10 Best Soundbars 2025 in the UK

The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus is a versatile soundbar designed to enhance your audio experience with its impressive 3.1 channel setup, offering clear dialogue via a dedicated center channel. This soundbar integrates Dolby Atmos and DTS:X technologies, providing immersive 3D sound that envelops you, making it ideal for movie nights and sports events. Its all-in-one design includes a built-in subwoofer, eliminating the need for separate components, which is convenient for users seeking a tidy setup without sacrificing bass quality.

The soundbar is relatively compact, with measurements of 6.4 cm x 94.0 cm x 13.2 cm, making it suitable for various living spaces without being obtrusive. Connectivity is seamless with HDMI eARC/ARC ports, enabling simple and synced audio setup, and Bluetooth support allows for versatile streaming from mobile devices. Smart features cater to Fire TV users, with remote control integration simplifying operation.

While the sound modes (Film, Music, Sport, Night) are a thoughtful addition, offering sound optimization based on content type, this may appeal more to users with diverse viewing habits. However, those seeking a soundbar with external subwoofer options might find the built-in subwoofer limiting. Although the soundbar is compatible with most TVs and media players, it primarily enhances experiences when used with Fire TV setups, potentially limiting appeal for users with other smart TV ecosystems. The included accessories, such as wall mount kits and remote, make for an easy installation process. The Fire TV Soundbar Plus is a strong contender for those prioritizing ease of use, integrated smart features, and immersive sound quality.

The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar is a compact 2.0 channel sound system designed to enhance your TV's audio experience. With its sleek design, it fits well into most entertainment setups, offering an easy-to-install solution with its HDMI eARC/ARC port connectivity. The soundbar provides an immersive audio experience thanks to DTS Virtual:X and Dolby Audio, delivering three-dimensional surround sound and clearer dialogue. This makes it a good fit for those who want better sound quality from their TV without the bulkiness of more extensive surround sound systems.

Connectivity is further enhanced by Bluetooth support, allowing you to stream music from your phone or tablet effortlessly. Although it does not include a subwoofer, which might limit the depth of bass for bass enthusiasts, the dual speakers still manage to produce a reasonably deep bass sound for general use. Smart features are a highlight, as the soundbar is designed to integrate seamlessly with Fire TV, offering the convenience of controlling both TV and audio with a single remote. This makes it particularly appealing for users within the Amazon ecosystem or those who frequently use streaming services.

Sustainability is considered with the use of 18% recycled materials, appealing to eco-conscious consumers. However, it's worth noting that the soundbar’s audio power of 2 x 20W might not satisfy users looking for high-power audio output for larger rooms. This soundbar suits users looking for an affordable, easy-to-use audio upgrade to their smart TV setup, especially within smaller spaces. It may not satisfy audiophiles seeking extensive audio customization or those desiring extensive bass presence. The absence of a subwoofer and moderate power output are notable limitations for those seeking a more robust sound system.

The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is a compact and smart soundbar designed to enhance TV audio and music listening without taking up much space. It features 3D surround sound with Dolby Atmos, which creates a more immersive audio experience by adding height effects. This makes movies and shows sound more dynamic, especially in smaller to medium-sized rooms. The Beam supports popular audio formats and outputs 80 watts of power, which is enough for clear dialogue and vibrant bass, though it might feel less powerful in very large spaces.

Connectivity is straightforward with Wi-Fi and HDMI, allowing smooth integration with your TV and wireless streaming from music services or podcasts. You can control it via the Sonos app, your TV remote, voice commands through Alexa or Google Assistant, or Apple AirPlay 2, making it very flexible for different setups. The soundbar is easy to set up with just two cables and guided instructions, including Trueplay tuning that adjusts the sound to your room.

While it doesn’t come with a separate subwoofer, the Beam’s bass is enhanced enough for most users, though bass lovers might want to add a subwoofer later. Its size (around 65 cm wide and just 7 cm tall) fits well under most TVs and can be wall-mounted if preferred. The ability to expand with other Sonos speakers for full surround sound or multiroom audio is a big plus for those who want to build a custom system over time. This makes the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) an excellent choice for anyone seeking a stylish, easy-to-use soundbar that improves TV sound and doubles as a smart speaker, particularly in compact spaces and for users who value smart features and wireless streaming more than raw power or deep bass.