Getting the best soundbar for gaming may truly elevate your desktop or TV setup, but with so many options available, it can be difficult to know where to begin. We’ve done some of the effort for you and chosen a few soundbars that we think stand out from the pack based on specs, reviews, and features they provide for nearly every budget.
If you plan to use your soundbar for both console and PC gaming, the first step is to measure your desk, media stand, or both. Although soundbars have a slim profile, they exist in a variety of sizes. As a general rule, a soundbar should be about the same size as your screen, if not a few inches smaller. Wherever it comes to gaming, though, you’ll need space for your console, keyboard, mouse, and other peripherals, so go for sleeker, more space-conscious solutions when possible.
Check the connectors on your TV or gaming setup next; you’ll need to do this to make sure you can connect your soundbar of choice. HDMI, optical, USB, and aux are just a few of the wire kinds you might come across. If you want to go wireless, ensure sure your soundbar and your device are both Bluetooth-enabled.
Last but not least, there’s the sound quality. The number of drivers or channels in a soundbar speaker is similar to the number of drivers or channels in the finest gaming headphones in that the quality is mostly determined by the number of drivers or channels. And, just in case you need a little help interpreting when you’re out shopping: The most common channel designations are ‘2.0’, ‘5.1,’ and so on. The number preceding the decimal denotes the number of channels, whereas the number after the decimal indicates whether or not a subwoofer is included. A 2.0 soundbar has two channels and no subwoofer, whereas a 5.1 soundbar has five channels with a subwoofer. Of course, the latter will provide a more powerful audio experience.
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SAMSUNG HW-Q950A 11.1.4ch Soundbar with Dolby Atmos/DTS:X Alexa Built in
- Package Quantity: 1
- Package Dimensions: 129.54 H x 27.94 L x 60.96 W (centimeters)
- Package Weight: 27.216 kilograms
From the best phones to the best gaming monitors, Samsung has a lot of amazing gaming devices. If you’re using a Samsung TV or monitor, it’s only natural to complement it with one of their powerful soundbars.
The HW-Q950A combines a powerful soundbar with a capable subwoofer and rear speakers to produce a rich and theatrical soundscape that sounds excellent for watching movies, TV shows, or playing video games. Of course, you can listen to your favourite tunes online.
This soundbar isn’t cheap, but you get what you pay for: a high-quality audio experience in your living room, no matter what shape or size it takes. This system includes a soundbar, two rear speakers, and a subwoofer, so keep that in mind. This is the Best Soundbar for Gaming in 2023.
Sonos Playbar
- The mountable soundbar for TV, movies, music, and more
- Enjoy crisp dialogue and impressive bass from wall to wall with Playbar. Control it with the Sonos app,...
- Whether you mount it on the wall or place it below your TV on a stand or console, Playbar automatically...
This small playbar epitomizes the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover.” The tremendous sounds that this sleek and stylish bar can reproduce will certainly surprise you. It’s clear that they put in the effort to build a bar that isn’t solely focused on the gaming experience, but also aims to elevate your music listening experience.
The experience and world-class rating of the Sound Engineers who designed the box’s structural and technological design will become apparent the moment you play a track in your playbar. The way surround sound technology is supplied is designed to reproduce game conditions while also improving the music and speech. The setup is so simple with the streamlined wired connection process that you could do it in your sleep.
When they’re shooting at you, the last thing you need is a breakdown in communication or a connection bump. The wireless connection at this pub is incredibly stable, allowing for real-time streaming. This integrated speaker was designed so that you don’t need any other add-ons to get a fully immersive experience, whether you’re playing games, watching movies, or listening to music.
They did, however, consider individuals who enjoy being a little out of the ordinary. Despite the fact that the internal speakers are already amplified, you have the option of pairing it with a couple of Sono stereos and an external sub for a more intense gaming experience.
Samsung HW-Q60R Harman Kardon 5.1 Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer
- Product Dimensions: 43.3" W x 2.32" H x 3.93" D | Spk (sub woofer) Net Dimension: 8.07" W x 13.89" H x...
- Includes: Remote Control, Battery, Wall Mount Kit and Optical Cable
- Balanced, room-filling sound: 5. 1 Channel sound bar combines Samsung innovation with Harmon Kardon audio...
Samsung HW Q60R Harman Kardon 5.1 Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer is probably the best soundbar for 5.1 gaming. When we talk about the best sound experience whether, in terms of sound or other features, this Samsung HW always comes into play for home theater. If not wholly compact, Samsung’s 48 1/4inches is quite useful in length as compared to other large soundbars. It consists of 2 HDMI ins and outs, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi connection, optical, and audio return channel. Also, a USB port is provided, but that’s only for service purposes. You can’t playback files with the help of this USB port.
At a bit advanced level, it contains an inbuilt chrome cast and is highly compatible with Amazon Alexa. There are 13 inbuilt speakers with 3D cinematic audio quality.
How can we forget its subwoofer? It has an excellent sound frequency range of 34Hz to 17 kHz. For flawless audio experience, you can also use its HDR10 and UHD 4K sources. All in all, it’s a great match if you are looking for best soundbar with Dolby Atmos. It comes with a powerful wireless subwoofer to give you surround sound experience.
Samsung 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos Soundbar is the best soundbar for gaming in 5.1 in 2023. Well worth the price.
Yamaha YAS-108 Sound Bar with Built-in Subwoofers & Bluetooth
- Built in subwoofers for deep bass in 1 slim sound bar
- Clear voice for enhanced dialogue clarity. Bluetooth maximum communication Range 33 feet; (without...
- DTS Virtual: X Virtual 3D surround sound; Standby Power Consumption 0.4W (HDMI CEC standby off), 1.2W...
The Yamaha YAS 108 offers an impressive amount of features for a $ 200 soundbar, including HDMI, 4K passthrough, a variety of sound modes, and Bluetooth support for listening to music. It also packs great sound into its small design, delivering crisp highs and satisfying bass thanks to the built-in subwoofers that boost the bass without the need for additional speakers.
The sound bar is equipped with 3D surround sound which enhances the voice and creates maximum immersion. This is an entry-level soundbar with HDR support that allows users to directly connect 4K Ultra HD sources to the soundbar. The budget gaming setup also supports multiple Bluetooth connections, which allows you to connect two Bluetooth devices to the soundbar at the same time. If you like fine-tuning the settings, the YAS 108 contains several presets, including 3D surround for maximum immersion and Clear Voice for increased dialogue. It’s rare that you find this combination of features for the price, making the YAS-108 the best soundbar for those looking to stay in the $ 200 price point.
The Yamaha YAS-108 is a good quality sound bar and packed with amazing features for all gamers. The soundbar supports Bluetooth connectivity, 4K passthrough, and HDMI to mention some of the features. The device is quite compact and light and still delivers incredible bass and high crisps. There are built-in subwoofers that eliminate the need for additional speakers. This is the best budget soundbar for gaming in 2023.
Vizio 2.1 Wireless Sound Bar
- Enjoy 100 dB of room filling, crystal clear sound with less than 1 percent total harmonic distortion
- Wireless subwoofer adds rich bass from anywhere in the room
- Built in Bluetooth lets you lose the wires and listen to your music with a tap of a finger with built in...
Vizio 2.1 Wireless Sound Bar probably is the best soundbar for wireless. A great soundbar with a subwoofer that can hide almost anywhere. Well, you have three styles to choose from. Anyone looking for affordable soundbars has heard Vizio and their great products at reasonable prices. In terms of look, we may rate low. But, there’s no competition in terms of its sound quality. To enhance the look, it has a couple of silver accents on sides as well as the front of the soundbar.
The slim design lets you easily fit under the TV, and no one would even notice the presence of computer speakers over there. All you got to do is to understand the basic functionalities and settings of the soundbar for gaming work, and you’re good to go.
Generally, it’s a smooth plug n play operation except that sometimes you may need to change up a little bit in your TV settings. Apart from simple setup, it has a Bluetooth, digital connection, 3.5mm port connection, and USB port. Not to forget, the range of subwoofer goes up to 60 feet wirelessly from the soundbar’s line of sight. However, there is no HDMI port and any supportive app for the soundbar. You have to consider here that it does what it’s supposed to do. It helps to take out that adventurous sounds from your games and let them reach you happily.
Vizio 2.1 Wireless Sound Bar is the best soundbar for gaming in 2.1 in 2023.
TaoTronics Computer Wired Soundbar
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TaoTronics present a quite lovely and sleek mini soundbar for gaming with required audio quality functions. There is a 3.5mm jack that makes this compatible with a wide range of devices, including Laptop, PC, TV, computer, Gaming consoles, or projectors. By having among the best soundbars, you won’t have to sacrifice for space as much in your living room. Your valuable living room gaming space can be significantly organized with its slim design. If you are a beginner or looking for just a basic soundbar, give this product a chance this year and enjoy simple functions.
Along with the audio port, it also consists of a USB port and side LEDs to brighten up the accent. It just requires a basic plug and plays an operational setup. At the back, you can check DC port, 3.5mm headphone output, and microphone input. You can easily adjust the sound from the side rotating button. However, there are no features like HDMI arc, app support, and off-button. So, if you are not looking for such advanced features, it may prove to be one of the top picks as a mini speaker or best gaming soundbar.
TaoTronics Computer Wired Soundbar is the best budget gaming soundbar in 2023.
Creative Sound BlasterX Katana
- Under monitor Audio system: so sleek, yet so powerful
- Aurora reactive lighting system: light up your setup
- 5-driver design: expertly tuned acoustics
Creative Sound BlasterX Katana is one of the best gaming soundbars with an interactive LED system. This one looks unique and astounding while in performance. Plus, they are heavily marketed and loved by users as active gaming soundbars. The design is very low-profile, so it won’t take much of your space on a computer desk or wherever you are playing games. Well, we are highly impressed by the look and LED interaction of the soundbar at the bottom.
On the other hand, you can expect exceptional audio quality with 5-driver design and other tuned acoustics. It is featured by the powerful multi-core audio DSP system for the required performance. Furthermore, Katana uses multi-core Digital Signal Processor (DSP) technology as a dedicated high-frequency sound wave. With enhanced features, the soundbar is highly compatible with different multimedia devices. Along with the subwoofer, you will also get an easy to use remote control. The soundbar has got different connectivity options, and the sub is quiet in operation. However, you can check the dimensions for space availability.
Creative Sound BlasterX Katana is one of the best soundbars for gaming.
Razer Leviathan Soundbar
- Immersive 5.1 Channel Surround Sound For Gaming And Movies
- Bluetooth V4.0 Aptx For Wireless Music Streaming
- Dedicated Subwoofer For Deep Immersive Bass
Razer Leviathan Soundbar is one of the best gaming soundbars you can buy. You get all the installation instructions on the soundbar itself. There is no other manual guide or such other things provided. To project those high-quality battle scenes, it may prove to be the best gaming soundbar with amazing specs. Well, the box is quite heavy and rugged with a medium-sized subwoofer. With regards to connectivity, there is an optical in, sub out, aux in, and a USB service port.
The sound frequency range of subwoofer varies by 180Hz to 20 kHz. The surround sound system is an award-winning sound technology that can be connected via Bluetooth for an indispensable wireless experience. There are 3.5mm audio ports that are highly suitable with a range of devices. At the same time, you will love its preset equalizers that can be tuned for movies, gaming, and music.
Razer Leviathan Soundbar is the best soundbar for PC gaming 2023 at an affordable price.
Factors to Consider Before Buying the Best Soundbar for Gaming
Are there any subwoofers?
No doubt, a soundbar is a major improvement factor upon internal speakers for the excellent gaming experience. Still, a question comes up in mind. Should we get a soundbar with a subwoofer or without it? The elements like exploding bombs, rumbling bass, and whump whump of blades of the helicopter are all produced by soundbar’s subwoofer.
So, it works as a speaker driver to it and reproduces low-frequency audio. It will add punch to various movies, TV shows, and exciting games. However, if you don’t want to cover up space or to look for just a single soundbar, simply buy one without a subwoofer. But, you should always remember that subwoofers are advantageous.
Check for different connections!
Many soundbars can work with optical cables, and it’s also easy to connect to a TV or laptop where you’re gaming. Still, HDMI ports are recommended and found to be beneficial. It is because of the large number of format support by HDMI. You will be offered with high-quality sound comparatively. Sometimes, you will also get Audio Return Channel with HDMI, which means the exchange of information is now comfortable with that particular soundbar.
Dolby Atmos and Channels
Channels and subwoofers are generally labeled as 2.1, where 2 are the channels, and 1 is the subwoofer. When you get subwoofers, you don’t have to connect them physically and you can be creative enough with them. The best soundbar supports Dolby Atmos Surround sounds if there’s a third number such as 5.1.4 etc.
Dolby Atmos sound system is considered as best, which further helps in stimulating the dedicated height channel speakers. It is also said to be the most premium surround sound technology that is capable of processing almost 128 different objects in a given scene.
Placements and IR sensors
If you want to use the controls effectively, you need to consider the placement carefully. IR sensors are the ones where remote control will send the signal, and it further instructs the speaker to process. Some soundbars also come with IR repeaters, which pass the signal to soundbar and TV’s sensor. So, it’s an aesthetic factor that you need to look upon for practical placements and controls while considering the best soundbars.
Bass
Bass is the last important thing you need to consider before buying the best soundbar for gaming. It should be thick, deep, and amplified. The soundbars with considerable bass are very acceptable among users.
Voice Assistant Support
Along with these features, you can also check for factors like voice assistant support with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for me: a surround system or soundbar?
Both soundbars and surround systems are sound systems with different features in terms of ease of use and compatibility etc. Soundbars are easy to set up and compact as well. Their price range also varies from a bit inexpensive to luxurious. On the other hand, surround systems are appealing as well, but they take a bit more time to set up and big in structure than the best soundbars. As the name suggests, surround systems surround your home. That’s why soundbars are beneficial to get in terms of ease of installation, connectivity, and compactness.
Are soundbars good for gaming?
Of course, the best soundbars are suitable for gaming because you don’t want to spend large bucks on the surround system. Plus, you will not get that kind of compactness with such systems. All the facilities, including premium sound technology and other features, are provided in the best soundbar for gaming.
Are soundbars compatible with PlayStation, Nintendo Switch or Xbox?
You should opt for the best soundbars with PS4 for listening to audio and playing games over there for hours. They will drastically improve your gaming experience on PS4. Therefore, Play Stations are the ones with which you can religiously enjoy the benefits of gaming soundbars.
How do I connect my gaming console to the soundbar?
Most consoles are compatible with HDR that delivers high-tech realistic picture quality with a wide range of details and colors. To enjoy this convenience, you just need to plug your PS5 or Xbox Series X directly into the TV and enjoy HDR. Well, you will need to have a high-speed HDMI cable for that. First, connect your gaming console to the supported port and then connect your soundbar with HDMI 3 (ARC port) on TV.
Do soundbars have amplifiers?
To know it, you must understand the difference between active and passive soundbars. Active soundbars have an all-in-one setup, which means they have amplifiers, speakers, and killer processing. So, this further makes them more compact and streamlined look. On the other hand, passive soundbars don’t contain inbuilt amps. So, you may need an extra receiver or amplifier. However, these passive soundbars produce somewhat crispy sound comparatively. Both of active and passive soundbars can be considered among the best soundbars, depending on your needs.