Best soundbars for TV and movies

Top pick: Samsung HW-Q990F — a full 5.1.4-style flagship with rear speakers and sub, the one that makes films feel like a cinema. It's the most complete movie soundbar here and the best-rated of the big ones.

Who the others suit:

• Bose Smart Soundbar — best all-rounder for a living room: big, clear sound without a separate sub.
• Sonos Beam (Gen 2) — small rooms and dialogue-heavy TV; easy to add to later.
• Yamaha TRUE X BAR — Dolby Atmos on a tighter budget.
• TCL Q65H — Atmos and DTS:X with a sub for a mid-range setup.
• Samsung HW-S50B / VIZIO 2.1 SE — simple one-box upgrades for a bedroom TV.
• TCL S45H / onn / Cowin — cheapest way to beat built-in TV speakers.

Skip the KEF XIO unless you're building a high-end system.