New TVs could be found in abundance at CES 2026, but soundbars proved to be more elusive as I stalked the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center and the surrounding hotels.
A few specimens were on display, however, and some of these might very well be added to the pantheon of the best soundbars once we get them in for proper testing. From a technically advanced model packing the new Dolby Atmos FlexConnect technology to a basic soundbar-and-sub combination with an appealingly slim and simple design, and Audio by Bang & Olufsen, these were the standout soundbars I encountered at the show.
LG Sound Suite H7 soundbar
- The first soundbar with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect
- Sound Follow feature tunes the sound to your seating location using ultra-wideband (UWB) tech
Launched at CES, LG’s Sound Suite speaker family is led by the H7 soundbar, the world’s first with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect support. The H7 is compatible with any HDMI ARC-compatible TV you choose to connect it to, and can be paired with LG’s Sound Suite M7 or M5 wireless speakers and W7 subwoofer to create a full 13.1.7-channel Dolby Atmos home theater audio system.
Sporting a 9.1.4-channel, 20-driver array, including four built-in woofers, eight passive bass radiators, and three dedicated up-firing speakers, the H7 itself is a formidable all-in-one soundbar. But it’s the H7’s upgrade-readiness, along with its Room Calibration Pro automatic room calibration, a Sound Follow feature that tunes the sound to your specific seating location using ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, and AI Sound Pro+ spatial audio upmixing, that really make it a standout Atmos soundbar.
The LG H7 soundbar is now available for pre-order in the US for $999.99.
Focal Mu-so Hekla
- All-in-one system with bass extending to 30Hz
- Extensive streaming support and multiroom playback
I may have included it in this soundbar roundup, but Focal does not categorize the Mu-so Hekla as a soundbar. Instead, it is “an all-in-one immersive system powered by the Focal & Naim ecosystem,” according to Focal’s CES press release.
Soundbar or not, the Mu-so Hekla is a beautiful horizontal slab of black aluminum-encased audio power that connects to your TV and was inspired by Iceland’s Hekla Volcano.
The Mu-so Hekla uses 15 speakers, including two side-firing and two up-firing drivers, powered by 660 watts. It delivers potent Dolby Atmos, multichannel, and stereo sound, with bass extending down to 30Hz. Connections include an optical digital input and an HDMI eARC port, and the Naim Pulse multiroom platform provides Tidal and Quboz streaming, along with Google Cast, AirPlay, UPnP (with up to 32-bit/384 kHz hi-res audio), and Spotify Connect support.
Listening to an Atmos music demo of the Mu-so Hekla, I was knocked out by its expansive sound and deep-reaching bass. Stereo music, too, sounded impressively immersive when the Mu-so Hekla’s Sphere Movie and Music upmixing modes were enabled.
The Mu-so Hekla will be available in North America starting in March/April 2026 for $3,600 and $4,000 CAD.
SVS R|Evolution
- The first-ever soundbar from speaker and subwoofer maker SVS
- Can be paired with wireless surround speakers and dual subwoofers
US-based speaker maker SVS unveiled its first-ever soundbar at CES, a move that should come as no surprise to home theater fans who are no doubt versed in the company’s extensive subwoofer lineup.
The SVS R|Evolution features a three-way speaker array for each of the left, center, and right channels, using a total of nine drivers powered by 180 watts. Dolby Atmos virtualization is used to convey spatial audio soundtracks, and there is onboard Auto EQ room correction.
Unsurprisingly, an SVS R|Evolution subwoofer with a new 12-inch high-excursion driver and 600-watt amplifier is paired with the soundbar in this system for extended bass. Wireless streaming includes Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, and Bluetooth, with support for up to 24-bit/96kHz hi-res audio.
Listeners can choose from either a standalone soundbar-plus-sub system or a 5.1-channel option that includes the new SVS R|Evolution Wireless Surround Speakers. Dual subwoofer arrays are also supported.
SVS plans to ship the R|Evolution starting in late Q2 2026.
TCL A65K
- Super-slim soundbar and subwoofer combo
- Audio by Bang & Olufsen tuning
The TCL A65K Design Series 3.1.2 Channel Soundbar takes a very different design approach to the maximalist Focal model listed above by packing left, center, right and two upfiring Dolby Atmos speakers into an extremely slim, 2.7-inch deep enclosure. TCL’s included subwoofer is also incredibly slim, measuring a mere 4.7 inches deep.
Similar to TCL’s top TVs, the A65K features Audio by Bang & Olufsen tuning, and it supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Power is specified at 460 watts, which is serious juice for a soundbar system this compact.
Pricing and availability were not announced at CES.
The best soundbars for all budgets
TechRadar will be extensively covering this year’s CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 live news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.
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al.griffin@futurenet.com (Al Griffin)
