Best Soundbars for Digital Audio Out TV: 7 Optical Picks (2026)

Many older TVs and budget sets have no HDMI ARC port, only a square digital audio out socket, so the soundbar must connect by optical cable. This guide compares seven best soundbars for digital audio out tv setups that accept that optical signal, from a full 5.1 package to a compact bar, and explains what optical can and cannot carry.

Quick verdict: the best soundbars for digital audio out tv at a glance

If you want one short answer, start with the Samsung HW-B750F for a complete bar-and-subwoofer package, or the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) for a compact bar that also plays music well. The other five picks cover clearer dialogue, a smaller room, a tighter budget and a built-in streamer, so read the table first and then the section that matches your TV.

Our pick for most TVs with only a digital audio out is the Samsung HW-B750F, because it is the only pick here that ships as a complete 5.1 system with a real subwoofer. If you want one small bar and nothing else, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is the stronger single-bar pick, while the Sony HT-S100F leads on dialogue.

How we selected the soundbars in this guide

Every model in this guide is a real product sold in the United States, with published specifications, and every one accepts an optical input from a TV digital audio out. We compared channel layout, included hardware, sound formats, connections and expansion options, and left out models we could not verify.

This guide is based on published manufacturer specifications and independent review coverage. It does not claim testing of its own, and it does not rank products by review scores, because scores use different methods and change with each update. Instead, each pick earns its place for a clear reason: the most complete package, the strongest compact bar, the clearest dialogue, the best budget Atmos bar, the built-in streamer, the cheapest subwoofer package, or the strongest bass.

The seven bars in this guide

Seven bars cover very different rooms and budgets, so the order below follows the decision most buyers face first: a complete system, a compact premium bar, or a focused fix for dialogue, price, streaming or bass. Each section states what is in the box and what optical gives up.

Samsung HW-B750F: the complete 5.1 package

The Samsung HW-B750F is the complete pick in this guide, and it earns that place by including the two things that matter most for a TV with only a digital audio out: a dedicated centre channel and a real wireless subwoofer. Samsung lists a 5.1-channel system with six speakers and a 6-inch wireless subwoofer.

For a TV that connects by optical, a 5.1 system is a natural match, because optical carries Dolby Digital 5.1, which is exactly the format this bar is built around. The centre channel keeps dialogue clear, the subwoofer adds the low end that a bar alone cannot produce, and optional SWA-9250S rear speakers can be added later for true surround. It also connects through HDMI ARC, with Bluetooth for music, and the bar is 40.6 inches wide. There is no Dolby Atmos and no HDMI eARC port, so this is a 5.1 system that plays surround sound well rather than a height-effects system.

Buy it if you want a complete bar-and-subwoofer package for a TV with a digital audio out and you can live without Dolby Atmos. Skip it if you need Dolby Atmos, DTS:X or an eARC connection, or if your TV is small enough that a 40-inch bar will overhang the stand.

Sonos Beam (Gen 2): the compact bar for smaller rooms

The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is the compact pick for a bedroom, a small living room or a second TV, and it is the most flexible single bar here for a TV with only a digital audio out. Sonos lists a 5.0-channel layout with five Class-D amplifiers, one centre tweeter, four midwoofers and three passive radiators, in a bar only 25.6 inches wide.

The Beam (Gen 2) ships with an optical adapter in the box, so it connects straight to a TV digital audio out when the TV has no HDMI ARC port. That matters, because most premium bars have no optical input at all and would leave such a TV with no connection. It decodes Dolby Atmos through HDMI eARC on a newer TV, using virtual height processing rather than up-firing drivers, and it connects by Wi-Fi and Ethernet, with AirPlay 2 for music. A Sonos Sub Mini or Sub and Era 100 rears can be added later. The limits are physical: there is no subwoofer in the box, no Bluetooth, and the virtual Atmos effect is subtler than the up-firing drivers on larger bars.

Buy it if your room is small, your TV is 55 inches or smaller, and you want a tidy bar that also plays music well. Skip it if you need strong bass for action movies without adding a subwoofer, or if you want an optical port built into the bar rather than an adapter.

Sony HT-S100F: the clearest dialogue pick for everyday TV

The Sony HT-S100F is the pick for viewers who keep turning the volume up for dialogue and down for action scenes. Sony lists a 2.0-channel bar with 120 watts, a bass-reflex speaker, an integrated tweeter and S-Force Front Surround, in a bar 35.5 inches wide.

For everyday TV on a digital audio out, the HT-S100F is a straightforward match: it takes optical and HDMI ARC, it decodes Dolby Digital, Dolby Dual Mono and LPCM, and its front-surround processing widens the sound without rear speakers. The bass-reflex design and the integrated tweeter give dialogue a clearer edge than the thin speakers built into most TVs. It also offers USB and Bluetooth 4.2 for music. Sony does not list DTS decoding for this model, and there is no subwoofer in the box, so bass stays modest and action movies will not shake the room.

Buy it if dialogue clarity is your main complaint and you want a simple, well-made bar for an older TV. Skip it if you want deep bass for action movies, DTS support, or a subwoofer in the box.

TCL S45H: the budget Atmos bar

The TCL S45H is the most complete single bar in its price tier, and it is the cheapest way here to get a Dolby Atmos label on a TV with a digital audio out. TCL lists a 2.0-channel bar with up to 100 watts, virtual Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X, AI Sonic calibration, and a 31.89-inch width.

For a TV with only a digital audio out, the S45H covers both connection types a buyer might need: HDMI eARC or ARC for a newer TV, and optical for an older one, plus Bluetooth 5.2 and AUX for music. The virtual Atmos processing widens the soundfield from two channels, and the AI Sonic calibration adjusts the sound to the room. A wall-mount kit and an HDMI cable are included in the box. The limits are the same as any two-channel bar: there is no subwoofer, no rear speaker and no real height driver, so the Atmos effect is virtual and bass stays modest.

Buy it if you want the most features for the lowest tier in this guide and your TV connects by optical. Skip it if you want a real subwoofer, true surround, or a wider bar for a large TV.

Roku Streambar SE: a soundbar and 4K streamer in one box

The Roku Streambar SE solves a different problem: a TV with a digital audio out that is also old enough to have a slow or missing smart platform. Roku lists a 2.0-channel bar with two 1.9-inch drivers, a rear bass port and 4K HDR10 and HDR10+ Roku OS streaming, in a bar only 9.6 inches wide.

For a TV with a digital audio out, the Streambar SE connects by optical or HDMI ARC, and it adds a full Roku streaming interface to a TV that may have none. Its Enhanced Speech Clarity mode lifts dialogue, and Bluetooth is included for music. The trade-off is format support: it does not decode Dolby or DTS sound, so surround sound from a disc or a broadcast arrives as stereo, and there is no Ethernet port. The bar is also very small, so it suits a bedroom or a second TV better than a large living room.

Buy it if your TV needs both better sound and a modern streaming platform in one purchase. Skip it if you want Dolby or DTS surround, a larger bar for a main living room, or a wired network connection.

Insignia NS-SB21: the subwoofer pick for movies and bass

The Insignia NS-SB21 is the pick for buyers who want a wireless subwoofer with their TV but do not want to pay for a premium system. Insignia lists a 2.1-channel bar with a wireless subwoofer, DTS Virtual:X, DTS TruVolume and Bluetooth 5.3, with a bar 31.5 inches wide.

For a TV with a digital audio out, the NS-SB21 connects by optical or HDMI ARC, with AUX and USB as well, and its four sound modes let the household tune the sound for movies, music, news or night viewing. The wireless subwoofer adds the low end that makes action scenes feel physical, which is the single most noticeable upgrade over a bar alone. DTS TruVolume evens out loud commercials and quiet dialogue. There is no Dolby Atmos, and no wattage figure was verified for this exact model, so the article states none.

Buy it if you want a bar and a real subwoofer for movie nights on a TV with a digital audio out. Skip it if you need Dolby Atmos, a wider bar for a large TV, or a premium finish.

ULTIMEA Poseidon M30: the strongest bass package in this tier

The ULTIMEA Poseidon M30 is the strongest bass package in this guide, and it is the pick for buyers who want the most low end from a compact system. ULTIMEA lists a 2.1-channel bar with a 5.25-inch wireless subwoofer, 240 watts of peak power, a 45 Hz to 18 kHz response, Bluetooth 6.0 and an app with a 10-band equalizer, in a bar 23.6 inches wide.

For a TV with a digital audio out, the Poseidon M30 connects by optical or HDMI ARC, and its VoiceMX and BassMX modes let the household boost dialogue or bass without touching the TV settings. The 240-watt figure is a peak rating, not continuous output, so it describes headroom rather than everyday loudness. No Dolby Atmos or DTS decoding is listed for this model, so surround sound arrives as stereo through optical. The app control is a real advantage for buyers who like to tune the sound, but it also means the best features need a phone nearby.

Buy it if you want the deepest bass and the most tuning control in this guide for a TV with a digital audio out. Skip it if you need Dolby Atmos or DTS, or if you prefer a bar that works fully from its remote.

What to check before you buy a soundbar

A soundbar is a room purchase as much as an electronics purchase, so the checks below matter more than the channel count on the box. Measure the TV stand, find the digital audio out socket on the TV, and think about where a subwoofer will sit in the room.

How to connect the best soundbars for digital audio out tv with one cable

Connecting by optical is simple, but the order of the steps matters, and a missed setting is the most common reason a new bar stays silent. Plug one end of the optical cable into the square digital audio out on the TV and the other end into the optical input on the bar, then remove the small protective caps from both ends of the cable first.

Next, open the TV sound menu, set the audio output to optical or external speakers, and set the digital audio format to PCM or Dolby Digital, because optical cannot carry every format the TV can produce. Turn the TV speakers off, raise the volume on the bar, and test with a show that has clear dialogue. If the bar has no optical port, as the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) does not, use the optical adapter in the box instead of buying a different bar.

Optical vs HDMI ARC: what the best soundbars for digital audio out tv can and cannot do

Optical and HDMI ARC look similar, but they carry different sound, and the difference decides which formats reach the bar. Optical carries stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1, which covers broadcast TV, most streaming and DVDs, but it cannot carry Dolby Atmos at all.

HDMI eARC carries the highest-quality audio, including Dolby Atmos from Dolby TrueHD, while standard HDMI ARC carries compressed Atmos and Dolby Digital 5.1. If the TV has no HDMI ARC port, optical is the right connection, not a compromise, and a 5.1 bar such as the Samsung HW-B750F is a natural match for it. If the TV does have HDMI ARC, use that port instead, because it also lets the TV remote control the bar volume.

How to match a soundbar to your room and TV size

Room size decides the system before price does, so start with the space rather than the specification sheet. A compact bar suits a bedroom or a small apartment living room, while a large open room needs a wider bar, a real subwoofer and rear speakers behind the sofa.

For a TV with a digital audio out, a 55-inch TV pairs well with a bar around 40 inches wide, and a 65-inch or larger TV suits the 48-inch and wider bars. A small room also changes the bass: a large subwoofer in a small bedroom can overwhelm dialogue, so the night modes on the Samsung and Insignia models and the dialogue modes on the Sony and Roku bars are worth using.

Budget, setup and the costs buyers often miss

The price tier of the bar is only part of the cost, so plan for the extras before you decide. A single bar needs one optical cable and a power outlet, while a full system needs power outlets for the subwoofer and each rear speaker, plus a mount if the bar does not sit on the TV unit.

Optional subwoofers and rears for the Sonos, Bose and Sony bars are sold separately, so a bar can cost far more once the system is complete. An optical cable is cheap, but a long run behind a wall-mounted TV may need a longer cable than the one in the box, and the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is the only pick here that includes an optical adapter.

Frequently asked questions about soundbars with a digital audio out

The questions below cover the doubts that come up most often before a purchase, from whether optical is good enough to which cable to buy. Each answer follows the same rule as the rest of this guide: it states what the specifications support, and it names the case where the answer changes.

Is a soundbar better than TV speakers on an older TV?

Yes, in almost every case, because TV speakers face backward or downward from a thin cabinet and have little room for bass or a centre channel. A soundbar adds forward-facing drivers, a dedicated centre channel for dialogue and, in most picks here, a separate subwoofer for low end.

Can optical carry Dolby Atmos from a TV?

No, optical cannot carry Dolby Atmos, because the connection does not have the bandwidth for the object-based audio that Atmos needs. It carries stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1, which covers most broadcast and streaming sound, but a bar that promises Atmos over optical is promising something the cable cannot deliver.

What size soundbar fits a 55-inch or 65-inch TV?

A 55-inch TV is about 48 inches wide, so a bar between 40 and 46 inches wide looks balanced, while a 65-inch TV at about 57 inches wide suits a wider bar. Measure the stand, not the TV, and check the bar width against it. A bar that overhangs the stand is a daily annoyance.

Conclusion

Start with the Samsung HW-B750F for a complete 5.1 package on a TV with a digital audio out, or the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) for one compact bar. If dialogue or budget matters more, the Sony HT-S100F and the TCL S45H cover those needs well. Check the digital audio out socket, set the TV to optical output, and choose the bar you will enjoy every day.