Guide: The Best Soundbars for Big Rooms

Soundbars are an excellent choice for filling a room with sound without the hassle of a large surround sound system. They are easy to install and require fewer cables and hardware. Many newer models also have a sleek design. If you have a larger room, you will need a more powerful soundbar. Here are our top recommendations of the best soundbars for big rooms, listed in rough order of price:

• Sonos Arc
• SAMSUNG HW-Q950T
• Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.1.4
• Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4
• Bose Soundbar 500
• Polk Audio MagniFi Max Home Theater Sound Bar
• Yamaha YAS-209BL
• Sonos Beam

The Best Soundbars for Big Rooms

You may recognize some of these brand names. Sonos offers both high and low-priced options. However, each unit has its own unique features to consider. We will help you choose the right soundbar for your space.

Sonos Arc – Premium Smart Soundbar

The Sonos Arc (on Amazon) is an excellent audio device. Our review shows that it is the best Dolby Atmos soundbar you can buy. With its Sonos heritage, there is little left for you to customize.

The Smart Soundbar Sonos Arc (on Amazon) is an excellent audio device. As our review shows, it is the best Dolby Atmos soundbar on the market. It can be used on its own or as part of a larger surround sound system with the addition of a Sonos Sub (on Amazon) and Sonos One SLs (on Amazon).

However, choosing the Sonos Arc does require you to use the Sonos ecosystem. Any other speaker you buy will not fully integrate with the system unless it is a Sonos product. While the Sonos ecosystem is very good, it can also be expensive. further, The Arc can serve as the foundation of a full-home audio system, but it is also a great choice for a standalone soundbar.

In addition, Arc has upward-firing speakers for Dolby Atmos and eight woofers and three tweeters, allowing it to easily fill a large room. You likely won’t need to turn the volume up too high with this soundbar.

Pros	cons
– Premium app integration and software backend – Dolby Atmos	– Locks you into the Sonos ecosystem – High price – Doesn’t support DTS:X

SAMSUNG HW-Q950T 9.1.4ch Soundbar

The SAMSUNG HW-Q950T (on Amazon) is the first sound system on our list that comes with satellite speakers for full surround sound. It includes a soundbar, wireless subwoofer, and two wireless rear speakers to create a high-quality surround sound system. It can easily fill even a large room with sound. In addition, The included remote is a nice touch, but it is interesting that Samsung did not include a robust app-based solution like Sonos. Instead, it relies on a Bluetooth connection for music streaming.

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This sound system is primarily designed for home theater surround sound, with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X built-in. It also has Alexa support for smart home integration. If you are already using Amazon and Alexa, this will be a great option for you.

Pros	cons
– Great bang for your buck (when buying the 9.1.4ch system) – Alexa voice-assistant support	– Not the most stlyish unit – No robust backed/ecosystem like Sonos – Can’t easily add more speakers

Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.1.4

The Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.1.4 (on Amazon) is an impressive unit at its price point. Our review highlights some of the main reasons we love it. It has dual subwoofers and four satellite speakers, all managed by the soundbar, which also serves as a receiver. This adds a lot of functionality.

Shockwafe Ultra has the most speakers dedicated to filling a room with sound compared to the other options on the list. You likely won’t need to turn the volume up too high with this system. Since it has all the speakers you need, it is not necessary to discuss the option of adding more to the system.

Furthermore, there are many options for streaming audio on the device, including Bluetooth support for streaming from your phone or other Bluetooth-enabled devices. For a full description, you can check out our review.

Pros	cons
– The most robust surround sound system at (or near) its’ price point – With video pass-through and a full surround system, this unit effectively functions as a receiver	– Lots of external speakers to manage means lots of power cables to hide – Soundbar design that some may not prefer

Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4

The Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4 (on Amazon) is less expensive than the 9.2.4 unit because it has two fewer satellite speakers and one fewer subwoofer. However, it can still effectively fill a large room with sound. It has many of the same features as the Ultra 9.2.4, making it a great option.

Even though it only has one subwoofer, it has more than the other units on the list. With the satellite speakers and the soundbar’s four upward-firing tweeters for Dolby Atmos, this unit can function as a home theater system or as the music source for a party.

While there is a lot of value in this package, it may not be the best choice for everyone. Aesthetically, the Arc is a better option, and some people may simply want a soundbar without the additional equipment. Floor subs and satellite speakers require mounting, power, and integration into the room’s design, which can be inconvenient.

Pros	cons
– Incredible value for your money – Still competes on its own against the other units on the list, even without the Shockwafe Ultra’s extra speakers	– Fewer speakers than the Ultra package, and no ability to add more after the fact – Like the Ultra, the soundbar design might stand out a little too much and not go with certain aesthetics

Bose Soundbar 500

The Bose Soundbar 500 (on Amazon) is a reliable model that can fill a large room with sound. It has a lower price point than the other options, but it still provides quality sound from the included speaker. Bose is known for its high sound quality, which is reflected in this model.

One unique feature of the Bose Soundbar 500 is the ability to scale up the system after purchase. Within the Bose smart speaker ecosystem, there are options such as subwoofers, satellite speakers, and portable speakers that can be added to the system. All the devices can work together, but it is not possible to add Dolby Atmos after the initial purchase.

This soundbar also has Alexa support and the Bose Music app, which allows for easy streaming and management of audio. The Bose Music app is similar to the Sonos app, though it may be less polished. It enables you to connect all your favorite streaming services to the soundbar.

Pros	cons
– Alexa voice-assistant built-in – Easily expandable with the growing ecosystem of Bose smart speakers – Bose music app for easy phone streaming	– Not a package of surround speakers – No Dolby Atmos support or upward-firing tweeters

Polk Audio MagniFi Max Home Theater Sound Bar with 5.1

The Polk Audio MagniFi Max Home Theater Sound Bar with 5.1 (on Amazon) is an excellent choice for a few reasons. It has an affordable price, a wireless subwoofer, and is able to fill a large room with sound.

Polk’s patented voice adjust software allows this soundbar to produce clear and customizable dialogue, which is important for listening to podcasts, audio books, and watching movies and shows where the dialogue is as important as the action.

In addition to its capabilities for handling dialogue, the Polk Audio MagniFi also has a wireless streaming option for music. It does not have a microphone array, but it is compatible with Google home speakers over WiFi, allowing you to access smart features. However, it is not capable of expanding to a full surround sound system.

Overall, the Polk MagniFi is a great option for simple 5.1 channel sound at a reasonable price.

Pros	cons
– 5.1 channel sound at an affordable price – Some unique features around simulated surround sound and a priority placed on dialogue and voice tones	– Limited expansion capabilities mean that if you want a 7.1 system, you’ll be shopping for something new, not just adding two more channels – Cosmetically, what could be read as a simplistic design starts to edge towards drab

Yamaha Audio YAS-209BL Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer

The Yamaha YAS-209BL (on Amazon) is an affordable option for filling a large room with quality sound. It has a wireless subwoofer and is from a reputable brand, so you can trust that the sound quality will be good.

This soundbar likewise has some unexpected features for its price range. It has built-in Alexa, so you can use it for tasks like setting timers and listening to the news. There is also HDMI Arc for managing inputs and a soundbar controller app.

While it does not have Dolby Atmos, the Yamaha YAS-209 claims to have “DTS Virtual:X” which is supposed to deliver virtual 3D sound. While there is a dedicated button for this feature on the remote, it is not a substitute for real, dedicated surround sound speakers. If you want surround sound, you may want to consider a unit with dedicated speakers.

Pros	cons
– Alexa voice assistant support built in – Yamaha name and fair price	– DTS Virtual: X is a long way from DTS:X and/or Dolby Atmos – Not expandable

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Best Soundbars for Big Rooms

The Sonos Beam Gen2 (on Amazon) is a compact soundbar that can access all the features of the Sonos ecosystem. It has three channels, but it can be upgraded to a 3.1 or 5.1 channel system with the addition of more Sonos speakers. Although it is designed to be used as a standalone unit, the Beam is capable of filling a large room with sound on its own, using either AirPlay 2 or voice commands through Alexa.

In addition to its functionality, the Sonos Beam has an Ethernet port and can be controlled through the Sonos app. It only has one HDMI port and no optical port, but it is likely that users will be more interested in the Ethernet connection.

Pros	cons
– Access to the Sonos app and speaker ecosystem – One of the few options offering a white variant – Apple AirPlay 2 and Alexa built-in	– You are paying a little more for the luxury factor of Sonos – Limited audio inputs with a single HDMI port (but which does support ARC)

Last Words About The Best Soundbars for Big Rooms

A soundbar is a device that amplifies sound and improves the audio quality of a television or home theater system. Furthermore, there are several options available, ranging in price and features.

Sonos Arc is a high-end Dolby Atmos soundbar that integrates with the Sonos ecosystem, but is expensive and does not support DTS:X. The SAMSUNG HW-Q950T is a surround sound system that includes a soundbar, wireless subwoofer, and two wireless rear speakers. It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X and has Alexa voice assistant support, but does not have a robust app or ecosystem like Sonos.

Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.1.4 and Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4 are both surround sound systems that include a soundbar and wireless subwoofer, as well as additional satellite speakers. The Bose Soundbar 500 is a sleek and stylish soundbar with Alexa and Google Assistant support, but does not support Dolby Atmos or DTS: X.

The Polk Audio MagniFi Max is a surround sound system with a soundbar, wireless subwoofer, and satellite speakers that support Dolby Atmos and DTS: X. While The Yamaha YAS-209BL is a soundbar with a wireless subwoofer and Alexa voice assistant support. In addition, The Sonos Beam is a compact soundbar with Alexa voice assistant support and integration with the Sonos ecosystem.

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