Best Soundbar for Xbox Series X of 2024, Top Choice for Ultimate Gaming Audio

In the gaming world, audio is an indispensable element, and Team Wooster Audio is here to emphasize the importance of acquiring the best soundbar for your Xbox Series X gaming console. The Xbox Series X has revolutionized gaming with its potent hardware and impressive visuals, but it’s equally crucial to invest in a top-notch soundbar to complete the gaming experience.

At Wooster Audio, we’ve curated a selection of premium soundbars that are tailor-made to immerse you in the heart of in-game action, capturing every subtle detail like footsteps, thunderstorms, and epic moments. Our featured soundbars are equipped with Dolby Atmos technology, delivering an audio experience that transcends conventional stereo sound, enveloping you in a three-dimensional auditory space.

Beyond exceptional sound quality, our chosen soundbars come with an array of features, including diverse connectivity options, wireless technology, streaming capabilities, voice control, and more. These soundbars not only enhance your gaming experience but also seamlessly integrate into your gaming setup. Their slim profiles allow for neat placement under your TV or convenient wall mounting, ensuring a clutter-free and visually pleasing arrangement.

With the soundbars we’ve handpicked, you’ll truly experience audio magic while engaging in FPS battles, RPGs, simulations, and more on your Xbox Series X. These soundbars are your ticket to unlocking the full potential of your gaming console and immersing yourself in the gaming world like never before.

1. Sony HT-A7000

Let’s start with our first contender, the Sony HT-A7000 Soundbar, which does fall on the higher end of the price spectrum. This soundbar boasts an elegant design and a sleek, modern appearance. With a front metal grill, it exudes a sense of contemporary style. The HT-A7000 measures 51 inches in width, making it a perfect fit for your gaming setup. The combination of fabric covers on the sides and top-firing speakers elevates the overall aesthetics, creating a seamless blend of functionality and sophistication.

Conveniently, the HT-A7000 soundbar features six touch-sensitive controls on the top panel, including controls for volume, Bluetooth pairing, input selection, and power. This user-friendly design simplifies audio management. Additionally, discreet blue LED displays on the front grill provide essential information, such as volume levels, selected input, and surround sound mode, ensuring you always stay in control.

When it comes to gaming, the HT-A7000 soundbar excels at delivering detailed sound visuals, from the revving of engines to the screeching of tires and acceleration to braking, making it an ideal choice for racing games.

The true heart of the Sony HT-A7000 lies in its 11 powered speaker channels, which work together to provide a rich and immersive audio experience. This soundbar includes five front-facing speakers, two up-firing speakers, two specialized “beam” tweeters, and an internal dual-channel subwoofer, ensuring that you enjoy superb audio clarity throughout your gaming adventures.

While the Sony HT-A7000 may not offer the extensive feature set of some of its counterparts, it has garnered praise for its sound clarity and functionality. Hundreds of positive reviews further support our recommendation of the HT-A7000, making it a top choice for enhancing your Xbox gaming experience.

2. JBL Bar 9.1

Let’s dive into the impressive JBL Bar 9.1 Soundbar, which stands out not only for its sleek design but also for its comprehensive feature set. Priced slightly higher than the Sonos Arc Soundbar, the JBL Bar 9.1 offers a plethora of features that will enhance your audio experience.

First, let’s discuss its aesthetics. The JBL Bar 9.1 boasts a stylish appearance, making it a winner in the style department. During testing, what truly caught my attention was its wireless surround speakers, powered by batteries. What’s remarkable is that you can detach these speakers and set them up wherever you need without the hassle of dealing with wires. Additionally, you have the convenience of remote control for the JBL Bar 9.1 soundbar.

Now, let’s delve into the technical details. The JBL Bar 9.1 is equipped with a 5.1.4 setup, making it a serious audio powerhouse. With Dolby Atmos and DTS: X decoding, it delivers three-dimensional sound that will truly immerse you in your gaming experience. You’ll easily discern unique sound effects, like power-ups or magic spells, enhancing your gaming action.

When it comes to wireless connectivity options, the JBL Bar 9.1 has you covered. It features Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Chromecast built-in, and even Apple AirPlay. The wireless 10-inch subwoofer is a powerhouse, packing 300W of pure bass punch that will make you feel the beat in your bones while gaming. The room correction feature is a nice touch, ensuring the perfect balance between sound and space.

The JBL Bar 9.1 soundbar satellites are optimized for Atmos content, immersing you in your gaming world. Notably, it can handle stereo files, creating an incredible soundstage with the top and front speakers. Those up-firing channels are impressive and bring files like Dolby Digital to life.

While it doesn’t support built-in Spotify Connect integration, considering the wealth of other options, this shouldn’t be a deal-breaker. With all these features and capabilities, the JBL Bar 9.1 is an excellent choice for enhancing your Xbox Series X gaming experience.

3. Bose 863350-1100

Let’s explore another fantastic soundbar for the Xbox Series X, the Bose Smart Soundbar 900. When it comes to design, the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 boasts a sleek and stylish appearance, with tempered glass on top, available in either black or white colors. It measures 41 inches in length, 4 inches in depth, and stands at a height of 2.3 inches, making it ideal for 50-inch or larger smart televisions.

This Dolby Atmos soundbar from Bose is equipped with side-firing and up-firing drivers, which excel in delivering immersive gaming audio, ensuring that sound is spread throughout your space. Notably, Bose has integrated Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control.

The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 offers a range of connectivity options, including HDMI eARC, Wi-Fi, and two-way Bluetooth streaming. However, it lacks multiple HDMI input options, which might be a downside in this price range. You also have the option to connect separate Bose Bass Modules and Bose Surround Speakers for a more comprehensive audio setup. Keep in mind that this soundbar is not compatible with third-party subwoofers, such as Samsung subs. There’s a Bose companion application available for 24/7 usage, although it may not be as user-friendly as the Sonos application and offers a limited selection of streaming services.

During testing in Wooster Audio’s lab, I played several games, similar to my Sonos Arc soundbar tests, and found that the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 delivered sound performance that was on par with the Sonos soundbar. While the Bose Smart 900 performs well, I found that sound calibration may be needed for optimal results, especially in terms of bass adjustments. It’s worth noting that neither the Bose Smart 900 nor the Sonos Arc can truly replicate surround sound. Experts have pointed out that while watching movies with the Sonos Arc, there may be issues with dialogue voice clarity, while the Bose soundbar offers more natural and intelligible voice performance.

4. Creative MF8380

Allow me to introduce the Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2, a superb soundbar choice for your Xbox Series X. If you place this soundbar next to the Razer Leviathan, you’ll immediately notice its compact design and sleek appearance, featuring an attractive angled shape. The entire soundbar is approximately 23.6 inches wide, equivalent to 600mm for those who prefer metric measurements. This size is perfect for conveniently sliding it beneath your TV or monitor. Furthermore, the Katana V2 is both sturdy and stable, with well-designed feet that evenly distribute its weight.

The Katana V2 boasts a premium Brushed Aluminum finish that enhances its overall aesthetics. When it comes to connectivity, you’ll find a comprehensive range of options, including Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, audio jack, optical port, and a headset output. This allows you to customize your connections to suit your specific needs.

However, what truly sets the Katana V2 apart for gamers is its remarkable Programmable RGB lighting, offering a staggering 16.8 million colors to choose from. The Aurora Reactive lighting feature lets you create your unique ambiance with these stunning lights. Moreover, the Katana V2 comes with a smart remote control that allows you to manage various settings, such as bass control, display settings, RGB light colors, and more.

With the Katana V2, you can immerse yourself in the world of gaming by easily hearing environmental sounds and audio cues that provide depth and context to your gameplay. Whether it’s birds chirping, wind rustling, or machinery humming, the Katana V2 ensures you catch every detail.

Additionally, this soundbar offers robust bass, thanks to the subwoofer. During testing, while connecting the Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2 with the Xbox Series X and playing games like GTA 5, I experienced remarkable sound quality across mids, highs, and lows. This soundbar is also equipped with different modes for media or games, making it a versatile choice.

In summary, the Katana V2 soundbar, delivers exceptional audio quality that caters not only to gamers but also to those who enjoy podcasts and a variety of music genres. It’s a versatile and impressive addition to your Xbox Series X gaming setup.

5. Sonos ARCG1US1

Let’s delve into the Sonos Arc Soundbar, an exceptional but somewhat expensive choice for your Xbox Series X console. Released in 2020, the Sonos Arc Soundbar represents a breakthrough in sound technology, blending cutting-edge advancements, a sleek design, and outstanding audio quality that completely immerses you in your gaming adventures.

The Sonos Arc Soundbar boasts a strikingly sleek design, making it a perfect fit near your gaming console or gaming PC table. Unlike other soundbars in our list, such as the VIZIO 2.0 (SB3620n-H6), Klipsch Cinema 800, and Razer Leviathan, the Sonos Arc takes soundbar control to the next level with built-in voice assistant capabilities, including Google Assistant and Alexa. This feature allows you to control your sound system hands-free, adjusting volume, changing tracks, or even dimming lights with just your voice. It’s a unique feature that eliminates the need for rummaging through couch cushions in search of the remote.

One of the Sonos Arc’s standout features is its dedicated center channel, purposefully designed to deliver flawless vocal reproduction. Every word and dialogue sequence is conveyed with crystal-clear precision, ensuring that you catch every critical moment in your favorite shows and movies. Furthermore, the Dialogue enhancement tool takes this a step further, emphasizing conversations to ensure they are front and center. Additionally, the Sonos Arc Soundbar automatically adapts to the acoustics of your room, ensuring optimal sound quality.

Customization is a priority, and the Sonos Arc soundbar offers the ability to adjust bass and treble to match your personal preferences, allowing you to fine-tune your gaming sound to your exact liking. On the connectivity front, the Sonos Arc features optical, Ethernet, and HDMI options, with full support for ARC/eARC technology to ensure excellent audio transmission.

The Sonos Arc Soundbar goes above and beyond, offering support for various surround formats, including Dolby Atmos, Dolby True HD, Dolby Digital+, Dolby Digital, and DTS:X, delivering a cinema-grade audio experience to your space. Regrettably, it lacks Bluetooth functionality but supports Wi-Fi and Apple AirPlay 2 for seamless wireless music streaming. Overall, while the Sonos Arc soundbar leans toward the expensive side, it’s rich in features and shines as a dialogue-centric masterpiece with crystal-clear vocals. Its support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X elevates your Xbox gaming experience, immersing you in your favorite titles.

Final Verdict

In conclusion, the choice of the perfect soundbar for your Xbox Series X is a pivotal decision that can significantly enhance your overall gaming experience. Our exploration of these five top-tier soundbars revealed each one’s unique set of features and advantages, catering to a range of preferences and budgets. Whether you prioritize extraordinary audio quality, chic design, or advanced connectivity, there is a soundbar on our list that perfectly aligns with your desires.

The Sony HT-A7000 Soundbar, albeit on the pricier end, stands out with its sleek, modern design and user-friendly touch-sensitive controls. With 11 powered speaker channels, it delivers a rich, immersive audio experience that avid gamers will truly appreciate.

The JBL Bar 9.1 Soundbar, another exceptional option, boasts a wireless surround speaker system that offers flexibility in setup thanks to battery power. Its 5.1.4 channel configuration, along with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X decoding, engulfs you in three-dimensional sound, elevating your gaming sessions.

The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 adds elegance to your gaming setup with its tempered glass top, available in black or white. Its inclusion of side-firing and up-firing drivers ensures that gaming audio fills your space perfectly. The integration of Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control.

Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2, an impressive and cost-effective soundbar for gamers, excels in sound quality and boasts extensive connectivity options. The captivating programmable RGB lights enhance your gaming experience, making it suitable for gaming, podcasts, and a variety of music genres.

The Sonos Arc Soundbar, although a pricier option, shines as a dialogue-centric masterpiece. With its sleek design, support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, and customizable audio settings, it offers a premium sound experience. The added convenience of voice assistants and room adaptation for sound acoustics elevates this soundbar further.

Ultimately, the best soundbar for your Xbox Series X hinges on your specific gaming preferences and budget. These soundbars cater to diverse needs, from immersive audio to hands-free control. Regardless of your choice, you’re assured of elevating your gaming escapades and immersing yourself in the world of Xbox Series X.