The 7 Best 5.1 Soundbars Of 2022 [Buyer’s Guide]

In this article, we’re going to look at the Top 7 Best 5.1 Soundbars Of 2022. We made this list based on our own opinion, research, and customer reviews. We’ve considered their quality, features, and values when narrowing down the best choices possible.

If you want more information and updated pricing on the products mentioned, be sure to check the links in each product we mentioned.

So, here are the Top 7 Best 5.1 Soundbars Of 2022.

#1. Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module

The best 5.1 soundbar we’ve tested is the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module. This premium 5.1.2 setup is a great choice for watching movies. Its two discrete satellites help to accurately represent sound objects in the soundstage, so, for example, racing cars in a chase scene seem like they’re moving past you from one accurate location to another.

Like most premium bars, it has a room correction feature to optimize audio reproduction based on your room’s unique acoustics – Bose calls this feature ADAPTiQ. With it on, its sound profile is very neutral, meaning that dialogue in your favorite movies is clear and accurate in the mix, and action scenes make you feel the thump and rumble in the low-bass. Its soundstage is very wide, too, so it seems like the action is happening all around you.

#2. Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers

If you want a 5.1 soundbar with DTS support, check out the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers. This premium setup doesn’t support as many wireless playback options like the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module. However, a recent update to the Sonos S2 app allows it to playback DTS content commonly found in movies. Otherwise, the two bars offer very similar performances. It also has a room correction feature, which Sonos calls Trueplay, though it’s only available with iOS devices. With Trueplay on, its sound profile is a bit bright, but you can use its bass and treble adjustments to create a more neutral sound if you want. It also offers a very immersive surround sound, and it’s a solid choice for listening to Dolby Atmos content.

You can’t go wrong with either of these premium setups. Consider the Bose if you want a Bluetooth-compatible soundbar with a better soundstage. Check out the Sonos if you want to watch DTS content.

#3. Vizio Elevate

The best 5.1 soundbar with passthrough that we’ve tested is the Vizio Elevate. Unlike the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers and the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module, this setup has a Full HDMI In port that supports high-quality passthrough, including Dolby Vision Passthrough. You can use the bar as a hub between different devices to play 5.1 surround sound movies and video games from your PC on your TV. Additionally, text on your screen appears clear and crisp.

This premium 5.1.4 setup has decent performance with surround sound, thanks to its two satellite speakers that offer a clear and real representation of sound objects like voices and moving vehicles. Its soundstage is quite wide, too, and the bar’s unique design means that its sides can rotate upwards to make the soundstage seem even wider. Its bass-heavy sound profile means that you feel the extra punch in the bass range, especially during action scenes, while its balanced mids ensure that dialogue is still clearly reproduced.

#4. Bose Smart Soundbar 900

If you’re low on space, the best 5.1 soundbar with a standalone design that we’ve tested is the Bose Smart Soundbar 900. It’s the same bar that comes with the full setup, but without the subwoofer and satellites that take up extra room in your living space. It has a pretty wide and immersive-sounding soundstage that moves sound all the way to the walls of your room, too.

The standalone bar offers a lot of the same features as the full setup, including the ADAPTiQ room correction feature. With it on, its neutral sound profile means that dialogue is clearly and accurately reproduced, with a little extra punch in the high-bass range. There’s Atmos support, and its surround sound performance is okay, especially compared to other standalone setups.

#5. Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar

If you want a standalone 5.1 soundbar with an integrated subwoofer, check out the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar. Its integrated sub can reproduce a more extended low-bass that helps you feel the thump and rumble in your audio, especially with action scenes in 5.1 movies. However, its large and bulky design may not be ideal for all listeners, especially with more affordable models like the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 around. Still, the bar has an impressive performance with surround and Atmos content, thanks to its AMBEO 3D mode that offers a wide and immersive soundstage. There’s even a room correction feature, resulting in a fairly neutral sound that can reproduce voices and lead instruments clearly. Despite its low-frequency extension, its bass response isn’t very audible out-of-the-box, but you can use its bass and treble adjustments as well as its graphic EQ to add more thump and punch.

If you want a more affordable, better-built standalone soundbar with a better soundstage, check out the Bose. If you want a standalone bar with an integrated sub that can reproduce a more extended low-bass, check out the Sennheiser.

#6. Vizio M Series M512a-H6

The Vizio M Series M512a-H6 is the best 5.1 soundbar under $500 that we’ve tested. This well-built 5.1.2 setup offers an impressive price-to-performance ratio, with two discrete satellite speakers that offer good surround sound. When listening to 5.1 content, the bar represents a clear and real performance, so the sounds you hear mirror the action on your screen.

Out-of-the-box, it offers a neutral, balanced sound profile out-of-the-box suitable for listening to many different types of audio content. With its balanced mids, dialogue in movies is clear and detailed, and its dedicated subwoofer ensures that you feel the rumble in bass-heavy movie scores and action scenes. It has a wide soundstage, too, so sound seems to stretch all around you.

#7. Vizio V Series V51-H6

The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is the best budget 5.1 soundbar we’ve tested. The manufacturer recently released the next-generation Vizio V Series V51x-J6, but this setup remains the best choice between the two models. There aren’t a lot of differences in features or performance, aside from the fact that the V51-H6 reproduces a more extended low-bass than the newer version, meaning you can feel more thump and rumble in your audio.

Compared to other products in its price range, it has a pretty versatile performance, and it even comes with discrete satellites to improve its surround sound. These satellites ensure a clear and real representation of surround objects in 5.1 content, like helicopters that seem to fly overhead from one pinpoint location to another. Dialogue is clear, thanks to its balanced mids, and there’s plenty of rumble in the bass to bring action scenes to life.