The 5 Best Sound Base Reviews In The UK (2022)
Last Updated on April 17, 2022
For those who enjoy quality TV, sound is essential for a great watching experience. If you cannot accommodate a full-on surround sound system, don’t worry. A sound base is the best alternative for your budget or small living quarter. Let’s see which one can take your viewing to the next level.
Our Top 3 Sound Base Picks
1. The Best Sound Base By Sonos
2. The Best Sound Base With Subwoofer By Panasonic
3. The Best Compact Sound Base By Panasonic
Product Testing & Comparing
To bring our readers the best sound experience, our best reviewers put their heads – and extensive experience – together and tested and compared the most popular models of the year. We put many bases through their paces but at the end of the day, we hand-selected 10 of the best. Our guidelines ensure that each one was picked for quality, great sound and a durable design.
However, our reviewers also ranked each sound base by looking at the aforementioned guidelines and also the following important features.
- Sound Quality
- Features
- Ease of Use & Setup
Now that’s enough of what we want – let’s see what’s best for you, shall we?
Compare our top 3 picks below, or scroll past to see the detailed analysis of all 5 products.
Scroll left to view more products:
 SONOS PLAYBASE |  Panasonic Bluetooth Soundbar |  Panasonic | |
| AWARDS |  |  |  |
| PRICE | £492.95 on Amazon View Product | £140.07 on Amazon View Product | £88.75 on Amazon View Product |
| OVERALL SCORE |  |  |  |
| RATING |  | |  |
| PROS | Supports the Dolby Atmos 5.1 range. | Compatible with Bluetooth music devices. | Compatible with Bluetooth enabled devices. |
| CONS | It doesn’t support high-resolution audio from streaming devices. | No sound level indicator. | Only one device can be connected to the sound base. |
| BOTTOM LINE | High quality and durability earned this our top spot. | If you are a sound aficionado, then you know the difference a subwoofer can make to sound. | If you need a compact, easy to use sound base, this is it. |
| RATING CATEGORIES | SONOS PLAYBASE | Panasonic Bluetooth Soundbar | Panasonic |
| FEATURES (30%) |  | |  |
| SOUND QUALITY (30%) | | | |
| EASE OF USE & SETUP (40%) | | | |
| PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS | SONOS PLAYBASE | Panasonic Bluetooth Soundbar | Panasonic |
| SIZE | 72 x 38 x 5.8 cm. | 13.5 x 45 x 5.1 cm. | 45 x 13.5 x 5.1 cm. |
| COMPATIBILITY | TVs, music players, Alexa, Amazon Echo. | TVs, music players, smartphones. | TVs, music players, smartphones, bluetooth. |
| SETUP | Simple 2-cable setup. | Wireless. | HDMI. |
| VIEW PRODUCTS | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
The Best Sound Bases Reviewed In 2022
1. SONOS PLAYBASE
The Best Sound Base
£492.95
at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Size: 72 x 38 x 5.8 cm.
- Compatibility: TVs, music players, Alexa, Amazon Echo.
- Setup: Simple 2-cable setup.
High quality and durability earned this our top spot.
This stylish white bar won the top spot on our list. You can expect a space-saving device that produces great sound. But let’s look at the specifics that made this the best sound base.
Available in white or black, the attractive bar will look stunning in any room or setting. To make things easy, it was designed to work with a one-touch panel so you can enjoy the best sound in no time. Measuring 5.8 x 72 x 38 cm, it will also seamlessly fit under your TV (as long as it’s under 34 kg).
Installation is straightforward and the base hosts ten amplified speakers drivers that produce high-grade sound quality, deep bass rendering and transparent dialogue. You can also use your TV’s remote to control this sound base. There are different sound settings that can produce a soul-touching bass and exquisite treble that will make any movie, game, song or concert a magical experience.
Other features include voice control and acting as a streaming device with PCs, laptops, and music streaming platforms.
Pros
- Supports the Dolby Atmos 5.1 range.
- Fantastically sound.
- It can be connected to the SONOS arc to promote a multi-room sound experience.
- Its SONOS app has a comprehensive set-up guide that’s very easy to follow.
- Compatible with Amazon’s Echo, Alexa and Apple’s AirPlay.
- It doesn’t suffer audio interference when placed on furniture under the TV.
- Comes supplied with an ethernet cable and an optical audio cable.
Cons
- It doesn’t support high-resolution audio from streaming devices.
- Doesn’t have an HDMI optical connection port.
2. Panasonic Bluetooth Soundbar
Best Sound Base With Subwoofer
£140.07
at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Size: 13.5 x 45 x 5.1 cm.
- Compatibility: TVs, music players, smartphones.
- Setup: Wireless.
If you are a sound aficionado, then you know the difference a subwoofer can make to sound.
We picked this sound base and subwoofer set as the best choice in case you want to add both to your entertainment system. Let’s look at all the benefits and features that you can expect.
Together, they produce high-quality, lifelike sound. It will fill the entire room and different sound modes allow you to pick the best settings for what you are listening to. The subwoofer is also wireless so you can place it horizontally or vertically wherever you have space.
Pros
- Compatible with Bluetooth music devices.
- Compact.
- Great sound and settings.
- 2 Full-range speakers.
Cons
- No sound level indicator.
3. Panasonic
The Best Compact Sound Base
£88.75
at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Size: 45 x 13.5 x 5.1 cm.
- Compatibility: TVs, music players, smartphones, bluetooth.
- Setup: HDMI.
If you need a compact, easy to use sound base, this is it.
Measuring just 45 cm wide, it can easily fit into the bedroom or a spare shelf. But the best sound base must offer other great features other than being compact – let’s see what you can expect.
The sound produced by this small base is fantastic. It has two speakers and 80 W power, making it capable of producing surround sound, stereophonic effects, and stunning acoustics. There are different settings to get the best experience, including a bass function for those amazing lower frequencies.
You can also pair this sound base via Bluetooth with any enabled device like a phone or tablet. Open your playlist on the device and enjoy the songs to the fullest.
Pros
- Compact.
- Compatible with Bluetooth enabled devices.
- Great sound and sound settings.
- Powerful.
Cons
- Only one device can be connected to the sound base.
4. Sakobs Soundbar
Best Sound Base With A Remote
Price not available
at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Size: 43.6 x 18.2 x 11.9 cm.
- Compatibility: Recommended for computers, TVs.
- Setup: Plug and play.
Our review team agreed that a remote is a must if you want to sit back and relax.
Who wants to get up after a tiring day to adjust the volume on the TV? This soundbar comes with a versatile remote that handles all functions, giving you full control on the couch!
You can also look forward to a portable size, 3D surround sound, Bluetooth compatibility, and advanced audio settings.
Pros
- Versatile remote.
- Compact.
- Easy to use.
- Quick to install.
Cons
- Takes a slight learning curve.
5. SPKPAL PC Soundbar Speakers
The Best Sound Base For PC Gaming
£29.96
at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Size: 40 x 7 x 7 cm.
- Compatibility: Gaming consoles.
- Setup: 3.5 mm aux and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity.
If you are an avid gamer, then you know that bad sound can ruin the best game – this base is the answer.
The answer is to get a top-notch sound base for your gaming system and PC. This particular base has many features that will take your gaming sound experience to the next level.
Once installed, a pair of speakers gives you powerful cinematic sound. Speaking of which, installation is a breeze and you can also pair this base with Bluetooth-enabled devices if you want to watch a movie on your tablet or listen to music on your phone.
Other great features include a mesmerizing show of coloured lights, touch control, can be connected to TVs and projectors, and a compact size.
Pros
- Plug and play.
- Coloured lights for gaming atmosphere.
- Bluetooth compatible.
- Touch control.
- Cinematic gaming sound.
Cons
- No remote.
Your Sound Base Buying Guide
The right sound base can make you fall in love with sound all over again. But the wrong one will bring you nothing but frustration and wasted funds. Our guide highlights the essential things you need to keep in mind before investing in a sound base.
Connection Capabilities
A sound base is precisely designed to be used for TV audio improvement. Still, there is a wide range of TVs that are not necessarily compatible with the conventional connection types that a soundbar has to offer. That’s why you should always aim for products that include several ports for different connection types like RCA, digital optical, digital coaxial, 3.5 mm or HDMI optical (which is relatively uncommon in sound bases).
Considering that Smart TVs, phones and PCs are growing means of entertainment, you should also look for Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection capabilities. Be careful though, because the sound base’s Bluetooth port should be 3.0 or above, whereas its Wi-Fi adapters should support dual-band 802.11b/g/n routers so you can connect your devices.
Audio System
There are different components to look at but make sure that you get top speakers and a subwoofer for the best experience. The best speakers offer cinematic or surround sound, so keep an eye out for those terms in the product’s description.
Remote Control
This is important if you want to control your TV from afar. Not all sound bases include a remote control in the deal, so stay aware of that when you look for a base and remote control.
Quality
Take your time to assess the quality of the sound base. You can usually get a feel for the quality after reading authentic reviews from other buyers or when you inspect the base in person. It’s always a good thing when the product also comes with a decent warranty.
FAQ
Q: What is a soundbar?
A: A soundbar or a sound base is basically an audio reproduction device that can generate sound into a broader scope. They are usually wider in size because they’re specially designed to fit under TVs in the form of surface boards. This is done so that audio is reproduced in a wider scope by giving the feeling of a surround system.
Q: What size soundbar for 55 inch TV?
A: There are many guides online that will refer you to measuring the TV’s overall screen size and finding a soundbar that matches it. For example, a 55 inch TV would be advised to get a matching 50-55 inch (127 – 140 cm). However, most customers prefer more compact-sized soundbars that neatly fit under the TV’s base or behind it. A general rule of thumb is to see if the soundbar matches your requirements in volume control, sound enhancement and equaliser modes in which case size is irrelevant.
Q: Can you add speakers to a soundbar?
A: Yes, you can add additional speakers to a 2.1 soundbar, but that is usually a labour-intensive process that needs both effort and money. Because soundbars integrate their subwoofer and speakers, combining them with additional ones can result in sound that’s not mixed properly. However, some sound manufacturing brands leave your options open by offering other devices like rear speakers, amplifiers or even a wireless subwoofer.
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