The best soundbar is a great way to improve the quality of your home theater, but it’s not always easy to choose one that will do what you want and be worth its cost. We’ve been testing out some of the best soundbars under 1000 on the market, including the Bose Soundbar 700, Sonos Playbar, Samsung HW-MS650/ZA, and Sony HT-Z9F. These are all excellent products that offer different features and performance levels, so we wanted to see how they are stacked up against each other in our tests.
Our goal was to find the top soundbar for most people who don’t have a lot of audio experience with them or money to spend. That means that we focused on audio quality over fancy features like wireless connectivity or voice assistants. We also looked at ease of use and setup time, as well as whether the soundbar could handle multiple speakers and room sizes.
Soundbars are quickly becoming the norm for home theater systems. The speakers, which are usually housed in a long bar that can be mounted to an entertainment center or wall, provide excellent sound quality without any external wires or equipment. However, not all soundbars are created equal.
As technology improves, soundbars continue to get better and better. Today’s models can handle Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, or even Auro 3D depending on your preferences. With so many features to choose from it is hard to know which one will be best for you. This list of the top four best soundbar under 1000 should help narrow down your choices with various features that might interest you.
- All-new Sonos Arc - Bring all your entertainment to life with the brilliantly realistic sound of Arc, featuring Dolby Atmos. Enjoy control with your TV remote, voice, the Sonos app, Apple AirPlay 2, and more
- 3D sound with Dolby Atmos - Experience shows, movies, and games with the precise and immersive sound of Dolby Atmos
- Tuned to perfection - Enhanced Trueplay tuning technology optimizes the sound for the unique acoustics of the room
- Immerse yourself in the music - Stream music, radio, podcasts, and more from your favorite services with the Sonos app or Apple AirPlay 2 when the TV is off
- Class 10 for Full HD video recording and playback (Full HD (1920x1080) video support may vary based upon host device, file attributes, and other factors.)
- 820W Output power
- Built-in Dolby Atmos and DTS: X decoding
- With detachable, battery powered surround speakers you can enjoy real surround sound without the wires
- Experience deep bass with a 300W, 10" powered subwoofer
- Ultra HD 4K Pass-through with Dolby Vision
4 Best Soundbar Under $1000
Top Choice: Bose Soundbar 700
Right off the bat, we have a soundbar that will likely exceed your expectations in terms of bass and performance. This model has two built-in subwoofers which allow for well-rounded and fully immersive surround sound.
- Best Bose soundbar: The best-performing soundbar from Bose, featuring immersive sound, deep bass, and easy access to your entertainment. Use the Bose Music app for guided setup
- Built-in Alexa: Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are built into this smart soundbar for hands-free voice control. And a noise-rejecting mic system listens in every direction for your voice
- TV voice control: Exclusive Bose Voice4Video technology expands your Alexa capabilities, allowing you to control this smart soundbar, your TV, and your cable/satellite box with one voice command
- Make or take calls: With Alexa only, make or take calls from this smart soundbar to Bose smart products, Amazon Echo products, and anyone in your contacts list. Hands free, phone free, and free of charge.
- Connectivity: Stream your favorite music and more via a Bluetooth connection, your home Wi-Fi network, Apple AirPlay 2, or Spotify Connect
Bose Soundbar 700 incorporates the QuietPort and PhaseGuide technology along with the ADAPTiQ Collaboration that has the built-in Google Assistant and Alexa along with a universally designed remote control that supports eARC.
It is 978mm wide that is capable of suiting the 40-55inch TV screens; however, it doesn’t support Dolby Atmos and DTS:X and neither has any HDMI output/input ports. Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks can be played through the Bose SoundBar 700 using its optical input.
Priced less than $700 it is a sleek design affordable soundbar with a perforated glass top that reflects the TV screen when it is played which is not a very plus point.
The Bose SimpleSync technology allows the users to pair their Bose noise-canceling headphones 700 with the Soundbar. This is particularly useful when you do not want to disturb others.
Sonos Playbar
Sonos Playbar is an excellent soundbar under the USD 1000 range since it is a bit on the higher side but is very stylish in design that will complement your elegant furniture at home.
- 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, your remote, and more
- Whether you mount it on the wall or place it below your TV on a stand or console, Playbar automatically tunes itself for the best possible sound
- Playbar was specially tuned by Oscar-winning sound engineers to emphasize the sound of the human voice so you can always follow the story
- Easily connect Sonos speakers in different rooms over WiFi to create a home sound system that brings every room and everyone together
Furthermore, it has nine wireless speakers (three tweeters and six mid-range along with a Class D amplifier that delivers a clear and detailed sound but if you are looking to create an immersive listening experience you will have to use wireless subwoofers that will manage the bass and make it more out of this world experience.
The Playbar has a Wii-FI connectivity option but lacks the option of HDMI input so the reliance will mainly be on the optical input.
Priced at less than $600, it is an expensive soundbar considering the external subwoofers required which is an additional cost but an excellent one when it comes to the quality of sound and is easy to assemble.
Samsung Premium Soundbars (HW-MS650/ZA)
This soundbar is a 3.0 channel bar and offers a 4K TV HDR-ready HDMI-In/Out along with its availability of Samsung’s wireless multiroom audio/music app and provides access to Pandora, Tidal, IHeartRadio, and Spotify. It comes with a stylish remote for voice control that you can use to control the volume, settings, and bass level.
- ULTRA-DEEP BASS: Add room-shaking bass to your Samsung Sound+ soundbar with a 10-inch driver and frequency range of 27Hz~120Hz
- WIRELESS CONNECTION: Connects wirelessly to your Sound+ soundbar and can be placed virtually anywhere in the room
- SEAMLESS OPERATION: Automatically tunes itself to the Sound+ soundbar it’s connected to for just the right level of bass
- HOME THEATER SOUND: 9 speakers with dedicated amps let you experience rich, room-filling home theater sound from a one-piece soundbar without the need for a separate subwoofer
- WIDE-RANGE TWEETER: Hear consistently great sound anywhere in the room with tweeters that cover a much wider frequency range
Furthermore, this soundbar is an all-in-one speaker device that incorporates a woofer as well that will save you the hassle of getting the subwoofer for your room and the cost associated with it; the subwoofer included is designed so intricately that it blends in with the compact soundbar so well that results in it giving an invisible and sleek look.
This smart soundbar is wall mountable as well as can be placed on the furniture but whilst hanging on the wall you got to see that it is almost 13.7 pounds which is approximately 6.2 kgs so it needs a bolster when hanging on the wall.
While this soundbar is capable of being supported by an HDMI ARC port and Wi-Fi it also includes a USB, analog input, and a digital optical port for connection and has a power input to connect you to the Samsung TV and one power socket to be connected on the wall. Make sure the sound bar receives an appropriate audio signal from the TV. You might be able to choose between PCM, Dolby digital, and bitstream audio formats.
This soundbar is an excellent choice with a wide array of noticeable features for the ones who want to go beyond the simple requirement to make the sound better. The sound quality is good and has Wi-Fi options that will let you sync your device to your Samsung phone, etc. for seamless music streaming.
Sony Sound Bar with Rear Speakers: HT-Z9F
The Sony HT-29F soundbar is a 3.1ch Dolby Atmos /DTS: X which incorporates Virtual Surround Engine that creates an immersive experience so that you can enjoy the movie creating an aura like a home cinema and can be controlled via the remote control that comes with this soundbar.
This Dolby Atmos soundbar has five sound modes i.e. theatre mode, music mode, game studio mode, news mode, and a sport mode that you can select and enjoy according to how you want it as it will enhance your listening experience.
Furthermore, it has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker technology for streaming purposes either online or by connecting your device to enjoy your music wirelessly.
Only if these features weren’t enough to lure you to buy this soundbar, then this soundbar comes with Alexa and Google Assistant enables a feature that allows you to give a command without lifting your finger. So if you are looking for a bar that will create a powerful wireless surround sound system in this budget this soundbar priced at around $1000 is just for you. You can read about the best small soundbar.
Features to Look at Before Purchasing a Soundbar under $1,000
Immersive sound
One of the main reasons why people purchase a soundbar is because it offers them the ability to enjoy their favorite movies and shows without having to use headphones. A good soundbar should have immersive sound so that you feel like you are watching your movie from the front row of the theatre. It also helps if the soundbar supports Dolby Atmos technology since this allows the soundbar to create 3D audio effects.
Clear voice reproduction
A soundbar should reproduce voices clearly and accurately so that you don’t need to turn up the volume on your television set. You also want to make sure that the soundbar does not distort voices when playing songs.
Built-in Wi-Fi
If you plan on using your soundbar to stream content online, then you will want it to come equipped with built-in Wi-Fi. This way, you won’t have to worry about buying separate networking equipment.
Multiple HDMI ports
If you plan on connecting multiple devices such as a TV, Blu-ray player, gaming system, etc., then you will definitely want a soundbar that comes with multiple HDMI ports. This way, you can connect all these devices to the soundbar simultaneously.
Smart features
A soundbar that comes with smart features such as automatic volume control, noise cancellation, etc. is certainly something to look into. These features help save time and energy while ensuring that you get the best possible experience.
Easy setup
Setting up a soundbar can sometimes prove to be quite difficult especially if you do not know what you are doing. If you are planning on setting up your soundbar yourself, then you will need one that has easy setup capabilities.
Ease of maintenance
When it comes to maintaining a soundbar, you will probably want to avoid spending too much money on it. However, you still want to ensure that your soundbar is well maintained at all times. For example, if you notice that there is excessive dust inside the soundbar, you will want to clean it immediately.
Deep bass
The deep bass produced by a soundbar is very important especially if you listen to music regularly. The deeper the bass, the better the overall sound experience.
Design
You will definitely want to consider the design of your soundbar before making a final decision. Some soundbars are more visually appealing than others.
Final Words
If you’re in the market for a soundbar, this list of soundbars under $1000 models should give you plenty to choose from. The features vary depending on your personal preference and needs, but no matter what your goal is these reliable options will deliver a powerful performance that won’t disappoint.
Whether you want good bass or immersive surround sound, there are lots of great choices here. Take some time to browse through our roundup before making any final decisions about which model will be best for your home theater setup.
Having a budget of USD 1,000 gives you the liberty of choosing a soundbar from various options that promise to give quality sound, are aesthetically appealing, and have their own set of features like HDMI connection, Wi-Fi connection option, etc. that makes them worthy of buying them.
No matter which soundbar you chose they will give you a cinematic sound and complete your home audio system by all means. Whether you prefer to buy a stand-alone soundbar or a home theatre speaker system for good audio quality that is reliable and will give quality results.
With minor differences, these soundbars are very promising however you will have to prioritize what you want either sound quality, aesthetics, or features that they offer or all three together. If you are looking for cheap soundbars then there is a wide range of such speakers as well which you can see and decide which will work best for you.
Which one did we forget? Let us know if there’s another option not included in our article–our team would love to hear more suggestions!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which brand is the best for the soundbar?
The best brand depends on your budget and preference. However, if you are looking for a good value, then Polk Audio is a good choice. It offers excellent sound quality but it also comes at a reasonable price point. You can check out our Polk Audio review here.
Is Dolby Atmos worth the price?
Dolby Atmos is a very expensive technology. If you want high-quality audio, then it’s definitely worth the money. But if you don’t need this feature, then you can save some money by going for a cheaper option.
