Best HDMI Sound Bars of 2026
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HDMI sound bars are a popular audio solution for TV enthusiasts who want to enhance their viewing experience. These sound bars provide high-quality audio output while minimizing the need for multiple speakers and bulky audio equipment. They are easy to set up and connect to TVs and other devices through an HDMI cable, allowing for seamless integration into any home theater system. Additionally, many HDMI sound bars come with advanced features like Bluetooth connectivity and voice control, making them a versatile and convenient audio solution for any home.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 8 HDMI Sound Bars
Bose TV Speaker - Enhanced Dialogue and Bluetooth Connectivity
The Bose TV Speaker is a small soundbar designed to simplify and improve TV sound. It features two angled full-range drivers for a more realistic and spatial audio experience, and is equipped with Bluetooth connectivity to wirelessly stream music. The soundbar also has a dialogue mode to further enhance speech and a bass boost for more depth. Setup is simple with a single connection to the TV via an optical audio cable or an HDMI cable.
Amazon Fire TV Soundbar
The Amazon Soundbar is a compact 2.0 speaker system that enhances your TV audio experience. With dual speakers, it provides fuller sound, clearer dialogue, and deeper bass, making your viewing experience more immersive. You can enjoy three-dimensional virtual surround sound with DTS Virtual:X and detailed audio with Dolby Audio. Setting it up is a breeze - just plug in the HDMI cable to your TV's HDMI eARC/ARC port for instant synced audio. Its compact design fits well on most entertainment consoles and TV stands.
VIZIO V-Series Compact Sound Bar
The VIZIO V-Series Sound Bar is designed to enhance your audio experience in small to medium-sized rooms. Its sleek and compact design not only looks great but is also easy to maintain. With DTS Virtual:X technology, you can enjoy immersive sound that fills your space, making movies and music come alive. The two full-range speakers provide clear and detailed audio, ensuring you hear every note as the artist intended. Plus, it’s optimized for 4K HDR content with Dolby Audio, allowing you to experience superior sound quality when connected through HDMI.
VIZIO 5.1 Soundbar SV510X-0806
The VIZIO 5.1 Soundbar offers a seamless audio experience for your home entertainment. You can conveniently control the soundbar's volume using your existing TV remote when connected via HDMI eARC. If your TV lacks this port, VIZIO's customer support is ready to assist you with alternative connection options. Enhance your audio setup further by downloading the VIZIO mobile app, allowing you to receive updates and customize settings directly from your smartphone. When enjoying Dolby Atmos and DTS:X content, this soundbar immerses you in rich, detailed sound that makes every movie or show feel more engaging.
Assistrust 90W Sound Bar for TV
The Assistrust 90W Soundbar offers flexible placement options to fit your space and listening needs. You can place it horizontally for clear vocals during TV shows, vertically to enjoy richer bass for movies and games, or mount it on the wall for balanced sound in larger rooms. With 90 watts of power, it delivers clear, detailed audio, so you catch every sound like footsteps or rustling leaves with ease. The soundbar also includes three custom equalizer modes, letting you adjust the sound for movies, music, or clear dialogue. Plus, it’s easy to set up with Bluetooth 5.3 and multiple wired connection options, and you can control it conveniently with your TV remote when using ARC mode.
Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus 3.1 Channel
The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar offers a powerful 3.1 channel audio experience that enhances your home entertainment. With a built-in subwoofer, you get deep, rich bass without needing extra speakers. The dedicated center channel makes dialogue crystal clear, so you won’t miss any important conversations in your shows or movies. Thanks to Dolby Atmos and DTS:X technology, the sound moves around you in three dimensions, creating an immersive experience that brings your content to life. This soundbar combines great sound quality with convenience, making it perfect for anyone looking to upgrade their TV audio easily.
Polk Audio Signa S4 Sound Bar
The Polk Signa S4 Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer offers an advanced ultra-slim design with a dedicated center channel for True 3D Surround Sound. The up-firing speakers provide height elevation for immersive 3D audio. With Polk's VoiceAdjust technology, you can customize voice levels for crystal clear dialogues. The BassAdjust Technology allows you to control the sub and sound bar's bass for maximum impact. This soundbar fits most spaces, can be wall-mounted, and works with any TV, including the latest 8K Ultra-HD TVs. It's a great addition to your home theater setup.
ULTIMEA Skywave F40 5.1.2ch Sound Bar
The ULTIMEA Skywave Soundbar offers a rich 5.1.2 channel audio system that immerses you in lifelike sound, making movies and shows feel more realistic with overhead effects like raindrops and helicopters. Its up-firing drivers with advanced neodymium magnets deliver clear, precise height sounds, enhancing your listening experience with crisp high notes. Thanks to the 360° SurroundX Audio, the sound surrounds you completely, creating a natural and three-dimensional atmosphere. Plus, HDMI eARC support ensures you get full, lossless Dolby Atmos sound without compression, so every detail is crisp and clear. This soundbar makes controlling your audio setup easier and more enjoyable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is HDMI better for soundbar?
Yes, it is generally best to connect your TV to your soundbar using HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel). This allows for a seamless audio connection and ensures that you can enjoy high-quality sound from your soundbar.
2. Do soundbars have HDMI input?
Not all soundbars come with an HDMI input. Typically, you will find HDMI connectors on mid to high-end soundbars. However, if your soundbar does not have HDMI, there are alternative ways to achieve a digital audio experience, which can be explained in the next section.
3. Is sound better over HDMI or optical?
Both HDMI and optical cables can provide good audio quality. However, HDMI has the advantage of being able to pass higher-resolution audio formats, such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio, which cannot be transmitted through optical. HDMI also allows for the transmission of video signals, making it a more versatile option.
4. Is it better to hook up a soundbar with HDMI or optical?
Both HDMI and optical connections can deliver quality audio. However, HDMI offers the additional benefit of supporting video signals, making it a better choice when connecting your soundbar to devices like your TV, Blu-ray player, or game consoles.
5. What's better HDMI ARC or optical?
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) is generally considered a better option than optical. HDMI ARC supports higher audio formats like Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby Atmos, as well as up to 7.1 channels of uncompressed audio. In comparison, optical only supports Dolby Digital and up to 5.1 channels of uncompressed audio.
During our hdmi sound bar research, we found 24 hdmi sound bar products and shortlisted 8 quality products. We collected and analyzed 288,059 customer reviews through our big data system to write the hdmi sound bars list. We found that most customers choose hdmi sound bars with an average price of $125.48.
The hdmi sound bars are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of hdmi sound bars, including Bose, VIZIO, Assistrust, Polk Audio, ULTIMEA. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 384 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.
Jerry Franklin's persistent curiosity and research inspire a love of writing how technical things work and help him build a wealth of knowledge in computer equipment and other electronic tools. He has always enjoyed great pleasure in taking all things apart and researching how to put them together again since his childhood.