The highest scoring soundbar overall, the Polk Signa S2, is surprisingly affordable at just $419. If you're looking for a higher end soundbar, the Polk MagniFi Max AX was ranked third overall by our experts, so it's also an excellent choice, particularly for a larger room.

And if you don't have a lot of cash to splash, the Hisense HS2100 will set you back less than $250 but is highly regarded by our expert listening panel and perfect for a small loungeroom or study.

Read on to find out what Denis has to say about each of these great soundbars and why they're good buys.

Best budget buy: The Hisense HS2100

Best budget soundbar

Hisense HS2100

• CHOICE Expert Rating: 75%
• Music quality score: 73%
• Multi-channel audio quality score (movies): 80%
• Price: $249

If you're just looking for an affordable option to upgrade from your TV speakers, then you can get good honest sound quality with the HS2100 for under $250.  You may even be able to find it for under $200 at some retailers during sales periods, making it one of the best deals going around.

You only get stereo sound (2.1), which means audio will only sound like it's coming from the front of the room, instead of all around you. But it does include an external subwoofer which will sound much better than any bass coming from a TV speaker.

The sub also links to the soundbar via a wireless connection. That gives you the freedom to place it in an ideal spot without having to run cables everywhere.

Features are pretty bare bones, mind you. There's no Wi-Fi support, but you do get Bluetooth connectivity to play music directly from your smartphone. It also lacks lip sync adjustment so there's a small chance that dialogue may not always match up with lip movements on screen.

But while there aren't many bells and whistles, this is still a great value first soundbar that will no doubt deliver better sound than you get through your TV.

Read the full Hisense HS2100 review. 

Best mid-range buy: The Polk Signa S2.

Best mid-range soundbar

Polk Signa S2 

• CHOICE Expert Rating: 85% (highest score overall)
• Music quality score: 93%
• Multi-channel audio quality score (movies): 97%
• Price: $419

The fact that the Polk Signa S2 is still widely available after several years on the market supports our high regard for what must be the best value-for-money soundbar we have tested. This model topped our test, with a higher overall score than a number of models costing more than three times as much.

It doesn't support Dolby Atmos or DTS-X – in fact, it's limited to stereo surround with an external subwoofer (2.1). But the excellent sound quality makes up for this limitation.

Our listening panel was very impressed. The sound was so good it almost broke its stereo bounds with an expansive feel that even added a sense of height – something normally limited to soundbars with Atmos or DTS-X capabilities. They were also impressed with the vocal clarity and excellent music quality.

At less than 6cm high this is also a great soundbar for a TV that isn't wall-mounted as there is no chance of it obstructing your view when placed in front of your TV on a table.

This model topped our test, with a higher overall score than a number of models costing more than three times as much

There's no Wi-Fi ,so it doesn't support music streaming services by itself. However, Bluetooth allows you to enjoy all your favourite music directly from your smartphone, tablet or laptop. An auxiliary port also means you can even plug in an audio player with a physical cable. Old school!

While the lack of smart features and support for higher end audio formats are typical of a mid-priced soundbar, the overall sound quality delivers at a level much higher than the asking price.

Read the full Polk Signa S2 review. 

Best premium soundbar: Polk ManiFi Max AX

Best premium soundbar

Polk MagniFi Max AX

• CHOICE Expert Rating: 79%
• Music quality score: 77%
• Multi-channel audio quality score (movies): 90%
• Price: $1299

The folks at Polk seem to know their way around a soundbar. Like the Signa S2, the MagniFi Max AX is the top performer for its price point and it also comes with most of the fancy features you'd expect from a soundbar that costs over $1000.

Full surround sound is the big selling point here. It has 5.1.2 speaker channels with full support for Dolby Atmos and DTS-X, which can be incredibly immersive with the right movie or TV show. It's one of those soundbars that sends sound towards your ears from every angle, without the need for extra speakers at the back of the room.

Polk also sells a version of the Max AX that bundles in two rear speakers for legitimate surround sound. It costs an extra $200 and, ironically, scored lower in the movie portion of our test.

This is reflected in its excellent film audio performance and, though music performance is no slouch at 77%, the MagniFi Max AX is really geared towards magnificent movie nights. But you can still stream music with ease via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, which are built into the soundbar.

There are some shortcomings, however. Despite the complex collection of speakers, the MagniFi Max AX doesn't include automatic room calibration software. This means it can't measure the space and adjust settings to optimise sound quality for your space. The wall mounting instructions lack detail as well so you may need to resort to YouTube if you don't want to mount it on a TV unit.

But the MagniFi Max AX should otherwise suit the home theatre enthusiast that wants good audio, but can't justify the space, time or expense of moving into a more advanced system.

Read the full Polk MagniFi Max AX review.

Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.

Join the conversation

To share your thoughts or ask a question, visit the CHOICE Community forum.

Visit CHOICE Community