The best soundbars and soundbases of 2017 - reviewed

What’s the story?

The Q Acoustics Media 4 is a simple soundbar. It has a couple of analogue inputs, an optical input for your TV, and aptX Bluetooth. That’s it. No HDMI, no extra sound modes, no wireless subwoofer.

The bar’s wonky trapezoid design has been crafted to accommodate a large, elliptical driver that acts as an internal subwoofer. It’s one tidy, if oddly-shaped, package.

Sure, it doesn’t look like much. And yet, this £330 soundbar has won a What Hi Fi? Product of the Year Award three years in a row. Not bad going at all.

Any good?

It’s clear why it's been so successful the second we start listening: the Media 4 is ridiculously good. The sheer musicality of its performance is incredible, combining subtle detail, powerful dynamics and precise surround effects with confidence and ease.

The smooth and lively sound masks just how much control it has over the ebb and flow of a demanding soundtrack. Voices are clear and crisp and while it’s not the biggest spread of sound, we don’t care because we’re far too engrossed in its performance.

It’s hard to find fault when you get such a great sound for such a reasonable price. You’ll need to make the right space for the Media 4 (or consider its more slender - if slightly less talented - M3 sibling), but you certainly won't regret it.

Buy the Q Acoustics Media 4 here from Amazon (UK) | Amazon (USA)

What’s the story?

The Canton DM55 is a bit like dark chocolate: it may look plain and unassuming, but it’s actually packed with a rich and full-bodied character. Unlike dark chocolate though, there’s no bitter aftertaste.

This soundbase is as practical as they come, with the compact size working best for those with modest-sized living rooms and modest-sized TVs. That sleek glass top – new to the DM55 – adds a hint of style to the black box, and it’s tough enough to withstand TVs weighing up to 40kg. Just make sure your TV’s stand fits on top.

Any good?

Whether you’re watching a movie or listening to music, the DM55 easily fills up a room with its meaty sound. Punches and explosions have that satisfying thwack and rumble to them, while the top end has just enough bite to keep you on edge without making you wince. It’s not all brawn, either. Soundtracks swoop, swell and soar with a nimble touch and there’s plenty of detail here to keep you hooked to the action on screen.

If you want that extra oomph to your TV-watching without spending too much or sacrificing too much space, the DM55 is worth a look.

Buy the Canton DM55 here from Amazon (UK)

What’s the story?

Yamaha has spent years perfecting the tech behind its Digital Sound Projectors: lots of tiny speakers that cleverly bounce sound rays around the room to give you a virtual 5.1 surround experience. All from a single bar.

Add in MusicCast (Yamaha’s multi-room feature that lets you mix’n’match products to create a system), AirPlay, Bluetooth, high-res audio and 4K support, and you’ve got one hell of a one-bar streaming machine.

Any good?

On the plus side, there are enough streaming and multiroom features here to keep you busy for hours. Everything is really slick, too. Take the auto calibration, which tunes the YSP-1600’s eight 2.8cm speakers to your room at the press of a single button. Once done, you get a pleasingly wide arc of sound where special effects whizz around merrily – spaceships, stunt cars, flying monkeys, you name it. There’s a great sense of movement in that big open space.

But it’s not as exciting as older generations of Yamaha’s soundbars have been - or indeed the pricier YSP-2700. The dynamic shifts from quiet to loud could be more dramatic, and we want more punch and detail to really get us sucked into the action on screen. It's not bad by any means, but these days others are better.

Buy the Yamaha YSP-1600 here from Currys PC World (UK) | Amazon (USA)

What’s the story?

While it’s clear that not every room can accommodate a full 5.1 surround sound setup, even squeezing in a soundbar or soundbase can be a push in some cases – particularly for smaller TVs in places such as the kitchen or bedroom.

That doesn’t mean you should have to put up with dodgy sound, though. The JBL Boost is a dinky soundbar measuring just 38cm wide, which makes it the ideal companion for your 32-42in telly.

It looks a little more like one of JBL’s wireless speakers than a soundbar, but comes complete with 3.5mm and optical inputs alongside Bluetooth connectivity, giving you more options than you might expect at the price.

Any good?

From a soundbar this size (and perhaps, this price), you can’t expect the sort of room-filling sound that you’ll get from others in this category. It’s not got as much power in the low end either.

It gives both a good go though, and offers a bass performance that is far from lightweight. There’s still a decent amount of depth to the lower register, but just not a lot of space to let it breath. A busy action scene will see it easily congested.

It makes up for this with a great tonal balance and a decent handle on dynamics. Though it might not be the airiest of listens, it works within its abilities to deliver the peaks and troughs of a soundtrack, with the drive and agility to keep things exciting.

There’s plenty of clarity through the midrange too, though this does harden up when the volume gets pushed. 

Buy the JBL Boost TV here from Amazon (UK) | Amazon (USA)