The Best Soundbars for Gaming (PS5, Xbox Series X & PC)
The contrarian truth most guides bury: most gamers do not need HDMI 2.1 on the soundbar at all. Plug the console into the TV’s HDMI 2.1 port — full 4K/120, VRR and ALLM stay at the screen — and send audio back over eARC, and lossless Atmos still reaches the bar. That frees you to pick on sound and budget. Below: the picks that do pass 4K/120 themselves, the best eARC-only bars, and which one is right for your setup — every spec cited to an independent source.
The Samsung HW-Q990F is the best gaming soundbar overall — the only mainstream bar with dual HDMI 2.1 inputs that pass 4K/120Hz, VRR and ALLM straight through, so it never bottlenecks a PS5 or Xbox Series X. The Hisense AX5140Q is the budget pick: a full Dolby Atmos surround kit for around $350. But here’s what most buying guides bury: most gamers do not need HDMI 2.1 on the soundbar at all. Connect the console to the TV’s HDMI 2.1 port and send audio back to the bar over HDMI eARC — you keep full 4K/120Hz at the screen and lossless Atmos at the bar, which means you can pick almost any great-sounding soundbar on sound and budget alone. For the gaming side of the screen, see the best gaming TVs.
The picks at a glance
Five gaming soundbars from flagship to budget — compare HDMI 2.1 passthrough, channels and Atmos at a glance, then jump to any full write-up below.
| Soundbar | Best for | HDMI 2.1 passthrough (cited) | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
 Samsung HW-Q990F 11.1.4 soundbar | Best overallDual-console passthrough | 2× HDMI 2.1 in · 4K/120, VRR, ALLM · 9.5ms lag | |
 LG S95TR 9.1.5 soundbar | Best passthrough valueFull height array for less | HDMI 2.1 in · 4K/120, VRR, ALLM | |
 Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 Single-bar Atmos | Best single-bar AtmosPS5-primary, no rears | 1× HDMI 2.1 in (shared w/ eARC) · 4K/120, VRR, ALLM, Dolby Vision | |
Sonos Arc Ultra 9.1.4 single bar | Best eARC-only all-in-oneRoute video via the TV | eARC only · no HDMI input (TV does 4K/120) | |
 Hisense AX5140Q 5.1.4 surround kit | Best budgetFull Atmos kit ~$350 | eARC only · no HDMI input (TV does 4K/120) |
Which gaming soundbar is right for you?
Skip the spec overwhelm — match your setup to the pick.
Passthrough, channels & latency — the specs that matter
Every figure here is from a named independent review or the manufacturer’s own spec page, footnoted (here’s how we research and pick, and who we are) — because for gaming the HDMI line hides more than the channel count.
| Soundbar | Channels / Atmos | HDMI 2.1 passthrough | VRR / ALLM | Measured input lag | Approx. price | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung HW-Q990F | 11.1.4 — real Atmos + DTS:X¹ | 2× HDMI 2.1 in (4K/120)¹ | Yes / Yes¹ | 9.5ms (Xbox Series X thru bar)¹ | $1,999 MSRP (often ~$1,599) | What Hi-Fi / RTINGS¹ |
| LG S95TR | 9.1.5 — real Atmos + DTS:X² | HDMI 2.1 in (4K/120)² | Yes / Yes² | not published | ~$1,300–$1,400 | What Hi-Fi / TechRadar² |
| Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 | 13 drivers — real Atmos + DTS:X, IMAX Enhanced³ | 1× HDMI 2.1 in (shared w/ eARC, 4K/120 + Dolby Vision)³ | Yes / Yes³ | not published | premium (often −30–40%) | RTINGS / What Hi-Fi³ |
| Sonos Arc Ultra | 9.1.4 — real Atmos (14 drivers)⁴ | eARC only — no HDMI input⁴ | via TV only | not published | ~$999 | RTINGS / What Hi-Fi⁴ |
| Hisense AX5140Q | 5.1.4 — real Atmos + DTS:X⁵ | eARC only — no HDMI input⁵ | via TV only | not published | ~$349.99 | RTINGS / Trusted Reviews⁵ |
- “HDMI 2.1 input” is the line that matters for gaming — it’s what lets a soundbar pass 4K/120, VRR and ALLM through itself. Only the Q990F (two), S95TR (one) and Sony Bar 9 (one, shared with eARC) have it; the Sonos and Hisense are eARC-only and lean on your TV’s ports.
- VRR + ALLM keep gaming tear-free and auto-low-latency — they reach the display fine whenever the console plugs into the TV. Only the passthrough column carries them through the bar.
- Passthrough done right does not add video lag — the picture goes straight to the screen. The only concern is audio sync, and just one pick here has a verified figure: What Hi-Fi measured the Q990F at 9.5ms passing an Xbox Series X.¹
- All five decode real Dolby Atmos. “Real vs virtual” isn’t the issue on this list — every pick has physical height drivers; the split is HDMI 2.1 passthrough vs eARC-only.
- eARC carries lossless Atmos/DTS:X but not 4K/120 video. That’s why an eARC-only bar (Sonos, Hisense) is a great choice when the TV owns the gaming ports — which is how most people should connect.
Sources: [1] What Hi-Fi — Samsung HW-Q990F (11.1.4, two HDMI 2.1 inputs passing 4K/120 + VRR, 9.5ms measured input lag via Xbox Series X), with RTINGS (Atmos/DTS:X, room correction) · [2] What Hi-Fi & TechRadar — LG S95TR (9.1.5, five up-firing drivers, HDMI 2.1 input with 4K/120 + VRR + ALLM), with RTINGS · [3] RTINGS & What Hi-Fi — Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 / HT-A9000 (13 drivers, 360 Spatial Sound Mapping, one HDMI 2.1 loop-through passing 4K/120 + VRR + ALLM + Dolby Vision, IMAX Enhanced) · [4] RTINGS & What Hi-Fi — Sonos Arc Ultra (9.1.4, 14 drivers, Sound Motion bass driver, HDMI eARC only — no HDMI input) · [5] RTINGS & Trusted Reviews — Hisense AX5140Q (5.1.4 with wireless sub + up-firing rears, Atmos/DTS:X, Game EQ, eARC only), with Hisense/Best Buy listing. We cite named independent reviews and manufacturer spec pages, and verify every Amazon link points to the exact model recommended.
The five picks, in depth
Samsung HW-Q990F — 11.1.4 soundbar system
This is the definitive gaming soundbar. It’s the only mainstream bar with two native HDMI 2.1 inputs that pass 4K/120Hz with VRR and ALLM (plus HDR10+/Dolby Vision) straight through, so it never bottlenecks a PS5 or an Xbox Series X — you can wire both consoles into the bar and still game at full refresh (What Hi-Fi)¹. It’s a full discrete 11.1.4 system: bar, a redesigned dual-8″ subwoofer, and two up-firing rear speakers, with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, room correction and a 7-band EQ (RTINGS)¹.
Crucially for competitive players, What Hi-Fi measured just 9.5ms of input lag passing an Xbox Series X through the bar — the lowest verified gaming figure on this list, i.e. no added video latency¹. RTINGS calls it “unusually well-rounded for mixed use” with top-tier Atmos performance¹. The catch is price and size: you pay a premium for the dual passthrough and channel count, the footprint is large (~48.5″ bar plus sub and two rears), and Q-Symphony fully unlocks only with a recent Samsung TV.
LG S95TR — 9.1.5 soundbar system
The S95TR delivers genuine HDMI 2.1 gaming passthrough for hundreds less than the flagships. Its dedicated HDMI input passes 4K + HDR + 120Hz with VRR and ALLM, so a console connects through the bar without the TV bottlenecking (What Hi-Fi, TechRadar)². It’s a 9.1.5 system with five up-firing drivers — one up-firing center, two on the bar, one in each rear — plus a wireless subwoofer and wireless rears in the box, with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and LG’s Triple Level Spatial Sound (What Hi-Fi, RTINGS)².
Those five height drivers throw a tall, enveloping Atmos dome that rivals pricier systems, and it routinely sells for $1,300–$1,400, undercutting the Q990F and Sony Bar 9 by a wide margin (TechRadar)². Two honest caveats: there’s no independently published gaming-latency figure, so competitive players can’t confirm a sub-20ms number; and it’s been superseded by the 2025 S95AR (a minor sub-only update RTINGS calls “almost as good and cheaper” than buying up), so the lowest prices can come and go².
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 (HT-A9000) — single-bar Atmos
If you want flagship Atmos from one bar — no rears or sub cluttering the room — this is it. Sony packs 13 drivers plus 360 Spatial Sound Mapping into a single bar to create a wide, tall virtual surround field that delivers the best Atmos imaging here without satellites (What Hi-Fi, RTINGS)³. For gaming, its HDMI 2.1 input passes 4K/120 with VRR, ALLM and Dolby Vision, so a single console connects directly (RTINGS, What Hi-Fi)³. It’s Dolby Atmos and DTS:X capable and IMAX Enhanced certified³.
The trade-offs are about expansion. There’s only one HDMI 2.1 input, and it’s shared with the eARC loop-through — you can pass one console, but a second device has to go through the TV³. And with no discrete rears or sub in the box, deep bass and true surround cost extra (both can be added wirelessly later)³. It’s frequently discounted 30–40%, which makes flagship Sony audio surprisingly attainable for a clean, one-bar install.
Sonos Arc Ultra — 9.1.4 single bar
If you route video through the TV and just want the best-sounding, lowest-hassle single bar, this is the pick. It’s a 9.1.4 bar built from 14 drivers and 15 Class-D amps, including the new Sound Motion bass driver, with outstanding all-in-one Atmos and auto room correction — no sub or rears needed (RTINGS, What Hi-Fi)⁴. One eARC cable plus Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 and (a first for a Sonos bar) Bluetooth keep it tidy, TV-agnostic and expandable with a Sonos Sub and Era rears later⁴.
The one thing to understand for gaming: it has no HDMI input at all — eARC only — so it cannot pass 4K/120 video. Your TV must own all the HDMI 2.1 gaming duties and feed audio back over eARC (What Hi-Fi)⁴. That’s a non-issue if your TV already has 4K/120 ports — which is the recommended hookup anyway — but it does mean the bar never touches console video. Built-in bass also can’t match a discrete 8–10″ sub for explosion-grade low end.
Hisense AX5140Q — 5.1.4 surround kit
This is the value champion: a complete Dolby Atmos surround system for around $350. The 5.1.4 kit packs a bar, a wireless subwoofer and wireless rears with up-firing drivers — a 13-speaker array in total — plus Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, a dedicated Game EQ among seven EQ modes, Bluetooth 5.3, and optical and aux inputs (RTINGS, Trusted Reviews)⁵. RTINGS reviewed it as a strong value-tier system in early 2026⁵. For a fraction of the flagships’ price, it’s far more immersive than any single budget bar.
The gaming caveat is the same as the Sonos: it’s eARC only with no HDMI 2.1 input, so it can’t pass 4K/120 — the TV has to handle console video and route audio back over eARC (RTINGS)⁵. Its sub is smaller and lower-output than premium tiers, and some reviewers noted a slight sub/rear transmission delay in music⁵. But as long as your TV owns the passthrough, this is the most surround-per-dollar on the list. New to hookups? See how to connect a soundbar to your TV.
HDMI 2.1 passthrough vs eARC — the hookup that actually matters
This is the decision most guides get backwards. There are two ways to wire a gaming soundbar, and for the majority of people the simpler one is also the better one.
The recommended hookup for most gamers: plug the PS5 or Xbox straight into your TV’s HDMI 2.1 port, then run a single HDMI eARC cable from the TV to the soundbar. You keep full 4K/120, VRR and ALLM at the screen, and lossless Atmos/DTS:X travels back to the bar over eARC. Same picture, full sound — and it frees you to choose any great bar on sound and budget, including eARC-only picks like the Sonos Arc Ultra and Hisense AX5140Q.
When you actually need HDMI 2.1 inputs on the bar: only if you want to route the console through the bar, or you’re short on TV HDMI 2.1 ports. That’s where the Samsung HW-Q990F (two inputs), LG S95TR (one) and Sony Bar 9 (one, shared with eARC) earn their premium — they pass 4K/120 through the bar itself.
How to choose a gaming soundbar
Six things decide whether a soundbar is right for your console setup. Get these in order and the pick falls out almost on its own.
1. HDMI 2.1 passthrough vs eARC. Buy a bar with HDMI 2.1 inputs (Q990F, S95TR, Sony Bar 9) only if you want to route the console through the bar or you’re short on TV HDMI 2.1 ports. Otherwise: console → TV’s HDMI 2.1 port, then audio back to the bar over eARC — simpler and just as good.
2. VRR & ALLM. These keep gaming tear-free and auto-switch to low-latency mode. They travel to the display fine when the console plugs into the TV; only the passthrough bars carry them through the bar.
3. Audio latency vs video lag. Passthrough done right leaves video lag untouched (the picture goes straight to the screen) — the only concern is audio sync. Samsung’s Q990F is the lone pick with a verified figure: 9.5ms measured by What Hi-Fi. eARC audio is imperceptible at 60Hz and most TVs auto-correct it.
4. Atmos & eARC. Confirm the bar decodes Dolby Atmos (all five here do) and that your TV supports eARC, so lossless Atmos/DTS:X can reach it from apps and a TV-connected console. For more, see the best Dolby Atmos soundbars.
5. Channels, sub & rears. More channels and discrete rears or up-firing height drivers mean a bigger soundstage. The 9.1.5 / 11.1.4 kits (LG, Samsung) envelop the room; single bars (Sony, Sonos) trade that for tidiness; the 5.1.4 Hisense is budget surround done right.
6. Size, space & TV-brand synergy. A ~48.5″ bar plus a sub and two rears needs real room — tight on space, go one-bar (Sonos Arc Ultra or Sony Bar 9). Samsung Q-Symphony and LG WOW Orchestra add channels/sync on matching recent TVs, a nice bonus, but core Atmos and gaming passthrough work with any TV brand over eARC.
All five gaming soundbars, side by side
The quick way to weigh passthrough, channels and price against each other:
| Soundbar | Channels / Atmos | HDMI 2.1 passthrough | Best for | Approx. price | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung HW-Q990F | 11.1.4 · real Atmos/DTS:X | 2× input (4K/120, VRR, ALLM) + eARC | Dual-console passthrough | $1,999 MSRP (often ~$1,599) | Check price Details ↑ |
| LG S95TR | 9.1.5 · real Atmos/DTS:X | HDMI 2.1 input (4K/120, VRR, ALLM) + eARC | Passthrough value + height array | ~$1,300–$1,400 | Check price Details ↑ |
| Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 | 13 drivers · real Atmos/DTS:X | 1× input (4K/120, VRR, ALLM, Dolby Vision) — shared w/ eARC | Flagship one-bar Atmos | premium | Check price Details ↑ |
| Sonos Arc Ultra | 9.1.4 · real Atmos | eARC only (no HDMI input) | Best-sounding single bar | ~$999 | Check price Details ↑ |
| Hisense AX5140Q | 5.1.4 · real Atmos/DTS:X | eARC only (no HDMI input) | Complete Atmos surround under ~$350 | ~$349.99 | Check price Details ↑ |
Want to go even cheaper, or compare other connection types? See the best eARC soundbars, the best budget soundbars, and the full best soundbars overall roundup.
Build out the rest of your gaming setup
Once the soundbar is sorted, a few targeted upgrades do more for immersion than a bigger box would. Where to look next:
- 🎮 The gaming TV behind it — own the 4K/120, VRR and ALLM ports → our best gaming TVs
- 🎬 Step up the overhead sound — when Atmos is the priority → our best Dolby Atmos soundbars
- 🔈 The cheapest bars worth buying — the honest entry tier → our best budget soundbars
- 🔌 Get the connection right — wire it once, wire it correctly → how to connect a soundbar to your TV
Still unsure how the formats stack up? Our 5.1 vs 7.1 vs Atmos guide explains exactly what each layout buys you for gaming and movies.
Catch these gaming soundbars on sale
Flagship bars like the Q990F and Sony Bar 9 go on deep discount more often than you’d think — and the best deals move fast. Join our Deal Alerts and we’ll email you the genuinely good AV deals and honest buying tips — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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Frequently asked questions
- Do I really need a soundbar with HDMI 2.1 for PS5 or Xbox Series X gaming?
- Only if you want the soundbar itself to pass 4K/120Hz video. Most soundbars max out at HDMI 2.0 (4K/60Hz), so plugging a console into them caps your refresh rate. The common workaround is to plug the console straight into your TV's HDMI 2.1 port and send audio back over HDMI eARC — that preserves 4K/120, VRR and ALLM at the TV while the bar handles sound. You only need HDMI 2.1 inputs on the bar (like the Samsung Q990F or LG S95TR) if you want to route the console through the bar instead of the TV.
- Why can't I just use HDMI ARC/eARC for everything?
- eARC carries high-bandwidth audio (including lossless Dolby Atmos and DTS:X) from the TV back to the soundbar, but it does not carry 4K/120 video through a soundbar's input. Connect a console to an eARC-only port and video typically bottlenecks to 4K/60. eARC is perfect for getting Atmos from your TV's apps and a TV-connected console — it just isn't a substitute for a dedicated HDMI 2.1 video passthrough input.
- Which soundbar has true 4K/120Hz passthrough with VRR and ALLM?
- The Samsung HW-Q990F (two HDMI 2.1 inputs), the LG S95TR (HDMI 2.1 input with 4K/120, VRR, ALLM), and the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 (one HDMI 2.1 loop-through input) all pass 4K/120 with VRR and ALLM.¹²³ The Sonos Arc Ultra and Hisense AX5140Q do not — they are eARC-only and rely on your TV's HDMI 2.1 ports.⁴⁵
- Is the Samsung Q990F worth nearly $2,000 over the cheaper picks?
- If you want the lowest verified gaming latency (9.5ms measured by What Hi-Fi), two full HDMI 2.1 inputs, and a top-measured Atmos system, yes.¹ But the LG S95TR delivers genuine HDMI 2.1 4K/120 passthrough and a full 9.1.5 height array for around $1,300–$1,400,² and the Hisense AX5140Q gives you complete Atmos surround for around $350 if you let your TV handle passthrough.⁵ Buy the Q990F for no compromises; buy down if you're flexible on the bar handling video.
- Does Dolby Atmos work from a PS5 and Xbox?
- Xbox Series X|S outputs Dolby Atmos natively to a compatible soundbar over HDMI/eARC. The PS5 outputs Dolby Atmos for gaming and supported apps too (alongside its own Tempest 3D audio). All five picks decode Dolby Atmos. DTS:X support varies by source and app, so check your specific games and streaming apps if DTS:X matters to you.
- Will any of these add input lag to my games?
- When you pass video correctly — either through a bar's HDMI 2.1 input or by connecting the console to the TV and using eARC for audio — video input lag is unaffected because the picture goes straight to the display. The only latency concern is audio sync. The Samsung Q990F is the one pick with an independently measured figure: What Hi-Fi clocked 9.5ms passing an Xbox Series X through the bar.¹ eARC audio can add slight delay depending on your TV, which most TVs auto-correct.