Soundbars may offer the simplest way to improve television audio, but that does not mean that all bars are created equal. Manufacturers continue to roll out updated models with more features and increased sound quality and power. Here, we look at some of the newest soundbars to hit the market.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound Premiere
Bang & Olufsen’s Beosound Premiere soundbar introduces Bang & Olufsen’s new patent-pending Wide Stage Technology, which uses custom-designed signal processing to create the illusion of having added external speakers, making the soundstage wider and taller than it is. The seamless aluminum chassis is pearl-blasted to create a matte satin finish. Achieving this compact form required precision engineering by aligning extruded aluminum with cut end caps to maintain a slim profile while simultaneously housing ten powerful drivers. One of the most eye-catching features is the upfiring tweeter, placed right in the center of the soundbar.
Samsung HW-Q990F
The flagship Samsung HW-Q990F soundbar features Dolby Atmos sound from 11 front and surround channels, one subwoofer channel, and four upfiring channels. It ships with a newly redesigned compact subwoofer that’s half the size of its predecessor, while improving bass performance. The soundbar also leverages AI and embedded sensors to personalize audio based on where you’re listening and what you’re listening to. SpaceFit Sound Pro Plus uses algorithms to calibrate the soundbar’s output to the layout, shape, and dimensions of the room. Plus, you can enable Samsung Q-Symphony to synchronize the audio between a Samsung TV, the soundbar, and a Music Frame to create a more robust and nuanced sound experience. New for 2025, Q-Symphony can now recognize the exact position and angle of your Music Frame and optimize its audio for sound that is tailored to the specific room. Active Voice Amplifier Pro enhances dialog clarity, making it easier to hear conversations over background noise and other distractions. On the bass front, Dynamic Bass Control reduces distortion for sound that’s true to the original audio.
Bluesound PULSE CINEMA and PULSE CINEMA MINI
Bluesound’s two new streaming soundbars, the PULSE CINEMA and PULSE CINEMA MINI, represent a top-to-bottom redesign of Bluesound’s soundbars. The PULSE CINEMA is a 3.2.2 Dolby Atmos soundbar featuring 16 speaker drivers, upfiring speakers, and BluOS multi-room streaming, delivering expansive sound for 55-inch TVs and up. The PULSE CINEMA MINI brings the same design and acoustic engineering to smaller-size spaces and secondary TVs.
The PULSE CINEMA is a 47-inch multi-room streaming soundbar built for cinematic performance, featuring 500 watts of total system power and a driver array that includes a dedicated center channel, dual 4-inch woofers, and dedicated upfiring speakers.
The PULSE CINEMA MINI is a compact 33-inch soundbar delivering 280 watts of total system power and an immersive experience with angled drivers and dual 4-inch woofers. It is designed for tighter setups and installations.
Both models support HDMI eARC, optical, and analog inputs, and offer flexible placement options, including automatic DSP-powered orientation detection that eliminates the need for manual tuning when wall-mounted. They also feature BluOS, Bluesound’s multi-room audio platform that enables wireless surround sound, hi-res music streaming, and integration with smart home control systems like Control4 and Crestron.
NextLevel Acoustics Fusion Frame 2.0
The Fusion Frame 2.0 represents the next iteration of NextLevel Acoustics’ Frame-style soundbars and features dual high-output 2.5-inch drivers at a reduced height of 5.2 inches on-wall or 5.65 inches through-wall. This second iteration of the Fusion Frame soundbar was created with only one goal in mind: provide a high-end framed audio solution for various models of Frame- and Art-based displays. At only 1.75 inches deep on-wall or 1.27 inches deep through-wall, the Fusion Frame 2.0 complements the look and feel of what makes Frame- and Art-focused displays popular. Choose from a variety of framing color options, including Black, White, Brown/Modern Brown, Teak, and Beige, as well as custom paint match. They are available in LCR, Stereo, or Center Channel configurations.
Yamaha True X Surround 90A
The Yamaha True X Surround 90A is the company’s flagship Dolby Atmos soundbar. Powered by Yamaha-developed technologies, the 90A features newly developed front-channel speakers, proprietary sound beam height speakers, and exclusive Surround:AI for real-time spatial sound optimization, as well as MusicCast streaming, multi-room audio, and app control. The 90A is also the world’s first soundbar to support Auro-3D, an immersive audio format that is especially beloved by audio enthusiasts for its prowess with upmixing stereo content to rich, 3D soundfields with remarkable realism.
The True X Surround 90A includes a soundbar, wireless subwoofer, and two wireless surround speakers, along with charging cradles and wall-mount brackets, all in a single package. The 90A achieves clear, dynamic, and spacious sound from a slim bar that can be placed on a stand in front of most TVs without blocking the screen or can be wall-mounted under a TV without adding unsightly visual mass. It stands at 3.3 inches tall; 2.8 inches when wall-mounted.
KEF XIO
KEF has launched the XIO soundbar, which delivers hyper-realistic sound through technologies that include Uni-Q MX, P185 LF driver with P-Flex, patent-pending Velocity Control Technology (VECO), and the Music Integrity Engine (MIE) for Cinema. Supporting Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Sony 360 Reality Audio, the XIO is powered by a 5.1.2 configuration (five main channels, one subwoofer channel, and two overhead channels) with 12 Class D amplifiers. The XIO includes Intelligent Placement Technology, which is a built-in calibration tool automatically adapts the audio output based on the objects around the soundbar. The XIO has a dedicated Dialog Mode to ensure every word is heard. Located within the EQ presets, alongside Night and Music Modes, this mode enhances vocal frequencies while reducing background noise. The XIO’s P185 LF driver, enhanced with KEF’s P-Flex technology, has been adapted from the KC62 and KC92 subwoofers and resists acoustic pressure within the cabinet, enabling the driver to move with greater precision and achieving deeper bass extension with remarkable clarity.
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 6
The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 6 is a 3.1.2-channel soundbar offering immersive surround sound, clear dialog, and a wireless subwoofer with Dolby Atmos/DTS:X. With Sony’s upmixer technology, listeners can experience three-dimensional surround sound with surround sound formats and stereo content. For clear dialog and a precise sound image, a dedicated center speaker ensures crystal-clear voice reproduction even in the busiest scenes. Paired with a compatible BRAVIA TV Voice Zoom 3 powered by AI machine learning that recognizes human voices and amplifies or reduces their volume so even faint dialog sounds loud and clear.
Klipsch Flexus Core 300 — Walnut Finish
The Klipsch 5.1.2-channel Flexus Core 300 – Powered by Onkyo soundbar with Dirac Live Room Correction Technology is now offered in an optional Walnut finish. The Flexus Core 300 sits atop the Flexus Series range, above the Core 200 and Core 100 (which are also offered in Walnut). Offering an immersive audio experience with its Dolby Atmos and DTS:X presentation, the Core 300 features two 2.25-inch upfiring and two 2.25-inch side-firing drivers, complemented by four front-firing 2.25-inch drivers tuned by expert acousticians. With its four 4-inch built-in subwoofers, the Core 300 delivers powerful bass from a relatively small footprint. Additionally, a dedicated center channel equipped with Klipsch’s horn-loaded tweeter technology delivers vocal intelligibility that guarantees clear dialog at any volume.
SoundTube Teatro TSB3.0
The SoundTube Teatro TSB3.0 Soundbar is a three-way, 3-channel ultra-thin soundbar designed for clarity and full-range sound. Featuring EVT Intelligibility Control, it enhances dialog and detail, ensuring every word and note is delivered with precision. Available in both standard and Dante-enabled versions, the TSB3.0 offers flexibility for traditional or networked installations. Its low-profile design blends with modern interiors while delivering the dynamic sound typically associated with larger speaker systems. When paired with the P3-35 3-channel amplifier, it achieves optimal power and performance for home theaters, media rooms, or resimercial spaces.
Soundbar Concepts
At CES 2025, both XGIMI and Dynaudio showed intriguing concept soundbars that remain unavailable, but will hopefully hit the market soon.
XGIMI Ascend
The XGIMI Ascend blends a motorized Ambient Light Rejection screen and two premium Harman Kardon soundbars in a seamless, motorized, compact design. The Ascend concept introduces a 100-inch motorized floor-rising screen. Ascend pairs seamlessly with the AURA 2, XGIMI’s latest ultra-short-throw projector. Engineered to function both as a cinematic screen and an ambiance-enhancing display, Ascend offers versatility, allowing users to adjust the screen to just one-third of its height, creating a cozy, fireplace-like ambiance that transforms the room. Alternatively, it can extend to its full 100-inch display, delivering a true cinematic experience. With a wide-viewing angle and advanced contrast ratio enhancement that rejects ambient light, Ascend provides clarity and vibrancy across various lighting conditions, making it ideal for any space.
AURA 2 delivers a truly cinematic sound experience with its built-in 60-watt Harman Kardon speakers by DTS:X and Dolby Atmos immersive audio, and Dolby Vision HDR imaging. Ascend offers an alternative audio output option with its premium Harman Kardon soundbars.
Dynaudio Symphony Opus One
The Dynaudio Symphony Opus One is a preview of the company’s vision for the future of all-in-one home audio. The solution has a 73-inch wingspan, so it integrates with 83-inch TVs and houses Dynaudio sound technology for music, movies, and gaming. Symphony Opus One has 72 motorized wooden fins that move independently to display the current listening mode and serve as a unique design element. Behind these fins are 24 drive units — six soft-dome tweeters, 14 mid/bass drivers, and four dual-diaphragm force-canceling subwoofers. The drivers are powered by 1500 watts of digital amplification and processed by proprietary Dynaudio spatial-audio processing algorithms. The big difference between the new updated version of the Symphony Opus One concept and the previous iteration is that all that amplification and processing is now included inside the soundbar. This design enhancement results in a more straightforward installation process, as it eliminates the need to buy, house, and connect external components, thereby reducing the complexity of dealing with additional wiring.
