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11 Best Soundbars for Music Lovers in 2023

Article By: Salman Sharif Published On: March 14, 2023 , Last updated on : November 7, 2023 | Reviewed by : Editorial Board
Best Soundbars for Music Lovers

When you want to improve your music listening experience but don’t have room for a complete home theater system, a soundbar is a terrific option. Soundbars can provide outstanding stereo audio reproduction. So, here we will review some of the best soundbar for music lovers.

Factors to check when choosing the best soundbars for music lovers

If you are a music lover, crisp and natural audio quality is obviously your first priority. So, to ensure a proper bass-treble balance and clarity of audio nodes, a good soundbar is required. Here we checked some important factors like sound quality, connectivity options, bass-treble balance, and brand reputation. If you want to ensure optimum performance and longevity, you should check them carefully.

Sound quality

A good soundbar will produce superb audio detail with crisp nodes. Additionally, you will get a well-optimized balance of bass and treble. Overall, a premium soundbar of a good brand will ensure proper sound quality for any music lovers.

Connectivity options

Most of the specialized soundbars for music come with multiple connection systems. For complete premium immersion, some soundbars provide a multi-port connection and coupling system. With a coupling connection system, you can play the same music in multiple soundbars at a time.

Also read: Best Soundbars without Subwoofer

Brand reputation

A good reputation brand most of the time ensures good build quality, performance, and after-sales service. So, your chances of getting a good deal will be high if you can choose a soundbar from a reputable brand.


LG Sound Bar with Surround Speakers

LG Sound Bar with Surround Speakers

The LG S95QR soundbar is made to make your living room sound like a concert hall. It uses HDMI 2.1 with eARC to send Dolby Vision and HDR10 video signals. Moreover, it works with all other major audio and video formats, like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
SAMSUNG HW-Q950A

SAMSUNG HW-Q950A

The HW-Q950A soundbar from Samsung works very well in every way, from sound quality to amplification. This system can have a total output amplification power of up to 616W. It is one of the best soundbars for music lovers who want real surround sound and deep bass.
Sony HT-A5000

Sony HT-A5000

The Sony HT-A5000 soundbar makes clear music details and a good balance of bass. Compared to other soundbars that cost a lot, this one is a very good choice. The 450-watt amplifier is loud enough to host any house party easily.
Bose Smart Soundbar 900

Bose Smart Soundbar 900

The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 comes with Dolby Atmos for object-based surround sound in music. It also does an amazing job of reproducing music nodes. This soundbar has more transducers and an automatic room calibration system.
YAMAHA SR-B20A

YAMAHA SR-B20A

Unlike many competitors at this price point, Yamaha makes very good surround sound performance. Even though it’s inexpensive, the Yamaha SR-B20A feels and looks like it is made well. The virtual 3D surround sound with 120-watt amplification makes it an amazing option.
Sonos Arc Premium Smart Soundbar

Sonos Arc Premium Smart Soundbar

The Sonos Arc can efficiently manage a range of musical nodes and instrumental elements. Crisp and natural instrument reproduction are immediately available. Also, it can playback a number of audio formats, such as Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos.
JBL Bar 5.1

JBL Bar 5.1

The JBL Bar 5.1 is a competent midrange soundbar. It creates a cinematic surround sound experience in your living room using its MultiBeam technology. It features a built-in Chromecast, Apple AirPlay compatibility, and automatic room correction.
Rockville Dolby BAR

Rockville Dolby BAR

This soundbar from Rockville produces a maximum of 500 watts of peek amplification power with an average of 200 watts (continuous). The combination of Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital, and Dolby surround creates an experience like a concert or movie theater with any home theater setup.
Panasonic SoundSlayer Dolby Atmos Soundbar

Panasonic SoundSlayer Dolby Atmos Soundbar

This Panasonic soundbar is perfect for music enthusiasts who want a portable, high-quality soundbar. Panasonic creates a 360-degree soundscape with smart speaker driver placement and equalization. The wide-ranging sounds from this little soundbar are astounding.
VIZIO M-Series 5.1.2 Immersive Sound Bar

VIZIO M-Series 5.1.2 Immersive Sound Bar

The Vizio M Series 5.1.2 is one of the few budget-friendly soundbars from the company that has rear satellites for a full surround sound experience. The drivers are strong enough to generate loud and sharp music nodes.
Denon Home Sound Bar 550

Denon Home Sound Bar 550

One of the best sound systems for music and TV is the Denon Home Sound Bar 550. You can add an additional subwoofer and satellites to this soundbar to make it even better. It is quite portable and sounds a little boomy right out of the box.

Best Soundbars for Music Lovers | Top 11 choices

A soundbar can easily be an important part of your audio enjoyment with a home theater. Though, it’s not always easy to narrow down the best soundbar for your music-listening desires. Therefore, here you can check out this list of the best soundbars for music lovers that you can choose for your home theater music setup.

List of the best soundbars for music lovers

  1. LG Sound Bar -S95QR
  2. SAMSUNG HW-Q950A
  3. Sony HT-A5000
  4. Bose Smart Soundbar 900
  5. YAMAHA SR-B20A
  6. Sonos Arc Premium Smart Soundbar
  7. JBL Bar 5.1
  8. Rockville Dolby BAR
  9. Panasonic SoundSlayer Dolby Atmos Soundbar
  10. VIZIO M-Series 5.1.2 Immersive Sound Bar
  11. Denon Home Sound Bar 550

LG Sound Bar -S95QR

LG Sound Bar with Surround SpeakersConnectivity: Wireless, HDMI

Amplification: 810 Watts

The LG S95QR soundbar is designed to provide an immersive sound system to your living room. It passes over Dolby Vision and HDR10 video signals through HDMI 2.1 with eARC. Additionally, it supports all other major audio and video formats, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

From the speaker department, this soundbar is a solid package. Alongside the usual speaker setup, it has an additional upward-firing speaker that helps to focus the audio nodes of musical instruments and increase clarity. The soundbar is 47.2 inches wide in size. So it will fit snuggly with your home theater music setup.

The soundbar comes with additional surround sound speakers for an immersive experience. The audio EQ customization functionality and good bass-treble balance system make it ideal for experiencing any type of music. Doesn’t matter what your room size is; the integrated AI sound calibration system will ensure the highest sound quality always.

Pros

  • Good audio details reproduction
  • Versatile connectivity options
  • Automatic sound calibration for room size
  • Multiple surround sound speakers
  • Supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound

Cons

  • Nothing significant

For convenient control, it has remote and capacitive buttons on top, similar to the Magic Wand control of LG TVs. Nevertheless, the soundbar has no on-screen display and instead relies on a small LED screen hidden under the soundbar’s fabric cover, which goes away after 15 seconds of inactivity. Though, for proper control of the soundbar, you can use the LG Sound Bar iPhone app.

The build quality of this soundbar is very stylish and sturdy. The exterior has a brushed metallic appearance and a fabric grille that completely encloses the bar on all sides. Overall, it has all the right elements and features that will be sought in the best soundbar for music lovers.

Quantitative Measurement

Design: 9/10
Sound quality: 9.5/10
Channel config: 9/10
Power output: 9/10

SAMSUNG HW-Q950A

SAMSUNG HW-Q950AConnectivity: Wireless, HDMI

Amplification: 616 Watt

The primary unit of the Samsung HW-Q950A is 130cm in length. It isn’t particularly small but is shorter than many other top Dolby Atmos soundbars on the market right now. Considering that, the fact that they have managed to squeeze in 15 drivers in there is rather astonishing. Also, there are two woofers in the left and right channels and one high-frequency tweeter in total. Then, it has a pair of upward-firing drivers, as well as surround and wide-surround drivers.

Moreover, each of the accompanying wireless surround speakers has three drivers: one aimed at the front of the room, one aimed upward, and one aimed at the listener. And the subwoofer has its own dedicated enclosure for the 8-inch speaker. Therefore, it ensures superb audio performance and clarity when producing music nodes. Check best Soundbars for Samsung TV.

Pros

  • Large number of sound drivers
  • Clear treble and punchy, deep bass
  • Very good build quality
  • Amazing center channel performance

Cons

  • Subwoofer performance could be better

From sound quality to amplification, this unit performs superbly well. This system can provide up to 616W of total output amplification power. It is significantly higher than the sound output by any TV speaker alone. To sum up, for a genuine surround sound experience and deep, punchy bass, it is one of the best soundbars for music lovers.

Quantitative Measurement

Design: 9/10
Sound quality: 8/10
Channel config: 9/10
Power output: 9/10

Sony HT-A5000

Sony HT-A5000Connectivity: Wireless, HDMI, Optical

Amplification: 450 Watt

When you are searching for the best soundbar for a good price to performance ratio, Sony HT-A5000 might be your best option. Unlike the Sony HT-A7000, which has a glossy glass top, this one has a consistent black matte plastic body with black metal mesh grilles across the front and covering the two upward drivers.

Additionally, the HT-A5000 has three full-range front speakers, including two front-facing woofers and two side-firing beam tweeters. With a combined performance, it can create a wider soundscape performance. Furthermore, the Sony’s X-balanced design employs a non-circular shape to maximize surface area for punchier sound production. Over its nine amplifier channels, the A5000 is capable of producing 450 watts of power.

Pros

  • Very good music amplification performance
  • Good reproduction of audio nodes with details
  • Amazing bass-treble balance
  • Good build quality

Cons

  • Occasional issues with Spatial Sound mapping

To sum up, the soundbar produces solid music details and a very accurate bass-treble balance. Compared to other premium priced soundbars, this one is a very efficient and capable option. So, if you are on the market looking for the best soundbar for music lovers, this option is totally worth your consideration.

Quantitative Measurement

Design: 8/10
Sound quality: 8.5/10
Channel config: 9/10
Power output: 8/10

Bose Smart Soundbar 900

Bose Smart Soundbar 900Connectivity: Wireless, HDMI, Optical

Amplification: 300 Watt

The most advanced model in the Bose Smart Soundbar range, the 900, improves upon its predecessor. For object-based surround sound in music, it comes with Dolby Atmos. Also, the sound reproduction of music is amazing in it. This soundbar is unique from other, more affordable Bose options because of its greater dimensions, a higher number of transducers (nine), and automatic room calibration system.

Additionally, it has multiple connection ports with wireless connectivity. So, you can use it with any type of home theater. Also, the sound quality is loud and punchy enough for an occasional house party too. This means whether you want to enjoy a relaxing time with classical music or a house party, Bose smart soundbar 900 has got you covered.

Pros

  • Sleek and elegant design
  • Amazing sound nodes reproduction
  • Control sound equalizer with the app

Cons

  • No DTS:X support

The soundbar also comes with built-in Alexa. So you can easily control it from anywhere on your home network. Therefore, considering all the features and functions makes it easily one of the best budget soundbars available. To sum up, if you choose this option as the best soundbar for music lovers, there’s no chance for you to get disappointed.

Quantitative Measurement

Design: 9/10
Sound quality: 8/10
Channel config: 8/10
Power output: 7.5/10

YAMAHA SR-B20A

YAMAHA SR-B20AConnectivity: Wireless, HDMI, Optical

Amplification: 120 Watt

Unlike many competitors at this price point, Yamaha makes very decent surround sound performance. The Yamaha SR-B20A may be inexpensive, but despite its low cost, it feels and looks well made. With the addition of its black fabric wrapping and rounded edges, it looks more classy and well fit into any home theater setup.

There are a total of six drivers in the Yamaha SR-B20A soundbar, making it a complete surround stereo audio output system. According to the specifications, these are 55mm mid-range units at each end and 75mm bass drivers halfway from each end to the middle, with added side-firing ports in the bar’s curves. Additionally, its sound quality is crisp and loud enough to host a good house party or gathering in a large room.

Pros

  • Built-in high quality subwoofer
  • Crisp and clear audio quality
  • Virtual 3D surround sound support

Cons

  • Slight lack of precision in dynamic and rhythmic performance

Overall, for a good value for money soundbar, this Yamaha soundbar can be a solid choice. For the reasonable price tag, solid performance, and sound quality, this one is a very strong contender on our list of the best soundbar for music lovers.

Quantitative Measurement

Design: 9/10
Sound quality: 8/10
Channel config: 9/10
Power output: 8.5/10

Sonos Arc Premium Smart Soundbar

Sonos Arc Premium Smart SoundbarConnectivity: Wireless, HDMI, Optical

Amplification: 100 Watt

The Sonos Arc can handle a variety of music nodes and instrumental details very efficiently. Clear and precise audio lyrics and natural instrument reproduction are available straight from the box. Furthermore, it can play back a wide variety of audio formats, including Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos. Additionally, you can pair it up with a subwoofer and satellite surround speakers for a fully immersive experience.

Pros

  • Amazing audio performance with Dolby Atmos
  • Great stereo node reproduction
  • Stylish and sturdy build quality

Cons

  • Bass performance is quite average

The sound quality is overall good enough to enjoy any sort of music. But if you are an audiophile, you will notice a lack of punch in the bass. It is fairly expected for soundbars in this budget.  Overall, if you are looking for the best soundbar for music and TV, this one is a very good option for a reasonable budget.

Quantitative Measurement

Design: 9/10
Sound quality: 8.5/10
Channel config: 8.5/10
Power output: 7.5/10

JBL Bar 5.1

JBL Bar 5.1Connectivity: Wireless, HDMI

Amplification: 550 Watt

The JBL Bar 5.1 is a very capable mid-tier soundbar. With its MultiBeam technology, it simulates a theatrical surround sound experience in your living room. It comes with built-in compatibility for both Chromecast and Apple AirPlay. Additionally, it also has a room correction function to adjust the sound to your specific listening environment.

Pros

  • Impressive audio node reproduction
  • Amazing wireless connectivity capability
  • Deep and punchy bass

Cons

  • No Dolby Atmos support

The audio quality, loudness, and bass-treble balance are quite top-notch in this soundbar. The only downside is the lack of Dolby Atmos support. A lot of music streaming services use the Dolby Atmos format, which is not supported with this soundbar. But overall, if you are in the market looking for music soundbars with a mid-budget price tag, this can be a very worthy option.

Quantitative Measurement

Design: 9/10
Sound quality: 8/10
Channel config: 8.5/10
Power output: 8/10

Rockville Dolby BAR

Rockville Dolby BARConnectivity: Wireless, Optical, HDMI, RCA

Amplification: 500 Watt

This soundbar from Rockville produces a maximum of 500 watts of peek amplification power with an average of 200 watts (continuous). Moreover, its combination of Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital, and Dolby Surround creates an experience like a concert or movie theater with any home theater setup. The soundbar comes with a 2.25-inch audio driver with an additional 6.5-inch subwoofer audio driver for superb sound quality.

Pros

  • Loud but clear enough sound quality
  • Built-in subwoofer
  • Supports full Dolby system for surround sound

Cons

  • Bass-treble balance could be better

The Rockville Dolby BAR soundbar harmonizes perfectly with the given wireless subwoofer. Furthermore, the wireless connectivity is powerful enough for music streaming from a distance without any deterioration in sound quality. To sum up, it’s a very budget-friendly option with decent audio performance and loudness as one of the best soundbars for music lovers.

Quantitative Measurement

Design: 8/10
Sound quality: 8.5/10
Channel config: 9/10
Power output: 9/10

Panasonic SoundSlayer Dolby Atmos Soundbar

Panasonic SoundSlayer Dolby Atmos SoundbarConnectivity: Wireless, HDMI, Optical, USB

Amplification: 80 Watt

When you are looking for the best soundbar for music lovers that is portable enough and produces good audio output, this Panasonic SoundSlayer soundbar will be a great option. With strategic positioning of its speaker drivers and careful equalization, Panasonic manages to provide a more expansive and 360-degree soundstage. From such a small soundbar, this much wide surrounding audio quality is pretty impressive.

Pros

  • Very wide and open surround sound immersion
  • Portable size
  • Good sound EQ customization

Cons

  • Due to the small size audio bass lacks deepness

With the surprisingly towering, deep, and particularly broad soundstage, this soundbar can easily give you a performance above expectation. The high end of the spectrum is rich with details, giving treble sounds body in addition to their pronounced sharpness. In a gist, this soundbar ensures significant audio details for any music lovers.

Quantitative Measurement

Design: 9/10
Sound quality: 8.5/10
Channel config: 7.5/10
Power output: 8/10

VIZIO M-Series 5.1.2 Immersive Sound Bar

VIZIO M-Series 5.1.2 Immersive Sound BarConnectivity: Aux, USB, HDMI, Optical

Amplification: 65 Watt

The Vizio M Series M512a-H6 5.1.2 is one of the few affordable bars from the brand that offers rear satellites for a complete surround sound experience. To connect the satellites wirelessly, you’ll need to hardwire them to the subwoofer. Moreover, the drivers are powerful enough to produce loud and crisp music nodes. So, you can couple it up with your home theater for listening to music any time.

Pros

  • Additional subwoofer and twitter speakers
  • Dynamic and accurate sound representation up to 20kHz
  • Dolby Atmos and DTS:X supported audio output

Cons

  • Occasional syncing issue

Although, It doesn’t have upward-firing drivers on its satellite speakers. So, some Dolby-supported content may lack some immersion. But overall, for a budget soundbar with aux input, wireless, and more connectivity interface, this is a very good choice among music lovers for a good audio listening experience.

Quantitative Measurement

Design: 7.5/10
Sound quality: 9/10
Channel config: 8/10
Power output: 8.5/10

Denon Home Sound Bar 550

Denon Home Sound Bar 550Connectivity: Wireless, HDMI, AUX, Optical

Amplification: 200 Watt

The Denon Home Sound Bar 550 is one of the best sound systems for tv and music. This soundbar can be expanded with the addition of a separate subwoofer and satellites. It’s portable and produces a little boomy sound profile right out of the box. Also, this soundbar focuses on natural audio nodes and treble reproduction. So, if you want to experience deep, punchy bass with loud thumping immersion, the result may disappoint you a bit.

Pros

  • Natural sound reproduction
  • Good build quality
  • Supports Dolby and DTS:X

Cons

  • Not very loud
  • Lacks bass

In addition, there’s a bit of sound compression at the highest setting. So, performance may differ from content to content when trying to play loud music. Overall, this can be a decent choice for your music experience when you want an all in one soundbar for music and movies.

Quantitative Measurement

Design: 8/10
Sound quality: 7/10
Channel config: 7.5/10
Power output: 8/10

Honorable Mentions

Alongside all the traditional soundbars for music lovers, you can also go for the highest options if you have no budget issues. These soundbars are famous for their uncompromising sound quality, functions, and connectivity.

Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4

Nakamichi Shockwafe Elite (bonus 01)

Connectivity: RCA, Optical, HDMI, Coaxial

Amplification: 800 W

The Nakamichi Shockwafe Elite lets you easily convert your living space into an excellent music theater setting for premium pricing. With the soundbar and two rear surround speakers, you can enjoy real 9.2 channel 360° surround sound. When combined, the soundbar and subwoofers can produce distortion-free audio levels without any blind spots in the room.

Each speaker is linked to the subwoofer by RCA cables and features a tweeter that reproduces high frequencies. Also, a full-range driver that delivers surround effects at high volume and low distortion.

There is just no comparison between this and the surround sound performance of simulated/virtual 2.1 or other 5.1 channel surround soundbars. If high price or budget is not your concern, then you can easily check this out as one of the best soundbars for music lovers.

Key features

  • Very powerful dedicated bass unit
  • Superb audio node reproduction capability
  • Amazing surround sound and immersive experience
  • 24-bit HD wireless audio streaming

Bowers & Wilkins Formation Bar

Bowers & Wilkins Formation Bar (bonus 02)

Connectivity: RCA, Optical, HDMI, Coaxial

Amplification: 800 W

Bowers & Wilkins company is famously known for its highly-priced premium and luxurious audio accessories. Therefore this particular soundbar has a very unique and elegant design compared to others. Additionally, the soundbar is very wide (approximately 124cm) for housing it’s powerful premium sound drivers. Also, it is capable of forming a mesh audio network with some additional units for superior sound immersion.

Instead of an HDMI port, a digital audio optical connection is used for hookups. Dolby Digital is the sole codec listed in the specifications. It thus does not support modern audio codecs like Dolby Atmos or DTS:X. Though, it is not a deal breaker for any audiophile or music lover. As the sound quality of the drivers is superb and ensures every small audio node and detail is represented accurately.

Key features

  • Super elegant design and build quality
  • Very detailed audio node reproduction
  • Amazing bass-treble balance
  • Near zero audio distortion in highest volume

Closure

Here we have thoroughly reviewed some of the most popular and capable soundbars for music. We hope it will help you to find the best soundbar for music lovers easily. If you like our findings, consider checking our other explorations on some of the best soundbars for Sony TV or soundbars for LG TV.