Whether you enjoy action-packed films or indulge in bass-heavy music genres, a soundbar equipped with a dedicated subwoofer can enhance your audio experience. In comparison to standalone soundbars, a subwoofer is capable of delivering a richer and more impactful bass, allowing you to truly feel the deep thuds and rumbles in content with heavy bass elements. It’s important to consider the size of the subwoofer, as they can be quite substantial, and ensure that you have adequate space in your TV room for the complete setup. If space constraints are not an issue and you crave a profound and extended bass response in your audio, opting for a soundbar with a dedicated sub is a worthwhile choice.
Our team has conducted extensive testing on over 180 soundbars, and below, we present our recommendations for the top soundbars featuring dedicated subwoofers, including options with built-in subwoofers. Explore our selections for the best soundbars, budget-friendly options, and those offering an immersive Dolby Atmos audio experience.
Best Soundbar With Subwoofer
The Samsung HW-Q990C stands out as the best soundbar with a subwoofer in our extensive testing. As the successor to the Samsung HW-Q990B, this premium 11.1.4 setup includes a large, powerful subwoofer that delivers impressive thump and rumble in the bass range. Notably, it surpasses its predecessor in bass performance, offering a more even and controlled sound out-of-the-box. This ensures clarity in vocals and other instruments, creating an optimal listening experience for your favorite tunes. The soundbar’s high level of customization allows you to fine-tune the bass using its graphic EQ and presets.
Versatile across various content types, from movies to music to TV shows, the Samsung HW-Q990C supports immersive audio formats like Dolby Atmos. The inclusion of satellites enhances the spatial distribution of sound effects, providing a clear and realistic feel throughout the room. While its stereo soundstage may not match up to some other premium models like the Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc or the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module, the Samsung soundbar outshines them due to its extensive sound customization tools. Options like Sonos and Bose, while good choices especially if you’re invested in those ecosystems, lack the graphic EQs that the Samsung soundbar offers, making the Samsung option the superior overall choice.
Best Upper Mid-Range Soundbar With Subwoofer
For an affordable yet premium soundbar with a subwoofer, consider the Samsung HW-Q930C. This 9.1.4 setup ensures a powerful bass experience, immersing you in the thump and rumble of intense movie scenes and bass-heavy music. Similar to its higher-end counterpart, it boasts numerous sound enhancement features to maximize performance. The 7-band graphic EQ allows you to boost the bass, and its room correction tool optimizes sound based on your room’s unique acoustics. Additionally, the built-in Alexa feature provides convenient hands-free control. Note that availability may be limited to the manufacturer’s website and Best Buy in the US.
While the Samsung HW-Q930C has two fewer surround channels compared to the HW-Q990C, it still delivers clear and immersive sound across various audio content. Particularly noteworthy is its performance with multi-channel content like Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos, commonly found on streaming platforms and Blu-rays. The inclusion of two discrete satellite speakers enhances the spatial audio experience, making you feel surrounded by the action. Although it may not reach the same maximum volume as its premium counterpart, and there’s some compression in bass and treble at maximum volume, its competitive pricing makes it a standout choice that offers great value, depending on your specific needs.
Best Mid-Range Soundbar With Subwoofer
Budget-conscious shoppers can explore an alternative, more affordable choice—the Vizio Elevate. As the best mid-range soundbar we’ve tested, it proves to be a solid option for enjoying a diverse range of audio content. True to Vizio’s reputation, the dedicated subwoofer delivers deep and powerful low-bass, ensuring a palpable sense of rumble in action-packed movies or bass-heavy music genres. Out of the box, there’s already a noticeable emphasis on bass, and the bass adjustment feature allows users to customize it further to their liking. It’s worth noting that unlike the Samsung HW-Q930C, wiring the satellites to the sub is necessary for them to function, which may not be ideal for every living space.
The Vizio Elevate distinguishes itself with a unique design—its sides automatically rotate upwards when playing Dolby Atmos or DTS:X height content. This design element adds width and dimension to the soundstage, creating an immersive experience where audio seems to emanate from all directions. This feature can also be activated when watching other types of content, such as Dolby Digital. The rear satellites contribute to a more immersive feel, enhancing the clarity and realism of sound effects in the surrounding space. Offering standout performance for its price, the Vizio Elevate is a worthwhile option for those seeking a soundbar with a subwoofer.
Best Lower Mid-Range Soundbar With Subwoofer
The Vizio M Series M512a-H6 provides a more budget-friendly alternative to the Vizio Elevate. This 5.1.2 setup includes two rear speakers along with a dedicated sub, delivering substantial thump and rumble in the bass range. Whether you’re into bass-heavy music or intense movie scenes, this soundbar offers an immersive experience. Similar to its higher-end counterpart, it features enhancement options such as bass and subwoofer level adjustments, giving you control over the intensity of the rumble. Clear and present dialogue further enhances its versatility, making it suitable for various audio content.
For avid movie watchers, especially across different streaming platforms, the Vizio M Series M512a-H6 is a commendable choice. It supports surround sound formats like Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos, resulting in a fairly immersive sound experience. The inclusion of satellites contributes to bringing sound effects into the surrounding space, immersing you in the action. While it may not match the clarity and realism of our top picks, lacking features like rotating sides found in the Vizio Elevate and up-firing drivers for Atmos content, it remains a good value for the price. Keep in mind that it may not be the absolute best in its class, but it offers solid performance and affordability.
Best Budget Soundbar With Subwoofer
For a reliable soundbar at an affordable price, consider the Vizio V Series V51-H6, which we’ve identified as the best soundbar with a subwoofer in the budget category based on our testing. With its dedicated subwoofer, it delivers substantial thump and rumble in the low-bass range, enhancing the excitement in genres like EDM and intense movie scenes. The soundbar’s bass and subwoofer level adjustments provide customization options for those who prefer a bit more emphasis. Maintaining a balanced mid-range, it ensures clarity during on-screen action, even with its punchy bass.
What sets this soundbar apart from others in a similar price range is the inclusion of rear satellites. These additional speakers prove valuable, particularly for enthusiasts of multi-channel content, including 5.1 surround sound formats like Dolby Digital commonly found on various streaming platforms. The satellites contribute to greater audio clarity, making sound effects feel more realistic in the surrounding space, creating an immersive experience as if the movie were unfolding in your living room. However, it’s important to note that, like most soundbars in its price range, it doesn’t support more advanced formats like Dolby Atmos. Despite this limitation, if you primarily consume content without Atmos, it remains a solid choice for bass enthusiasts at a budget-friendly price.
Best Soundbar With Subwoofer Built-In
For those with limited living room space, soundbars with built-in subwoofers provide a convenient alternative. The Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX stands out as the best option we’ve tested, offering a rare combination of a built-in subwoofer that replicates a similar low-frequency extension as the top models on our list. Whether you’re enjoying bass-heavy music or immersing yourself in action-packed movie scenes, this soundbar delivers a deep thump and rumble, allowing you to enhance the bass further using the included bass adjustment feature.
Supporting widely used audio formats such as Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos, the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX goes beyond the basics with its unique 3D virtual surround mode. This mode creates a sound experience that seems to come from all around you, simulating the effect of systems with wireless speakers. It’s worth noting that the Sennheiser soundbar is large and heavy, which may not be suitable for every living space configuration. If you prefer a more compact soundbar with solid bass performance, alternatives like the Sonos Arc or the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar are worth considering. While they may not match the impressive low-frequency extension of the Sennheiser, they still deliver a commendable amount of bass for standalone soundbars.
Best Small Soundbar With Subwoofer
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) might be the perfect fit for your living room, depending on its shape and size. With a width of less than 26 inches, this compact soundbar seamlessly integrates into your existing setup. While maintaining the style of the original Sonos Beam, the second generation introduces Dolby Atmos support, enhancing your audio experience with content commonly found on various streaming platforms and Blu-rays. Despite its smaller size, the soundbar employs psychoacoustic principles to project sound well beyond its physical edges, creating an immersive audio environment comparable to larger options in the market.
For those seeking enhanced bass reproduction, pairing the soundbar with the Sub Mini is a game-changer. This compact subwoofer delivers a powerful punch in the bass range, ensuring you feel the thump and rumble in action-packed movie scenes and bass-heavy music genres. The adjustable subwoofer levels allow for further customization, letting you add more punch to the bass as desired. Similar to the larger Sonos Arc, the setup includes the Trueplay room correction feature, optimizing the soundbar’s output based on your room’s unique acoustics. It’s worth noting that this setup may not reach the same volume levels as larger models, and discerning audiophiles may recognize a difference in height reproduction with Atmos content. Nevertheless, it stands as a solid choice for those with limited space.
Best Soundbar With Two Subwoofers
For those with larger and more open living spaces, the Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 eARC stands out as the ideal soundbar, offering a unique 9.2.4 setup with two subwoofers and four satellites to create an immersive audio experience. This comprehensive configuration ensures that sound fills the entire room, eliminating any noticeable “holes” or gaps in the soundstage. The additional subwoofer contributes to balanced bass reproduction throughout the room, while the extra satellites bring sound effects to every corner, providing a clear and lifelike feel. Whether you’re indulging in surround sound or height content like Atmos, the Nakamichi soundbar places you right in the heart of the on-screen action.
As an upgraded version of the Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2Ch, the Ultra 9.2 eARC introduces additional features, including eARC support for enjoying DTS:X content on Blu-rays. However, it has limitations in sound enhancement features compared to top picks like the Samsung HW-Q990C. Notably, it lacks a true room correction feature as it doesn’t include a microphone to analyze your living space. Nevertheless, its unique Spatial Surround Elevation technology offers three different sound presets based on your room’s size, providing a thoughtful touch. Keep in mind that the robust design of this setup may not be suitable for all living spaces, especially if accommodating the extra sub and satellites poses a challenge. Despite this, it remains a solid choice for those with unique room shapes in their listening areas.
Notable Mentions
- Sony HT-A7000 with Speakers + Bass Module: The Sony HT-A7000 with Speakers + Bass Module is a meticulously crafted 7.1.2 setup featuring a dedicated subwoofer capable of reproducing a powerful low-bass. While it excels in build quality, it falls short in terms of sound customization options compared to premium models such as the Samsung HW-Q990C. For a detailed evaluation, refer to our comprehensive review.
- Klipsch Cinema 1200: The Klipsch Cinema 1200 serves as a viable alternative for those seeking a soundbar with an inherently bass-heavy sound straight out of the box. However, its higher price point and comparatively less robust construction may be considerations. Notably, it doesn’t match the build quality of our top picks, such as the Samsung HW-Q990C. For an in-depth analysis, please consult our review.
All Reviews
The recommendations provided above represent what we consider to be the current best soundbars with a subwoofer for the majority of consumers. Our evaluation takes into account factors such as price (favoring a more affordable option unless the higher cost justifies it), feedback from our audience, and product availability (excluding soundbars that are challenging to find or nearly out of stock everywhere).
If you prefer to make your own choice, here’s a comprehensive list of all our reviews for soundbars that include a subwoofer. It’s important not to get too bogged down in the details, as no soundbar is flawless. Your personal taste, preferences, and listening habits will play a more significant role in your selection.
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