10 Best Soundbar With Optical Input 2026 in the United States

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a compact soundbar designed to enhance your TV and music listening experience. It supports Dolby Atmos, which creates a 3D surround sound effect, making movies and shows feel more immersive. With 200 watts of power and a two-channel surround sound setup, it delivers clear dialogue and rich bass, though it lacks a built-in subwoofer. Instead, you can wirelessly add one later if you want deeper bass. Connectivity options are solid, including HDMI, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and an included optical audio adapter, making it compatible with most TVs and smart home setups.

You can control it easily via the Sonos app, your TV remote, voice commands, or Apple AirPlay 2, offering flexible options for different users. The soundbar is sleek and small enough to fit on a shelf or in front of your TV without taking much space. Setup is straightforward, needing only two cables, and the smart Trueplay tuning adjusts sound for your room automatically. While the price is higher than some basic models, Sonos is a trusted brand known for quality and the ability to expand your system with additional speakers for full surround sound or multiroom audio.

On the downside, it doesn't have a dedicated subwoofer included, and being non-water-resistant means it’s strictly for indoor use. Also, with a 2.0 channel configuration, it might not fully replace larger soundbars with more channels for those wanting the fullest surround sound out of the box. For anyone looking for a stylish, easy-to-use soundbar with great sound quality and future expandability, especially in smaller to medium rooms, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a strong choice.

The Bose TV Speaker is a compact soundbar designed to improve your TV audio experience, especially for dialogue clarity. Its standout feature is the enhancement of speech, making it a great choice for those who often find themselves straining to understand conversations in movies or shows. With two angled full-range drivers, it offers a wider soundstage, which helps create a more immersive listening experience.

In terms of connectivity, the soundbar excels with multiple options, including HDMI ARC, optical in, and AUX in, allowing for easy setup and compatibility with various devices. The Bluetooth feature also lets you stream music directly from your phone or tablet, which adds to its versatility. Setting it up is straightforward, requiring just a single connection to your TV, and the included remote control offers additional features like dialogue mode and bass boost for a personalized listening experience.

The design is sleek and compact, standing only about 2 inches tall, making it suitable for tight spaces in front of your TV or easy wall mounting. It’s important to note that it lacks a built-in subwoofer, which means it may not deliver the deep bass some users expect for action movies or music genres heavy on bass. Additionally, while it’s marketed for home entertainment, the sound quality is primarily stereo, which might not satisfy audiophiles looking for surround sound capabilities.

The Samsung HW-QS700F is a versatile 3.1.2 channel soundbar designed to deliver powerful, immersive sound whether placed against a wall or flat on a table. It includes three front speakers and two up-firing channels, combined with a 6.5-inch wireless subwoofer that offers strong bass without taking up much space. This setup supports Dolby Atmos, providing a 3D surround sound experience that brings movies and games to life with sound coming from above and around you.

Connectivity is flexible, featuring Bluetooth, HDMI, and wireless options, making it easy to connect with your TV, smartphone, or other devices. The soundbar also works seamlessly with Samsung TVs, using Q-Symphony technology to blend audio from both devices for richer sound. Additionally, the built-in sensor and TV microphone calibrate the sound automatically to fit your room, ensuring clear and balanced audio without complex setup.

With a maximum output power of 345 watts, the soundbar is capable of filling most living rooms with robust sound. Its sleek, rectangular design in black is stylish and compact enough to fit comfortably in many home setups. Customers have responded positively, rating it around 4.4 out of 5 stars, highlighting its impressive sound quality and ease of use. One potential drawback is that it’s not waterproof, so it’s limited to indoor use. Also, while it offers wireless Dolby Atmos and subwoofer connectivity, some users might prefer more extensive connectivity options like an optical input explicitly mentioned, though HDMI can handle similar functions. This Samsung soundbar is a great fit for anyone looking to enhance their home theater or gaming experience with rich, multidimensional sound, especially if paired with a compatible Samsung TV. Its simple setup and automatic sound optimization make it a good choice for users who want high-quality audio without needing technical expertise.