Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar (2023)
Bose's premium single-bar solution delivers Dolby Atmos through an HDMI eARC connection — but there is no HDMI input for passthrough, so all sources must connect directly to your TV. The rear panel features four 3.5mm jacks for Bose-specific accessories: a Bass port for a wired subwoofer connection, an ADAPTiQ port for the included room calibration headset, an IR receiver port, and a service data port. A USB-C port is reserved for service use only.
This compact Dolby Atmos soundbar connects to your TV via HDMI eARC or optical — both cables are included in the box. When using eARC, it supports lossless Dolby TrueHD and full Dolby Atmos; optical connections are limited to Dolby Digital 5.1 and compressed Atmos via Dolby Digital Plus. There is no HDMI passthrough input, so all source devices must plug directly into your TV.
JBL's flagship 11.1.4-channel system ships with detachable wireless rear surround speakers and a 10-inch subwoofer. Three HDMI 2.0b inputs accept source devices with 4K Dolby Vision passthrough — but at 18 Gbps bandwidth, there is no 4K 120Hz gaming passthrough. The eARC output delivers uncompressed Dolby Atmos to the soundbar from your TV's apps. An Ethernet port provides reliable wired networking alongside Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
This 3.1.3-channel soundbar with a center up-firing speaker delivers Dolby Atmos and DTS:X through its HDMI eARC output. The single HDMI input supports 4K 60Hz passthrough with Dolby Vision, VRR, and ALLM — but tops out at HDMI 2.0 bandwidth, so there is no 4K 120Hz passthrough for gaming consoles. An optical input provides legacy TV compatibility, and a USB port is available for firmware updates.
LG's flagship 9.1.5-channel soundbar system includes wireless rear speakers and a subwoofer for full room Dolby Atmos coverage. The single HDMI input operates at 18 Gbps bandwidth — enough for 4K 120Hz passthrough at reduced color depth (4:2:0 8-bit) but not full 4K 120Hz 4:4:4. The eARC output handles lossless Atmos and DTS:X audio from your TV. An optical input and USB port round out the wired connections.
This mid-range 3.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar provides one HDMI input and one HDMI eARC output, but the input is limited to HDMI 2.0b — meaning no 4K 120Hz passthrough for gaming consoles. For the best gaming experience, connect your console directly to the TV and route audio back via eARC. An optical input adds backward compatibility with older TVs that lack HDMI ARC support.
Samsung's 2024 flagship 11.1.4-channel soundbar finally adds full HDMI 2.1 passthrough with 4K 120Hz at 10-bit 4:4:4 color — a major upgrade for PS5 and Xbox Series X owners. Two HDMI inputs with 40 Gbps bandwidth handle everything from gaming consoles to Blu-ray players without forcing a direct TV connection. The eARC output delivers lossless Dolby Atmos and DTS:X from your TV's streaming apps. An optical input provides backward compatibility, though it cannot carry Atmos metadata.
At just 40 mm deep, this ultra-slim 3.1.2-channel soundbar sacrifices connectivity for form factor. The only audio connection is a single HDMI Mini (Type C) port with eARC support — Samsung includes a Mini-HDMI-to-HDMI cable in the box. There is no optical input, no HDMI passthrough, and no analog audio jack. All other media sources must connect directly to your TV, which sends audio back to the soundbar over eARC.
Sonos’s flagship soundbar packs 11 drivers including dedicated height channels into a single bar for Dolby Atmos playback without rear satellites. A single HDMI eARC connection handles all audio from your TV, but there’s no HDMI passthrough — so you lose one TV port. Ethernet and Wi-Fi keep it connected for AirPlay 2 and Sonos multiroom, and an included optical-to-HDMI adapter covers older TVs without ARC. The catch: Dolby Atmos requires a Dolby Digital Plus or TrueHD source over eARC, not just any HDMI connection.
The Arc Ultra is Sonos’s most capable soundbar, featuring the new Sound Motion woofer that replaces three conventional drivers with a single flat transducer — delivering dramatically deeper bass from the same form factor as the original Arc. Its HDMI eARC port is rated for HDMI 2.1 bandwidth at 48 Gbps, ensuring lossless Dolby TrueHD Atmos passthrough from any source. This is also the first Sonos soundbar with Bluetooth connectivity alongside Wi-Fi 6E. Like its predecessor, there’s no HDMI passthrough — every source must route audio through your TV first.
The second-generation Beam adds HDMI eARC and virtual Dolby Atmos to Sonos’s compact soundbar in a package that fits under any 40-inch or larger TV. The upgrade from ARC to eARC means it can now receive lossless Dolby TrueHD audio from Blu-ray players and gaming consoles routed through the TV. At 651 mm wide, it’s roughly half the size of the Arc, yet still handles 5.0 virtual surround with five Class-D amplifiers. An included optical-to-HDMI adapter covers older TVs without an ARC port.
This compact soundbar connects to your TV exclusively through an optical digital audio cable — there is no HDMI port of any kind. The optical connection supports Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS surround sound, but cannot carry Dolby Atmos or lossless audio formats. A 10/100 Ethernet port on the rear panel provides wired network connectivity for Sonos ecosystem integration. If your TV lacks an optical output, you will need a separate HDMI audio extractor to use this soundbar.
Sony's 2021 flagship 7.1.2-channel soundbar was one of the first to feature dual HDMI 2.1 inputs with full 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz passthrough — excellent for connecting gaming consoles and Blu-ray players simultaneously. The rear panel offers an unusually complete port selection for a soundbar: optical, 3.5mm analog in, USB, Ethernet, and a proprietary S-Center Out jack for using a compatible BRAVIA TV as a center speaker.
Sony's BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 packs 13 speaker drivers into a single soundbar with full HDMI 2.1 support including 4K 120Hz, VRR, ALLM, and Dolby Vision passthrough — ideal for routing a PS5 through the bar. Notably, there is no optical input, no Ethernet port, and no USB port; all networking is wireless only. An S-Center Out jack lets compatible BRAVIA TVs serve as a center channel speaker via a 3.5mm connection.
Vizio's Elevate was the first soundbar with rotating up-firing speakers that physically tilt upward when Dolby Atmos content is detected. Two HDMI inputs support 4K Dolby Vision HDR passthrough from source devices like gaming consoles and Blu-ray players. The eARC output sends lossless Atmos audio from TV streaming apps back to the soundbar. A 3.5mm auxiliary input and optical port provide additional connection options for older devices.
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