Best Small Soundbars for 2022

    

•     

  
      

  Roku Streambar
      

  Best overall
      $100 at Target

•     

  
      

  Yamaha SR-C20A
      

  Best for dialogue
      $180 at Target

•     

  
      

  Polk Audio MagniFi Mini
      

  Best for music
      $299 at Crutchfield

•     

  
      

  LG QP5 Eclair
      

  Best for movies
      $597 at Crutchfield

    

    Whether you have a small TV, or only a tiny place to fit an external speaker, there’s no reason to sacrifice sound quality as result. There are quite a few great-sounding soundbars that can fit into cramped spaces, and they come with a surprising number of features. For example, the Roku Streambar is not only a compact soundbar but also a capable video streamer — which is great for a bedroom setup. Or if making dialogue easier to understand is your aim, the Polk or the Yamaha may be a better fit.
    All of the systems here feature soundbars which are about a foot in width, though two of the systems do include separate subwoofers. While you will need to find a place to put those subs, they do bring with them an elevated level of performance.
    

    Sarah Tew/CNET
    

Roku Streambar

    

Best overall

    
    If there was ever a solid gold bargain, it’s undoubtedly the Roku Streambar, which combines both audio and streaming in one device. This is a two-channel soundbar with a fully fledged 4K streamer onboard, and even if you don’t use the streaming functions it works well as a standalone soundbar. As a smaller soundbar it doesn’t have the deepest bass, but it does offer an expressive mid-range with a dedicated voice mode for clearer dialog. It’s an unbeatable value and frequently on sale for under $100.
    
    

Read our Roku Streambar review.
    

    $100 at Target
    $99 at Amazon
    $100 at Best Buy
    

    Ty Pendlebury/CNET
    

Yamaha SR-C20A

    

Best for dialogue

    
    Yamaha is one of the most dependable makers of soundbars, but its designs tend to cost a little more than competitors. The SR-C20A, on the other hand, is affordable and also manages to sound great when paired with your TV.
    
    

Read our Yamaha SR-C20A review.
    

    $180 at Target
    $180 at Crutchfield
    $180 at Amazon
    

    Sarah Tew/CNET
    

Polk Audio MagniFi Mini

    

Best for music

    
    At 13 inches wide, the soundbar part of the Mini fits the moniker, even if you do need somewhere to put the gallon-sized subwoofer. The inclusion of the sub is worthwhile, however, as the system punches well above its weight with great sound in movies and with music. In addition, having Google’s Chromecast tech built-in enables a wealth of streaming and multiroom capabilities.
    
    

Read our Polk MagniFi Mini review.
    

    $299 at Crutchfield
    $300 at Best Buy
    $180 at Amazon
    

    LG
    

LG QP5 Eclair

    

Best for movies

    
    Though I’ve yet to formally review the diminutive LG Eclair, I’ve found it to have a big expansive sound from only two compact boxes. The subwoofer is a little larger than a cereal box, but it packs a punch, and the Dolby Atmos compatibility gives the system more home theater flexibility than the other soundbars here. At $600 it’s pretty pricey, but you should be able to find it for around $400 on sale.
    $597 at Crutchfield
    $600 at Best Buy