Gaming Soundbar Buying Guide: eARC, Dolby Atmos and 4K@120 on PS5 and Xbox (2026)

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Many TVs have thin built-in speakers: footsteps and dialogue get lost in the explosions. A soundbar is the easiest upgrade for PS5, Xbox Series X or a gaming PC – as long as it is connected the right way. What matters most is not the wattage but the connection: eARC, whether the soundbar can pass through 4K at 120 Hz, and the right settings on console and TV. This guide explains what to look for and lists five soundbars currently available on Amazon.de.

Transparency: We have not tested these soundbars ourselves. The information comes from PlayStation, Xbox, Dolby, the manufacturers Sony, JBL and Sonos, and the Amazon.de product pages we checked (as of October 2026). We don't list prices because they change constantly. Affiliate links go to amazon.de.

How to connect a soundbar to your console

There are two ways, and for gamers the first one is usually better:

Console into the TV, soundbar into the TV via eARC. Xbox explicitly recommends connecting the console directly to the TV with the included Ultra High Speed HDMI cable and sending audio to the soundbar or receiver via ARC/eARC. That keeps 4K@120, VRR and ALLM between console and TV.
Console into the soundbar's HDMI input, soundbar into the TV. This only works if the soundbar has an HDMI input at all – and for 4K@120 only if it passes that signal through. Sony states this for the BRAVIA Theatre Bar 8 (4K/120Hz, 8K/60Hz, VRR and ALLM). JBL lists one HDMI input with 4K and HDR passthrough (HDR10+, Dolby Vision) for the Bar 300 MK2 and Bar 500 MK2, but no 120Hz. With those models the console is better off connected straight to the TV.

Check the port on your TV: eARC often sits on one specific HDMI input. If your TV only has two inputs with 4K@120 and VRR and one of them is the eARC port, the soundbar may cost you a gaming input. How current models handle this is covered in our gaming TV buying guide.

What matters most

1. eARC rather than ARC

ARC (Audio Return Channel) sends sound from the TV back to the soundbar. eARC is the enhanced version with much more bandwidth. Sony says Dolby Atmos content from the TV reaches the soundbar via the HDMI eARC/ARC connection; without an eARC TV, Sony says this is limited. JBL notes that Dolby Atmos information is not transmitted over plain ARC connections – the source device then has to go into the soundbar's HDMI input. Sonos also requires an eARC connection for Dolby TrueHD, multichannel PCM and Dolby Atmos over TrueHD.

2. Dolby Atmos on PS5 and Xbox

PS5: Since a 2023 system update (beta from July 2023), PlayStation says the PS5 also outputs its 3D audio (Tempest 3D AudioTech) to Dolby Atmos-enabled HDMI devices such as soundbars, including height channels. Setting: Settings → Sound → Audio Output → Audio Format (Priority) → Dolby Atmos.
Xbox Series X|S: Supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X according to Xbox. Go to Settings → General → Volume & audio output, set HDMI audio to Bitstream out and choose Dolby Atmos for home theater or DTS:X for home theater as the bitstream format, depending on what your soundbar supports. According to Dolby, the Dolby Access app walks you through the setup.

3. Real height channels or virtual?

The number after the second dot tells you whether there are upward-firing speakers: 3.1.2 means three front channels, one subwoofer and two height channels. The Sony Bar 6 (3.1.2) and Bar 8 (5.0.2) and the Sonos Arc Ultra (up to 9.1.4) list dedicated height channels. According to their manuals, the JBL Bar 300 MK2 and Bar 500 MK2 use virtual Dolby Atmos – signal processing instead of upward-firing drivers.

4. Subwoofer: included, built in or add-on

A separate subwoofer adds deep bass for explosions and engines. The Sony Bar 6 and JBL Bar 500 MK2 come with a wireless subwoofer. The Bar 8 and Arc Ultra ship without one, but the manufacturers say you can add a subwoofer and rear speakers later. The JBL Bar 300 MK2 is an all-in-one unit without a separate subwoofer.

5. Width and space

The soundbar shouldn't be wider than the TV or block the picture. For reference: a 55-inch TV like the LG OLED55C6ELB is 1,222 mm wide according to LG. Also check the height if the bar sits in front of a low TV stand.

Five example soundbars

Example model

Compact, no subwoofer: JBL Bar 300 MK2

According to JBL: 5.0-channel soundbar with virtual Dolby Atmos, 450 W total output (max., THD 1%), five racetrack drivers and four 20 mm tweeters, one HDMI input with 4K and HDR passthrough (HDR10+, Dolby Vision), HDMI output with eARC, optical input, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.3, 940 × 50.5 × 104 mm, 2.9 kg. Sold and shipped by Amazon, in stock (checked October 2026).

Channels: 5.0, virtual Dolby Atmos
Subwoofer: none (all-in-one)
HDMI: 1 × input (4K HDR), 1 × eARC output
Size: 940 × 50.5 × 104 mm

Best if you're short on space and mainly want clearer TV sound.

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Example model

Subwoofer and height channels: Sony BRAVIA Theatre Bar 6

According to Sony: 3.1.2-channel soundbar with upward-firing speakers and a wireless subwoofer (210 × 388 × 388 mm, 7.7 kg), Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, HDMI output with eARC/ARC but no HDMI input, plus optical input and Bluetooth 5.3. Sony lists the bar as 37.4 inches wide (about 95 cm). Sold and shipped by Amazon, only a few left according to the product page (checked October 2026).

Channels: 3.1.2 (6 speaker units in the bar)
Subwoofer: wireless, included
HDMI: 1 × eARC/ARC, no input
Formats: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X

Best if your console is plugged into the TV anyway and you want height channels plus bass.

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Example model

5.1 with a 10-inch subwoofer: JBL Bar 500 MK2

According to JBL: 5.1-channel system with virtual Dolby Atmos, 750 W total output (max., THD 1%; soundbar 450 W, subwoofer 300 W), wireless subwoofer with a 10-inch driver (325 × 400 × 325 mm, 8.1 kg), one HDMI input with 4K and HDR passthrough, HDMI output with eARC, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.3. The bar itself measures 940 × 50.5 × 104 mm. Sold and shipped by Amazon, in stock (checked October 2026).

Channels: 5.1, virtual Dolby Atmos
Subwoofer: wireless, 10-inch, included
HDMI: 1 × input (4K HDR), 1 × eARC output
Bar size: 940 × 50.5 × 104 mm

Best if strong bass matters more to you than real height speakers.

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Example model

With 4K@120 passthrough: Sony BRAVIA Theatre Bar 8

According to Sony: single soundbar with 5.0.2 channels and 11 speaker units, 360 Spatial Sound Mapping, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and IMAX Enhanced, one HDMI input and one HDMI output with eARC. Sony lists 4K/120Hz and 8K/60Hz passthrough via HDMI 2.1 with Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG, plus VRR and ALLM. 1,100 × 64 × 113 mm, 4.7 kg, expandable with an optional subwoofer and rear speakers. Sold and shipped by Amazon, in stock (checked October 2026).

Channels: 5.0.2 (11 speakers)
Subwoofer: optional
HDMI: 1 × input (4K/120, VRR, ALLM), 1 × eARC output
Size: 1,100 × 64 × 113 mm

Best if your TV is short on HDMI 2.1 inputs and the console has to go into the soundbar.

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Example model

High end: Sonos Arc Ultra

According to Sonos: 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos soundbar with 14 drivers (including two upward-firing tweeters) and 15 class-D amplifiers, Trueplay room tuning, AI speech enhancement, HDMI eARC, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3, and a microphone switch. There's no HDMI input, so the console stays on the TV. 1,178 × 75 × 110.6 mm, 5.9 kg. Sold and shipped by Amazon, in stock (checked October 2026).

Channels: up to 9.1.4 with Dolby Atmos
Subwoofer: optional (Sonos Sub)
HDMI: 1 × eARC, no input
Size: 1,178 × 75 × 110.6 mm

Best if you have a large TV and want to add a sub and rears later.

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The models compared

Model	Channels	Subwoofer	HDMI input	Passthrough
JBL Bar 300 MK2	5.0 (virtual)	no	yes	4K HDR
Sony Bar 6	3.1.2	yes, wireless	no	–
JBL Bar 500 MK2	5.1 (virtual)	yes, 10-inch	yes	4K HDR
Sony Bar 8	5.0.2	optional	yes	4K/120, VRR, ALLM
Sonos Arc Ultra	9.1.4	optional	no	–

Setup step by step

Connect the soundbar to the TV's eARC port with the included HDMI cable.
On the TV, turn on eARC and HDMI-CEC and set digital audio output to Pass Through or Auto (names vary by brand).
Connect the console directly to an HDMI 2.1 port on the TV – unless your soundbar passes through 4K@120 like the Bar 8.
PS5: Settings → Sound → Audio Output. Under HDMI Device Type you can pick AV Amplifier and set the number of channels; under Audio Format (Priority) choose Dolby Atmos.
Xbox: Settings → General → Volume & audio output: set HDMI audio to Bitstream out and pick the matching bitstream format.
Keep TV, soundbar and console firmware up to date.

For late-night sessions a headset is often the better choice – see the gaming headset buying guide. For a desk PC, PC speakers usually fit better than a soundbar.

FAQ

Do I need a TV with eARC for a soundbar?

For Dolby Atmos from the TV and lossless formats like Dolby TrueHD, practically yes. JBL says plain ARC doesn't carry the Atmos information; the source then has to go into the soundbar's HDMI input.

Will I lose 4K@120Hz with a soundbar?

Not if the console is connected directly to the TV and audio goes to the soundbar via eARC. If the console goes into the soundbar, the bar has to pass 4K@120 through. Sony states this for the Bar 8; for the Bar 300 MK2 and Bar 500 MK2 JBL only lists 4K HDR passthrough.

Does the PS5 support Dolby Atmos through a soundbar?

Yes. Since a 2023 system update, PlayStation says the PS5 outputs 3D audio to Dolby Atmos-enabled HDMI devices. The option is called Audio Format (Priority) in the audio output settings.

What's the difference between real and virtual Dolby Atmos?

Real height channels (the number after the second dot, e.g. 3.1.2) fire sound up at the ceiling. Virtual Atmos creates the height effect with signal processing, without dedicated upward-firing drivers.

Is a soundbar worth it for shooters?

For competitive positional audio, a good headset is usually more precise because the room doesn't affect it. A soundbar pays off mostly for story games, racing games and movies in the living room.

Can I use a soundbar with a PC?

Yes, via HDMI from the graphics card or through the TV via eARC. At a desk, compact PC speakers are usually the more practical option.

Sources

As of October 2026. Technical details come from the manufacturers and the Amazon.de product pages we checked (ASINs in the text):

* Ad link: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links go to Amazon.de – the price stays the same for you.