Sony HT-S20R 5.1ch Soundbar System with Dolby Digital, 400W

Our review

This is a full 5.1-channel home cinema audio setup rather than a single upgraded soundbar. A three-channel bar handles the front stage, while two rear speakers and an external subwoofer complete the surround field, and Dolby Digital decoding shapes the signal into distinct channels. It suits someone with a living room where speakers can be placed behind or beside the seating, since the effect depends on that arrangement. Before buying, measure your room and plan where the rears and subwoofer will sit, and confirm your TV or player can output the audio format you want. Compare it with all-in-one bars if you cannot run rear speakers, and with receiver-and-speaker packages if you want more inputs and upgrade paths.