WIRED has refreshed its annual roundup of top soundbars, adding new models like the Vizio AIO, Samsung Q990F, and Yamaha True X Surround 90A while updating prices across the board. The guide highlights options from brands including Sonos, Sony, and Bose to enhance TV audio experiences. Testing spanned hours, weeks, and months to recommend products for various budgets and needs.
In its October 2025 update, WIRED's gallery on the best soundbars emphasizes how these devices address the poor audio quality of modern thin TVs. "You probably shelled out good money for a nice big TV and maybe a streaming gadget. But even the very best TVs sound awful these days," the article notes, explaining that soundbars improve dialog clarity, explosions, and sonic details in films.
The top pick for most people remains the Yamaha SR-C30A, a compact 2.1-channel bar with wireless subwoofer priced at $300 (down from original). It features HDMI eARC, Bluetooth, and virtual surround, fitting well under furniture or on small consoles.
New additions include the Vizio All-in-One (SV210D-0806) as best budget bar at $150, offering solid detail and bass via HDMI eARC and app control, though lacking Wi-Fi. Reviewer Ryan Waniata praises it: "The AIO offers solid detail and surprising dynamic punch, with more bass than you’d expect in a single bar, for a very agreeable price."
The Samsung Q990F joins as a flagship Dolby Atmos option at around $1,500, with 11.1.4 channels, upgraded subwoofer, and HDMI 2.1 for gaming. The Yamaha True X Surround 90A, at $3,500, returns Yamaha to premium with wireless surrounds and Auro-3D, but setup is complex.
Other standouts: Klipsch Flexus Core 200 ($549) for stand-alone use with Dolby Atmos; Bose Smart Soundbar ($549) for compact setups with Alexa; and Sonos Arc Ultra ($1,099) for immersive 3D audio. The guide advises HDMI eARC connections for optimal control and 3D formats, noting soundbars suit those seeking simple upgrades over full speaker systems.
Honorable mentions cover budget to luxury, like the Vizio 2.1 at $170 and Sennheiser Ambeo Mini at $800. WIRED stresses independent testing for trustworthy recommendations.