Best Smart Speakers, Displays, and Soundbars

If you are looking for ways to enhance your home entertainment experience, you might want to consider investing in some smart devices that can make your TV watching, music listening, and voice controlling more enjoyable and convenient. In this article, we will introduce you to some of the best smart speakers, displays, and soundbars that you can buy right now, based on their features, performance, and value. We will also give you some tips on how to choose the right ones for your needs and preferences.

What are smart speakers, displays, and soundbars?

Smart speakers are devices that have built-in voice assistants, such as Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri, that can respond to your voice commands and queries. You can use them to play music, check the weather, control your smart home devices, and more. Some smart speakers also have screens, which are called smart displays. Smart displays can show you visual information, such as album art, weather forecasts, video calls, and streaming content. They can also act as digital photo frames, clocks, or calendars.

Soundbars are long, thin speakers that can be placed under or above your TV, or mounted on the wall. They can improve the sound quality of your TV by providing more power, range, and clarity than the built-in speakers. Some soundbars also have subwoofers, which are separate speakers that produce deep bass sounds. Some soundbars also support Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, which are audio formats that create a 3D sound effect by using upward-firing speakers or virtual processing.

Why do you need smart speakers, displays, and soundbars?

Smart speakers, displays, and soundbars can offer you many benefits, such as:

• Better audio quality: Smart speakers, displays, and soundbars can deliver richer, louder, and clearer sound than your TV speakers, especially for dialogue, music, and sound effects. They can also create a more immersive and realistic soundstage, especially if they support spatial audio formats like Dolby Atmos or DTS:X.
• More convenience: Smart speakers, displays, and soundbars can be controlled by your voice, so you don’t have to use a remote or a phone app. You can also use them to control other smart devices in your home, such as lights, thermostats, cameras, and more. You can also use them to access various online services, such as music streaming, news, podcasts, audiobooks, and more.
• More entertainment options: Smart speakers, displays, and soundbars can expand your entertainment choices by allowing you to stream content from various sources, such as Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Disney Plus, and more. You can also use them to play games, watch videos, browse the web, and more.

How to choose the best smart speakers, displays, and soundbars for your home entertainment?

There are many factors to consider when choosing the best smart speakers, displays, and soundbars for your home entertainment, such as:

• Budget: Smart speakers, displays, and soundbars vary in price, depending on their features, quality, and brand. You can find some affordable options for under $100, but you can also spend over $1,000 for some premium models. You should decide how much you are willing to spend and look for the best value for your money.
• Compatibility: Smart speakers, displays, and soundbars work with different voice assistants, such as Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri. You should choose the ones that match your preferred voice assistant and your existing smart devices. You should also check the connectivity options, such as HDMI, optical, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and more, and make sure they are compatible with your TV and other devices.
• Size and design: Smart speakers, displays, and soundbars come in different sizes and designs, so you should choose the ones that fit your space and style. You should measure your TV and your cabinet or wall space and look for the ones that match. You should also consider the aesthetics, such as the color, shape, and material, and choose the ones that suit your taste.
• Performance: Smart speakers, displays, and soundbars differ in their sound quality, volume, and features, so you should choose the ones that meet your expectations and needs. You should look for the ones that have good reviews, ratings, and specifications, and test them out if possible. You should also look for the ones that have the features that you want, such as Dolby Atmos, subwoofer, smart display, and more.

The best smart speakers, displays, and soundbars for your home entertainment

Based on our research and testing, here are some of the best smart speakers, displays, and soundbars that you can buy right now for your home entertainment:

Best smart speaker overall: Sonos One

The Sonos One is a versatile and powerful smart speaker that works with both Alexa and Google Assistant. It has a sleek and compact design that can fit in any room, and it delivers rich and balanced sound that can fill a medium-sized space. It also supports AirPlay 2, which allows you to stream music from your iPhone or iPad. You can also pair it with another Sonos One or other Sonos speakers for stereo or multi-room sound. The Sonos One costs $199 and is available in black or white. ¹

Best smart display overall: Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)

The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) is a smart display that works with Google Assistant. It has a 7-inch touchscreen that can show you various information, such as the weather, your calendar, your photos, and more. It can also stream video content from YouTube, Netflix, Disney Plus, and more. It has a built-in speaker that can play music, podcasts, and audiobooks, and it can also control your smart home devices. It also has a unique feature called Sleep Sensing, which can track your sleep quality and give you personalized insights and suggestions. The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) costs $99.99 and is available in four colors: chalk, charcoal, sand, and mist. ²

Best soundbar overall: Samsung HW-Q800C

The Samsung HW-Q800C is a soundbar that supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, which create a 3D sound effect by using upward-firing speakers or virtual processing. It comes with a wireless subwoofer that adds deep bass to your sound, and it can also connect to optional rear speakers for a more immersive surround sound. It has a sleek and elegant design that can match your TV, and it has various connectivity options, such as HDMI, optical, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. It also works with Alexa, so you can control it with your voice. The Samsung HW-Q800C costs $699.99 and is available in black. ³

Best budget smart speaker: Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen)

The Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen) is a smart speaker that works with Alexa. It has a spherical design that can fit in any corner, and it has a LED ring that glows when you talk to it. It can play music, answer questions, control your smart home devices, and more. It also has a 3.5mm audio jack that allows you to connect it to another speaker or headphones. It has a decent sound quality for its size and price, and it can also pair with another Echo Dot for stereo sound. The Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen) costs $49.99 and is available in three colors: charcoal, glacier white, and twilight blue. ⁴

Best budget smart display: Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen)

The Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen) is a smart display that works with Alexa. It has a 5.5-inch touchscreen that can show you various information, such as the time, the weather, your reminders, and more. It can also stream video content from Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Netflix, and more. It has a built-in speaker that can play music, podcasts, and audiobooks, and it can also control your smart home devices. It also has a 2-megapixel camera that can make video calls, and a physical shutter that can cover it for privacy. The Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen) costs $84.99 and is available in two colors: charcoal and glacier white. ⁵

Best budget soundbar: Vizio V21

The Vizio V21 is a soundbar that comes with a wireless subwoofer that adds deep bass to your sound. It has a simple and slim design that can fit under your TV, and it has various connectivity options, such as HDMI, optical, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. It also supports Dolby Audio and DTS Virtual:X, which create a virtual surround sound effect. It has a good sound quality for its price, and it can also stream music from your phone or online services. The Vizio V21 costs $129.99 and is available in black. ⁶

Best compact Atmos soundbar: Sonos Beam

The Sonos Beam is a soundbar that supports Dolby Atmos, which creates a 3D sound effect by using virtual processing. It has a compact and stylish design that can fit in any space, and it delivers clear and detailed sound that can enhance your TV watching and music listening. It also works with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can control it with your voice. You can also pair it with other Sonos speakers for a more complete surround sound system. The Sonos Beam costs $399 and is available in black or white.

Best premium smart speaker: Apple HomePod

The Apple HomePod is a smart speaker that works with Siri. It has a cylindrical design that can blend in with any decor, and it has a mesh fabric that covers the speaker. It delivers rich and powerful sound that can adapt to the shape and size of your room, and it can also create stereo sound if you have two HomePods. It also supports AirPlay 2, which allows you to stream music from your iPhone or iPad. You can also use it to control your HomeKit devices, and access various online services, such as Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, and more. The Apple HomePod costs $299 and is available in space gray or white.

Best premium smart display: Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen)

The Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) is a smart display that works with Alexa. It has a 10.1-inch touchscreen that can show you various information, such as the weather, your calendar, your photos, and more. It can also stream video content from Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Netflix, and more. It has a built-in speaker that can play music, podcasts, and audiobooks, and it can also control your smart home devices. It also has a 13-megapixel camera that can make video calls, and a unique feature that allows the screen to rotate and follow you as you move around the room. It also has a physical shutter that can cover the camera for privacy. The Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) costs $249.99 and is available in two colors: charcoal and glacier white.

Best premium soundbar: Sonos Arc

The Sonos Arc is a soundbar that supports Dolby Atmos, which creates a 3D sound effect by using upward-firing speakers. It has a curved and sleek design that can complement your TV, and it delivers crisp and immersive sound that can fill a large space. It also works with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can control it with your voice. You can also pair it with other Sonos speakers for a more complete surround sound system. The Sonos Arc costs $799 and is available in black or white.

Conclusion

Smart speakers, displays, and soundbars can enhance your home entertainment experience by providing better audio quality, more convenience, and more entertainment options. They can also work with different voice assistants, such as Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri, and control your smart home devices. However, they also vary in their price, compatibility, size, design, performance, and features, so you should choose the ones that suit your budget, preferences, and needs. We hope that this article has helped you find the best smart speakers, displays, and soundbars for your home entertainment.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about smart speakers, displays, and soundbars:

• Q: How do I set up my smart speakers, displays, and soundbars?
• A: You will need to download the app of the voice assistant or the brand of the device, such as Alexa, Google Home, Sonos, or Samsung, and follow the instructions on the app to connect your device to your Wi-Fi network and your TV or other devices. You will also need to sign in to your online accounts, such as Amazon, Google, Apple, or Netflix, and grant permissions to access your services and data.
• Q: How do I control my smart speakers, displays, and soundbars?
• A: You can control your smart speakers, displays, and soundbars by using your voice, the app, the remote, or the buttons on the device. You can use voice commands to ask questions, play music, control your smart home devices, and more. You can use the app to adjust the settings, volume, and sound modes of your device. You can use the remote to switch the input, mute, or power on or off your device. You can use the buttons on the device to pause, play, skip, or adjust the volume of your device.
• Q: How do I update my smart speakers, displays, and soundbars?
• A: Your smart speakers, displays, and soundbars will automatically update themselves when they are connected to the internet and have enough battery or power. You can also check for updates manually by using the app or the voice assistant and following the instructions on the screen or the voice.
• Q: How do I troubleshoot my smart speakers, displays, and soundbars?
• A: If you encounter any problems with your smart speakers, displays, and soundbars, such as no sound, no connection, no response, or poor performance, you can try some of the following steps to fix them:
• Check the power, volume, and mute settings of your device and your TV or other devices.
• Check the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI, or optical connections of your device and your TV or other devices.
• Restart your device and your TV or other devices.
• Reset your device to factory settings by using the app or the voice assistant and following the instructions on the screen or the voice.
• Contact the customer service of the voice assistant or the brand of the device for further assistance.
• Q: How do I choose between Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri?
• A: Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri are the three most popular voice assistants that work with smart speakers, displays, and soundbars. They have similar functions, such as answering questions, playing music, controlling smart home devices, and more, but they also have some differences, such as their compatibility, personality, and features. Here are some of the pros and cons of each voice assistant:
• Alexa: Alexa is the voice assistant of Amazon, and it works with most of the smart speakers, displays, and soundbars on the market. It has a large number of skills, which are third-party apps that can add more functions to Alexa, such as games, recipes, news, and more. It also has a wide range of smart home devices that can work with Alexa, such as lights, cameras, thermostats, and more. However, Alexa may not be as accurate or natural as Google Assistant or Siri when it comes to answering questions or understanding accents or languages. It also may not be as integrated with your phone or other devices as Google Assistant or Siri.
• Google Assistant: Google Assistant is the voice assistant of Google, and it works with many of the smart speakers, displays, and soundbars on the market. It has a high level of accuracy and naturalness when it comes to answering questions or understanding accents or languages, thanks to Google’s search engine and artificial intelligence. It also has a good integration with your phone and other devices, such as Chrome, Gmail, Google Photos, and more. However, Google Assistant may not have as many skills or smart home devices as Alexa, and it may also collect more of your personal data than Alexa or Siri.
• Siri: Siri is the voice assistant of Apple, and it works with only a few of the smart speakers, displays, and soundbars on the market, such as the HomePod, the Apple TV, and the AirPods. It has a high level of privacy and security, as it does not store or share your personal data with third parties. It also has a good integration with your iPhone and other Apple devices, such as iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime, and more. However, Siri may not have as many functions or features as Alexa or Google Assistant, and it may also be less compatible or responsive with some of the online services or smart home devices that you use.