Looking for a new Dolby Atmos soundbar in time for the World Cup? Here are my top 4 picks, with models from Samsung, Sonos, and Hisense

Date:
Sat, 09 May 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Description:
Complete your World Cup experience with an audio upgrade with a new soundbar: here are my four current picks.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter The 2026 World Cup starts on June 11, and while a lot of people will be thinking about a new TV, there's still one crucial component that can make or break the whole experience: audio.

A new soundbar can really add another dimension to the World Cup viewing experience, delivering clearer commentary and a more immersive atmosphere by capturing the roar of the crowds. Let's face it, even the best TVs have average built-in audio, and it'd be a shame to miss out on the full World Cup feeling. Below, I've picked four of the best soundbars you can buy right now that will be more than up to the task of delivering the atmosphere of the World Cup, whatever your budget. Latest Videos From You may like The 3 OLED TVs I recommend for World Cup viewing, based on my testing The best Dolby Atmos soundbars: home theater upgrades for all budgets I tested three Dolby Atmos soundbars side-by-side here's the one I'd buy Best overall: Samsung HW-Q800F (Image credit: Future / Aardman Animations) Currently sitting at the top of our best soundbars list is the five-star-rated Samsung HW-Q800F . One of the brand's mid-range 2025 soundbars, the Q800F really does cover all the bases.

The Q800F is a soundbar-and-sub combo that delivers everything you could
need. We found in our testing that the bass delivered by the new, compact subwoofer was still suitably powerful and sizeable, accurately delivering the ignition of the Darkstar jet in Top Gun: Maverick .

It also demonstrated excellent precision with surprisingly effective Dolby Atmos height effects in movies such as The Mask , accurately capturing the chaotic nature of the titular character as he tears around Edge City. Expect it to accurately deliver the ball's movements around the field during the World Cup.

Dialogue was crystal clear throughout our testing as well, which is a good sign that a commentary track during the World Cup should be delivered with real clarity. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me
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The Q800F is brilliant value too. You can expect to pay around $799 / 599 / AU$849, which is a great price for this soundbar. Expect prices to drop in
the lead-up to the World Cup, too. Today's best Samsung HW-Q800F deals 382 View 699 View 849 699 View Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Best premium: Samsung HW-Q990F (Image credit: Future) For those looking for a complete soundbar system, it doesn't get much better than the Samsung HW-Q990F , the brand's 2025 flagship model. This 11.1.4 channel soundbar is a beast, composed of four separate units and really delivers the full surround sound experience.

I personally tested the Q990F and was blown away by its performance. The new compact subwoofer delivers room-filling bass that is mighty, but also well controlled. The rumble of the Batmobile's engine in The Batman was room-shaking but dynamic and precise, with the subwoofer accurately
delivering the chunky gear changes. What to read next The best soundbars for all budgets A cheap Dolby Atmos soundbar with 4K 120Hz HDMI? This is a tempting upgrade The best cheap soundbars, all tested by our experts

The Q990F boasts a wide soundstage that's not only great for big musical numbers from movies like Wicked , but also action-packed scenes such as the Death Star attack in Star Wars : A New Hope . The sound is expansive with pinpoint placement, such as the TIE Fighter's screeching flight path in Star Wars . The stadium atmosphere in the World Cup will sound sensational through this system.

Speech was perfectly clear throughout my testing, whether it was hushed conversation in The Batman or the loud, soaring vocals of 'Defying Gravity' from Wicked . Expect the same with commentary in the World Cup.

The Q990F is at the more premium end of the market, costing $1,599 / 999 / AU$1,599, but this mammoth soundbar system will cover you for sports, movies, and gaming, and do a superb job with all of them. Today's best Samsung HW-Q990F deals 749 View 1,399 1,199 View 1,199 View Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Best budget US: Sonos Beam (Image credit: Future) The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) may be compact, but don't let that fool you. It delivers a beefy sound that you wouldn't expect from a soundbar this size and is easily one of the best models for music on the market.

The Beam (Gen 2) has been around for a while now, but it still consistently delivers a satisfying sound that works for a diverse range of genres. I
tested it alongside the Sony HT-S2000 and Denon Home 550 , two compact
rivals, and I was always pleased with the Beam's performance.

The bass it delivers for a small unit is tightly controlled and punchy, as it accurately delivered the roar of jet engines in Top Gun: Maverick . Its soundstage was also spacious, giving effects room to breathe with a great balance overall. As The Mask tornadoes around his bedroom in The Mask , the Beam did an excellent job mapping the direction of the whirlwind, connecting the sound accurately to the picture.

Dialogue is nice and clear despite its smaller stature, so commentary should be nice and clear for the World Cup. It also has a diverse sound profile that makes it great for music.

Sonos ' soundbars often get some nice discounts throughout the year, but
even at the full $499 / 449 / AU$799 price, it's a superb soundbar that's
real value for money. Today's best Sonos Beam (Gen 2) deals 476 Amazon customer reviews 449 349 View 449 View 449 View Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Best budget UK: Hisense AX5125H (Image credit: Future) The Hisense AX5125H is one of the most impressive budget soundbars I've ever used. Not only are you getting a great 5.1.2 channel Dolby Atmos system, but you're getting it for a ridiculously
low price.

Using the Death Star attack from Star Wars: A New Hope, I was seriously impressed with the AX5125H's clarity and control. It accurately delivered the whirring engines of the X-Wings and did a solid job with height channels, recreating the screech of the TIE Fighters as they flew overhead.

The AX5125H also has a wide soundstage, which helped pick up subtleties in
The Batman 's opening crime scene, with camera clicks, mumbled conversations, and the sparse, scratchy strings of the score all presented clearly. This should do a great job picking out the dynamics during the World Cup, from a travelling ball to the crowd noise.

Speech was also clear throughout testing, coming through loud and clear
during both quieter conversations and action-packed scenes. This will have no problem delivering clear commentary in a packed stadium atmosphere.

The AX5125H's real highlight is its low price. A 5.1.2 channel system for 249 is ridiculous. This would have been my pick for the US budget option, but sadly, it's out of stock. For UK readers, this one is a no-brainer if you're on a budget. Today's best Hisense AX5125H deals 320 209 View 249 View 249
View Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices The best TVs for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world
testing and comparisons

Read our full guide to the best TVs 1. Best overall: LG C5 2. Best under 1000: US: Hisense U8QG UK: TCL C7K 3. Best under 500: US: Roku Plus Series
UK: TCL C6K Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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