SOUNDBARS & SOUNDBASES

A BRILLIANT WAY TO IMPROVE YOUR TV’S SOUND

Yamaha YAS-207 £249

Best soundbar under £300, Awards 2019 ★★★★★

The latest in a series of fine Yamaha soundbars, this is a compelling, class-leading performer in a practical, easy-to-use package.

Size (hwd) 6 x 93 x 11cm Inputs Opt, HDMI, 3.5mm, BT Sub Yes

Sonos Beam £399

Best soundbar £300-£500, Awards 2019 ★★★★★

A compact soundbar that pumps out an exceptional sound for its size and price. It could potentially transform your listening experience. Size (hwd) 7 x 65 x 10cm Inputs Optical, HDMI ARC, Airplay Sub No

Sonos Playbar £699

August 2017 ★★★★★

It’s not perfect, but it still has the sonic heft and all-round quality to edge out its Sonos Playbase stablemate.

Size 9 x 90 x 14cm Inputs Optical, ethernet Sub No

Yamaha YSP-2700 £699

February 2017 ★★★★★

With a spacious, involving sound the YSP-2700 is the most convincing surround experience you’ll get outside of a full 5.1 surround system. Size (hwd) 5 x 94 x 15cm Inputs HDMI x3, opt, coax Sub Yes

Dali Katch One £649

Best soundbar £500-£1000, Awards 2018 ★★★★★

Great for music, even better for films, this tidy soundbar delivers all the sound your living room is likely to need.

Size 7 x 86 x 17cm Inputs HDMI, Optical, 3.5mm Sub No

Dali Kubik One £799

Awards 2018 ★★★★★

A gorgeous and complete package, Dali’s debut soundbar impresses with its hugely engaging sound and smart, well equipped exterior.

Size (hwd) 15 x 98 x 10cm Inputs Line-in x2, optical Sub No

Sonos Arc £799

August 2020 (issue 437) ★★★★★

The Arc is a stunning performer, delivering one of the most immersive Dolby Atmos experiences we’ve heard from a soundbar.

Size 9 x 114 x 12cm Inputs HDMI, Optical, ethernet Sub

Sony HT-ST5000 £1199

Best soundbar £1000-£1500, Awards 2019 ★★★★★

Delivers an accomplished Atmos performance we’d have no hesitation in recommending. It is a superb-sounding effort for the price.

Size (hwd) 8 x 118 x 15cm Inputs HDMI x3, opt, USB, 3.5mm Sub

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar £2199

Best soundbar over £1500, Awards 2019 ★★★★★

This is the best soundbar we’ve tested, and the best way to get surround sound into your room without filling it with loads of individual speakers. Size (hwd) 14 x 127 x 17cm Inputs HDMI x4, opt, RCA line in Sub No

Q Acoustics M2 £169

Best soundbase, Awards 2019 ★★★★★

Q Acoustics can now add ‘soundbase’ to its list of successes. The M2 is an expressive, easy-to-use and fuss-free way of boosting your TV sound. Size (hwd) 9 x 55 x 34cm Inputs Line-in, HDMI, 3.5mm, BT

Monitor Audio Bronze B5 AV £1489

Best speaker package £1000-£2000, Awards 2017 ★★★★★

This classy speaker package from Monitor Audio is beautifully designed, has ample punch, creates a spacious soundfield and is very musical. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 17 x 46 x 19cm Finishes 4

Elac Debut 2.0 5.1 Home Theatre System £1499

October 2019 ★★★★★

This Elac package is a real match-winner, whether for your two-channel or the full surround. You’ll be hard pushed to find better at this price. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 18 x 54 x 22cm Finishes 1

Dali Oberon5 5.1 £1795

Best speaker package £1500-£2000, Awards 2019 ★★★★★

These are clever performers: lean, attractive, interesting and unfussy. And those words stand for both the aesthetics and the acoustics. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 16 x 44 x 30cm Finishes 4

KEF Q350 AV 5.1 £2100

January 2018 ★★★★★

It takes up a fair bit of space, but the Q350 package puts in a powerful and precise performance. You’ll struggle to do better for the money. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 21 x 63 x 30cm Finishes 2

Monitor Audio Silver 200 AV12 £2865

Best speaker package £2000-£5000, Awards 2019 ★★★★★

A little patience may be required, but once it hits its stride the Silver 200 AV12 is an expressive, fun and talented speaker package. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 16 x 45 x 20cm Finishes 6

ATC C1 5.1 £3595

Awards 2016 ★★★★★

We’d like a bit more authority in the bass, but we’re delighted by the detailed, agile sound, focused surround steering and power on offer. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 16 x 41 x 28cm Finishes 2

PMC Twenty5.23 5.1 £10,290

Best speaker package over £5000, Awards 2019 ★★★★★

Analytical and fun in equal measure, this gorgeous PMC system – also our current reference speaker package – is entirely worth the high asking price. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 17 x 55 x 31cm Finishes 4

“What’s astonishing is the realism of the soundscape – a delightfully balanced audio image that lets the equipment melt away”

“There’s surprising authority and power to this relatively diminutive package as well…”

“If you have the space, then you should consider opening your home to this outstanding KEF package”

“The greater insight and texture make this one of the most lifelike reproductions of the human voice at this price”

“Rarely are we so fully behind a speaker package for its work both in stereo and in surround sound”

“For small to medium-sized rooms, we can think of no better alternative”

“This may be the easiest £1500 you’ll ever spend”