INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:

Looking for the best soundbar you can buy in 2019? It's an important investment for any home cinema enthusiast. As TV displays get slimmer

and slimmer, their built-in speakers tend to be lacking

Let's face it, even the best Samsung TV could use an external speaker system – and that's why we've rounded up the very best soundbars on

the market in one handy guide.If you admire the slim aesthetic of your new 4K TV over everything else, then a good soundbar is your best

option

The top soundbars available to buy right now won't stick out next to your shiny new slim screen like a normal stereo system would. Instead,

they are built to be just as pleasing to the eye as they are to the ear

They're also a good solution for smaller homes and rooms with little space that wouldn't be able to squeeze a 7.1 channel speaker system

in.One great example of this is Bang and Olufsen's first soundbar, the Beosound Stage

While we haven't had a chance to see the recently announced model in person yet, it looks to be one of the prettiest soundbars we've ever

seen. The majority of soundbars on this list are made to sit in front of your screen, but they can also be wall-mounted above or to the

side of it as well, providing you with ultimate choice as to how your home entertainment set-up looks.Despite most only featuring

front-facing speakers, many soundbars are able to confidently project sound in a way that makes it seem as though there's booming audio

coming from every direction.What you need to know about Black Friday 2019Don't forget, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are coming up very

soon, with the massive sales event kicking off officially on November 29

Soundbar deals are already rolling in, and last year we saw deals from Samsung, Polk, Q Acoustics, and more so make sure you bookmark our

Black Friday 2019 deals page for the latest soundbar deals from the massive sales event.The main problem with soundbars? There's so many to

choose from

If you don't find the right one for you, you can end up with a soundbar that doesn't fit with your home theater setup – or barely sounds

better than your TV's built-in speakers

That, unfortunately, is what gives soundbars a bad name and is exactly the kind of thing that we want to help you avoid.So, without further

ado, read on below for the best soundbars available to buy in 2019, whether you're after you're looking for the best Dolby Atmos speaker,

multi-room audio, sleek design, or any variety of other advanced features alongside your soundbar's premium audio experience.Best soundbars

at a glanceSamsung HW-Q90R SoundbarSony HT-X8500 SoundbarQ Acoustics M4 SoundbarSamsung HW-Q70R SoundbarSennheiser Ambeo 3D SoundbarSonos

PlaybarSonos BeamDenon HEOS BarVizio SB362An-F6 Sound BarPolk Audio Command BarWhat's the best soundbar for around $200/£200?We can't

stress this enough: when it comes to soundbars, there’s a lot of choice

Despite being called soundbars, they tend to come in different shapes and sizes

They also range in price from under £100/$100 to over £1,000/$1,500 (see: Creative X-Fi Sonic Carrier). The cheaper the model you go for,

the more basic the connections are likely to be

Whereas more expensive ones add superior HDMI inputs (including 4K / HDR passthrough), wireless audio streaming (e.g

Bluetooth and AirPlay), better power, more refined speaker drivers, and decoding of Blu-ray sound formats.Of course a full surround setup is

the premium solution to bad-sounding TVs, but if you're short on space (as well as budget) then a soundbar offers a good compromise

So what is the best soundbar for around £200/$200? Best soundbars 2019: TheIndianSubcontinent's top picks(Image credit: Samsung)1

Samsung HW-Q90R SoundbarBe afraid, traditional Hi-Fi speakers

Be very afraid.Dimensions: 1226 x 83 x 136mm (W x H x D) | Speaker configuration: 7.1.4 | Claimed audio power: 512W | Connections: 2 x HDMI

inputs, 1 x HDMI output with eARC, optical digital audio input, USB (service only), Bluetooth and WiFiImpressive sound qualityDolby Atmos

and DTS:XEasy to install and setupLimited HDMI InputsThe Samsung HW-Q90R is the company’s new all-singing, all-dancing flagship soundbar

It not only supports object-based audio in the shape of both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, it’s also the only 2019 model to achieve this with

actual rear speakers and four upward-firing drivers.No other soundbar comes close to producing the full Dolby Atmos and DTS:X experience,

and thanks to tuning from Harman Kardon the HW-Q90 even sounds good with music

A decent set of features and fully-specified HDMI connections complete a nearly flawless package as long as you can afford it.Read the full

review:Samsung HW-Q90R Soundbar review(Image credit: Sony)2

Sony HT-X8500 SoundbarSony’s all-in-one Dolby Atmos bar may be the best value of the yearDimensions: 890 x 64 x 96 mm (35 1/8 x 2 5/8 x 3

7/8 in) | Speaker configuration: 2.1 | Claimed audio power: N/A | Connections: 1 HDMI input, 1 HDMI Out (ARC), analogue audio in/out,

Ethernet, optical audio in, Bluetooth, Wi-FiDolby Atmos and DTS:X compatibleCompact all-in-one form factorIntegrated subwooferBrilliant

valueNo upfiring driversGiven that rival Dolby Atmos-compatible soundbars typically sell for twice the price, Sony’s HT-X8500 warrants an

easy recommendation

Cost-cutting can be attributed to connectivity and features but what’s genuinely confounding is just how great the HT-X8500 sounds. The

key to the HT-X8500’s gutsy performance is Sony’s proprietary Vertical Sound Engine - working with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X content, it

creates a convincing illusion of wraparound sound that allow Dolby Atmos movies to play with a clear sense of expanded height and width.The

build quality and design of the soundbar is exceptional, and its general audio performance impresses with its clarity and spatial

presentation. Overall, if you want a home theatre sound system that won’t dent your budget, it’s probably the best option to come

around this year.Read the full review: Sony HT-X8500 Soundbar review3

Q Acoustics M4 SoundbarThe best soundbar for less than £400/$400Power: 100W | Speakers: 2 | Dimensions: 1,000 x 90 x 142mm | Weight: 4.9kg

N/ABeautiful musicalityEasy to useStereo onlyNo HDMI inputThe Q Acoustics M4 soundbar doesn’t immediately set pulses racing with its

slightly prosaic looks, ‘mere’ 2.1-channel sound and lack of any HDMI support

However, you only have to hear what the M4 can do with both music and movies for your doubts about it to evaporate almost instantly. In

fact, though, it sounds so much better than pretty much any rival soundbar in the same price bracket, that it’s actually ridiculously good

value - especially if you care about music as much as you care about movies. Read the full review: Q Acoustics M4 Soundbar review(Image

credit: Samsung)4

Samsung HW-Q70R Soundbar A good-looking and well-spec'd soundbar for both movies and gamingPower: 3300W | Speakers: 3.1.2 | Dimensions: 1100

x 59 x 100mm (W x H x D) | Connections: HDMI input and output with ARC, optical digital audio input, Bluetooth | Subwoofer included?: YesBig

immersive soundstageSouped-up subwooferGreat with movies and gamesOnly one HDMI inputSamsung's California-based audio lab has been on a roll

In the last few years, the lab has helped the company put together the award-winning Samsung HW-M650, last year's powerful, Dolby

Amtos-ready Samsung HW-N850, and now, the Samsung HW-Q70R, a soundbar designed to keep up with the Korean giant's 2019 QLED TVs.If you've

followed Samsung's naming structure in the past, the Samsung HW-Q70R represents a revised version of last year’s HW-N650 and although the

new model costs more at $800 (£800, AU$1,099), the good news is that the Q70R adds support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X and still uses

Acoustic Beaming technology that widens the soundstage.The resulting soundstage is big and open, lending itself to larger screen sizes

The overall effect is somewhat front heavy, but that’s to be expected given the lack of rear speakers

However once you take into consideration the looks, build quality, and features, this is a solid midrange combo.Read the full review:

Samsung HW-Q70R Soundbar review(Image credit: Sennheiser)5

Sennheiser Ambeo 3D SoundbarDazzling 3D sound – but at quite a pricePower: 500W | Speakers: 5.1.4 | Dimensions: 1265 x 135 x 171 mm |

Weight: 18.5kg | Inputs: Digital coaxial in, Digital optical in, HDMI 2.1 output (eARC), 3 HDMI 2.0a In, Audio in 3.5 mm jack | Wireless:

Bluetooth 4.2 and AAC | Subwoofer included?: NoSuperb sound qualityEffective Dolby Atmos13 separate driversHumongous price, size and

weightNo AirPlay or AptX for BluetoothSennheiser is best known for its range of headphones and professional microphones, but it recently

extended its ambitions to home audio as well, with the introduction of its new Ambeo Soundbar. The bulky soundbar is packed with the latest

audio technologies, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X for surround sound audio, as well as Sennheiser’s own Ambeo ‘virtual 3D’ sound

system

Sennheiser clearly has its sights set on the home cinema market with the Ambeo, although the bar's Wi-Fi connectivity means that it can

double up as a pretty impressive music system as well.It’s not perfect – Sennheiser’s reliance on Google Home to provide wifi

streaming seems like an odd choice – but the sheer sound quality of the Ambeo Soundbar ensures that it justifies its wallet-breaking price

tag.Read the full review: Sennheiser Ambeo 3D Soundbar review(Image credit: Sonos)6

Sonos PlaybarTurns your multi-room audio system into wireless surround sound Power: Not quoted | Speakers: 9 | Dimensions: 900 x 85 x 140mm

can be connected as wireless rear speakersBeautiful soundIntegrates with Sonos systems Clever audio modesRequires particular TVs Only one

inputThe Sonos Playbar is a non-HDMI device that uses optical to hook up to a TV

Used simply on its own it delivers a massive sonic boost to your TV listening, but operating it does require using a smartphone or tablet

app. The benefit is that it can seamlessly segue in to a Sonos wireless system, and can even act as the front three speakers in a 5.1 setup

with two Play:1s acting as rears. Unfortunately although it's optical-only setup will be great for most, it does exclude owners of TVs that

lack this connector, which has pushed it a little further down this list. Read the full review: Sonos Playbar review7

Sonos BeamThis is the smart soundbar we've been waiting forPower: N/A | Speakers: 3 channels | Dimensions: 2.70 x 25.625 x 3.94 in

Special features: Amazon Alexa, Apple AirPlay 2Great compact designHDMI ARC compatibleSuperb soundNo Dolby AtmosThe Sonos Beam is a

fantastic soundbar for its price, one that takes full advantage of the Sonos ecosystem and is a joy to use (and set up, if your television

has HDMI ARC)

Its smaller form factor means it’s a device that will sit comfortably next to a 32-inch TV but it’s got enough of a footprint to not be

dwarfed by a much bigger set. The Sonos Beam doesn’t offer earth-shattering bass and the lack of Dolby Atmos support will irk some, but

at this price point it'd be more of a surprise if it had been included

The voice control may be Alexa-only for now, but it works well and if you have adopted some of Amazon’s TV toys, it really is worth

experimenting with. Read the full review:Sonos Beam review8

Denon HEOS BarA powerful and well-connected Playbar challengerPower: N/A | Speakers: 3.0 | Dimensions: 2 7/8 x 43 3/8 x 5 7/8 inches; 72 x

1100 x 148 mm | Weight: 10.58 lbs; 4.8 kg | Inputs: 4K HDMI Input and HDMI Output | Wireless: Bluetooth, 802.11ac Wi-Fi | Special features:

Heos Multi-Room AudioExcellent sound qualityHandles all formats - streamsOccasional switching delayInaccessible USB slot With its nine

drivers are arranged in trios for left, center and right channels and a virtual surround mode to create the illusion of having more speakers

around the room, the HEOS Bar is pretty much whatever you want it to be. Blessed with such a balanced soundscape, the HEOS Bar proved

immediately adept with music, and has a consistently warm yet refined sound quality that's all its own

The fact that it lacks the opportunity to tweak the audio settings is not as important as we had feared. Music sounds superb, especially

lossless tunes, from which HEOS Bar drags out a lot of detail

However, we did notice on a couple of occasions that the first half-a-second was cut-off songs. Read the full review: Denon HEOS Bar

review(Image credit: Cliff Joseph)9

Vizio SB362An-F6 Sound BarImpressive sonic upgrade for your TV, at a bargain-basement pricePower: N/A | Speakers: 2.0 | Dimensions: 914.4mm

x 52.1mm x 133.1mm | Weight: 5.61 Lbs

/ 2.54 Kg | Inputs: 1 x digital optical,1x 3.5 mm jack | Wireless: Bluetooth | Subwoofer included?: NoPowerful, dramatic soundDolby Audio

and DTS Virtual:XNo HDMINo LCD displayThe key feature of the SB362An-F6 – also referred to more helpfully as the “36-inch 2.1 Sound

Bar” on most retailer's websites – is really its sheer value for money, costing just £149 in the UK and an even more competitive $139

in the US, where it was launched at the end of last year.Despite the bargain-basement price, the SB362An-F6 is neatly designed, measuring 36

inches wide, and a streamlined 2 inches high, and 5.2 inches deep (914xx52x133mm)

It will sit comfortably underneath the screen of most TVs, and Vizio also includes a pair of wall-mount brackets as well. The SB362An-F6

isn’t perfect, but its dramatic and imposing sound provides a real audio upgrade for your television’s built-in speakers

The Virtual:X technology works well too, helping to create a more immersive atmosphere while you’re watching

And while it might be missing a few bells and whistles, there’s no doubt that the SB362An-F6 provides excellent value for money.Read the

full review: VizioSB362An-F6 review(Image credit: Polk Audio)10

Polk Audio Command BarInexpensive and very smartPower: N/A | Speakers: 1 | Dimensions: 43 x 14.5 x 14.4 inches | Weight: 8.6lbs | Inputs: 1

x SPDIDF, 1 x HDMI, 1 x TOSLINK, 1 x micro-USB connection | Outputs: 1 x HDMI output with Audio Return Channel (ARC) | Wireless: Bluetooth |

Subwoofer included?: Yes | Special features: Alexa built inAlexa built-inSpace for a Fire TV stickInexpensiveApp could do moreAudio is

mediocreIf $300 is your budget cap for a smart sound bar, then we highly recommend the Polk Audio Command Bar for any small or medium-sized

living room.As you might be able to tell based on the soundbar’s design, the Command Bar comes with Alexa built right into it making it

unquestionably smart

It’s also relatively inexpensive too, coming in at $250 (£249, AU$649), and it comes with a subwoofer. It has defined and powerful low

end, some cool smart features, and looks pretty good, too.Read the full review:Polk Audio Command Bar reviewkY9DekHWtEnkgTjtPhSmyd.jpg?#

The best soundbars