Recent Soundbar & Surround Speaker Reviews

Speaker manufacturer GoldenEar released details for their ultra-high performance powered/wireless DigitalAktiv 3 Bookshelf speaker. With a 6” cast-basket bass/midrange driver, the same HVFR tweeter used in the Triton Reference, and two inertially balanced 8” passive radiators, if these speakers sound as good as the numbers suggest, they may be among the best new wireless speakers we've seen in 2018…period.

Polk Audio announced their newest soundbar at the CES 2018 show, calling it the Polk Command Bar. Why Command Bar? How about integrated Alexa support built in! For a sub $300 price point the Polk Command Bar delivers the power and convenience of Amazon Alexa in what looks to be an excellent budget friendly home theater solution ideal for movies, music and wireless music streaming.

Has audio company Nakamichi gone too far with their new 9.2 DTS:X soundbars, the Shockwafe Ultra? Check out this preview of the new and exciting 9.2 soundbar system that eliminates speaker wires and minimizes power cords. Dual subs, 4 modular surrounds, and an 8 speaker soundbar (total of 18 speakers) for only $1,199? This might be the surround system you've been waiting for. Check out our updates comparing the configuration options available and recent improvements to the products currently shipping.

Audio manufacturer KEF released their newest addition to the Q series line, the Q50a. The Q50a is a Dolby Atmos-enabled two-way closed box speaker that sits atop your existing speaker. The speaker fires its sound upward, creating the vertical dimension programmed into any Dolby Atmos recording. Will they work as well as discrete ceiling mounted speakers? Based on the laws of physics, we doubt it, but if ceiling mounting isn't an option than the KEF Q50a might be an amiable alternative if you want to experience immersive audio in your home theater system.

Looking for improved sound from those wimpy little TV speakers? Sure you could go with one of those ubiquitous soundbars being sold in any of the big box stores, but why not buy a soundbase instead? The Fluance AB40 Soundbase goes under your TV rather than in front of it. Does the larger cabinet equate to larger sound? Read our in depth review of the AB40 to find out.

We recently reviewed Polk's foray into a niche small soundbar market with their MagniFi Mini Soundbar and Sub. With all the acclaims of their mini sound bar last year Polk decided to unleash a full sized model based on the MagniFi Mini and announced the release of their MagniFi Max at the 2017 CEDIA Expo last week in San Diego, California. For $600 you get a premium soundbar plus a wireless subwoofer AND two wireless surrounds! Read on to find out more details.

Want better sound from your new 4K UHD TV but you don't like the looks of a soundbar and don't want to setup a full stereo system? Paradigm may have a product for you with their new Décor series of custom built speakers. Each speaker is hand made to fit your TV in just three days. With several different speaker options available this may be a must have for detail oriented small spaces. Read on to see why.

Last year at CEDIA Bluesound released their Pulse Soundbar and Sub. With 6 Integrated high-performance speakers and 2 Passive Radiators The PULSE soundbar from Bluesound has LESS speakers than many other soundbars on the market, but that doesn’t mean that it’s less of a product. Why mess with a good thing? They didn't. This year you can have the Pulse Soundbar and Sub in WHITE.

If you want surround sound for your living room or man cave, but you just don’t have the space for a large, bulky system, then look no further than the Polk Audio MagniFi Mini Sound Bar System. The MagniFi Mini is a quality sound system that can fit in just about any limited space and at a reasonable price. The sound bar itself is about the size of a large alarm clock radio and includes a small subwoofer to help with the bottom end. Even though it’s tiny, the system still offers a 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound experience exemplifying again that good things do come in small packages. Check out our recently added YouTube video review.

If you are looking for a quality soundbar to enhance your music or movie audio experience, Bluesound has delivered a product you are sure to find appealing. Their first soundbar, named the Pulse SoundBar is priced at $1,000 and is a solid contender in the quality soundbar arena. With matched pairs of tweeters, midrange, and woofers, the Pulse provides a unique listening experience that you truly must hear to appreciate. As Bluesound says, “It is time to be touched by sound”. Read our review to find out why.

Yamaha will finally launch the successor to its popular YAS-203 sound bar this summer with some added tweaks. The YAS-207 features all-new DTS Virtual:X surround technology and updated HDMI support for 4K HDR and an included 100 watt powered wireless subwoofer. Along with the updated tech that should please any Yamaha fan, it's new sound bar will feature an even more competitive price than its predecessor of just $300 (shipped) when it launches in July.

Denon has announced its latest entries into the HEOS line that includes a new soundbar they call: HEOS Bar. The Bar will take its place in the HEOS line alongside its earlier soundbar offering HEOS HomeCinema. The HEOS Bar promises to be a slightly more upscale soundbar with multiple HDMI ports and HEOS integration that lets you bring additional speakers into the Wi-Fi mix, including a subwoofer, for a truly immersive surround experience. What does this soundbar do that competitor models don't? Read the preview to find out.

It's a soundbar- No! It's a T.V. stand- No! It's a soundbase! Fluance made it's contribution to the dwindling array of soundbases recently with their AB40 Soundbase. For those of you not familiar with soundbases, they're kind of like a soundbar, but your T.V. sit on TOP of them instead of the speakers sitting in front of the T.V. or behind. With 3D surround sound from a larger sturdier enclosure and a price point of $200, The Fluance AB40 might be right for your small space- if your T.V. will fit on it.

So you bought a new giant 70" 4K Ultra HD Television for Christmas and the sound just isn't up to par? Sure you could get a 48" soundbar to supplement, but why waste the other 22" of space under the TV? Wisdom Audio has you covered with their NEW Customizable Sage Super Soundbars. With four different models to choose from, custom finishes, and custom lengths from 38" to 98" these new soundbars may truly be "Super". Just remember with all of these custom options comes a custom price. Read on to find out how much customization will cost you.