Need to know
- We tested over 50 popular soundbars from Bose, LG, Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, Sonos, TCL and more.
- Our experts assess key factors such as stereo and surround sound audio quality, ease of use and remote control.
- Join CHOICE to access full reviews and best performers.
A great soundbar can take your TV's audio to the next level, but the opposite is just as true: bad bars can turn an epic Hollywood blockbuster into a tinny B-grade mess, or make your favourite sport sound like you've been sent to the sin bin.
Inferior models can really ruin your movie night
Peter Zaluzny, CHOICE tech expert
As our tech expert Peter Zaluzny explains, "Inferior models with issues like limited bass, flat, unexciting sound and distortion can really ruin your movie night."
To sort the best soundbars from the worst, Peter and other CHOICE experts in our audio lab tested more than 50 popular models (ranging in price from $149 to $3999) against key criteria including stereo and multi-channel listening, ease of use, remote usability and energy consumption.
To save you buying a dud and copping an earful, here are the models that scored worst in our test. Become a CHOICE member to access our full reviews and see the best performers.
Lowest rated soundbars
Meredo Wooden 2.1 Soundbar
Meredo Wooden 2.1: The worst performing soundbar in our test.
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 48%
- Music quality score: 40%
- Multi-channel audio quality score: 40%
- Price: $150
Don't get caught up in what appears to be a good deal. Even at $150, there's no reason to buy Meredo's appropriately named Wooden Soundbar (D47CH). None of the performance results rise above the lower end of OK and sound quality for music and movies is poor.
Voice quality is borderline, which may be enough if you're only interested in watching the news. But there's no way to adjust for audio delays, which means dialogue may not be in sync with the images on the screen.
The only silver lining is that this model isn't consistently available and seems to come and go from local online retailers. If you do come across it, don't be tempted by the price (which also fluctuates).
Read our full Meredo Wooden 2.1 Soundbar review.
Polk Magnifi Mini
Polk Magnifi Mini: Difficult to use and power-hungry.
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 63%
- Music quality score: 69%
- Multi-channel audio quality score: 72%
- Price: $499
Our audio experts note some positive signs with this Polk – crisp vocals, a decent high end and strong bass. But it's ultimately undone by a flat, uneven mix.
The Magnifi Mini also loses marks for ease of use thanks to its mediocre remote, plus very hungry power consumption when on standby. It's a shame really, as Polk has made some very good, affordable soundbars that have earned recommendations in our test.
Read our full Polk Magnifi mini review.
TV Voice Pro Air Plus TV Voice Pro Soundbar
TV Voice Pro: Worth considering for people with hearing impairment, but otherwise give it a miss.
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 63%
- Music quality score: 48%
- Multi-channel audio quality score: 60%
- Price: $879
While The TV Voice Pro didn't perform very well overall, it is built for a very specific purpose. This soundbar is designed for the hard of hearing, with a particular emphasis on dialogue, which gets a boost so consumers have an easier time understanding the words being spoken.
In that regard, it works very well. We noticed that voice content is nicely amplified with good clarity, while white noise is reduced.
But this benefit exists at the expense of everything else, as audio quality for movies and music isn't great. So while it may be good for watching the news, quiz shows, reality TV and so on, you probably won't be hosting any movie nights if you buy the TV Voice Pro.
Read the full TV Voice Pro review.
Sony HT-S2000
Sony HT-S2000: very poor standby energy consumption.
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 64%
- Music quality score: 58%
- Multi-channel audio quality score: 60%
- Price: $699
Sony's HT-S2000 is pretty easy to use, but its performance leaves a lot to be desired. Sound quality for movies and music is only OK and voice quality isn't much better, at the lower end of good. Standby energy consumption is also particularly poor.
There are some nice bells and whistles in this soundbar, however. A built-in subwoofer, support for immersive audio formats including Dolby Atmos and DTS-X and HDMI ARC. But without top-firing speakers, you're not going to get much of the all encompassing sound effects that these formats provide.
Plus, you can pick up Sony's superior HT-G700, which earned a very good result in our movie audio quality test, for the same price. It even comes with an external subwoofer that delivers better quality bass.
Read the full Sony HT-S2000 review.
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Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
