Sometimes, you'll see an additional number at the end, like a 5.1.2 system. That means there are two height channels. These are upward- or sideways-facing speakers that bounce sound off the walls, simulating side and ceiling speakers for content mixed in Dolby Atmos or DTS:X. Basically, these soundbars try to re-create a surround-sound experience without requiring you to string up a bunch of speakers. Pricier soundbar setups will come with additional dedicated rear and height surround speakers for even more immersion.

The more channels, the bigger your soundbar will be. The most important step is to make sure whatever you buy will fit on your media console (ideally, it'll fit right between your TV's legs too).  

I highly recommend you get a soundbar with a dedicated subwoofer. If these are too expensive, several systems let you add a subwoofer later, including models from Roku, Sonos, and Polk. Some of these allow you to add surround speakers as well, letting you upgrade to a full surround-sound system.

You'll need to make some space for the subwoofer. (These are chunky boxes with big speakers inside to crank out powerful bass, after all.) Thankfully, since bass is omnidirectional, you can place a subwoofer anywhere in your living room, though exactly where will depend on the length of the cable that connects it to the soundbar or power outlet. If you get surround speakers (more on this later), you'll probably want speaker stands or mounts.

Most modern soundbars use what’s called the HDMI ARC (“Audio Return Channel”) standard, allowing you to easily connect them to a TV via a single HDMI cable. That's it! (You'll also need to plug it into a power outlet.) Soundbars often have optical audio out too, but it's important to make sure, especially if you plan on connecting one to older TVs or other kinds of players. We recommend sticking to a soundbar with ARC support, though. It gives your TV remote the ability to control the soundbar's volume (including mute functionality), so you won't have to use two remote controls or hunt for the soundbar's remote when it's stuck somewhere in the couch.