The Best Soundbars for 2026: Samsung HW-Q990, Sonos Arc Ultra, Sennheiser and Sony
By Claire Whitmore. Last updated October 2026.
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Today’s thin TVs have almost no room for decent speakers, so a soundbar is the single biggest upgrade you can make to movie night. The best premium systems don’t just make dialogue clearer. With Dolby Atmos they bounce sound off your walls and ceiling for a convincing 3D effect, and some add wireless subwoofers and rear speakers that rival a wired home theater, without an A/V receiver or wires all over the room.
Our picks come mainly from WIRED’s March 2026 premium soundbar guide, whose reviewers test in their own living rooms with Dolby Atmos demo discs and familiar movie scenes. We also used RTINGS.com’s measurement-based reviews and comparisons. We haven’t tested these systems ourselves. Prices are from retailer listings at the time of writing and are often discounted.
Quick answer: the Samsung HW-Q990 series is the best all-in-one system: a bar, wireless subwoofer and rear speakers in one box. The Sonos Arc Ultra is the best soundbar to build on over time. The Sennheiser Ambeo Max is the most powerful single bar, and the Sony Bravia Theater Quad is best when you want the sound to come from almost invisible speakers.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Best for | Channels / drivers | Approx. price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung HW-Q990D (or newer Q990F/H) | Best complete system | 11.1.4, 22 speakers | About $977 to $1,199 |
| Sonos Arc Ultra | Best expandable bar | 14 drivers, Atmos | About $1,099 |
| Sennheiser Ambeo Max | Best single bar, no sub | 5.1.4 virtual | About $1,700 to $2,000 |
| Sony Bravia Theater Quad | Hidden, wall-mounted audio | 4.0.4, 16 speakers | About $2,198 to $2,698 |
| Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar | Bose ecosystem | Atmos | Varies |
*Prices from WIRED’s buying links at the time of writing.
The best soundbars
1. Samsung HW-Q990D: best all-in-one system
Best for: anyone who wants full surround and Atmos from one purchase.
WIRED’s favorite all-in-one Dolby Atmos system is also its top premium soundbar overall. The Q990D comes with a powerful wireless subwoofer and two rear surround speakers. With the main bar, that’s 22 speakers and 11.1.4 channels firing forward, sideways, backward and up. WIRED says it has “the processing and wattage to rev up your living room,” with fluid music, surround and Atmos performance.
It’s packed with features: two HDMI 2.1 inputs for a PS5 or Xbox Series X, HDMI eARC, Wi-Fi with AirPlay and Spotify Connect, Bluetooth and Alexa. WIRED notes that the 2025 Q990F is only a minor improvement at a much higher price. RTINGS now lists the 2026 Q990H in its top picks. If you find the D on sale, it’s the value buy.
Pros
- Real rear speakers and sub included
- Huge, immersive sound
- HDMI 2.1 passthrough for gaming
- Often discounted
Cons
- Large bar and sub to place
- Samsung app less polished than Sonos
2. Sonos Arc Ultra: best expandable soundbar
Best for: Sonos homes and people who want to build a system over time.
WIRED calls the Arc Ultra “an impressive piece of engineering”. Its 14 drivers deliver more impactful bass, crisp dialogue and better surround and Atmos than the original Arc. It sets up in minutes and works with dozens of streaming services through the Sonos app.
The Arc Ultra’s real strength is growth. Add a Sonos Sub 4 and a pair of Era 300 rear speakers, and WIRED says the system rivals wired surround setups powered by an A/V receiver, though the price climbs to match. You can also group it with other Sonos speakers around the house. Sonos’ botched 2024 app update hurt its reputation, and WIRED notes a few lingering connection issues, but says the sound is excellent.
Pros
- Excellent sound in a slim bar
- Easy setup
- Expands to full surround
- Whole-home audio
Cons
- Getting full surround is expensive
- Only one HDMI eARC port
- Sonos app history
3. Sennheiser Ambeo Max: best stand-alone bar
Best for: minimalists who want huge sound without a separate subwoofer.
WIRED hasn’t heard “a more powerful or expansive performance from a single log of speakers.” The Ambeo Max fires full-range drivers and 1-inch tweeters forward, sideways and upward for a virtual 5.1.4 effect convincing enough to make you think you’re surrounded by speakers. Its large cabinet produces real bass without a separate subwoofer.
It’s unusually versatile, with three HDMI inputs, optical, RCA analog (you can connect a turntable with a phono preamp) and a subwoofer output if you want more bass later. It supports Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Sony 360 Reality Audio and Tidal Connect. It’s big and heavy, though, at nearly 50 inches wide, and it’s pricey.
Pros
- Most powerful single bar
- Deep bass without a sub
- Lots of inputs
- Music-friendly
Cons
- Huge and heavy
- Expensive
- No voice assistant
Best for: design-focused rooms where speakers should all but disappear.
There’s no bar at all. Instead, four fabric-wrapped speaker panels connect wirelessly to a small hub that plugs into your TV. Mount them on the wall or on stands, and Sony’s sound-field correction adjusts for where you’ve put them. Each panel holds four speakers, 16 in total, and a “phantom” center channel handles dialogue nearly as well as a real one, according to WIRED.
WIRED hasn’t found another setup this discreet that sounds as good. It’s weaker with music, has only one HDMI input and no analog connection, and you’ll probably want to add a Sony subwoofer, which pushes the price higher.
Pros
- Nearly invisible
- Very immersive
- Placement correction
Cons
- Expensive
- Weaker with music
- Limited inputs
- Sub sold separately
5. Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar: best for Bose households
Best for: people already invested in Bose speakers or headphones.
Bose’s flagship single bar is a strong premium choice. RTINGS reviews it and compares it head-to-head with the Arc Ultra, and it can expand with Bose’s own bass module and rear speakers. Choose it if you already own Bose speakers or headphones. Choose the Sonos if music and multiroom audio matter more.
Pros
- Strong single-bar Atmos
- Expandable
- Slim design
Cons
- Sonos wins for music and multiroom
- Expansion adds cost
Honorable mentions
- Marshall Heston 120 (about $1,300): a beautiful amp-inspired design with balanced, musical sound, though WIRED found it restrained in action scenes.
- Yamaha True X Surround 90a (about $3,500): includes a wireless sub and battery-powered rear speakers that double as Bluetooth speakers. Its sound is excellent, but it has fewer connections than expected.
- Bluesound Pulse Cinema (about $1,499): a Sonos alternative for multiroom audio, but it lacks EQ and didn’t reach the Arc Ultra’s heights.
- Sony Bravia Theater 9: good detail, but WIRED thinks it’s a step back from the HT-A7000 it replaces.
How to choose a soundbar
- Dolby Atmos and real rear speakers. Atmos adds height channels. Up-firing drivers bounce sound off the ceiling, but WIRED points out there’s “no substitute for real speakers placed behind you” for true surround.
- HDMI eARC. You need it to pass lossless Atmos from your TV’s apps. Check that your TV has an eARC port.
- Inputs for gaming. If you plug consoles into the bar, look for HDMI 2.1 passthrough, as on the Samsung.
- Size to your TV. A bar about as wide as the TV, or a little narrower, looks right. Measure your console and check that the bar won’t block the TV’s IR sensor.
- Ecosystem. Sonos, Bose and Bluesound all do multiroom audio, so pick the one you already use. Samsung pairs best with Samsung TVs (Q-Symphony).
- Room correction. Auto-calibration, like Sonos Trueplay or Sony’s sound-field optimization, tunes the sound to your room.
If you watch a lot of films or sports on a large TV, yes. WIRED argues that a premium soundbar system can take your experience “from adequate to transformative” and is much easier to hide in a living room than a receiver and speakers. If you mostly watch the news and sitcoms, a mid-range bar with a good dialogue mode will do, and you can skip the subwoofer.
FAQ
Do I need a subwoofer?
Not with the Sennheiser Ambeo Max, which produces real bass on its own. For most other bars a sub adds the rumble that makes action scenes land. The Samsung Q990 includes one.
Is Sonos reliable now?
Its 2024 app update caused widespread problems. WIRED says most have been fixed, with a few lingering connection issues, and the Arc Ultra’s sound is excellent.
Can a soundbar replace a home theater?
A full system like the Samsung Q990 or a Sonos Arc Ultra with Sub 4 and Era 300s comes very close to a wired setup, in WIRED’s experience, with far less clutter.
Where should I put rear speakers?
Slightly behind and to the sides of your seats, at or a bit above ear height. Wireless rears still need power outlets.
The bottom line
For complete, cinema-style sound in one box, buy the Samsung HW-Q990D. If you want to start with one great bar and add to it later, choose the Sonos Arc Ultra. The Sennheiser Ambeo Max is the most impressive single bar, and the Sony Bravia Theater Quad is the stylish choice when you’d rather not see your speakers at all.
