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(Image credit: Sonos)
(Image credit: Sonos)
Of course, there are a lot of other considerations that go into buying a soundbar, too, such as the size of your TV, how much sound you need, and the overall aesthetics of the device.
We’re big fans of ditching the built-in TV speakers, which are lacking even in thebest 8K TVs, and going for something more professional and befitting a major blockbuster.
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(Image credit: Sonos)
(Image credit: Sonos)
1. You want the very best sound
Content that is set up to work with Atmos sounds really crisp and sharp, especially if you’re using a surround sound setup. Most streaming services support the feature, which first launched in 2012, and its especially great for movies.
You don’t need to know the exact details and jargon to appreciate that Atmos sounds really, really good in practice.
2. The best soundbars come with Atmos
The second most important thing is that you might not even have that much choice about whether you get Atmos or not: the best soundbars come with it pre-installed.
Almost all of our top picks, including the aforementionedSamsung HW-Q990B,Sonos Beam 2, andSony HT-A7000, come with Atmos.
Some of the cheaper options don’t, like theYamaha SR-C20A, but if you’re in the market for a mid- to high-end soundbar then the choice has been made for you.
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3. You love watching movies
4. You want the best from your streaming services
Finally, all major streaming services, fromDisney+ toNetflixto Prime Video, support Atmos for selected content, meaning you’ll be hearing the absolute best of the content on offer.
Paired with HDR content, you’re off the races: everything will both look and sound incredible, despite being streamed over the internet. Magic!
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(Image credit: Sonos)
(Image credit: Sonos)
1. Soundbars with Atmos can often be expensive
As we mentioned above, our budget soundbar pick – theYamaha SR-C20A– doesn’t come with Atmos support and that is a theme we see playing out across most soundbars under a certain price limit.
Perhaps not a dealbreaker for most people, especially if you don’t watch many movies, but something to keep in mind nonetheless.
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