Dolby Atmos has become one of the most popular ways to deliver surround sound in many TV shows, films, and games. Its use of height channels have made it possible to produce immersive three-dimensional sound without the need for a complicated multi-speaker setup, which is why Dolby Atmos has become an integral feature in many of the best modern soundbars.
The best Dolby Atmos soundbars spare you from the complicated requirement of traditional surround-sound systems. Sure, they won’t exactly replicate the enveloping sound you can produce with Dolby Atmos on dual rear and ceiling speakers, but the best options in the category can definitely produce immersive sound that comes exceptionally close. They do it with a basic setup, too, requiring nothing more than a soundbar on the TV stand under your TV and, if you want a fuller sound, a wireless subwoofer somewhere on the floor.
What things do you look for in a Dolby Atmos soundbar? The most important thing to ascertain is that your soundbar comes with integrated upfiring speakers. Yes, that sounds like a basic requirement for Dolby Atmos, but you’ll be surprised at how many supposedly compatible soundbars don’t have drivers that deliver those upward sound channels, which is so crucial to creating that convincing 3D sound. Similarly, you’ll want one with side-firing speakers over models without them to really help round out that all-encompassing immersive sound.
After that, it’s all about what other features are available in your soundbar of choice. For instance, we’re big fans of HDMI eARC, which have become commonplace in many of the best new TVs, allowing for improved bandwith and better overall efficiency. We like the convenience of HDMI passthrough ports for folks that like to hook up plenty of devices to their TVs, along with support for alternate audio formats like DTS:X, WI-Fi connectivity, and various services like Airplay and Chromecast. If you’re a gamer, you probably want to make sure they support VRR (variable refresh rate) and ALLM (auto-low latency mode), too.
These are the best Dolby Atmos soundbars to bring immersive 3D sound to your home entertainment setup.
Bose Smart Soundbar 900
Pros
- Impressive surround sound quality
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth streaming
- Multi-room support with other Bose speakers
Cons
- Not as many intelligent audio features as other soundbars
- Not many audio customization options
With a pair of grille cutouts at the top, you immediately see where the upfiring speakers on this Dolby Atmos soundbar are located and it delivers exceptionally on that end, producing truly immersive surround sound reproduction, although it did take a bit of tweaking with the EQ on the Bose Music app (iOS and Android). We also wish there were a bit more options for customizing sound, as its a bit lacking compared to newer soundbars (it’s been around for four years now), although the overall great sound really does make up for a lot of the shortcomings on that end. Using the app, it can also auto-calibrate the soundbar for its placement within the room, as well as use it with Airplay 2, Alexa, and Google Assistant, so it’s definitely an integral part of the overall package. Basically, the included remote is mid and using the app for control is the absolute way to go.
Sonos Arc
Pros
- Detailed yet expansive surround sound
- Ability to add other Sonos speakers for physical surround
- Plenty of useful smart features
Cons
- Only one HDMI port (no passthroughs)
- No Bluetooth streaming
- Might not work well with some TVs
We love the warm and detailed sound you get from this Dolby Atmos soundbar, along with the expansive surround reproduction and the impressively punchy bass even without a separate subwoofer. Sure, the Sonos Arc will definitely sound better when paired with the latter, but its collection of upward-firing drivers, side-firing speakers, woofers, and tweeters will definitely be enough for most people’s needs. Even better, you can use it as the starting point for a more immersive home theater experience, since it can be paired with other Sonos speakers to create a physical surround sound setup, if that’s something you want to do eventually.
Like other Sonos speakers, it supports multi-room streaming, so you can continue listening to your show in the kitchen while you fix up a sandwich in the middle of the action, with plenty of intelligent audio features (e.g. auto-volume, which can reduce loud noises on the fly) that make using it just that much more convenient. You also get voice command support (Alexa and Google Assistant), support for many music streaming services, Spotify Connect, and AirPlay 2.
Vizio Elevate 5.1.4
Pros
- Fun rotating speakers
- Immersive cinematic sound
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi streaming
Cons
- No smart features
- More tedious setup requirements
Yes, the rotating front speakers in this Dolby Atmos soundbar are a gimmick (it rotates upward for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X content, then rotates back for traditional mixes), but it’s a brilliant gimmick that makes it a heck of a visual treat (at least, until it gets old). It has a total of 18 speakers, all working together to deliver incredible cinematic sound, creating an absolutely immersive experience as sound bounces across your walls and ceilings. Overall sound is teeming with rich details with clear dialogue, while also giving you plenty of room to customize the sound by adjusting both IQ and individual surround channel settings. Do note, it can be confusing at first, but you do get the hang of the unusual interface. The biggest downside here is the need to use physical wires to connect the satellite speakers, which makes it almost as tedious to set up as a traditional Dolby Atmos system, along the lack of smart features. However, if you want true cinematic sound from the comfort of your home, this thing gets it done with stellar results.
Sony HT-A7000
Pros
- Amazing surround sound for a standalone soundbar
- Support for hi-res audio formats
- Expandable to a physical surround sound setup down the line
Cons
- Requires external speaker for voice assistant
- Bigger than usual
One of the best standalone Dolby Atmos soundbars, this delivers some of the best virtual surround sound you will ever hear from a single enclosure. The way it’s able to deliver sound from different angles make for an incredibly immersive experience that we wouldn’t have thought was possible from a single soundbar just five or six years ago. You can also add a separate compatible subwoofer and satellite speakers down the line if you’re up for it, although the surround is already incredible that it should be good enough for all but the most discerning listeners.
We love the added features beyond just the immersive audio, too. For instance, there’s a full onscreen interface that lets you make adjustments directly from the TV, decoding for nearly any format (including hi-res codecs), and even passthrough video up to 8K resolution. There are some smart features, too, such as automated room calibration and voice assistant support (Alexa and Google Assistant), although the latter requires a separate speaker, so it’s not exactly convenient.
Samsung HW-Q990C
Pros
- Incredible surround sound
- Baked-in smart features
- Wireless subwoofer and satellite speakers make setup easy
Cons
- No HDMI 2.1 support
This 11.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar comes with a wireless subwoofer and two wireless satellite speakers, so you simply need to position them around the room for setup, with no need to run wired connections (other than power, of course). And yes, you’ll want to set up the whole thing, since together, it delivers arguably the best surround sound experience around the $1,000 territory. The rich details, the rich dialogue, the subtle effects all come through clearly, regardless of genre, with directional sound that’s truly captivating, putting you square in the middle of the scene. It has a plethora of smart features, from real-time sound optimization and room auto-calibration to active voice analyzer and built-in voice assistant. Suffice to say, this is a complete Dolby Atmos soundbar package – one that’s easy to set up, convenient to use, and an absolute please to listen to when watching your favorite shows and movies. While it pairs nicely with most any TV, you do get some extra functionality when used with a Samsung Q-Series TV, so it’s definitely the one to get if you recently picked up a Samsung panel.
Sennheiser Ambeo Max
Pros
- Best-sounding standalone soundbar
- Very dynamic, immersive 3D sound
- Easy to use
Cons
- No voice assistant
- Larger and heavier than any soundbar you’ve seen
- Very expensive
Yes, it’s an absolute monster, coming in larger and heavier than most Dolby Atmos soundbars you’re going to find. We can’t fault it for that, though, considering it’s a standalone 5.1.4 soundbar that delivers a Dolby Atmos experience so good, it can put many multi-speaker setups to shame. That’s right, it’s standalone, so they crammed in larger, more powerful drivers inside the single enclosure, which, at the end of the day, is still the key to producing all that glorious sound.
How good is it? Watching movies on this thing produces a truly three-dimensional sound experience that’s just downright amazing, with sound coming at you from all directions. Every sound comes through full and clear, from the dialogue and the effects to the bottom-end thump that smaller soundbars simply struggle producing. It’s a rich and natural sound that just makes whatever you’re watching feel truly alive. Simply put, nothing else sounds like it and it’s priced accordingly. It’s a pretty complete package, too, with support for DTS:X, MPEG-H, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi streaming, and built-in cloud services (Chromecast, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect).
