Dolby Atmos is one of the coolest theater technologies currently in vogue, and it can be yours without having to spend a fortune. A soundbar with Atmos support is an excellent match for a larger stereo system, and you won’t believe what you’ve been missing until you’ve heard it in action. We’ve taken the time to review the 10 best Dolby Atmos soundbar models so you don’t need to do your research, and we also break down the fundamentals of the technology and answer some common questions so that our readers can shop with more confidence. Check out our review list to learn everything you need to know.
- The 10 Best Dolby Atmos Soundbars
- Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4 Ch 600W Dolby Atmos Soundbar
- Sony ST5000 7.1.2ch 800W Dolby Atmos Soundbar
- VIZIO SB36512-F6 5.1 Dolby Atmos Soundbar
- LG SK10Y 5.1.2 Ch Hi-Res Audio Dolby Atmos Soundbar
- JBL Bar 5.1 4K Ultra HD 5.1-Ch Dolby Atmos Soundbar
- Onkyo SBT-A500 3.1.2 Ch. Dolby Atmos Soundbar System
- LG SL9YG 4.1.2 Ch High Res Audio Dolby Atmos Soundbar
- Klipsch R-20B Bluetooth Dolby Atmos Soundbar
- Yamaha YSP-5600 Music Cast Dolby Atmos Sound Bar
- Sony HT-Z9F -3.1ch Dolby Atmos/DTS:X Soundbar
- Dolby Atmos Soundbar Buyer’s Guide
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Does My Soundbar Support Dolby Atmos?
- Does Sonos Support Dolby Atmos?
The 10 Best Dolby Atmos Soundbars
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Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4 Ch 600W Dolby Atmos Soundbar
If you want to put together a top notch cinematic sound system in one fell swoop, the Nakamichi Shockwafe is the best and most thorough setup you can get. It includes a beefy subwoofer in addition to the soundbar and two separate speakers, and this is a surround system that provides height as well as horizontal depth. The sound stage here is especially strong thanks to to the surround effect tweeters, and there are tons of advanced connectivity features that include HDMI ARC and support for high dynamic range. This is arguably the best option for a home theater design.
| Channels | 7.1.4 |
| Inputs | 3 HDMI, 1 ARC, 1 optical |
| Wireless | Bluetooth 4.1 aptX |
| Power | 1000 watts |
Pros
- Dense and lifelike sound stage
- Can connect up to 6 devices at once
- Incredibly vivid tweeter quality
- Uses three audio processing engines
Cons
Sony ST5000 7.1.2ch 800W Dolby Atmos Soundbar
Readers looking for a more stripped down experience will love the Sony ST5000. Consisting of just a soundbar and a wireless subwoofer, this system is a great hub for a larger home theater that can be expanded to suit your own needs. And the support for both 4K HDR and HDCP 2.21 ensures that you won’t be held back by the video capabilities of your TV. This soundbar also offers support for Hi-res audio, so you can be confident that the fidelity of your sound matches whatever you’re seeing on the television. And the quality materials across the board create a sturdy and long lasting soundbar system.
| Channels | 7.1.2 |
| Inputs | 3 HDMI, 1 ARC, 1 optical |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi |
| Power | 800 watts |
Pros
- Great job producing overhead sound
- Tons of different physical inputs
- Easy connectivity to your Spotify account
- Chromecast is built right in
Cons
VIZIO SB36512-F6 5.1 Dolby Atmos Soundbar
You don’t have to drop something close to a thousand bucks for a thorough surround sound system. The Vizio SB36512-F6 features a solid surround sound setup, and it includes Vizio’s quality tech to support streaming across any room. It’s not exactly the level of wireless connectivity that Sonos offers, but it comes close. And since Chromecast is built right in, you can stream music directly through your phone, tablet, or laptop without the need to jump through any hoops. But if you’re looking for a more analog experience, all of the premium cables you need are included right in the package
| Channels | 5.1 |
| Inputs | 1 HDMI, 1 RCA, 1 optical |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi |
| Power | 600 watts |
Pros
- Google Chromecast hardware built right in
- Includes the necessary high-quality cables
- A powerful subwoofer and two speakers
- One of the best deals we’ve seen
Cons
LG SK10Y 5.1.2 Ch Hi-Res Audio Dolby Atmos Soundbar
Just like the Vizio soundbar, LG has produced one of the best options if you’re looking to integrate your home theater into a Google enabled home theater system. This soundbar is compatible with Chromecast, and that means you have access to popular music services like Google Play and Pandora in addition to dedicated video apps. And LG has also included compatibility for Meridian Audio for better processing and cleaner and crisper music and overall sound quality. The SK10Y also leaves a relatively small footprint in terms of power usage, and it provides higher sampling and bit rates than all but the best competitors in this price range.
| Channels | 5.1.2 |
| Inputs | 3 HDMI, 1 ARC, 1 optical, 1 3.5 mm |
| Wireless | Bluteooth 4.0 |
| Power | 550 watts |
Pros
- Works well with Google platforms
- Can be controlled by your tablet or phone
- Supports Meridian Audio technology
- 4K pass-through for better video integration
Cons
JBL Bar 5.1 4K Ultra HD 5.1-Ch Dolby Atmos Soundbar
The JBL Bar constitutes a pretty lean and slim home theater soundbar system, but it also offers some of the best performance for a model under $700. It supports not just Dolby Atmos but also Dolby Digital and Pro Logic II. And the fact that it employs both a 10 inch subwoofer driver and 4K support means that it will work equally as well with video as it will with audio. This JBL soundbar also has the advantage of being fully wireless. The speakers run on battery power, and they can provide you with consistent performance for up to 10 hours on a single charge.
| Channels | 5.1 |
| Inputs | 3 HDMI |
| Wireless | Bluetooth |
| Power | 510 watts |
Pros
- Rich and powerful 10 inch subwoofer
- Room to connect multiple 4K devices
- Seamless device transition with SoundShift
- Works with your standard TV remote
Cons
Onkyo SBT-A500 3.1.2 Ch. Dolby Atmos Soundbar System
Everything about the SBT-A500 from Onkyo is wireless, and that makes it a great inclusion if you want to keep your entertainment center smooth, sleek, and free of cords. It includes a dedicated subwoofer in addition to the standard soundbar, and the Atmos support is further complemented by DTS Play-Fi and DTS:x technology. In short, the hardware in here is pretty impressive. But it’s also well suited to all of your streaming needs. A Chromecast is built right in, making it a top choice if your home is already equipped with Google Assistant devices, and it also plays well with Amazon Alexa and Apple AirPlay.
| Channels | 3.1.2 |
| Inputs | 4 HDMI |
| Wireless | Bluetooth |
| Power | 50 watts |
Pros
- A completely wireless Atmos soundbar
- Support for 4K at 60 fps
- DTS:x object based audio playback
- Chromecast built right in
Cons
LG SL9YG 4.1.2 Ch High Res Audio Dolby Atmos Soundbar
The second LG model on our review list constitutes a modest price increase over the SK10Y, but it’s well worth the extra bit of investment. You get full voice control thanks to the built-in Google Assistant, and the combination of different technologies packed in here provide you with some of the best overall sound quality we’ve chosen to highlight. That includes DTS:x and high resolution sound quality courtesy of Meridian. An HDMI port is great for connecting to video devices, while optical provides you with everything you need for working with pure audio. And the easy to setup and utilize Bluetooth connectivity makes streaming from any of your devices a complete breeze.
| Channels | 4.1.2 |
| Inputs | 2 HDMI |
| Wireless | Bluetooth |
| Power | 500 watts |
Pros
- Delivers 192 kHz resolution audio
- Ultra slim soundbar with a subwoofer
- Google Assistant and Chromecast built in
- Includes 4K passthrough capabilities
Cons
Klipsch R-20B Bluetooth Dolby Atmos Soundbar
The R-20B by Klipsch isn’t the sleekest or most low profile of soundbars on our list, but it does deliver some of the best and most powerful performance that any brands offer. The soundbar itself can blast some serious trebles and highs thanks to the 90 x 90 Tractix horn, but the bass performance is equally well balanced. The 10 inch wireless sub is a serious piece of equipment, and the MDF frame means that just because you’re blasting your music loud doesn’t mean that you have to deal with reverb. Best of all, the inclusion of Bluetooth tech allow you to stream music from almost any device imaginable.
| Channels | 2.1 |
| Inputs | Optical, RCA |
| Wireless | Bluetooth |
| Power | 250 watts |
Pros
- Sub and soundbar connect wirelessly
- Support for apt:X protocol
- Strong balance across the frequency range
- Easy streaming through any modern devices
Cons
Yamaha YSP-5600 Music Cast Dolby Atmos Sound Bar
A lot of the soundbars on our reviews list manage to earn their price points by including both a soundbar and a sub in the overall package, but Yamaha believes that you don’t need a whole lot of devices cluttering up your theater room. This single soundbar can provide you with dense, powerful, and nuanced surround performance, and it’s built with support for most major streaming technologies baked right in. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth mean that you can connect easily to your phone or laptop, but there’s also native support for Amazon Alexa and Apple AirPlay. If you’re looking for soundbars that can easily feed into your existing media ecosystems, these are some of the best soundbars around.
| Channels | 7.1.2 |
| Inputs | HDMI |
| Wireless | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| Power | Not disclosed |
Pros
- Great performance in a small package
- Works with Air Play and Spotify Connect
- Great for a multi-room audio system
- Simple support for most streaming services
Cons
Sony HT-Z9F -3.1ch Dolby Atmos/DTS:X Soundbar
If you want a meticulously high-quality sound system and you aren’t afraid to drop over a thousand dollars for the privilege, the HT-Z9F is honestly hard to beat. It comes with dedicated rear speakers in addition to a well above average soundbar, and it can connect to your existing devices seamlessly thanks to the Wi-Fi connectivity built right in. Sony’s soundbar system can even help your music and cinematic sound better thanks to some sophisticated upscaling tech. And thanks to a USB port, HDMI, and LAN packed into the soundbar itself,you can connect music and films through practically any device in your collection.
| Channels | 3.1 |
| Inputs | HDMI, USB |
| Wireless | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| Power | Not disclosed |
Pros
- Easy wireless streaming over Wi-Fi
- Backed by a full manufacturer’s warranty
- Support for Atmos and DTS:X
- Comes with powerful rear speakers
Cons
Dolby Atmos Soundbar Buyer’s Guide
We’ve already written plenty of guiess to finding the best soundbars on the market, but Atmos adds a whole new layer to a surround system design. Atmos sounding bars improve on surround sound audio by adding a level of verticality to the experience. And an Atmos system doesn’t need to employ ceiling mounted rear speakers to achieve that layered surround sound experience. Instead, through the use of upward-firing design, they create the illusion of sound coming at you from various vertical levels.
If you want to have the most modern home theater sound available, you should look towards Dolby Atmos equipment. The Atmos experience will future proof your experience and help you enjoy the best movies, sounds, and content for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does My Soundbar Support Dolby Atmos?
Dolby Atmos is some cool tech, but you do need special speakers if you want the smart functions that come from Atmos enabled soundbars. Fortunately, finding out whether or not specific sound bars offer Atmos is easy. Just look up the model online. Dolby Atmos soundbars are in such high demand that the manufacturer will advertise the inclusion in their descriptions.
Does Sonos Support Dolby Atmos?
While Sonos has toyed with the possibility of employing Atmos tech, these smart speakers don’t yet make use of Atmos. Keep an eye out, but don’t expect to get smart Dolby Atmos soundbars from Sonos for a decent length of time.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for soundbars that you can rely on for a long time to come, Dolby Atmos is one of the best options you can find. They offer a denser layer of audio and a much more nuanced sound stage than you’d get with regular rear speakers alone. But if you decide that you don’t need something that serious, we’re ready to help you find what you’re looking for. We recommend that you check out our review guide to the best soundbars under $100 or the best soundbars under $200.
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