When choosing which sound tape to buy, CNET uses the following criteria as part of its selection process:
Price
The most important attention when choosing a sound bar is how much it costs, and I discovered that there are excellent sound lanes at all costs, starting at $ 100 and more. I think a lot about the features that the sound bar has compared to others that cost the same. I have one rule on the thumb: once the price of the sound bar exceeds 500 USD, you may find more valuable to save on the AV receiver and speakers.
Wireless streaming
Whether it's connecting a phone via Bluetooth or more advanced streaming technologies, such as Spotify Connect or Apple Airplay 2, the more streaming technologies there is sound, the better.
Dolby atmosphere
Dolby Atmos is one of the most popular features in sound lanes above $ 400, so I see features that help increase the quality of spatial sound. For example, does the sound bar offers dedicated height speakers or is the atmosphere simulated? Take a look at my review of Best sound stripes with sound atmosmolations.
HDMI connections
At the bare minimum, the sound of the sound sold in 2025 should have at least one HDMI input and preferably more. The ability to connect multiple HDMI cables will help users with a large selection of sources (Xbox Series X, Apple TV, Nintendo Switch, Blu-Ray Player, etc.). There are noticeable exceptions to this rule. For example, Sonos Ray only offers optical output, but this is acceptable given that it is most suitable for older or smaller TVs.
Subwoofer and surround speakers
One bar systems are great for smaller TVs, as their length provides built -in stereo sound while still compact. But the combo with sound and deputy is better suited for setting up a home -room theater for the production of that awake surroundings. For this reason, I notice the size of the system and whether it offers wireless or wired peripherals. Most subsidies are wireless, for example, while environmental systems can be wired, as in the case of vision Edat.