Best soundbars to enhance TV dialogue

    

•     

  
      

  Best runner-up
      

  Zvox AV357
      $250 at Amazon

•     

  
      

  Best for features, including Alexa
      

  Polk React
      $269 at Crutchfield

•     

  
      

  Best for tight budgets, newer TVs
      

  Yamaha SR-C20A
      $180 at Target

    

    Whether it’s too-loud commercials or mumbly dialogue, sometimes the speaker in your TV just can’t cut it. While there are some things you can do to make your TV sound better?without spending a dime, buying a?soundbar designed to improve vocals is a sure-fire fix. Bonus, a soundbar costs a lot less than larger?home theater speakers,?AV receivers?and?subwoofers.?
    Most brands offer soundbars with a speech mode, but some do it better than others. One company that really stands out is Zvox — it specializes in dialogue, and most of its products have at least one voice enhancement mode (and as many as 12). Competitor Polk is also notable for its excellent VoiceAdjust feature, while Yamaha makes an affordable option too.
    Read more: Best home theater systems of 2022
    Whether you are looking for a budget speaker or something a little more premium, these are the best speakers for making your TV more understandable.
    

    Sarah Tew/CNET
    Best soundbar for TV dialogue

     Zvox SB500
    
    If you’re looking for a soundbar that offers plenty of bass as well as crisp dialogue without using a subwoofer, then the Zvox SB500 is a great buy. Since I reviewed the SB500 the company has added more levels of sound enhancement, which should make it even easier to dial in the dialogue the way you want it.?
    
    

Read our Zvox SB500 review.
    

    

    Ty Pendlebury/CNET
    

Best runner-up

    

Zvox AV357

    
    The Zvox AV357 may not have many features as the larger SB500, but it is an excellent performer nonetheless. The speaker comes in a wood-grain veneer, and the remote control is friendly. If you want to connect more than just a TV though — like a phone via Bluetooth — the other options here are better for that.
    
    

Read our Zvox AV357 review.
    

    $250 at Amazon
    $250 at Walmart
    

    Ty Pendlebury/CNET
    

Best for features, including Alexa

    

Polk React

    
    The Polk React is a follow-up to the Command Bar — the first soundbar that had Amazon Alexa on board — and it offers an excellent mix of features and performance. Polk’s VoiceAdjust is one of the better dialogue enhancement systems, and it’s put to good use on this speaker.?
    
    

Read our Polk React review.
    

    $269 at Crutchfield
    $269 at Target
    $269 at Amazon
    

    Ty Pendlebury/CNET
    

Best for tight budgets, newer TVs

    

Yamaha SR-C20A

    
    The Zvox soundbars are great, but they lack HDMI connectivity. The compact Yamaha SR-C20A not only offers the ease of HDMI ARC hookup?– which is found on most newer TVs — but also has a dedicated Clear Voice mode to make dialogue a little easier to understand. It’s also the least-expensive option on this list.
    
    

Read our Yamaha SR-C20A review.
    

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