Sony HT-S350 review
Sony’s new midlevel soundbar, the HT-S350, offers tons of power, big bass, and a sleek look for $300. But mediocre features and a focus on might over detail make it easy to miss the little things. In our review, we’ll explain why you may want to look elsewhere for great TV sound at this price.
Sonos Beam review
Sonos makes some of the best single-speaker home theater products, but they’re expensive. A more affordable model would help a lot of people make the jump to Sonos. The Sonos Beam looks to be that product, with Alexa built-in. But did Sonos remove too much in the effort to keep the price down?
Samsung HW-N950 soundbar review
Samsung’s first Dolby Atmos soundbar became the bar to beat for thrilling Atmos surround sound. With the HW-N950, the company has attempted to one-up its own creation by once again offering the best surround soundbar in the business. But is it worth its kingly price tag?
Vizio 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos soundbar review
Soundbars with true Dolby Atmos surround sound have historically been a rich man’s game, often costing well over $1,000. Vizio’s new 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos soundbar undercuts similar competitors by hundreds of dollars, so we spent some quality time with the system to find out if it can hold its own.
Yamaha MusicCast Bar 400 (YAS-408) review
Yamaha’s latest soundbar is all about multiroom audio, offering multiple ways to play including creating your own surround sound system using MusicCast speakers. We spent a week with the bar to see if its chameleon ways make it worth its $500 price. The answer is a bit more complicated than expected.
Anker Soundcore Infini soundbar review
Best known for its battery chargers, Anker has expanded into audio in a big way in recent years with its Soundcore lineup, including Bluetooth speakers, headphones, and soundbars. The latest example is the Soundcore Infini soundbar. At just $99, it makes for a very affordable add-on to your entertainment setup, but is it worth the cash?
Polk Command Bar Review
Amazon’s incredibly popular voice assistant, Alexa, is everywhere these days, but how well does it work when controlling your TV? We put Polk’s new Alexa-enabled Command Bar to the test to find out if it can stand up to the Sonos Beam.
Sony HT-Z9F 3.1 soundbar review
Sony once again flexes its processing might with its latest soundbar, the HT-Z9F. Loaded with features and packing powerful virtual surround in a tiny package, the Z9F stretches far beyond its boundaries for impressive performance. But, is this the nimble sound system you’ve been looking for?
Samsung HW-NW700 soundbar review
Samsung changed the script for the latest addition to its Sound+ soundbar line, the NW700. With an eye trained directly on newer Samsung TV owners, this specialized soundbar has a tough case to make for its $700 price tag. Still, if you’re a certain kind of buyer, this could be the right fit for you.
Samsung HW-MS750 Sound+ soundbar review
Samsung has expanded the Sound+ soundbar line to add some extra power and depth. In our HW-MS750 review we ask whether that’s enough to justify the higher price.
Q Acoustics M2 Soundbase hands-on review
In our M2 Soundbase hands-on review, we see how Q Acoustics delivers better sound than your TV speakers, without crowding your TV stand.
Bose SoundTouch 300 and Acoustimass 300 review
Not all soundbars are created equal. In our Bose SoundTouch 300 review, we explore how well Bose delivers on the "big sound, small package" promise, and discuss whether the company's latest soundbar delivers convincing virtual surround sound.
Onkyo SBT-A500 Atmos review
While Onkyo’s relatively affordable SBT-A500 checks all the right boxes on paper, when it comes to creating thrilling surround sound, this Atmos soundbar leaves something to be desired.
Sonos PlayBase review
Sonos isn’t first to the soundbase game, but the company is playing it better than any other. Find out why we’re calling the Playbase the best alternative to a soundbar you can get.
Vizio SB4551-D5 SmartCast 5.1 sound bar review
Vizio goes micro for its flagship 5.1 surround soundbar, and while the treble gets a little lighter, the bar adds better detail, new features, and thrilling surround sound, all at a nice price.
Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1 sound bar review
Nakamichi’s Shockwafe Pro is packed with features and heaps of muscle, as well as impressive true 5.1 surround sound immersion, putting it in true competition in the world of budget surround soundbars.
Yamaha YSP-5600 sound bar review
Yamaha’s flagship sound projector works acoustic wonders to create convincing Dolby Atmos/DTS:X surround sound, but it’s big enough to require some redecorating.
Focal Dimension review
Focal’s Dimension series sound bar and subwoofer treat audio with verve while delivering multiple setup options for the space-deprived.
Monoprice 42-inch sound bar review
Monoprice’s budget-friendly sound bar will definitely upgrade your TV audio, but how low is too low for a quality experience?
Yamaha YAS-203 review
While it may not be the most powerful or feature-packed bar in the Yamaha family, when it comes to sheer dollar to performance value, few outpace the YAS-203.
Klipsch R-20B review
The R20-B may be a step up from the model before it, but more sub, more drivers, and more money doesn’t always equal more performance.
Pioneer Andrew Jones SP-SB03 Speaker Base review
While it isn’t without a couple of quirks, Pioneer’s first sound platform has been expertly tuned to offer cinematic excellence, and great music playback to boot, putting it at the head of the class.
Yamaha SRT-1000 review
Yamaha ups the ante (and the price point) for the sound platform genre with a model bearing its effective Sound Projector technology, the SRT-1000. And while powerful bass and clean treble highlight its sound signature, a lack of features steals some of its thunder.
Yamaha YSP-2500 review
At the entry point of Yamaha’s top-tier, the YSP-2500 sound projector earns its lofty price-point with a wealth of features, ample detail, and a vivid expanse of virtual surround sound that elevates the home theater experience.
Vizio S2121w-D0 review
Vizio’s new Sound Stand is a pinch hitter for a traditional sound bar at best.
Klipsch Reference R-10B review
As Klipsch's new 'Reference' sound bar, the R-10B promises premium components and sound performance for its manageable price tag. While it leaves a few features behind, the system delivers, offering a wealth of power and clarity for the price.
Pinnacle Theater One 2.1 review
The Theater One 2.1 is a coffee table-sized sound base that aims to beef up your TV’s audio while serving as its stand. It will hold up to a 65-inch TV, but how does the sound hold up?
Sony HT-XT1 review
While the sound bar has long been the go-to solution when it comes to a simple way to upgrade your TV’s audio, Sony’s new XT1 proves a sound base can pack a whole lot into a tiny box, and at a great price, to boot.
Vizio S5451w review
Vizio continues to excel in the sound bar category with its latest effort, bringing supersized 5.1 surround sound that trounces most one-box solutions.
Sony HT-CT770 review
Sony’s new entry-level sound bar packs a refined, yet powerful punch and a host of features, making it a solid contender in a crowded field of applicants.
Philips HTB3525B review
Philips brings a little bit of everything to its new Blu-ray surround base. With 3D Blu-ray playback, streaming Internet apps, and a heavy punch of sound, the HTB3535B is an enticing choice for those who need a major technology upgrade.
Samsung HW-H550 review
Samsung reprises last year’s HW-F550 sound bar with the updated HW-H550 for 2014. Check out our full review to see what’s new, what’s improved, and what hasn’t.
Harman Kardon Sabre SB 35 review
The Sabre SB35 sound bar brings gorgeous good looks, and one of the slimmest profiles we’ve seen on the market. But did Harman Kardon go too thin with this sliver of silver to produce hi-fi audio performance?
Definitive Technology Solo Cinema Studio review
The SoloCinema Studio 5.1 sound bar is loaded with powerful hardware and highly-tuned virtual surround software, all wrapped in a sleek and compact design. Follow along with our evaluation to see if this powerful system is worth $1,200 of your hard-earned dollars.
Section Editor, Audio/Video
Phil spent the 2000s making newspapers with the Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal, the 2010s with Android Central and then the personality behind Modern Dad, and is currently an editor with Digital Trends. Phil’s online work has taken him all over the United States, as well as Europe and Asia for conferences such as CES, IFA, Mobile World Congress, and all the various one-offs from companies like Google, Samsung, LG, Facebook and the like.
When he’s not writing, editing, podcasting, interviewing or shooting video, Phil serves as president of the Pensacola Youth Soccer 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has worked on multiple local political campaigns and is a part-time photographer and videographer. He’s also a candidate for Pensacola City Council, District 1.
Phil is a native of Pensacola, where he resides with his wife, daughters and a dog named Max.
Find Phil on Mastodon, or on Threads.