Shop for sound bars

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.4 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Sony HT-CT260 is our go-to budget sound bar pick, with excellent sound quality, built-in Bluetooth, an adaptable design, and no major missteps. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Sound Bar, Wireless - Bluetooth, Wired, Active, 170 Watt, 130 Watt, Black

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.2 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 2 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Sonos Playbar is cleverly designed and does great fake surround, but it's better suited to current Sonos customers than newcomers. Read review

Specs: Sound bar, Nine class-D digital amplifiers, Ethernet - Wi-Fi, Wireless

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: The Vizio S4251W sound bar adds wireless rear speakers for true surround sound, plus features a slick remote with a built-in display. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Wireless

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.4 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: Yamaha's YAS-101 is a great budget sound bar, with an excellent design and a helpful feature for dealing with remote signals, although it's light on connectivity. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Sound bar, Wired, Active, 120 Watt, Piano black

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Harman Kardon SB 16 features a premium price tag and some remote control quirks, but its excellent sound quality and exterior design make it worth the extra cash. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Sound Bar, Wired, Active, 25 Watt, 100 Watt

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.5 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: The Vizio SB4021M-A1 hits a nice blend of features, design, and performance for its price, but better sound bars are coming in a few months. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Wireless, Active

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.7 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 reviews

The Bottom Line: Consider the Sony HT-CT550W if you need a sound bar with a lot of connectivity, but it's otherwise not worth its premium price. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, AV receiver, Sound bar, Subwoofer, 1 - External, 1 x Active subwoofer - External - 134 Watt, 400 Watt, DTS-HD decoder, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital, DTS decoder, DTS-HD High Resolution, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS-HD LBR, Dolby TrueHD, DTS 96/24, Audio Return Channel (ARC), Midnight Mode, Auto power save, BRAVIA Sync

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 23 reviews

The Bottom Line: Sony's HT-CT150 sound bar home theater system sounds great and is way ahead of the competition with its three HDMI inputs; however, its IR receiver limits the subwoofer's placement options. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Audio bar, Wireless subwoofer, Home theater sound bar system with wireless subwoofer, 1 - External, 1, 200 Watt, Dolby Digital, Audio Return Channel (ARC), Auto power off, BRAVIA Sync

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 4 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Zvox Z-Base 420 offers an uncluttered look and solid sound at a budget price, but its quirks might give some buyers pause. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Sound bar, Wired, Active, Black

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: LG is showing off four new sound bars at CES 2013, including the NB3730A with built-in Wi-Fi and streaming-video services. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Sound bar, Subwoofer, Wired - Bluetooth, Wireless, Active, 160 Watt, 140 Watt

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 10 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Samsung HW-C450 is an exceedingly thin sound bar home theater system that sounds surprisingly good with movies, but lacks HDMI connectivity. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Speaker system, Wired, Wireless, Active

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: The Vizio VHT215 looks sleek, sounds good, and is packed with inputs, making it one of the top budget sound bar choices. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Sound Bar, Wireless, Active, Black

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 11 reviews

The Bottom Line: While we'd prefer more input options, the Vizio VHT510 adds rear speakers to the traditional sound bar design, resulting in outstanding sound quality at a very affordable price. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Sound Bar, Wired - 2.4 GHz radio frequency, Wireless, Active, 75 Watt, 25 Watt, 60 Watt, Black

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.4 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: The JBL SB 300 is a plus-size sound bar with excellent sound quality, but its unconventional style won't please everyone. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Sound Bar, Wired, Wireless, Active, 100 Watt

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.4 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 64 reviews

The Bottom Line: Sony's HT-CT100 soundbar/subwoofer audio system is a phenomenal value that sounds great with movies and music. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Speaker system, Sound bar, Subwoofer, 250 Watt, Dolby Pro Logic II, Dolby Digital, DTS decoder, BRAVIA Sync, Magnetic shield, Bass-reflex

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 6 reviews

Specs: Sound bar home theater system, Home theater speaker system, Wired, Wireless, Active

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.4 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 1.5 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Boston Acoustic TVee Model 25 is a competent, but unexceptional, sound bar with some design flaws that make it not quite worth its premium price tag. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Sound Bar, Wireless, Wired, Active, Black

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: Samsung's obsession with tubes continues at CES 2013, with the HT-F750 sound bar featuring a visible vacuum tubes and the ability to wirelessly connect to certain Samsung TVs. Read review

Specs: Sound bar home theater system, Sound bar, Subwoofer, Wireless - Bluetooth, Active, Black

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.0 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: The Energy Power Bar sounds better than most sound bars when playing music, but there are better overall sound bars available for less money. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Sound Bar, Wireless, Satin black

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: Instead of its usual array of Blu-ray home theater systems, Panasonic is offering three sound bars, two of which can be converted into separate speakers. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Main channel speaker, Active subwoofer, Center channel speaker, Wired - Bluetooth, Wireless, Active, 60 Watt, 120 Watt, Black

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 1 review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Sound bar, Subwoofer, Sound bar speaker system, 2 - Built-in - 80 Watt, 1 - External - 120 Watt, 280 Watt, Dolby Digital, DTS decoder, 3D Sound Plus, Audio Return Channel, Smart Volume technology, Compressed Music Enhancer, USB host function, Upgradeable firmware, Bluetooth audio streaming, USB 2.0 compatibility

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.1 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 29 reviews

The Bottom Line: The VSB210WS, Vizio's very first sound bar system, delivers reasonably full-bodied sound for a very affordable price. Read review

Specs: Sound bar home theater system, Speaker system, Wireless - 2.4 GHz radio frequency, Wired, Active, 15 Watt

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: It's pricey and cumbersome, but Atlantic Technology's PB-235 sound bar works near-magic by pumping deep bass without a subwoofer. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Sound bar, Wired, Active, 80 Watt

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.1 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: The Yamaha YSP-4100 offers better surround effects, superior sound quality and more features than competing sound bars, but it's expensive and most buyers won't need all its functionality. Read review

Specs: Sound bar home theater system, Digital Sound Projector, Sound bar home theater system, 40 - Built-in - 2 Watt, 2 - Built-in - 20 Watt, 120 Watt, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, DTS decoder, DTS-HD High Resolution, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS-ES Matrix 6.1, DTS Neo:6, Dolby Pro Logic, DTS-ES Discrete 6.1, DTS-ES decoder, DTS 96/24, Dolby Digital Surround EX, Magnetic shield, Compressed music enhancer, On-screen display, iPod ready, Auto sound calibration

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.1 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: The Yamaha YSP-5100 sound bar has an outstanding assortment of features and best-in-class virtual surround, but it's very expensive and doesn't sound much better than the step-down YSP-4100. Read review

Specs: Sound bar home theater system, Digital Sound Projector, Sound bar home theater system, 40 - Built-in - 2 Watt, 2 - Built-in - 20 Watt, 120 Watt, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, DTS decoder, DTS-HD High Resolution, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS-ES Matrix 6.1, DTS Neo:6, Dolby Pro Logic, DTS-ES Discrete 6.1, Dolby TrueHD, DTS 96/24, Dolby Digital Surround EX, Compressed music enhancer, On-screen display, iPod ready, Auto sound calibration