Best Soundbar For a Small Room
Are you looking to upgrade your TV’s audio but have limited space? A soundbar is a great option for enhancing sound quality without taking up much room. This guide covers the best soundbar for a small room.
Read on to find recommendations for compact, powerful soundbars to make dialogue, music, and effects come alive.
With their slim profiles and ability to mount on a wall or sit on a credenza below a TV, soundbars are designed with small rooms in mind.
The latest models pack in big, immersive sound through innovative audio processing and wireless subwoofers. Premium soundbars even support Dolby Atmos for a cinematic surround sound experience.
What Should You Consider When Buying a Soundbar for a Small Room?
When choosing a soundbar for a small space, there are a few key factors to weigh:
What’s Your Budget for a Compact Soundbar?
Soundbars range widely in price from under $100 to over $1,000. In a smaller room, an affordable or mid-range model can still make a big improvement to your TV’s builtin speakers.
Will You Add a Subwoofer for Fuller Sound?
Many soundbars come with or support wireless subwoofers for deeper bass. This adds impact to movies and music. For compact living spaces, smaller subwoofers available with higher-end soundbars work well.
Do You Need Dolby Atmos Support?
Dolby Atmos enables immersive surround sound by adding height/overhead effects. It can make a bigger difference in smaller rooms where the soundstage feels more enveloping. Some compact soundbars support Atmos.
What Sound Connections Will You Use?
Most soundbars connect over HDMI ARC or optical to the TV. High-end models may also have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless music streaming from your phone or computer.
Here Are the Best Soundbar For a Small Room:
Overall Best Small Soundbar: Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 stands out as the top soundbar option for small rooms in 2023. The latest version has upgraded processing for richer, more dynamic sound in its slim, understated design.
Dialogue sounds clearer and music packs more punch than the original Beam. And the Beam’s smart assistant and multi-room music features make it exceptionally versatile for its size.
Why It’s Great for Small Rooms:
- Slim profile and clean aesthetic fits smaller spaces
- Adds big sound with angled side-firing drivers
- Supports immersive Dolby Atmos surround
- Sounds full and balanced without a subwoofer
- Seamless smart features with Alexa, Google Assistant
Runner-Up: Bose Smart Soundbar 900
For a high-powered Dolby Atmos experience, the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 delivers. It produces an immersive bubble of sound way beyond its narrow size.
The upfiring drivers beam overhead effects while side drivers expand the surround stage. While pricey, it brings cinematic audio impact that compact soundbars rarely achieve.
Why It’s a Top Pick:
- Stellar Dolby Atmos performance for the size
- Wide, layered surround soundstage
- AdaptIQ audio tuning customizes sound
- Sleek look in black or white
- Works with Bose rear speakers (optional)
Best Budget Soundbar: JBL Bar 2.1
The JBL Bar 2.1 stands out as an affordable soundbar packing great audio quality. Its upgraded 2.1-channel system with a wireless subwoofer sounds full and powerful. The Bar 2.1 creates a wide, room-filling soundstage beyond its compact size. And it adds thumping bass – something TV speakers lack.
Why It’s Our Top Budget Pick:
- Big, balanced sound for the price
- Deep bass from 6.5” wireless subwoofer
- 4K & Dolby Digital sound support
- Easy to mount under TV
- Great value under $300
Another Great Budget Option: Vizio V-Series 2.1
Vizio makes excellent budget and mid-range soundbars for small spaces. The V-Series 2.1 model offers strong audio performance for a wallet-friendly price.
It stands out for clear dialogue and robust bass thanks to its wireless subwoofer. An upgraded 2.1-channel amplifier makes movies and music sound full from this compact soundbar.
Best Soundbar for Dialogue Clarity: Sonos Beam (Gen 1)
While the Sonos Beam Gen 2 tops our list, the original Beam still impresses as a dialogue-focused soundbar. Its smart design projects clear, natural voice reproduction from TV shows and movies.
And with smart assistant features plus Sonos’ multi-room music ecosystem, it punches above typical soundbars for versatility.
Most Stylish & Compact: Bose Smart Soundbar 600
Bose makes beautifully designed audio gear, and the Smart Soundbar 600 displays their signature style. Crafted with an anodized aluminum top, it looks as good as it sounds.
And it delivers room-filling audio from an ultra-short soundbar. While compact, its angled drivers create immersive surround effects perfect for small rooms.
Best Soundbar with Rear Speakers: Samsung HW-Q990B
For surround sound purists, Samsung’s HW-Q990B Dolby Atmos soundbar delivers. While pricey, it adds true rear speakers to create enveloping Dolby Atmos effects.
The combination of upfiring and surround drivers make action movies come alive with pinpoint sound effects placement. This slim soundbar with rears builds an incredible home theater experience.
What Are the Best Soundbars for Small Rooms Under $500?
These compact soundbars under $500 offer great affordable options:
- JBL Bar 2.1 – Best overall under $500
- Vizio V-Series 2.1 – Impressive features for the cost
- TCL Alto 9+ – Big Dolby Atmos sound
- Polk Audio Signa S4 – Sleek look with rich sound
- Yamaha SR-B20A – Clear dialogue and good music
Final Takeaways on Choosing the Best Soundbar For a Small Room
Upgrading to a top rated soundbar can make a world of difference over weak built-in TV speakers. Slim soundbars designed for small spaces pack impressive audio technology into compact packages.
Models from trusted brands like Sonos, Bose and Samsung deliver room-filling sound through innovative driver designs and Dolby audio.
For small room home theater, soundbars in the $300 to $700 range provide the best value. Our top picks like the Sonos Beam Gen 2 create an immersive experience without consuming much space. And adding surround speakers or a subwoofer lets you scale up down the line.
In 2024, soundbars will continue getting smarter and better-sounding. Compact models can make dialogue pop, effects hit harder, and music sound richer. With the right soundbar even a small room can become your favorite place to enjoy movies, TV and music.
