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. Our TV wall bracket guide covers matching a bracket to timber-stud, steel-stud or brick walls before you drill.
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 published specifications, expert reviews and real owner feedback, these three soundbars cover every budget and use case. The Bose Smart Soundbar 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.
| Pick | Best for | Key spec | Price band | Rating |
|---|
| Samsung B400F B-Series Soundbar | Entry level, dialogue clarity | 2.0 channels, Bluetooth and HDMI ARC, Q-Symphony | from $169 | 4.5 |
| Bose Smart Soundbar | Compact premium, no separate subwoofer | 5.0 channels, Dolby Atmos, AirPlay 2 and Chromecast | from $680 | 4.7 |
| JBL Bar 500MK2 | Cinema feel with a subwoofer in the box | 750W, Dolby Atmos, 10 inch wireless subwoofer, MultiBeam 3.0 | from $769 | 4.4 |
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, with no cables at all. If music rather than television is the real use case, a Bluetooth speaker is the better buy. 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 Bose Smart Soundbar 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 under $500 in Australia?
Under $500 is the sweet spot for first-home living rooms: you get a real upgrade over your TV's built-in speakers, Bluetooth streaming, and often a wireless subwoofer, without paying for premium features you may not use. Prioritise HDMI eARC (or at least HDMI ARC) for one-cable connection, a 2.1 or 3.1 channel layout for clearer dialogue plus added bass, and app control if you want EQ tuning. At this level, focus on getting a current-generation bar with a real connection standard rather than chasing the longest spec sheet.
What is the best soundbar under $1000 in Australia?
Under $1000 is where most Australians get genuine Dolby Atmos, a bundled wireless subwoofer, and multi-room expansion before hitting diminishing returns. Look for upfiring or virtualised (MultiBeam-style) Atmos, HDMI eARC for lossless audio, and at least 3.1 channels. Decide first whether you want a compact, sub-free bar for a small lounge or a fuller package with a separate subwoofer for a larger room, then match the bar's width to your TV rather than overbuying channels.
What is the best budget soundbar in Australia?
For a true budget pick, choose the cheapest current-generation bar that still clearly beats your TV's speakers: that means clearer dialogue, Bluetooth streaming, and at least an optical or HDMI ARC input. Virtual surround (such as DTS Virtual:X) is a nice bonus, and if you own a matching-brand TV, look for one-remote pairing features. Avoid no-name bars that lack ARC or do not have warranty support in Australia, since after-sales cover matters more at the bottom of the market.
What is the best soundbar for a TV in Australia?
The best TV soundbar connects over HDMI eARC where your TV supports it, so a single cable carries lossless Dolby Atmos and your TV remote controls the volume via HDMI-CEC. Most recent mid-to-premium Australian TVs have an eARC-labelled HDMI port; check the labelling next to your HDMI inputs, and note that some budget and older sets offer only standard ARC, which still works well for most setups. For a small living room a compact bar that auto-pairs over eARC is ideal; for a larger room, choose a bar that adds a wireless subwoofer, and match the bar's width to your TV.
What is the best soundbar with a subwoofer in Australia?
If you want bass you can feel for movies, gaming, and music, choose a soundbar that ships with a matched wireless subwoofer rather than buying one separately: the pairing is pre-tuned and connects automatically, which is far simpler than mixing brands. Look for a bundled wireless sub plus surround processing such as MultiBeam or upfiring Atmos. For the cleanest low-end, place the subwoofer in a corner, roughly 30 to 50cm from the wall, ideally on the same wall as your TV, then nudge its position until the bass feels even rather than boomy.
What is the best soundbar in Australia?
The Bose Smart Soundbar (about $680) 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 add a Bose Bass Module and surround speakers later. For an Atmos pick with a wireless subwoofer included, the JBL Bar 500MK2 (about $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 Bose Smart Soundbar and Samsung B400F are subwoofer-free designs, the Bose 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.
Which soundbar offers the best value for music and gaming in Australia?
For value, the Samsung B400F (about $169) streams music over Bluetooth and connects via HDMI ARC for an easy setup. If you want immersive sound for gaming and movies too, the JBL Bar 500MK2 (about $769) adds Dolby Atmos surround and a 10-inch wireless subwoofer for genuine bass, though note neither lists gaming-specific features like VRR.
What is a soundbar?
A soundbar is a single wide speaker cabinet that sits under or in front of a television and replaces its built-in speakers. Several drivers are packed along one bar, angled to widen the sound, and one cable to the TV runs the lot. Some models add a separate wireless subwoofer for bass, as the JBL Bar 500MK2 does with its 10 inch sub. It is the simplest audio upgrade a living room can get, because there are no separate amplifiers, speaker wires or receivers to set up.
What size soundbar should you buy for your TV?
Match the bar roughly to the width of the screen, not to the diagonal. A 55 inch television is about 1,220 mm wide, so a bar between 1,000 mm and 1,200 mm looks right under it, and a 65 inch set at about 1,440 mm wide suits a bar of 1,150 mm or more. A bar narrower than about two thirds of the screen looks lost, and one wider than the screen overhangs the cabinet. If the bar sits on a TV unit, check the bar height too, because a tall bar can block the bottom of the screen or the remote sensor.
What brand is best for soundbars in Australia?
It depends on what sits around it. Samsung and LG are the safest match if you own their TV, because features like Q-Symphony use the TV speakers alongside the bar. JBL and Bose give you the most sound for the money, which is why both are in our picks. Sonos is the pick if you want the bar to join a multiroom music system. Kogan, BlueAnt and TCL cover the budget end in Australia and are widely stocked at JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys and Harvey Norman.
How do you connect a Samsung soundbar to a TV?
Use one HDMI cable from the port on the bar marked HDMI OUT to the port on the TV marked eARC or ARC, then set the TV sound output to receiver or HDMI. On the bar, press Source until the display reads HDMI or D.IN. Turn on Anynet plus in the TV settings so the TV remote controls the volume. If you own a Samsung TV as well, switch on Q-Symphony in the sound settings, which plays the TV speakers and the bar together. Optical is the fallback if the TV has no ARC port.
How do you connect a JBL soundbar to a TV?
Run one HDMI cable from the socket on the bar marked HDMI OUT to the TV socket marked eARC or ARC, then set the TV audio output to external or HDMI. Press the Source button on the bar until the display shows TV. Enable HDMI CEC in the TV menu so the TV remote controls the volume. For a JBL bar with a wireless subwoofer, plug the sub into power in the same room and it pairs itself, with a steady white light on the back once it is connected.
How do you reset a Samsung soundbar?
Hold the power button on the bar itself, not on the remote, until the display reads INIT OK or the bar restarts. That clears the settings and any stored Bluetooth pairings and returns the bar to the state it left the factory in. Do it before you try anything more drastic if the bar will not pair, has no sound over HDMI, or ignores the TV remote. You then need to reconnect it to the TV and re-pair any phone or subwoofer.
