Soundbars with Dolby Atmos or DTS:X use immersive audio processing and carefully arranged drivers to place sound cues around and above the listener, creating a broader three-dimensional soundstage. Models with up-firing speakers can add overhead effects, while other driver configurations use surround simulation to help make movies, shows, and music feel more enveloping.

Look for HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) or Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) to route audio from a television’s built-in apps through the soundbar and control volume with the TV remote. Optical input can support televisions without ARC or eARC, while Bluetooth provides wireless streaming from compatible devices, and select models include HDMI inputs for additional sources.

Choose a Denon soundbar with a wireless subwoofer when the system calls for deeper, more room-filling bass and you have space to place the subwoofer separately. Choose a soundbar with built-in bass drivers when a compact, low-profile installation and fewer separate components matter more for the television setup.

A soundbar can improve dialogue clarity by emphasizing vocal frequencies and using a dedicated dialogue-enhancement mode, helping speech stand out from music, effects, and background sound. This lets viewers hear conversations more clearly without raising the overall volume of the program.