The 2026 World Cup begins on June 11, and whereas lots of people might be fascinated with a brand new TV, there’s nonetheless one essential element that may make or break the entire expertise: audio.
A brand new soundbar can actually add one other dimension to the World Cup viewing expertise, delivering clearer commentary and a extra immersive environment by capturing the roar of the crowds. Let’s face it, even the perfect TVs have common built-in audio, and it would be a disgrace to overlook out on the total World Cup feeling.
Finest total: Samsung HW-Q800F
At the moment sitting on the high of our greatest soundbars listing is the five-star-rated Samsung HW-Q800F. One of many model’s mid-range 2025 soundbars, the Q800F actually does cowl all of the bases.
The Q800F is a soundbar-and-sub combo that delivers all the things you possibly can want. We present in our testing that the bass delivered by the brand new, compact subwoofer was nonetheless suitably highly effective and sizeable, precisely delivering the ignition of the Darkstar jet in Prime Gun: Maverick.
It additionally demonstrated glorious precision with surprisingly efficient Dolby Atmos peak results in motion pictures similar to The Masks, precisely capturing the chaotic nature of the titular character as he tears round Edge Metropolis. Anticipate it to precisely ship the ball’s actions across the subject through the World Cup.
Dialogue was crystal clear all through our testing as properly, which is an effective signal {that a} commentary observe through the World Cup ought to be delivered with actual readability.
The Q800F is sensible worth too. You may count on to pay round $799 / £599 / AU$849, which is a superb worth for this soundbar. Anticipate costs to drop within the lead-up to the World Cup, too.
Finest premium: Samsung HW-Q990F
For these on the lookout for an entire soundbar system, it would not get significantly better than the Samsung HW-Q990F, the model’s 2025 flagship mannequin. This 11.1.4 channel soundbar is a beast, composed of 4 separate models and actually delivers the total encompass sound expertise.
I personally examined the Q990F and was blown away by its efficiency. The brand new compact subwoofer delivers room-filling bass that’s mighty, but additionally properly managed. The rumble of the Batmobile’s engine in The Batman was room-shaking however dynamic and exact, with the subwoofer precisely delivering the chunky gear adjustments.
The Q990F boasts a large soundstage that is not solely nice for giant musical numbers from motion pictures like Depraved, but additionally action-packed scenes such because the Demise Star assault in Star Wars: A New Hope. The sound is expansive with pinpoint placement, such because the TIE Fighter’s screeching flight path in Star Wars. The stadium environment within the World Cup will sound sensational by means of this technique.
Speech was completely clear all through my testing, whether or not it was hushed dialog in The Batman or the loud, hovering vocals of ‘Defying Gravity’ from Depraved. Anticipate the identical with commentary within the World Cup.
The Q990F is on the extra premium finish of the market, costing $1,599 / £999 / AU$1,599, however this mammoth soundbar system will cowl you for sports activities, motion pictures, and gaming, and do an excellent job with all of them.
Finest funds US: Sonos Beam
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) could also be compact, however do not let that idiot you. It delivers a beefy sound that you simply would not count on from a soundbar this dimension and is definitely probably the greatest fashions for music available on the market.
The Beam (Gen 2) has been round for some time now, nevertheless it nonetheless constantly delivers a satisfying sound that works for a various vary of genres. I examined it alongside the Sony HT-S2000 and Denon Residence 550, two compact rivals, and I used to be all the time happy with the Beam’s efficiency.
The bass it delivers for a small unit is tightly managed and punchy, because it precisely delivered the roar of jet engines in Prime Gun: Maverick. Its soundstage was additionally spacious, giving results room to breathe with a fantastic stability total. As The Masks tornadoes round his bed room in The Masks, the Beam did a superb job mapping the route of the whirlwind, connecting the sound precisely to the image.
Dialogue is good and clear regardless of its smaller stature, so commentary ought to be good and clear for the World Cup. It additionally has a various sound profile that makes it nice for music.
Sonos’ soundbars usually get some good reductions all year long, however even on the full $499 / £449 / AU$799 worth, it is a excellent soundbar that is actual worth for cash.
Finest funds UK: Hisense AX5125H
The Hisense AX5125H is likely one of the most spectacular funds soundbars I’ve ever used. Not solely are you getting a fantastic 5.1.2 channel Dolby Atmos system, however you are getting it for a ridiculously low worth.
Utilizing the Demise Star assault from Star Wars: A New Hope, I used to be critically impressed with the AX5125H’s readability and management. It precisely delivered the whirring engines of the X-Wings and did a stable job with peak channels, recreating the screech of the TIE Fighters as they flew overhead.
The AX5125H additionally has a large soundstage, which helped decide up subtleties in The Batman‘s opening crime scene, with digicam clicks, mumbled conversations, and the sparse, scratchy strings of the rating all introduced clearly. This could do a fantastic job choosing out the dynamics through the World Cup, from a travelling ball to the group noise.
Speech was additionally clear all through testing, coming by means of loud and clear throughout each quieter conversations and action-packed scenes. This can haven’t any drawback delivering clear commentary in a packed stadium environment.
The AX5125H’s actual spotlight is its low worth. A 5.1.2 channel system for £249 is ridiculous. This may have been my decide for the US funds possibility, however sadly, it is out of inventory. For UK readers, this one is a no brainer when you’re on a funds.
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