Some manufacturers are introducing these HDMI 2.1 ports as inputs onto their soundbars, so what sets the Sony HT-A7000 apart from the rest here is that the two HDMI 2.1 ports not only passthrough at 4K 120Hz, which is perfect for gaming but, thanks to a firmware update, support VRR and ALLM to get the most of the PS5 and Xbox Series X. However, for those who prefer a more desktop setup, simply connect the cable to the Soundbar and the other end into a controller. The Menu button is where the Useful Features Reside… And once accessed within the Menu, these will appear as little symbols/icons (shown below).

Another thing you’ll want to watch out for is the kind of connection you need. You’ll find most modern soundbars have HDMI connectivity, but there's also optical connectivity—so what's the difference? These are two ways that audio is passed from your TV to your soundbar, but HDMI passes high-resolution audio, including Dolby Atmos. The Sonos Arc draws on Dolby’s latest TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus sound codecs to deliver the best quality lossless audio found on cutting-edge Blu-ray discs and some of the leading streaming services. Crucially, that also includes Dolby Atmos support, and while the reflected height and side channels aren't as pronounced as some of the soundbars here can manage, they're still impressive, and the range of precision of the Arc is superb. Nice touches, for sure, but the FB1 is a pain to both set up and operate. Not only is the supplied remote poorly labelled but Philips expects users to configure this soundbar using two completely separate apps: one for sonic tweaking, the other (a variant of the DTS Play-Fi app) for routing streaming audio sources such as Spotify and Tidal.

The Sonos Arc isn't cheap, but if you're already a fan of Sonos then we think you're going to love the way this soundbar delivers really impressive Dolby Atmos sound. The only irritant is that dialogue isn’t handled as well as it could be. Vocals seem to recede in prominence when the soundfield setting is engaged, requiring more frequent use of the voice boost function. Switch it out and dialogue is generally clearer, but you instantly lose that lovely sense of spaciousness. Whilst the Sony HT-S2000's sound isn't the biggest, the sound you do get for your money is impressive. Clear dialogue levels and a spacious, virtual surround sound are two of the HT-S2000's highlights. Bass levels are also punchy enough, but it's the Sony HT-S2000's ability to reproduce Dolby Atmos effects that's surprising. It's not going to beat a soundbar with height channels, but for a 3.1 soundbar, it offers plenty.

An HDMI port means that the highest quality audio can pass from your TV to your soundbar, like Dolby Atmos. Fortunately, most soundbars have speech enhancement feature settings that will typically raise the volume of the centre channel and crispen up the EQ to help improve dialogue audibility. Not every brand implements this with sophistication, and sometimes these modes can sound thin and harsh, but once again, it's always worth experimenting to find what works for you and your space. How we test soundbars How we test soundbarsThe key thing to know about optical is that it's restricted in bandwidth compared to ARC/eARC. So if you have the choice between the two and opt for optical, you might not be making the most of the audio decoding built into your soundbar. The most advanced immersive formats optical can handle are compressed Dolby Digital or DTS 5.1 surround sound, so that means no Dolby Atmos or DTS:X. This will happen a few more times until the charging cable is inserted into the Soundbar device. CHARGING THE SOUNDBAR This is the second symbol and is where you can manually set an Alarm on your Soundbar. The steps to do this are as follows: Best of all, a decent soundbar doesn’t need to cost a fortune and, unlike stereo speakers, soundbars blend much more discreetly into your living room decor, resulting in a cleaner, more minimalist look.