10 Best Soundbars in Australia for Optimal Audio | Best of Home 2023

You just bought a new television for your home, and the visuals are looking pretty, but something is missing. A viewing experience is not complete without amazing audio, and your television speakers are not enough. What you need is a soundbar that delivers clear and powerful sounds in a sleek and subtle profile. However, with an extensive variety of soundbars in the market, which then is the best soundbars in Australia? In our Best of Home series, we introduce the 10 Best Soundbars in Australia, providing quality recommendations based on your lifestyle and budget needs.

This article was last updated on 03 January 2023.

10 Best Soundbars in Australia

1. Samsung HW-Q950A Soundbar

Immersive audible experience

Straight from the Samsung Audio Lab, the HW-Q950A Soundbar comes packed with equipment that can elevate your listening experience. Its Dolby Atmos Rear Speakers fires from all angles to deliver 3D sounds, while its wireless subwoofer delivers deep bass for extra impact. Plug that HDMI into your Samsung Neo QLED TV with eARC Connection, and take your movie-watching sessions to another level. Experience total sound collaboration between TV and soundbar thanks to Q-Symphony and watch True Dolby ATMOS and DTS:X content in optimal quality.

Adapt to any situation

Different living spaces end up changing the sound that comes from any system. However, this is no problem for the HW-Q950A. With Space EQ, the soundbar automatically adjusts its audio levels to fit the acoustics of your home in Australia. Similarly, its Adaptive Sound chooses the best audio settings whether you are listening to dialogue, sports, news, or movies. In fact, if the noise around seems to distract you from your watching experience, you can use its Active Voice Amplifier to bump up the dialogue in proportion to these distractions. Additionally, what’s great about the HW-Q950A for hardcore gamers is its Game Mode Pro that offers optimized and highly directional sounds for a better gaming experience.

Get connected

Control everything with a tap of a finger with Samsung’s Smart Connectivity. You can control playlists with Apple AirPlay 2, conduct setup with the SmartThings app, and stream from mobile by simply calling out to Amazon Alexa. After getting your Neo QLED TV from Samsung, you need not go far for another controller for your soundbar. The One Remote Control lets you turn your soundbar on and off, change the volume, and choose your preferred sound and equalization settings without having to switch between two remotes.

Why buy this:

• Perfect match for Samsung Neo QLED TVs thanks to Q-Symphony synchronization
• Delivers True Dolby ATMOS and DTS:X content with Dolby Atmos Rear Speakers
• Optimize audio levels based on room acoustics thanks to Space EQ
• Features like Active Voice Amplifier, Adaptive Sound, and Game Mode Pro
• Smart Connectivity with the mobile SmartThings app and One Remote Control

2. Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar

Clean and crisp quality

Experience surround sound in all its glory with the 13 independent drivers of the high-end Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar. These virtual speakers come punching with deep bass you would expect only from standalone subwoofers. With its Upmix Technology, you can stream stereo or 5.1 audio as 3D sounds you come to love from cinemas. What’s great about this soundbar is that it can even adapt to your room’s acoustics thanks to virtualization technology from Fraunhofer.

Big things come in slim packages

On the outside, you have the modern appeal of minimalist brushed aluminum. On the inside, you have an array of services for that complete cinematic experience. Built-in with eARC and Dolby Vision HDMI standards, AMBEO is capable of playing Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and MPEG-H content. Experience no drop in video quality thanks to its 4k passthrough compatibility. After your movie sessions, dive into a virtual concert with 360 Reality Audio through the soundbar’s integrated Chromecast and control all the acoustic settings through the Smart Control app. 

Why buy this:

• Virtualization technology from Fraunhofer adapts to environment acoustics
• 13 high-end independent drivers and AMBEO technology delivers surround sound
• Upmix Technology for turning stereo or 5.1 audio into a 3D sound experience
• 4k passthrough and Bluetooth compatibility and Chromecast built-in
• Equipped with HDMI standards (i.e. eARC and Dolby Vision)

3. Sonos Arc Soundbar

Sounds just like the real thing

Get the full dynamic range with our third pick of soundbars in Australia. From high notes to deep bass, the Sonos Arc Soundbar’s 11 high-performance drivers deliver. What we love about this soundbar is its ability to playback audio as close as possible to the original. With 8 elliptical woofers and wireless rear surrounds, you will be taken to that scene immediately. In fact, you can even hear every detail of dialogue thanks to the Arc’s Speech Enhancement feature. Whether your favorite characters are merely whispering or caught in the midst of intense action, you do not need to lean in further. This is possible due to the soundbar’s 3 silk-dome tweeters angled just right to produce those high frequencies.

With great hardware comes great software

The Sonos Arc is packed not only with quality components but also systems that make full use of their potential. Get the best audio for any room you are in with its TrueplayTM software. Then, adjust the equalization to your preferred settings. Turn down the loud sounds and enhance the subtle details by pressing the soundbar’s Night Sound option in the Sonos app. Speaking of apps, you can stream music, radio, and podcasts straight from Sonos or Apple AirPlay 2. On top of that, Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa can make all your instructions done much simpler.

Why buy this:

• 11 drivers, 8 woofers, and 3 tweeters for delivering a full range of sounds
• Sonos app or Apple AirPlay 2-compatibility for online streaming
• Speech Enhancement and Night Sound features to hear subtle details more clearly
• Wireless sub and matching rear surrounds for immersive listening
• TrueplayTM software to adjust audio to room acoustics

4. Samsung HW-Q870A Soundbar

From the same world-class audio engineers that built our top soundbar, the Samsung HW-Q870A delivers similar features at a slightly more competitive price. Experience sound effects booming all around the room with Acoustic Beam Technology. Wireless Dolby Atmos Rear Speakers provide power and clarity wherever you place them.

For the full movie aesthetic, attach the HDMI eARC from the soundbar to your Samsung QLED TV and let Q-Symphony harmonize the two. As you watch True Dolby ATMOS and DTS:X content, choose between various sound modes: Surround Sound Expansion, Game Mode Pro, Adaptive, and Standard. With settings and everything else, do everything with a simple tap or call thanks to this soundbar’s Smart Connectivity.

Why buy this:

• Acoustic Beam Technology fires directional and overhead effects all around the room
• Q-Symphony syncs motion tracking sound between HW-Q870A and Samsung QLED TV
• Surround Sound Expansion, Game Mode Pro, Adaptive, and Standard sound modes
• Wireless Dolby Atmos rear speakers for flexible surround sound
• Smart Connectivity to steam from mobile app

5. Yamaha YAS-209 Soundbar

If you are looking for something easy to use and install, then the Yamaha YAS-209 Soundbar might be what you need. Simply use your existing HDMI-CEC TV remote control or the Sound Bar Controller app to control your audio settings. If that is still too complicated for you, then the system’s surround sound comes with preset modes you can choose. Then, let the deep bass of the wireless subwoofer and the 3D sound of DTS® Virtual:X immerse you into whatever you are watching. No need to further strain nearer the soundbar just to hear the quieter scenes thanks to the YAS-209’s Clear Voice. After the movies, kick back and relax with Bluetooth® streaming and call on Alexa to play your music, podcasts, and more.

Why buy this:

• Built-in Alexa voice control and Bluetooth® compatibility
• Wireless subwoofer for deep bass and flexible placement
• DTS® Virtual:X 3D surround sound
• Clear Voice for enhanced dialogue clarity
• Surround sound preset modes

6. Bose Smart Soundbar 700

What we love about the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is that it looks great and sounds great. ADAPTiQ audio room calibration optimizes sound according to your environment and PhaseGuide technology directs all of this to make your room feel like the cinemas. While the music comes powerfully, you can expect little to no distortion on the bass thanks to QuietPort technology. Regardless of how loud everything gets, however, the soundbar’s 8-mic array will be able to pick up anything you say so Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa can follow your commands. You can even make sure of this when the elegant bar on the soundbar’s glass top lights up. And with Bose SimpleSync technology, you can keep everything private in your Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. 

Why buy this:

• QuietPort technology reduces noise and allows more sound for distortion-free bass
• PhaseGuide technology directs multi-directional sound to induce spaciousness
• Custom 8-microphone array for voice pickup through any loud noises
• ADAPTiQ audio room calibration for enhanced acoustic performance
• Bose SimpleSync technology pairs soundbar to Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

7. JBL Bar 9.1

The JBL Bar 9.1 comes with 4 up-firing speakers, 2 detachable surround speakers, and a 10” wireless subwoofer to give that true 3D sound. What’s great about its surround speakers is that you can place them anywhere else in the room away from your soundbar and keep blasting for 10 hours for every full recharge. With the Ultra HD 4K Passthrough capabilities, you can attach this soundbar to your television and play Dolby Atmos and DTS:X content for a 9.1 cinematic experience in your home in Australia. Furthermore, the built-in Chromecast and AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi compatibilities make it a convenient and multifunctional soundbar.

Why buy this:

• Built-in Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and 4 up-firing speakers for a true 3D sound experience
• 2 detachable surround speakers can last up to 10 hours for every full recharge
• 10” wireless subwoofer provides that punchy and precise bass
• Ultra HD 4K Passthrough with Dolby Vision for no drops in video quality
• Built-in Chromecast and AirPlay 2 + Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatibility

8. Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Soundbar

With only two cables and a step-by-step guide, the Sonos Beam Soundbar is incredibly easy to set up. Oscar-award-winning sound engineers have packed quite a lot of technology in this elegant perforated grille soundbar. Its TruePlay tuning adjusts to the room’s acoustics, Dolby Atmos provides 3D sounds with mapping, and its advanced audio processing makes sure the sound stays just right no matter how loud or quiet it gets. You can even switch on the Sonos app for Speech Enhancement or Night Sound options when the situation calls for it.

Why buy this:

• 40% faster chip than predecessor creates 2 new audio paths for virtual surround sound
• Built-in with Trueplay tuning technology, Dolby Atmos, and advanced audio processing
• Speech Enhancement and Night Sound options in the Sonos app
• New elegant design made with precisely perforated grille
• Apple AirPlay 2 compatibility + built-in Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant

9. JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam

Turn your room into a wide soundstage with the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The Multibeam technology immerses everything wall to wall in sound. You can even ditch a separate subwoofer as the soundbar’s four passive radiators already deliver that much-needed bass punch. Connect it to an HDMI eARC, a Dolby Atmos player, and a TV, and you’re all set for a complete 3D sound experience. Moreover, you can conveniently stream content online with Chromecast and AirPlay or through any Bluetooth device. On top of that, what we love about the Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is its Alexa Multi-Room Music (MRM) function allowing the same or different music to play in separate rooms at the same time.

Why buy this:

• JBL Multibeam technology calibrates to the room layout to deliver sound wall to wall
• Built-in Virtual Dolby Atmos with Dolby Vision 4K Passthrough for movie immersion
• 4 built-in passive radiators to provide bass without a separate subwoofer
• Built-in Chromecast, AirPlay, and Alexa Multi-Room Music for online streaming
• Bluetooth wireless streaming and voice control with Google Assitant, Alexa, and Siri

10. Sony HT-X8500 Soundbar

Last but not least on our list of soundbars in Australia, the Sony HT-X8500 Soundbar provides the full movie experience in Cinema mode. Its advanced DSP converts any stereo audio into a full cinematic sound that comes out of the two front speakers and built-in dual subwoofer. The soundbar can even play high bitrate surround sound with its Vertical Surround Engine. Connect it to your BRAVIA TV to play high-quality movies or stream through with Bluetooth without a drop in quality thanks to the 4K HDR 18Gbps pass through. What’s great about this soundbar is that it comes with more modes optimizing the sound for different situations: Game, Sports, Music, and News.

Why buy this:

• Vertical Surround Engine plays Dolby Atmos and DTS:X content
• Advanced digital signal processing for full cinematic sound on two front speakers
• Built-in dual subwoofers for more bass using less space
• Perfect match for a BRAVIA TV with Bluetooth capabilities and 4K HDR pass through
• 5 different sound modes: Cinema, Game, Sports, Music, and News

We hope that our guide on the 10 Best Soundbars in Australia has helped you to buy the best soundbars in Australia for an optimal audio experience. Please share this with your family and friends if you have found it useful.

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