Every new TV has terrible built-in speakers. A soundbar fixes this instantly — plug it in and your movies, music, and gaming sound 10x better.
Every new TV has terrible built-in speakers. It's the dirty secret of the TV industry — they make the screens thinner and sacrifice audio quality. A soundbar fixes this instantly. Plug it in, connect via HDMI, and your movies, music, and gaming sound 10x better. Here's what to buy.
We've compared the major soundbar brands available in Australia — Samsung, Sonos, JBL, Sony, Bose — and picked the three that deliver the best value at each price point. You don't need to spend $1,000 to get great sound.
Do You Need a Soundbar With a Subwoofer?
This is the first decision. Soundbars come in two configurations: standalone (just the bar) or bundled with a wireless subwoofer. Here's how to choose:
Soundbar only: Fine for dialogue clarity and a general improvement over TV speakers. The bar handles mids and highs well, and some premium bars (like the Sonos Beam) produce enough bass on their own to satisfy casual listeners. A standalone bar is more compact — no extra box on the floor — making it ideal for small apartments, bedrooms, or wall-mounted setups.
Soundbar + subwoofer: Adds genuine bass for movies, music, and gaming. You'll feel explosions, hear deeper music, and get a fuller sound overall. The wireless subwoofer sits on the floor next to your TV unit or in a corner — it needs a power outlet and about 30cm of floor space. Floor-care matters here: a robot vacuum can usually navigate around a subwoofer if it sits on a 5cm+ raised surface, but a sub on the bare floor blocks robot navigation in most living rooms. For living rooms and lounge areas, this is the setup we recommend.
For most first home buyers: A soundbar with an included subwoofer under $500 is the sweet spot. Look at our value pick below — it sits in that price band and sounds dramatically better than any TV speaker.
Our Top Picks for 2026
After comparing specs, listening tests, and real owner feedback, these three soundbars cover every budget and use case. The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) and JBL Bar 500MK2 support Dolby Atmos — the standard for immersive audio in 2026 — while the budget Samsung B400F is a 2-channel bar focused on dialogue clarity.
How to Connect a Soundbar to Your TV
There are three ways to connect a soundbar to your TV. Here's the best option for each situation:
HDMI eARC (Best Option)
One HDMI cable from the soundbar to your TV's eARC port. This passes the highest quality audio — including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X — from any source connected to your TV. If your TV has an eARC HDMI port (most TVs from 2022 onwards do), use this. It's the simplest setup: one cable, full quality, and the TV remote controls the soundbar volume automatically via CEC.
Optical (Backup Option)
An optical (Toslink) cable from the TV to the soundbar. This carries surround sound but doesn't support Dolby Atmos — it's limited to Dolby Digital 5.1. The audio quality is still a massive improvement over TV speakers. Use this if your TV doesn't have eARC or if your HDMI ports are all occupied.
Bluetooth (Wireless)
Pairs wirelessly — no cables at all. The convenience is great, but Bluetooth has a slight audio delay (30-100ms) that can cause lip-sync issues with movies and TV. Fine for music streaming from your phone, but not ideal as your primary TV connection. Use HDMI or optical for TV audio, and Bluetooth as a bonus for music.
Dolby Atmos — Is It Worth It?
Dolby Atmos is the current gold standard for home audio. Instead of traditional surround sound (left, right, front, back), Atmos creates 3D spatial sound — audio can move above you, behind you, and around you. It's especially noticeable with:
- Action movies: Rain falling from above, helicopters passing overhead, explosions that feel like they surround you.
- Gaming: Hear footsteps above you in a building, gunshots from a specific direction. Atmos-enabled games on PS5 and Xbox use this for genuine competitive advantage.
- Music: Apple Music and Tidal offer Spatial Audio tracks mixed in Atmos. It's like being inside the recording studio.
Entry-level Atmos soundbars start around $350-$400 in Australia. Two of our three picks support Atmos — the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) and JBL Bar 500MK2. The Samsung B400F is a 2-channel budget pick that doesn't include Atmos. Is it essential? No — standard surround sound is still a huge upgrade from TV speakers. But if you're spending $400+ on a soundbar anyway, you might as well get Atmos — it's become a standard feature at that price point.
For the best experience, pair your soundbar with reliable WiFi for streaming — check our mesh WiFi guide to make sure your living room has strong coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best soundbar in Australia?
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) (~$793) is our top pick for most Australians in 2026 — Dolby Atmos in a compact design that doesn't need a separate subwoofer, plus AirPlay 2, Chromecast, and the option to expand with additional Sonos speakers later. For an Atmos pick with a wireless subwoofer included, the JBL Bar 500MK2 (~$769) delivers Dolby Atmos via MultiBeam 3.0 technology with 750W output and a 10-inch wireless subwoofer in the box. For the full lounge-AV upgrade picture, our best TV guide covers the screen + sound + Wi-Fi sequence, with the soundbar typically slotting in 1-2 weeks after the TV decision.
Do I need a subwoofer with my soundbar?
For movies, music, and gaming — yes, a subwoofer adds noticeable bass that a soundbar alone can't replicate. You'll feel the difference in action sequences and music with bass-heavy tracks. For casual TV viewing where dialogue clarity is your main concern, a soundbar alone is perfectly fine. The JBL Bar 500MK2 includes a 10-inch wireless subwoofer in the box. The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) and Samsung B400F are subwoofer-free designs — the Sonos delivers enough bass on its own for casual listening; the B400F is best paired with an aftermarket sub if you want more low end.
How much should I spend on a soundbar?
$200-$350 gets you a solid upgrade over TV speakers with clear dialogue, improved bass, and Bluetooth connectivity. $400-$700 gets you Dolby Atmos support, wireless subwoofers, and genuinely immersive sound. Over $700, you're into premium territory with brands like Sonos and Bose — excellent but not essential for most first home setups. The $400-$500 range is the sweet spot for most buyers.
Can I connect a soundbar to any TV?
Yes. Every soundbar connects via at least one of three methods: HDMI (best quality), optical cable (widely compatible), or Bluetooth (wireless). HDMI eARC gives the best audio quality and is available on most TVs from 2022 onwards. If your TV is older, optical or Bluetooth will still work perfectly well. Check that your TV has at least one of these connections before buying — virtually all do.
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