JBL 2.1 Channel Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer
Best budget soundbar with subwoofer
Adding a soundbar to your home theater is a great way to enhance your experience. Most built-in TV speakers are lackluster at best, incapable of producing booming bass or crisp dialogue. Soundbars fix many of these issues while also offering a sleek, compact form-factor. Better yet, many come with a subwoofer to further enhance your audio.
Soundbars typically offer subwoofers in one of two formats. A popular choice is a soundbar with a wireless subwoofer, as these can be placed anywhere in the room to provide you with the best sound quality regardless of the shape and layout of the room. The other option is a built-in subwoofer that’s located inside the actual soundbar. These typically don’t provide the same booming sound as their wireless counterparts, but they’re ultra-compact and great for smaller spaces.
Ready to up your audio game? Here are the six best soundbars with subwoofers, which includes brands like Samsung, Sennheiser, and JBL. For more great options, be sure to check out the best soundbars of 2024.
Samsung HW-Q990C
Best overall soundbar with subwoofer
Pros
- Dolby Atmos
- Powerful wireless subwoofer
- Tons of customization options
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Dolby Atmos | Yes |
| Channels | 11.1.4 |
| Subwoofer | Wireless |
The Samsung HW-Q990C is without a doubt one of the best ways to get a premium home theater experience. Equipped with a wireless subwoofer, four up-firing channels for Dolby Atmos, and 11 front-facing speakers, it’s the perfect companion for any TV.
Dolby Atmos is the big draw of the Q990C, and thanks to all its premium speakers and wireless subwoofer, you’ll be bombarded with audio from all directions. Not only do you get a massive wireless subwoofer, but the soundbar also comes with two rear speakers so you can build a well-rounded audio system with just one purchase. Toss in a wall mount kit and easy-to-use remote control, and you’ve got an easy way to place the gear anywhere in your home and a simple way to control all the action.
All those speakers make it easy to get both crisp dialog and booming explosions, and added support for Q-Symphony lets you pair the soundbar with other audio equipment for an enhanced sound experience. Better yet, Samsung’s SpaceFit Sound Pro feature lets the equipment optimize its performance for your exact layout, ensuring you get a crisp audio experience regardless of how much furniture is scattered about your room.
Other notable features include support for Airplay 2, the Alexa voice assistant, and a dedicated Game Mode Pro if you decide to use it with your PS5 or Xbox.
The biggest drawback to the Q990C? Its price tag. It’s regularly priced close to $2,000, though it’s now receiving frequent discounts that make it a bit more palatable. But since you’re getting such great equipment from a great brand, the Q990C is a worthwhile investment for anyone who spends hours a day in front of their TV watching movies or gaming.
Samsung HW-Q990C
Best overall soundbar with subwoofer
Sennheiser AMBEO Plus Soundbar with Dual Subwoofers
Runner up
Pros
- Fantastic 3D sound
- Lots of connections
- Built-in room tuning
- Up to 4 wireless subs/1 wired sub
- AirPlay/Chromecast/Tidal Connect
- Alexa built-in
- Dolby Atmos/DTS:X
- Sony 360/MPEG-H
Cons
- Still expensive
- Only HDMI 2.0a
- Relies heavily on mobile app
- Weird Alexa integration
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Dolby Atmos | Yes |
| Channels | 7.1.4 |
| Subwoofer | Built-in |
Shoppers seeking a premium soundbar that’s a bit more compact than the Q990C should consider the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Plus. Not only does it offer Dolby Atmos support and churn out impressive audio, but its subwoofers are built directly into the soundbar – so you won’t have to clear space for a massive subwoofer elsewhere in the room.
The AMBEO is equipped with 4-inch dual subwoofers, along with seven speakers that allow it to produce impressive room-filling audio despite being a single soundbar that’s less than 5-inches deep and just over 40-inches long. You’ll have plenty of ways to customize its performance, as it can be controlled via the included remote, Sennheiser Smart Control App, a web interface, or the built-in Alexa voice assistant.
Aside from Alexa, the soundbar also supports Google Home, making it a good choice for a home that’s already loaded with smart products. On the soundbar you’ll find a variety of HDMI, USB-A, and ethernet ports, as well as wireless support for both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
If you have the space, the Q990C is probably the better choice. But if you’re tight on space and want an all-in-one soundbar that packs a built-in subwoofer along with heaps of other great tech, the AMBEO deserves a closer look.
Sennheiser AMBEO Plus Soundbar with Dual Subwoofers
Runner up
