The Best Budget Dolby Atmos Soundbar
Above-average ratings, below-average prices, no fake reviews.
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Dolby Atmos is an object-based audio technology that is used to create 3D surround sound experiences for movies, television shows, video games and music. In a traditional surround sound system, sound effects move left, right, front or back. However, in an object-based audio format like Dolby Atmos (or its main competitor, DTS:X), sound effects can also travel up or down, adding a height dimension.
There are various ways to reproduce overhead sounds: Movie theaters use in-ceiling speakers and gaming headsets use software. Most commonly, home theater speakers and soundbars use angled- or upward-firing drivers to bounce sounds around a room. (Some ceilings work better than others.)
Where to Find Dolby Atmos Content
Blu-ray owners have access the to the largest library of movies with Dolby Atmos soundtracks. Additionally, a growing list of Atmos-encoded movies and TV shows are streamable on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu and Disney Plus. Dolby Atmos for Music is supported by Tidal and Amazon Music. Also, Microsoft’s latest consoles, the Xbox Series X and Series S, support Dolby Atmos (as does Windows 10).
The Best Movies to Demo Dolby Atmos
There are hundreds of films with Dolby Atmos soundtracks, including blockbusters like Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Avengers: Endgame. However, bigger and louder isn’t always better.
Dolby Atmos has been used to great effect in atmospheric films like Roma, A Quiet Place and Annihilation. To demo Atmos speakers or soundbars effectively, look for soundtracks that emphasize silence as much as they emphasize sound. For the best of both worlds, also consider Gravity or Logan.
The best Atmos soundbars support HDMI-eARC and can pass through a 4K-HDR signal. But, just because a soundbar supports Dolby Atmos doesn’t mean that it sounds better than one that doesn’t. And even the most expensive Dolby Atmos soundbars (that sell for $1,000 or more) sound inferior to a complete Dolby Atmos speaker system. Surprisingly, a good Atmos home theater setup is relatively inexpensive to buy.
How Much Does a Dolby Atmos Speaker System Cost?
A complete Dolby Atmos speaker system, like Pioneer’s Atmos-enabled speaker package (from acclaimed speaker designer, Andrew Jones) or Sony’s CS-Series bundle can be purchased for less than $750, and sometimes for as little as $500 during seasonal deals like Prime Day, Black Friday or Cyber Monday.
These packages include front speakers, upward drivers, a center speaker, surround speakers and a subwoofer. Additionally, Sony and Pioneer have sold 7.2-channel Atmos receivers for as little as $300.
Nevertheless, at Atmos soundbar may be the best choice for those who live in apartments or wish to avoid stringing cable. Here are the best affordable Dolby Atmos soundbars for the money:
Methodology for Selecting Products
I use data science to discover above-average products that are selling for below-average prices. To find Dolby Atmos soundbars with below-average prices, I first assemble a list of candidates, then organize those products by their 12-month average sale price, determine the median value and then exclude any soundbar with a price above the mid-point.
To find Atmos soundbars with above-average reviews, I measure the relationship between 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 star ratings and flag outliers that fall outside of a normal statistical distribution. I also discount paid, sponsored and unverified reviews as well as unhelpful review behaviors from verified customers. Models with an average adjusted rating of less than 3.9 out of 5 are excluded; in the end, fewer than 10% of the analyzed products remain.
Soundcore Infini Pro Soundbar
Good Value: $229 | Great Deal: $173
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HDMI eARC: No
4K HDR Pass-Through: Yes
Audio Formats: Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos
Anker’s budget-Atmos soundbar is easy to set up and plays loudly without distortion, according to several online customers. Some reviewers were disappointed by this soundbar’s vertical surround sound effects; others complained that the soundbar has a 2–3 second audio delay while switching inputs.
Panasonic SoundSlayer Gaming Soundbar With Atmos, DTS:X
Good Value: $300 | Great Deal: $216
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HDMI eARC: No
4K HDR Pass-Through: Yes
Audio Formats: Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, DTS Virtual:X
Panasonic’s Atmos-enabled gaming soundbar delivers clear dialogue and immersive sound effects from a compact design, according to several online customers. Many reviewers wish this soundbar had a subwoofer output; others were disappointed that there is no complementary PC software for game mode tuning.
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday.
Sony HTX8500 Dolby Atmos/DTS:X Soundbar
Good Value: $300 | Great Deal: $250
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HDMI eARC: Yes
4K HDR Pass-Through: Yes
Audio Formats: Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Dual Mono, DTS, DTS HD High Resolution Audio, DTS HD Master Audio, DTS ES, DTS 96 / 24, DTS:X, DTS Virtual:X
Sony’s budget Atmos soundbar has an excellent soundstage that projects immersive surround sound effects, according to several online customers. Some reviewers warn that voices can be a struggle to hear over sound effects (even with ‘voice boost’ on); others say that this soundbar has weak bass and isn’t suited for music.
Sony HT-G700 3.1 Channel Dolby Atmos/DTS:X Soundbar
Good Value: $500 | Great Deal: $398
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HDMI eARC: Yes
4K HDR Pass-Through: Yes
Audio Formats: Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Dual Mono, DTS, DTS HD High-Resolution Audio, DTS HD Master Audio, DTS ES, DTS 96 / 24, DTS: X, LPCM, DTS Virtual:X
This inexpensive Atmos soundbar/subwoofer projects crystal-clear dialogue and room-filling sound, according to several online customers. Some reviewers complain that the soundbar doesn’t mount flush against a wall.
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday.
LG SN8YG 3.1.2-Channel Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer
Good Value: $600 | Great Deal: $497
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HDMI eARC: Yes
4K HDR Pass-Through: Yes
Audio Formats: Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X
Works With: Google Assistant
LG’s affordable Dolby Atmos soundbar has amazing sound quality, a true sense of height and it projects clear dialogue, according to several online customers. Some reviewers say that it is difficult to install and configure this soundbar; others say that the bass is weaker than expected (and the subwoofer occasionally turns off).
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday.
— Dolby Atmos Alternatives —
DTS:X is Atmos’ closest competitor. This object-based audio format appears in theaters and Blu-ray discs, but DTS:X content is scarcely found on streaming services. On the other hand, DTS Virtual:X aims to simulate a 360-degree soundstage from any digital audio signal, regardless of how the source material is encoded.
Samsung’s “Acoustic Beam Technology” also uses audio delays and post-processing (not reflections) to trick the brain into hearing sounds in different locations. These virtualized formats can be surprisingly effective.
Samsung HW-T650 Acoustic Beam T Series Soundbar With DTS:X
Good Value: $375 | Great Deal: $325
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HDMI eARC: No
4K HDR Pass-Through: No
Audio Formats: Dolby Digital, DTS, DTS Virtual:X
Samsung’s DTS: Virtual X soundbar is easy to set up and sounds like a movie theater, according to several online customers. Some reviewers wish this soundbar had deeper bass and a louder maximum volume.
Yamaha YAS-108 Sound Bar With DTS Virtual:X
Good Value: $171 | Great Deal: $149
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HDMI eARC: No
4K HDR Pass-Through: Yes
Audio Formats: DTS Virtual:X
Works With: Alexa via Bluetooth
Yamaha’s compact soundbar is easy to set up using HDMI-ARC and sounds noticeably better than TV speakers, according to several online customers. Reviewers have mixed feelings about DTS Virtual:X. Some love the surround-sound effect, but others say it sounds “tinny.” Many reviewers caution that this soundbar is difficult to wall mount because it has poor cable management.
Harman Kardon Enchant 800 8-Channel Soundbar With Multibeam
Good Value: $275 | Great Deal: $230
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HDMI eARC: No
4K HDR Pass-Through: Yes
Audio Formats: Dolby Digital, DTS, MultiBeam
Works With: Chromecast, Google Assistant
Harman Kardon’s multi-channel soundbar is easy to install and has rich vocals, according to several online customers. Many reviewers agree that a subwoofer (sold separately) is necessary for satisfying bass.
About the Author: John DeFeo is a movie lover, a former A/V salesman, and more recently, was the head of editorial insights for Tom’s Guide. He specializes in the analysis of Amazon reviews and moderates a daily deal sub-Reddit that supports charity.
