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

The 2026 World Cup begins on June 11, and whereas lots of people shall be fascinated with a brand new TV, there’s nonetheless one essential element that may make or break the entire expertise: audio.

A brand new soundbar can actually add one other dimension to the World Cup viewing expertise, delivering clearer commentary and a extra immersive ambiance by capturing the roar of the crowds. Let’s face it, even the best TVs have common built-in audio, and it might be a disgrace to overlook out on the total World Cup feeling.

Newest Movies From

Samsung HW-Q800F. One of many model’s mid-range 2025 soundbars, the Q800F actually does cowl all of the bases.

The Q800F is a soundbar-and-sub combo that delivers all the pieces you could possibly want. We present in our testing that the bass delivered by the brand new, compact subwoofer was nonetheless suitably highly effective and sizeable, precisely delivering the ignition of the Darkstar jet in Prime Gun: Maverick.

It additionally demonstrated wonderful precision with surprisingly efficient Dolby Atmos top results in films corresponding to The Masks, precisely capturing the chaotic nature of the titular character as he tears round Edge Metropolis. Anticipate it to precisely ship the ball’s actions across the subject through the World Cup.

Dialogue was crystal clear all through our testing as properly, which is an effective signal {that a} commentary monitor through the World Cup needs to be delivered with actual readability.

The Q800F is sensible worth too. You possibly can anticipate to pay round $799 / £599 / AU$849, which is a good value for this soundbar. Anticipate costs to drop within the lead-up to the World Cup, too.

Samsung HW-Q990F, the model’s 2025 flagship mannequin. This 11.1.4 channel soundbar is a beast, composed of 4 separate items and actually delivers the total encompass sound expertise.

I personally examined the Q990F and was blown away by its efficiency. The brand new compact subwoofer delivers room-filling bass that’s mighty, but additionally properly managed. The rumble of the Batmobile’s engine in The Batman was room-shaking however dynamic and exact, with the subwoofer precisely delivering the chunky gear modifications.

The Q990F boasts a large soundstage that is not solely nice for large musical numbers from films like Depraved, but additionally action-packed scenes such because the Loss of life Star assault in Star Wars: A New Hope. The sound is expansive with pinpoint placement, such because the TIE Fighter’s screeching flight path in Star Wars. The stadium ambiance within the World Cup will sound sensational by way of this technique.

Speech was completely clear all through my testing, whether or not it was hushed dialog in The Batman or the loud, hovering vocals of ‘Defying Gravity’ from Depraved. Anticipate the identical with commentary within the World Cup.

The Q990F is on the extra premium finish of the market, costing $1,599 / £999 / AU$1,599, however this mammoth soundbar system will cowl you for sports activities, films, and gaming, and do an outstanding job with all of them.

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) could also be compact, however do not let that idiot you. It delivers a beefy sound that you just would not anticipate from a soundbar this dimension and is definitely the most effective fashions for music available on the market.

The Beam (Gen 2) has been round for some time now, but it surely nonetheless constantly delivers a satisfying sound that works for a various vary of genres. I tested it alongside the Sony HT-S2000 and Denon Home 550, two compact rivals, and I used to be all the time happy with the Beam’s efficiency.

The bass it delivers for a small unit is tightly managed and punchy, because it precisely delivered the roar of jet engines in Prime Gun: Maverick. Its soundstage was additionally spacious, giving results room to breathe with a fantastic stability total. As The Masks tornadoes round his bed room in The Masks, the Beam did a wonderful job mapping the route of the whirlwind, connecting the sound precisely to the image.

Dialogue is good and clear regardless of its smaller stature, so commentary needs to be good and clear for the World Cup. It additionally has a various sound profile that makes it nice for music.

Sonos‘ soundbars typically get some good reductions all year long, however even on the full $499 / £449 / AU$799 value, it is a excellent soundbar that is actual worth for cash.

Hisense AX5125H is without doubt one of the most spectacular price range soundbars I’ve ever used. Not solely are you getting a fantastic 5.1.2 channel Dolby Atmos system, however you are getting it for a ridiculously low value.

Utilizing the Loss of life Star assault from Star Wars: A New Hope, I used to be severely impressed with the AX5125H’s readability and management. It precisely delivered the whirring engines of the X-Wings and did a strong job with top channels, recreating the screech of the TIE Fighters as they flew overhead.

The AX5125H additionally has a large soundstage, which helped decide up subtleties in The Batman‘s opening crime scene, with digicam clicks, mumbled conversations, and the sparse, scratchy strings of the rating all offered clearly. This could do a fantastic job choosing out the dynamics through the World Cup, from a travelling ball to the group noise.

Speech was additionally clear all through testing, coming by way of loud and clear throughout each quieter conversations and action-packed scenes. This can don’t have any drawback delivering clear commentary in a packed stadium ambiance.

The AX5125H’s actual spotlight is its low value. A 5.1.2 channel system for £249 is ridiculous. This could have been my decide for the US price range possibility, however sadly, it is out of inventory. For UK readers, this one is a no brainer if you happen to’re on a price range.