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Samsung’s latest Q-series soundbars include a $1,800 9.1.4 channel option
Samsung’s latest Q-series soundbars are its fanciest yet, with 9.1.4 channels.
LG's $1,000 sound bar is made to match the new GX series OLEDs
LG's flagship TV for 2020 is the GX series OLED. It hangs on the wall like a picture frame, and this $1,299 GX series sound bar is made to match it perfectly.
Sonos Arc review: An upgrade worth the wait
Sonos has finally given us an upgrade to the Playbar, and it’s impressive. The Arc has an improved design, modern features and stellar sound. Plus, Arc automatically adjusts if you choose to expand your system.
Samsung lets you enjoy nature with its 2,000-nit outdoor QLED TV
You can enjoy TV outdoors -- minus the glare from the sun -- with Samsung's new Terrace TV.
Samsung's 2020 soundbars include models with Alexa and object tracking
Samsung is releasing 2020 soundbars that are as much about looks as they are audio performance.
Sony's latest soundbar mimics spatial audio with a 3.1 setup
Sony's latest soundbar includes Dolby Atmos and vertical surround engine tech.
The Sonos Arc is a smart soundbar with Dolby Atmos support
Beyond the Arc’s Atmos support and adaptive audio tricks, it has all the things you’d expect from a modern Sonos speaker.
Sonos is reportedly giving the Playbar a long-awaited redesign
Sonos appears to be giving the Playbar an overdue makeover, including a slicker design and likely connectivity improvements.
Sony is still trying to make 360 Reality Audio a thing
At CES last year, Sony impressed me with its carefully planned headphone and speaker demos for 360 Reality Audio. The 2019 installment of the show was the debut for the company's immersive audio standard -- technology that we would repeatedly hear about until Amazon debuted the first device that could handle it: the Echo Studio. I wrote that Sony had created what I hoped would be the future of music, and I still feel that way. However, thus far, Sony has made the technology available on headphones through its audio companion app, via a camera-based ear calibration tool. But it still hasn't announced a speaker of its own, or added the capability to existing devices.
Watch TCL's CES 2020 press conference in seven minutes
TCL made a name for itself with bargain-priced 4K TVs that don't skimp on must-have features like Dolby Vision HDR, but the company is ready to move on to 8K TVs, new technology and other devices. At its CES 2020 press conference, TCL confirmed that its 8K Roku TV is still on the way and introduced Vidrian, a new form of Mini-LED technology that should mean better contrast and luminance.
Amazon is bringing Fire TV to cars and Dolby Atmos to its soundbars
Amazon plans to bring its Fire TV platform to in-car entertainment systems. Today, Amazon announced that Fire TV Edition for Auto will appear in future BMW and Fiat Chrysler vehicles. It will include access to Alexa, a touchscreen interface and offline playback capabilities. Content will be available through the vehicle's WiFi or LTE connection, a mobile hotspot or a WAN-enabled device.
JBL's first Dolby Atmos soundbar has detachable speakers
Ahead of CES this week, JBL has unveiled its first Dolby Atmos-compatible soundbar. The JBL Bar 9.1 features four Dolby Atmos drivers that point upwards to bounce audio around the room.
Vizio's new soundbar rotates its speakers for Dolby Atmos, DTS:X content
Vizio isn't just the brand that makes cheaper TVs with high-end features, over the last few years it's increasingly become known for offering a number of excellent home theater audio options too. For CES 2020 its soundbar lineup is getting a rebranding to match the popular M-Series and V-Series 4K televisions it sells, while a new premium soundbar is made to match the new OLED TVs it just announced. The Vizio Elevate Sound Bar (shown above) has 18 total drivers, with a pair of channels in the main soundbar that point forward when playing stereo or 5.1 audio, but automatically rotate up to increase height effects when they play Dolby Atmos and DTS:X encoded audio. It's made to work on its own with any TV, or to dock "seamlessly" with the Vizio OLED TVs. There's also a wireless 8-inch subwoofer and two satellite surround speakers that add p to 107dB of output. Like everything else Vizio is announcing today, there's no word on a price or release date. Other than that model, instead of simply branding its soundbars by size and speaker configuration, they now have M-Series and V-Series names just like its midrange 4K TVs (the Elevate has a P-Series model number, P514a, just like the high-end TVs). The M-Series and higher models with Atmos and DTS:X will have HDMI 2.1 inputs along with eARC support, so that you can pass through uncompressed Dolby and DTS Audio from built-in TV apps.
Klipsch's flagship soundbar supports Alexa, AirPlay 2 and Dolby Atmos
Klipsch is joining the growing ranks of audio giants with connected soundbars. It's refreshing its TV-friendly audio lineup at CES, and the headliner is the tech-savvy Bar 54 (above). It includes WiFi that supports Alexa, Google Assistant and AirPlay 2 -- it's not a smart speaker in the conventional sense (there's no mention of a mic), but you can send streaming media directly to the soundbar. It's also a 5.1.4 unit (7.1.4 if you tack on a Surround 3) with a 12-inch wireless subwoofer and support for Dolby Atmos, including through eARC for built-in apps. Unfortunately, it's both expensive and a long ways off -- it'll cost $1,499 when it ships in the fall.
LG's 2020 soundbars add 'AI Room calibration' to optimize their audio
CES is right around the corner, and that means we'll once again meet a slew of new home theater equipment. LG is unveiling its 2020 soundbar lineup right now, and a new headline feature for this year is "AI Room Calibration." Exactly what separates this tech from non-AI automatic calibration we've seen is unclear, but LG is openly committed to applying machine learning and related technology across its products. Combined with content mastered in Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, it should make everything sound more accurate no matter what kind of room you're in, how many speakers are hooked up or where they're located. We'll have to get some demo time to see how effective the technology is, but this year's new SN family of soundbars (SN11RG, SN10YG, SN9YG, and SN8YG) have 4K passthrough, eARC and more tech designed to make sure they work in any kind of setup. The SN11RG is the top of the line, a 7.1.4 package with wireless rear speakers that can also project sound up for a true 3D effect. It's also still integrating audio tech from Meridian, and in 2020 LG says that Google Assistant will be built into more models. If the package you buy only comes with the main soundbar, there's also the SPK8 Wireless Rear Speaker Kit to add-on surround speakers later for maximum flexibility. There's no word on pricing or ship dates, but we should learn more about these -- and the sleek TVs LG will pair them with -- next week at CES 2020.
What to buy for your new 4K TV
It's that time of year -- the one when everyone is looking at a new TV. If you've picked out a brand new 4K set, then congratulations, there's more beautiful HDR -- and not-quite HDR -- footage to experience than ever before. Of course, the journey doesn't end there, and now that you've got your new TV, it's time to think about what you're putting around it. Have you thought about sound, or what remote control you'll use? After more than a decade of reviewing TVs, accessories and watching the sales every year, I have some advice on what else you'll need after the TV is out of the box, so that you can get to the part where you're on the couch enjoying it as fast as possible. All prices listed are accurate as of this writing.
Save $300 on a highly-recommended Sony Dolby Atmos soundbar this week
Look, I get it. You'd love to have Sennheiser's Ambeo soundbar, but you can't bring yourself to drop $2,500 on one. That's one of the main reasons we recommended several other options in our soundbar buyer's guide in September. More specifically, there was an alternative that would save you some money while still offering the immersive sound of Dolby Atmos: Sony's HT-ST500. The soundbar typically costs $1,500, but this week at Amazon, you can snag one for $1,198.
Save up to $300 on Vizio soundbars with these early Black Friday deals
If you plan to purchase a 4K TV this Black Friday or want to upgrade your existing sound system, Best Buy has discounted several Vizio soundbars ahead of next week. To start, you can get the SB46514-F6 for $700, down from $1000. This 5.1.4-channel system comes with a 10-inch subwoofer and four upward-facing speakers (for Dolby Atmos), as well as support for Google Assistant. You can also stream music to it through WiFi and Bluetooth. Our friends at Wirecutter say the SB46514-F6 is "the best soundbar you can find in the $1,000-or-less price range."
Walmart intros low-cost versions of Roku's smart soundbar and subwoofer (updated)
Were you tempted by Roku's Smart Soundbar and Wireless Subwoofer only to be put off by the $180 price tag? Walmart has your back, provided you're willing to make some compromises. It's releasing Onn-branded versions of both devices that start at an easier-to-swallow $129. They don't appear to have Roku's voice control remote (just a basic model), but you're not otherwise giving up too much. They'll arrive at Walmart stores sometime in the "coming weeks."
Get $100 off the Polk Command Bar right now at Amazon
The Polk Command Bar is one of our top picks for a solid mid-range soundbar. Usually listed for $299, it's currently discounted at $100 off. So for the time being, you can get it for just $199 on Amazon.
