Sound bars

Use this buying guide to learn how a sound bar compares to a full surround sound system, and decode some of the jargon.

The best way to test a sound bar is watching movies and listening to a lot of music. We do that hard work, so you don’t have to.

How we test

Ease of use:

Each sound bar is assessed by a panel of three people (including two non-experts) for ease of use including installation, basic adjustments, general usage and the remote control.

Sound assessments:

Listening tests are performed in a simulated living room by a panel of four experienced testers. Both classical and pop music are played from three different sources: CDs, USB drives and Bluetooth streaming. A separate test checks for any delay between sound and the picture on a TV.