Soundbars without subwoofers always sound thin. The cabinet is too shallow to move enough air for cinematic bass, and even the best single-bar systems lean on digital processing to fake low end. If you want explosions to feel like explosions and music to have body, you need a subwoofer — and the cleanest path is buying a soundbar that already includes one in the box, paired and tuned by the manufacturer.
This guide focuses specifically on soundbars that ship with a wireless subwoofer included. No add-on bundles to chase, no compatibility worries, no separate setup. You unbox the bar, unbox the sub, plug both in, and you are done.
What to Look for in a Soundbar With a Subwoofer
Wireless sub vs separately-sold sub. Every soundbar in this guide includes its matched subwoofer in the box. This matters because soundbar manufacturers tune the bar's crossover to their own sub. A third-party sub can work, but the handoff between bar and sub is rarely as seamless as a factory-paired pair.
HDMI eARC is non-negotiable. If you want Dolby Atmos lossless or DTS:X from streaming services, your soundbar needs an eARC port and your TV needs to support eARC. Regular HDMI ARC carries only compressed Dolby Digital and DTS — it cannot pass lossless Atmos or DTS:X. Optical / TOSLINK cables cannot carry Atmos at all; they max out at compressed 5.1.
HDMI version on passthrough. If you plan to route a 4K@120Hz console (PS5, Xbox Series X) through the soundbar to the TV, the soundbar's HDMI passthrough port must support 4K@120Hz. Many older soundbars only have HDMI 2.0 passthrough, which maxes out at 4K@60Hz — fine for streaming, not fine for high-frame-rate gaming. Better to connect the console directly to the TV and run the soundbar from the TV's eARC output.
Channel count is shorthand for what is in the box. A 5.1.2 soundbar means 5 main channels, 1 subwoofer, and 2 up-firing Atmos drivers. A 7.1.4 system adds rear surround channels. More channels mean more speakers — and more boxes to unbox — but also more enveloping sound. Match the count to your room size. A 9.1.5 system in a 12-by-12 bedroom is overkill.
Room size and sub placement. Wireless subs still need power, but they communicate with the bar over a proprietary 5GHz link rather than Wi-Fi. Place the sub along the front or side wall, ideally in a corner for maximum boundary reinforcement. Avoid the dead center of the room and avoid burying it inside a media cabinet.
Samsung HW-Q990F — Best Overall
The HW-Q990F is the rare flagship that actually ships complete. The box contains the main soundbar, a wireless subwoofer, and two wireless rear satellites — a true 11.1.4 Atmos system with no add-ons required. The center channel is dedicated, dialogue intelligibility is among the best in the category, and Q-Symphony lets a paired Samsung TV add its own speakers as additional channels. Note that Samsung soundbars use HDR10+ and do not support Dolby Vision passthrough — if you have a Dolby Vision-capable TV (LG, Sony, TCL, Vizio, Hisense), connect that TV's HDMI inputs directly and run audio back to the soundbar over eARC.
LG S95TR — Best for LG OLED Owners
LG's flagship soundbar pairs uniquely well with LG OLED TVs through WOW Orchestra, which blends the soundbar's drivers with the TV's panel-shaking sound. The wireless subwoofer and wireless rears are both included, and the 9.1.5 configuration adds a fifth height channel that sits in the middle of the room for more accurate overhead Atmos placement. Full Dolby Vision passthrough — useful if you route consoles or streamers through the bar.
JBL Bar 1000 — Best Detachable Surround Design
The Bar 1000 has the most clever party trick in the category: the rear surround speakers physically detach from the main bar and run on internal batteries for hours of cordless surround. When you are done, dock them back to the bar to recharge. The 10-inch wireless sub hits hard for action movies, and MultiBeam room calibration tunes the system to your space. Great for rooms where running speaker wire to the back wall is impossible.
Vizio Elevate SE (SL512X) — Best Budget Atmos Bundle
Vizio is the only brand consistently shipping real Dolby Atmos at this price. The Elevate SE includes a wireless subwoofer and wireless rear surrounds for under $500 on sale, and the up-firing drivers physically rotate based on whether you are watching a stereo source or an Atmos source. Supports both Atmos and DTS:X. The right pick if you want immersion without flagship money.
Samsung HW-Q800F — Best Mid-Tier
A 5.1.2 Atmos soundbar with the wireless subwoofer included and no rear satellites in the box. You get Samsung's clean Atmos processing, Q-Symphony with current Samsung TVs, and the option to add wireless rears later through Samsung's SWA-9500S kit. The sweet spot for buyers who want height channels and serious bass without the Q990F's price tag.
Polk Audio Signa S4 — Best Under $400
Polk's Signa S4 is the cleanest budget Atmos bar with a sub included. The slim wireless subwoofer punches above its size, VoiceAdjust keeps dialogue clear at lower volumes, and the 3.1.2 channel layout includes two up-firing drivers for height effects. From a legitimate speaker brand with decades of tuning experience.
Samsung HW-B650 — Best Budget Pick
If you do not need Atmos or DTS:X, the HW-B650 is the no-frills upgrade-over-TV-speakers option. 3.1 channels, wireless sub, and well-balanced tuning for under $250 on sale. Best for bedrooms, secondary rooms, or anyone who just wants noticeably better TV audio without spending a fortune.
What to Skip
Skip soundbars that "include a subwoofer" but use a wired connection — by 2026, wireless sub pairing is standard and wired subs are a sign of a dated platform. Skip any soundbar that advertises Atmos but lacks an HDMI eARC port; optical-only Atmos claims are a red flag. And avoid no-name brands selling 7.1 or 9.1 configurations under $200 — the channel count is almost always misleading processing rather than discrete drivers.
Bottom Line
If budget is no object and your room can handle it, the Samsung HW-Q990F is the most complete out-of-the-box Atmos system on the market. For Atmos on a budget, the Vizio Elevate SE delivers more performance per dollar than anything else. And if you just want clean TV audio with real bass for a bedroom, the Samsung HW-B650 covers the basics for under $250. Pair any of these to a TV with HDMI eARC and the bass-and-clarity gap to built-in TV speakers will feel like night and day.