And if you want to expand your sound system, check out our other resources on 6 ways you can make your soundbar sound better and adding surround sound to a soundbar. You can check to see whether your TV and soundbar have ARC by checking to see whether the ports are labelled as such or by checking the manual. Many soundbars now come with wi-fi connectivity that allows them to form part of a multi-room music system. This is particularly important with digital connections such as HDMI and optical because not all soundbars can process some newer types of audio – for example, you might have a Blu-ray player that’s set to produce audio in the DTS:X format, but if your soundbar doesn’t support it you might not get any sound at all.

There are also frequently asked questions, a product rating and feedback from users to enable you to optimally use your product. All of that sound is delivered by an elegant bar that will fit just about anywhere and is available in either black or the striking white pictured above.

In addition the instruction manual shows how the soundbar can be used as a hub for the connection of a set top box or DVD player etc. It’s no match for the more expensive Beam 2 or Arc, both of which also feature on this list, but for a compact 2.

Plus, they are sleek and streamlined, so you won’t have bulky equipment that is distracting from your room’s look. The Ray isn’t without fault – it lacks Bluetooth and only has a single optical port – but can be tuned to suit the acoustic needs of your room and controlled via the excellent Sonos app. If you have an issue with your soundbar going to sleep after a set amount of time, it’s likely due to its energy-saving settings.If your video device (such as a Sky box, TV box or DVD player) is plugged directly into your soundbar, it’s possible for your sound to get ahead of (fall behind) the image on your TV. But you don’t want one of those big, clunky things that takes up all the space in your living room and blocks your Hitachi TV screen. TVs usually have one or both of these outputs, so you’ll be able to hook yours up to your soundbar without any issue. We've listed three models to shortlist - all performed well in our lab tests, but be sure to check out their full reviews to discover their unique pros and cons.

Dolby Atmos uses upwards-firing speakers to bounce sound off the ceiling, to put you in the middle of the action. The absence of an in-built voice assistant and the decision not to include a remote sting a little, particularly given how much the Dione costs, but in terms of style and performance, few standalone soundbars get close to the Dione.If your TV or soundbar doesn’t have HDMI ARC (you’ll need it on both to use it), the next best option is one of the other digital connections, most commonly digital optical or digital coaxial. channel soundstage really makes you feel as though you’re sitting in the middle of a bubble of sound.