will help in setting up the soundbar. Well, not only smartphones and tablets are connected via Bluetooth, but additionally purchased later - a subwoofer and rear speakers.

It remains to add that the product has a sufficiently large number of connectors, including HDMI-input and a similar output. In the pass-through soundbar mode, an image with resolution up to 4K is supported.

YAMAHA YAS-207

Rating: 4.7

One of the most low-power sound panels in our rating. The manufacturer claims a total power of 200 watts. And this is taking into account the supplied subwoofer, which accounts for 100 watts! But why then did we pay attention to this model? Everything is explained by the strength of the brand. Specialists from YAMAHA rarely make mistakes. So their sound panel is able to please the buyer, even despite its adherence to the standard 2.1. High quality sound is achieved through the use of a two-way system here. That is, the sound is divided into high-frequency and low-frequency speakers. In this case, the latter are built in the amount of four pieces - they have a 46-millimeter diameter. Despite the number of emitters, the panel itself weighs a little - about 2.7 kg.

As for the subwoofer, then its high quality says at least weight, reaching 7.9 kg. This product belongs to the phase inverter type, and the sound is emitted here with the help of a 160 mm speaker. The subwoofer is connected to the soundbar wirelessly. Of course, via Bluetooth with a sound bar, you can synchronize other devices - MP3 players, smartphones and tablets. In terms of wired connection, the soundbar also does not cause any complaints - there are HDMI connectors (input and output), as well as optical and line inputs. You can control the device either using the complete remote control or via a mobile application.

Perhaps, YAMAHA YAS-207 is the best choice for those cases where the installation of the sound bar will take place in a small room.

Canton DM 55

Rating: 4.6

One of the few sound panels in our rating, which exists in several colors. Purchaser available device, the body of which is painted in white, gray and black colors. The product is delivered without a subwoofer - it is proposed to buy it separately, then connecting it by wire or via Bluetooth. The power of the soundbar is 200 watts. And this does not seem to be an insufficient parameter - even the owners of very large premises will have enough power.

Like the several sound panels discussed above, the Canton DM 55 has a two-way design. This squeezes out of the standard 2.1, so to speak, all the juices. In total, the sound bar includes six speakers - the frequencies of three different ranges are displayed on them (a pair of subwoofers has a diameter of 100 mm). Unfortunately, light emitters are not, and therefore the weight of the sound panel was 5.3 kg. However, a brick or panel wall just must withstand such gravity.

It remains to add that the device has a sufficiently large number of connectors, even among them it is impossible to find a USB port for a flash drive. The sound panel costs about 33 thousand rubles.

Top premium sound bars

Sony HT-ST5000

Rating: 4.9

The Japanese company Sony knows a lot about high-quality audio equipment, because the history of the brand began with its production.If you are in search of the perfect soundbar, then you can pay attention to the Sony HT-ST5000. This device costs about 90 thousand rubles, but it belongs to the standard 7.1. If you remove the protective grid, you can see 7 speakers - the Japanese manufacturer is not deceiving. If properly calibrated, the user will enjoy perfect surround sound. And you need to remember to put somewhere near the 14-pound subwoofer, issuing excellent bass, at high volume waking up goosebumps.

By the way, the soundbar itself also weighs quite a lot - more than 8 kg. But if your wall can withstand an LCD TV, then the soundbar will not fall off. Also, this model got into our rating due to a large number of connectors. One HDMI output is complemented by three HDMI inputs at once! And we have not mentioned the audio jacks yet! In short, the sound panel is able to perform the role of a simple AV-receiver.

Wires are required only to connect external equipment. The subwoofer, as it is easy to guess, receives a signal via Bluetooth. Of course, the “blue tooth” can also be used to get music from a smartphone. Synchronization is accelerated if there is an NFC chip in the device. Also in the Sony HT-ST5000 included Wi-Fi module, through which you can use online services.

Bose CineMate 120

Rating: 4.9

Excellent soundbar belonging to the standard 5.1. Unlike most devices of this kind, is a set of several devices. The soundbar itself is placed on the wall, while the computing unit and the subwoofer can be placed elsewhere. Also included is a remote control. Between themselves, all devices are synchronized wirelessly. But this does not mean that the main unit is completely devoid of connectors. On the contrary, you can be surprised by their number. There are four HDMI inputs, one HDMI output, as well as all the main types of audio jacks. There is no only USB port here, which is why it’s not worth dreaming about self-playback of content. However, not everything is so bad. There is at least Wi-Fi, thanks to which some online services become available - for example, a list of 20 thousand Internet radio stations.

Focal dimension

Rating: 4.8

One of the most powerful soundbars in our ranking. Its power reaches an incredible 450 watts. And this is without a subwoofer, which, unfortunately, is sold separately. This model is worth 60 thousand rubles, which cannot be considered a record high price tag for a 5.0 sound bar. However, you need to understand that low frequencies are not reproduced here in the best way, so in the future you will still have to get a subwoofer. With it, the product can act as a stand under the TV. That is, you do not need to drill holes in the wall. It is worth the subwoofer about half the sound bar.

The structure of this product includes five speakers. The diameter of each is 100 mm. If you do not make a mistake with the calibration, then the viewer will be waited by a well-perceived surround sound. Connecting to another technology through two HDMI-jacks (input and output), as well as a linear and optical audio jack. Another product is endowed with a Bluetooth-module, through which you can receive music from your smartphone.

It is possible that the Focal Dimension provides the best sound quality.However, you need to buy it exclusively with a subwoofer, and this will be an extremely expensive acquisition - not every consumer is willing to become generous over 90 thousand rubles. There is no point in using a device without a subwoofer.

Canton DM 90

Rating: 4.7

This must be the most expensive soundbar belonging to the 2.1 standard. For Canton DM 90 ask about 90 thousand rubles. What is required such money? First, for the opportunity to choose the color of the device - white and black options are available. Secondly, for a high total power reaching 350 watts. Thirdly, for high-quality dual-band implementation, thanks to which high and medium frequencies are separated by different speakers (there are four of them in total).

As it is easy to guess from the kit photo, the soundbar comes without a subwoofer. The fact is that the product has four built-in woofers having a 100-millimeter diameter. The quality of all the speakers says the weight of the soundbar, amounting to 17.5 kg.

Unfortunately, the device is somewhat limited. There is no connector for USB-stick, or Wi-Fi. This means that this soundbar cannot play content on its own. Basically the product is used to receive a signal from other sources through one or another audio jack.

Onkyo LS-7200

Rating: 4.7

One of the most atypical sound panels in this rating. It differs from many competitors in that its kit consists of three devices. The main unit is devoid of speakers, but it has a zoo of connectors, a display and a few controls. Such a device can be placed somewhere under the TV so that the connected wires do not distract attention. The sound panel itself receives a signal from the unit wirelessly, it is best to hang it above the TV. Also in the kit includes a subwoofer having a power of 50 W - its speaker has a 160 mm diameter.

This device belongs to the standard 3.1. The soundbar consists of eight speakers of different diameters. Unfortunately, the soundbar is not capable of playing content on its own. However, it can receive a signal from another technology in many different ways. For example, you can transfer music from your smartphone via Bluetooth. Also here there are four HDMI inputs that serve to receive the signal from the gaming console and other devices. Not forgotten by the creators and audio jacks. There is also Wi-Fi here, thanks to which support is provided for various online services and AirPlay technology, familiar to Apple owners.

Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 2

Rating: 4.7

Our rating could not do without a unique soundbar from Bowers & Wilkins.This device differs not only in that the creators offer a choice of three colors. Most of all, the sound panel surprises with its metal body, while competitors are usually made of plastic or, at best, wood. But 129 thousand rubles. not asking for it. In the end, refrigerators are also made of metal, and even more of it, while they are often much cheaper. This price tag is due to the use of modern technologies, thanks to which the surround sound is felt not only directly in front of the TVs, but also on the sides of it. That is, this model is almost no different in this respect from the best home theaters. Perhaps, it does not exceed them only with loudness - alas, but the total power of the soundbar does not exceed 175 watts.

The product belongs to the standard 2.1. However, when using the device, it seems that there are much more channels. It is possible that the secret of this lies in the two-way implementation. The device has at its disposal a very large number of speakers. The tweeter with a 25 mm diameter is responsible for high frequencies. As for the bass, they give out six low-frequency, and the diameter of each of them is 75 mm. There is also a built-in 50 W subwoofer, consisting of two 90-millimeter speakers, which is responsible for playing blasts, shots and other such sounds. Technology creeps. But if for some reason this is not enough, then you can connect a separate subwoofer - a special connector is used for this.

If we talk about nests, then they are few. You can select only the trio of HDMI inputs. Of course, the optical input is not forgotten, although for some reason many sites that publish the technical characteristics of soundbars do not mention it. It's a shame that the product does not have some kind of smart functionality. That is, it cannot independently reproduce content - both from a flash drive, and through online services.

An interesting "trick" of the device is its display. It turns on when the user brings his hand to it. In the future, the screen automatically goes out, without distracting the person from watching the movie. The sound panel weighs 14.1 kg - this can also be attributed to shortcomings, especially if a fragile girl was going to hang this device on the wall.

Conclusion

Such is the list of the best soundbars among those sold in Russian retail. We recommend that you decide on the amount you are willing to spend as soon as possible and acquire the long-awaited soundbar. Such a device will surely give you new sensations from watching movies or playing on a PlayStation 4.

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Attention! This rating is subjective, is not advertising and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you should consult with a specialist.