Soundbars have become one of the most popular options for people who are designing their new at-home entertainment systems. These speakers are favored for their sleek, low profile that makes them easy to find a place for without blocking the television. They’re stylish, unobtrusive, and if you buy the right one, have the best audio quality you can find. But how do you find the right one?
For us, one of the first things you should look for is a subwoofer. Subwoofers can be internal - built into the soundbar’s main speaker - or external, coming as an auxiliary speaker that you can place wherever you’d wish. We’ve gathered a collection of both types in this list to help you narrow down your search for the perfect soundbar.
LG S95QR Sound Bar with Surround Speakers
A price to match its incredible audio quality
LG is a name that you can’t afford to overlook in the audio space, and the S95QR is an excellent example of why. While this piece comes at a high price, it also comes with one of the best external subwoofers you can find.
If you’ve spent much time in the tech space, LG is a name that you may’t avoid. As one of the most titanic and notable manufacturers in audio, they’re one of the first brands you should look into when trying to find a soundbar. Their LG S95QR Soundbar is our choice for the soundbar that comes with the best external subwoofer.
While the subwoofer is the main claim to fame here, there are plenty of other features that you shouldn’t overlook. Fans of impeccable audio will enjoy the Dolby Atmos, DTS: X, and IMAX Enhanced features, all of which help bring a new level of quality to your audio. While these are particularly effective for films and shows, the subwoofer will come into play for music as well. Additionally, this option comes with two other auxiliary speakers aside from the subwoofer, which you can position as you desire for surround sound. Overall, the only con to this piece is that it has a bit higher of a price than some of us may feel comfortable spending.
Vizio M-Series 5.1.2 Soundbar
Ideal for surround sound implementations
Vizio’s M-Series 5.1.2. Soundbar brings the movie theater back to your home with surround sound, Dolby Atmos, and more. The best feature here is the multiple speakers that this soundbar comes with, allowing you to set your surround sound to your specifications.
Vizio has been one of the most notable names in home audio for years, often seen as one of the best soundbar brands. As such, they’re all but guaranteed a spot on our list for their M-Series 5.1.2 Soundbar. This option is our choice for the best soundbar that comes with speakers - but why? There are plenty of other options in this category, but Vizio has a winning combination: Excellent speakers, a deep-base subwoofer, a phenomenal soundbar, and most of all, an affordable price. Many others charge near-restrictive prices, so this piece being obtainable gives it a good deal of points.
Still, there’s more to look at here than just a nice price tag. This piece comes with two external speakers and a subwoofer so you can set up your surround sound to your liking. The M-Series 5.1.2 is also compatible with Dolby Atmos to provide theater-quality sound. Overall, it’s a phenomenal soundbar that’s excellent for any use.
Monoprice SB-100 Soundbar
Subwoofer at no extra cost
The Monoprice SB-100 Soundbar is the best choice on the market at its price range. While this isn’t going to match the quality of an LG or a Sennheiser, it’s ideal for your first soundbar or if you’re on a restrictive budget.
Soundbars are excellent, but it’s difficult to find one that won’t charge you for too much. If you’re worried about a restrictive budget, you may find it best to go for a piece that puts the price above all else. Monoprice is the ideal choice for that, particularly with their SB-100 Soundbar. While this price still comes with some great features, there’s no denying that its best quality is its price.
Aside from its price, the built-in subwoofer is ideal for people who don’t want to bother with external speakers. It’s also helpful for cable management due to being awireless Bluetooth devicewith no other components to worry about. For accessibility, it also comes with a remote control. Its audio quality isn’t unmatched, but at its price, this is an unbeatable choice. We recommend this soundbar for people who are just stepping into the market and want to see if a soundbar setup is right for them.
Panasonic SoundSlayer Gaming Soundbar
Bring new life to games
Soundbars seem to often focus on movies and television, but there are plenty that focus on gaming. The Panasonic SoundSlayer Gaming bar is our choice for a soundbar with a built-in subwoofer that’s perfect for gaming.
Soundbars often focus on providing excellent sound quality for movies, television, and music. While this is a great use case for most of us, it can leave the gaming community out in the rain sometimes. Subwoofers in particular aren’t usually in high demand bygaming enthusiasts, but that doesn’t mean there are no options for a subwoofer-focused soundbar in the industry.
The Panasonic SoundSlayer Gaming Bar is an excellent choice for a gaming-centric soundbar. This piece’s biggest claim is its customized settings that are dedicated to gaming experiences, providing better realism and more immersive sounds. The best way this is accomplished is through its preset gaming modes - RPG, FPS, and Voice Mode, with the Voice Mode feature focusing on dialogue-heavy games. The soundbar even partnered with Final Fantasy XIV to create a limited-edition version! Aside from these features, the High-Def sound, 3-way Speaker System, and support for cinematic features help make this a great soundbar for any use.
Yamaha Audio SR-C20A Compact Sound Bar
Ideal for smaller setups
If you have a more compact setup, full-size soundbars can be a nuisance to design around. The Yamaha Audio SR-C20A Compact Sound Bar is a fantastic choice for saving room without compromising on sound quality.
Soundbars typically come in a longer rectangular form, which can sometimes make them difficult to find a space for. If you’re pressed for space or don’t have a long enough entertainment setup, a soundbar can look strange or become unusable. Yamaha’s SR-C20A Compact Sound Bar is the perfect choice for a soundbar that can fit nearly any setup no matter how small it is. By having peripherals withcomponents built into them instead of external, you can save room and clutter in your display.
Still, there’s more at play than having a smaller soundbar. The SR-C20A keeps the area clean by being wireless, making it so that cable management is never a concern for you. Virtual surround sound removes the need for external speakers and subwoofers as well. If you use your soundbar for films or dialogue-based games, you’ll enjoy the Clear Voice feature for better clarity in dialogue.
Hisense HS214 Sound Bar with Built-in Subwoofer
All the best features in one item
The Hisense HS214 Soundbar is ideal for people who want to cut down on how many peripherals are near their television. This soundbar comes with a built-in subwoofer and an “all-in-one” design.
When it comes to saving space, “all-in-one” soundbars are the best options on the market for marrying quality and size restrictions. As the name suggests, an “all-in-one” soundbar takes all of the features of a speaker setup and distills them down into one soundbar. The Hisense HS214 Sound Bar does this better than most, coming in a compact, slim soundbar that can fit nearly any setup.
While the built-in subwoofer is what’s landing it on this list, it’s far from the only factor. That subwoofer is paired with two front-facing speakers, making sure that this soundbar handles everything from the deepest booming base to the high and mid-range frequencies you’ll find the rest of your audio on. The soundbar also comes with an included wall mounting kit to keep it out of the way completely if your space constraints are intense enough.
FAQ
What Does A Subwoofer Do?
A subwoofer is another type of speaker that focuses on the lower range of frequencies. This range is where you find the deep booms of bass. They’re most popular for music or films, as they can help you hear the full range of sounds or add more gravitas to an intense moment in a show.
Are Soundbars More Expensive With A Subwoofer?
Not necessarily, but since it’s an added feature, it can often impact price. If you’re on a tight budget, check out the Hisense HS214 Soundbar or the Monoprice SB-100 we’ve listed here. Both are available at a more-than-affordable price without cutting out quality.
Can I Use An External Subwoofer With My Soundbar?
Absolutely! In fact, many of them will come with an external subwoofer. If you’re buying one separately from your soundbar, just verify they’re compatible to save yourself some disappointment.
