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When choosing which soundbar to buy, CNET also uses the following criteria as part of its selection process:
Price
The most important consideration when choosing a soundbar is how much it costs, and I have found there are great soundbars at every price point, starting at $100 and up. I give a lot of thought to the features a soundbar has in comparison to others that cost the same. I do have one rule of thumb: Once the price of a soundbar exceeds $500, you may find it more worthwhile to save for an AV receiver and speakers.
Wireless Streaming
Whether it’s connecting a phone over Bluetooth or more advanced streaming technologies such as Spotify Connect or Apple AirPlay 2, the more choices for streaming technologies a soundbar has, the better.
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos is one of the most popular features in soundbars over $400, so I look at features that help maximize spatial sound quality. For example, does the soundbar offer dedicated height speakers or is it simulated Atmos? See my roundup of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars.
HDMI Connections
At the bare minimum, a soundbar sold in 2024 should have at least one HDMI input and preferably more. The ability to connect multiple HDMI cables will help users with a large selection of sources (Xbox Series X, Apple TV, Nintendo Switch, Blu-ray player, etc.). There are notable exceptions to this rule. For example, the Sonos Ray only offers an optical output, but this is acceptable given that it’s most suitable for older or smaller TVs.
Subwoofer and Surround Speakers
Single-bar systems are great for smaller TVs, as their length allows for built-in stereo sound while still being compact. But a soundbar-and-subwoofer combo is better suited for a living room home theater setup to produce that booming surround sound. For that reason, I take note of the size of the system and whether it offers wireless or wired peripherals. Most soundbars with subs are wireless, for instance, while systems with surround can be wired, as in the case of the Vizio Elevate.
