Data sheets say a lot about channels, chassis, and wattages – but little about how a device actually sounds in a living room. That's why we set up six very different sound solutions in our demo room and listened to them one after another with the same material: a piece of music, a Dolby Atmos trailer, and a movie scene.
The result is explicitly not a ranking. The six candidates pursue such different concepts that a "winner" would say little: a one-body soundbar, deliberately designed without additional speakers, cannot be meaningfully compared to a complete wireless home theater. The sensible question is another one – which concept suits which person and which room? This article aims to answer precisely that.
The soundbars from TV manufacturers are deliberately not included. Not because they are bad – especially in sets with subwoofers and rears, they offer astonishing value for money. But model cycles are short, devices are closely matched to their own TVs, and we are focusing on products that will still make sense with the next TV change.
An important note beforehand: Sound is subjective, and room acoustics massively change the result. What is written here is an honest listening impression from our demo room – not a measurement protocol. If you want to know exactly, listen for yourself. That's what we're here for.
Table of Contents
- How we listened
- Devialet Dione – the uncompromising one-body
- KEF XIO – the expandable harmonious one
- Canvas HiFi – the HiFi system in TV format
- Yamaha True X Surround 90A – the complete set
- Sonos Arc Ultra – the modular ecosystem
- Canton Smart A45 – no more soundbar compromise
- What we learned
- Who is it for?
1. How we listened
All candidates were in the same room, in the same position, each at ear height of the seating position. Where automatic room calibration was available, we performed it – this is part of realistic operation and makes a significant difference for some devices.
We listened to the same three things:
- A piece of music with a female voice, spatial guitar, low frequencies, and a quiet piano part towards the end – well suited to assess tonality, soundstage, and bass foundation
- A Dolby Atmos trailer with rain, thunder, and a bird that is supposed to circle around the listening position – the perfect test for true surround
- A movie scene with off-screen dialogue, deep male voices, and intense dynamics
Important to know: Surround formats cannot be transmitted via video. If you watch the associated video, you won't hear the spatial effects – you have to be in the room for that. That's why there's so much descriptive text here.
2. Devialet Dione – the uncompromising one-body
Concept
The Dione is a pure one-body soundbar in the strictest sense: neither a subwoofer nor a rear speaker can be added. This is not a cost-cutting measure, but intentional – all effort goes into the single enclosure. Inside, 17 self-developed drivers are at work: nine full-range drivers and eight subwoofer drivers in a push-push arrangement, the same configuration as in Devialet's well-known Phantom speakers.
Features and Practical Use
At 1200 mm wide and only 77 mm high, it fits well under current televisions; the characteristic sphere in the middle can be rotated for wall mounting. In terms of connectivity, it is puristic: HDMI eARC and optical, nothing more. AirPlay, Spotify Connect, Bluetooth, and UPnP are on board, as is room calibration via the app. A remote control is not included but can be purchased separately – in everyday use, the TV remote control handles it anyway.
If you expect a wide range of streaming options in the app, you will find the Dione to be limited. If you appreciate simplicity, you will see this as an advantage.
Sound for Music
The surprise of the test. The bass range is captivating and invigorating, without the bloated movie bass one might fear with so much low end. Vocals are fresh, crisp, and clear, and the reproduction seems remarkably detached from the enclosure – you hear less "from the center" than with other compact concepts. Overall, a soundstage with a certain nonchalance and sovereignty.
In the highest frequencies, some bars offer a bit more detail. The Dione opts for harmony instead of maximum brilliance here – a matter of taste, but suitable for long-term listening.
Sound for Movies and Surround
The bass is incredibly deep. Without prior knowledge, one would swear that a subwoofer is in the room – a remarkable achievement from an enclosure of this height. The sound is soft and harmonious, the surround effect comes a little closer to the listening position than with some competitors.
The Atmos effect works well: the rain in the trailer sounded authentically from above, much more above the listening position than in front of it. The bird, which is supposed to circle completely, moved from left to right and then a bit from behind into the center – a respectable performance for a bar without physical rears, but not the same as real rear speakers.
Who it's for
For anyone who wants maximum simplicity and values a solid bass foundation without being able or wanting to set up a subwoofer. A true all-rounder for music and movies – provided you accept that nothing is expandable here and connectivity remains limited.
Price: €2,100 (Black), €3,000 (Opéra de Paris)*
3. KEF XIO – the expandable harmonious one
Concept
Visually, the XIO is not dissimilar to the Dione – flat, elegant, with the same option of mounting it vertically under the TV on the wall (wall mounting kit included as standard). Conceptually, however, KEF goes a step further: The XIO is a 5.1.2 soundbar with twelve Class D amplifiers that is expandable. A subwoofer can be connected via RCA or wirelessly via the KW2 receiver, and wireless rear speakers are also provided.
Technically, KEF's own developments are inside: six Uni-Q-MX drivers, four P185 racetrack woofers with VECO control, plus the in-house Music Integrity Engine for multichannel processing.
Features and Practical Use
1210 × 70 × 165 mm, 10.5 kg, in Silver Grey or Slate Black. Connectivity is similarly reduced as the Dione – HDMI 2.1 eARC and optical. But the app is the trump card: it's the same Connect app that KEF uses for LS50, LS60, LS Lux, and LSX, accordingly mature. In addition to automatic room calibration (Intelligent Placement Technology), there's also manual adjustment, dialogue mode, and night mode, and the streaming selection is broad: Tidal Connect, Qobuz, Amazon Music, Deezer, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, Google Cast.
A remote control is included. If you already own KEF speakers, you control everything via the same app.
Sound for Music
Something happened here that was unique among the one-body solutions in the entire test field: the soundstage not only expanded in width and height, but also backward into the room. This made the reproduction sound larger overall and was the most surprising single impression of the comparison.
The voice was pleasant, the detail was good without being obtrusive. We deliberately listened neutrally – the app offers extensive intervention options, but artificially inflating stereo music with room effects is, in our opinion, a deterioration. The bass was exceptionally good; we didn't miss a subwoofer in this room, although not quite as spectacular as with the Dione.
Sound for Movies and Surround
"Harmonious" describes it best. The XIO is never spectacular or aggressive, but consistently relaxed and sovereign – and that's exactly what makes it suitable for long-term use.
Remarkable: Although KEF offers the option of physical rears, we hardly missed them here. Both in the Atmos trailer and in the movie scene, the sound filled the entire room – voices came from all corners, back left, back right, behind the listening position. The Atmos component seemed closer above the listening position than with the previous candidates. Among the pure front solutions, the XIO had the greatest spaciousness for us.
Who it's for
For anyone who wants a flat, elegant bar but wants to keep the option of a subwoofer and rears open. Also ideal for owners of other KEF products. Those who appreciate maximum adjustment options will find the most flexible app in the one-body field here.
Price: €2,299*
4. Canvas HiFi – the HiFi system in TV format
Concept
The special case in the test field – and strictly speaking, not even a soundbar.
The Danish developers asked a question that is actually obvious, but which no one else has consistently answered: TVs today deliver a picture that is almost impossible to improve technically. So why do we accept that the sound lags behind the picture? And why do we place a bar in front of the TV or speakers next to it, when both actually belong together?
Canvas is the answer. The system merges with the TV – mechanically and visually. It supports the TV, replaces its stand, and forms a unit with it that looks as if it was designed that way. No device in front, no device next to it, no cable clutter. Just a picture and below it a surface of Kvadrat fabric or wooden slats, thirteen variants to choose from, optionally standing on the floor or on the wall.
The crucial point, however, is what's behind it: not an array of twenty small drivers with a lot of computing power, but simply a very good stereo speaker. High-quality bass/midrange drivers, decent tweeters, 24 liters of cabinet volume – these are ingredients from classic HiFi construction, not from the soundbar shelf.
The real trick is solved by a technology called BACCH 3D, developed at Princeton University. It solves a problem that such concepts otherwise fail at: when two speakers are only a meter apart, a stereo soundstage usually doesn't form. BACCH ensures that each ear essentially only hears the speaker intended for it – and a device just over a meter wide becomes a soundstage of three to four meters. Without the sound appearing artificial or colored.
No Dolby Atmos. This is not an omission, but the logical consequence: if you aim for true stereo quality, you don't build a channel array. You have to know what you're getting into – and what you're getting for it.
Features and Practical Use
HDMI eARC, Toslink, and analog – which also allows a turntable to be connected. Plus AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Roon, Tidal, and Spotify. Room correction runs via an iOS app and takes about a minute; it is intended as a setup tool, not for daily tinkering.
Suitable for TVs from 55" to 85", with thirteen front variants: fabric in black or light gray, eight Kvadrat fabrics, or wooden slats in oak, mahogany, or walnut.
Sound for Music
For us, the best stereo reproduction in the entire test field. Despite a significantly lower placement than the other candidates, the voice was exactly in the center of the picture – the system audibly lifts the soundstage. The spatially recorded guitar actually came from left and right, out of the room. It's hard to believe when listening that only two speaker systems are playing up front.
The bass benefits from the cabinet volume: natural, sovereign, never strained, and it reaches far down. A subwoofer is neither provided nor necessary. The piano in the quiet part sounded very natural – it didn't sound like DSP sound design, but like an honest speaker.
Sound for Movies and Surround
Here too, astonishingly spatial, and the speech intelligibility was by far the best in the entire test – better than any other solution here. When effects come from the side, a perception from behind does arise, albeit weaker than with the other candidates.
Two honest limitations: the rear effect is present, but much more subdued. And in the trailer, we missed something with the deep thunder – possibly a frequency that the system doesn't handle optimally, while the bass frequencies above it come through very powerfully.
Who it's for
For anyone who values music at least as much as movies – and who wants an aesthetically integrated solution without a separate device in the living room. If you're looking for Atmos and maximum surround, this is not for you. If you're looking for a true HiFi system that also handles TV sound by chance, you'll find something here that is almost unique on the market.
Price: from €3,125 (Solo, without wall mount & without front cover) to €5,499 (85" with wood cover and wall mount)*
5. Yamaha True X Surround 90A – the complete set
Concept
From here, we leave the front solutions. The Yamaha set consists of the soundbar (1180 × 85 × 143 mm), a wireless subwoofer, and two completely wireless rear speakers – which are battery-powered and come with matching charging stations. So you don't even need a power outlet near the sofa.
The bar has height-beam speakers for true Dolby Atmos and also decodes DTS:X and AURO-3D.
Features and Practical Use
What immediately stands out: the craftsmanship. Solid device feet, a high-quality feel to the touch – Yamaha has always emphasized the design of its HiFi amplifiers, and with a device where speakers and electronics are combined, this audibly pays off.
Control is via the MusicCast app, which has evolved over many years and is accordingly feature-rich. A remote control is included. There are plenty of sound modes: Stereo, Straight, All Channel Stereo, SURROUND:AI, 3D Music. Connectivity includes 1× HDMI in / 1× out (eARC) plus optical.
A practical side effect of the battery-powered rears: they can be switched to single mode and then used as Bluetooth speakers in the house or garden. And for news or series that don't require surround, they simply stand silently in the charging station.
Sound for Music
We first listened in pure stereo, i.e., without rears. The soundstage is then more compact and very direct – not worse, but different from bars with permanently active room effects.
In 3D Music mode, Yamaha's old strength then emerges: the space becomes larger without artificial reverberation or distortion. Yamaha has been building DSP processors since the eighties and has measured room acoustics worldwide – you can hear that there is experience behind it.
The voice is positioned a little further forward than with Dione and XIO, and the resolution is at a comparable level. The bass is sovereign – here Yamaha has it easier because the subwoofer plays along, while the one-body bars have to get everything out of their own enclosures. Overall very calm, very clean, noticeably low in resonance.
Sound for Movies and Surround
Here the sentence was uttered that the entire test led to: Physical loudspeakers are apparently still not replaceable.
For the first time, the bird in the Atmos trailer truly flew around the listening position. And in the movie scene, when vehicles come from behind and jump over, there's a completely different dynamic behind it. This is a different league than with the front solutions – as impressive as they are.
The external subwoofer goes one level deeper than anything the one-body bars can produce from their enclosures. Frequencies that one would assume are not even present in the movie examples are suddenly audible.
One must be honest about the subwoofer itself: In terms of appearance, it is not a masterpiece – this is often the case with sets of this type. Acoustically, it still delivers.
Who it's for
For anyone who wants true surround and is willing to place speakers behind the seating position – at least temporarily. The battery solution makes exactly that possible: set them up for movie night, then put them away again. Price-wise, the most coherent offer in the test field, considering that a subwoofer and rears are already included.
Price: €2,457 (complete set)*
View Yamaha True X Surround 90A
6. Sonos Arc Ultra – the modular ecosystem
Concept
With Sonos, you rarely buy just one device, but rather enter into a system. The Arc Ultra is the current top-of-the-line soundbar: 15 Class D amplifiers, nine tweeters (two of which are upward-firing for true height channels), six midrange drivers, and the Sound Motion Woofer – a flat quadruple-motor design with a double diaphragm.
For the test, we set up the maximum: Arc Ultra, plus two Sub 4s, plus two Era 300s as rear speakers. The Era 300s are particularly interesting because they are themselves upward-firing and close the Atmos dome at the rear.
Features and Practical Use
In terms of connectivity, Sonos is the opposite of generous: one HDMI eARC port, optical only via a separate adapter. If you want to operate a projector, you have a problem here. But this is intentional – Sonos keeps things deliberately simple.
And this simplicity is a real argument. Turn it on, perform Trueplay calibration, and you're done. However, Trueplay only works with Apple devices; if you don't have one, borrow one for the one-time calibration. Fine-tuning is done via sliders in the app – without Atmos on/off options or detailed sound profiles.
The app is one of the most sophisticated on the market, and the streaming selection is virtually unbeatable. There is no remote control – if you want one, you're better off with other manufacturers.
The real strength: full modularity. You can start with just the bar, then add a Sub, then Rears, then a second Sub. Various Sonos speakers work as Rears, and even passive wall or ceiling speakers can be integrated via a Sonos Amp.
Sound for Music
For active music listening, clearly better without the rear speakers. We let them run in ambient mode – which doesn't help for concentrated listening, but is useful when moving around the room or when guests are present.
The subwoofers integrate seamlessly; you never get the feeling that a separate device is playing. That's exactly how it should be.
Compared to the older Arc, the Ultra is a noticeable improvement: the previous tendency to render stereo music unnaturally washed out has significantly decreased – a better balance has been found here. Nevertheless, the impression remains that music is Sonos' second priority. It was good, but it didn't grab us.
Sound for Movies and Surround
Spectacular. In terms of power and volume capability, the Sonos setup was the strongest in the entire test. The Era 300s as rears not only create room atmosphere but also add height – the Atmos dome is truly enclosed at the back.
However, where there's a lot of light, there's also shadow: it didn't play as clearly and cleanly as the Yamaha set. We perceived more resonances – possibly because the bar is less well decoupled from the furniture, possibly because two subwoofers excite the room strongly. Sonos also doesn't achieve the fine, noble soundscape of KEF and Devialet: here, it's all about attack, less about the subtle nuances. In the long run, this can become a bit tiring.
Who it's for
For anyone who already has Sonos at home – the question is practically answered. And for anyone who wants to gradually approach it, rather than buying a fixed set. Those who prioritize exciting effects and volume over detail will also be happy here.
Prices: Arc Ultra €1,099, Sub 4 €999, Era 300 €499 each*
The tested maximum setup was therefore around €4,100 – but you don't have to buy exactly that. Starting with just the bar costs a fraction of that, and everything else comes when you want it.
7. Canton Smart A45 – no more soundbar compromise
Concept
Finally, we deliberately left the category – and for that, a brief explanation of what Canton Smart actually is.
Canton Smart is a product family whose components can be freely combined: classic active loudspeakers from compact to floor-standing, smaller Smart Speakers, centers, soundbars, subwoofers. All speak the same language. So you don't put a finished set in your living room, but configure exactly the combination that suits your room, your demands, and your budget – and change it later if something changes.
The connecting piece is a small hub called Smart Connect. It is connected to the TV via HDMI, handles all surround decoding, and then sends the individual channels wirelessly to the respective speakers – up to three pairs of speakers, a center, and a subwoofer.
In practical terms, this means: a full-fledged home cinema system, but without an AV receiver in the rack and without a single speaker cable through the living room. Each speaker only needs an outlet nearby.
And that's exactly why Canton Smart belongs in this comparison. The basic idea is the same as with a soundbar with wireless rears – minimal installation effort, no cable laying. But the system consists of real speakers instead of a bar under the TV. If you wish, you can even use a Canton soundbar as a front and expand it to true surround with Smart Speakers at the back and a subwoofer – the same logic as with Sonos, significantly more compact and considerably cheaper than what we heard here.
For the test, we chose a configuration at the high end of the family: two Smart A 45 floor-standing speakers at the front, the A 45 CS center, two A 45 BS compact speakers at the back, and the Smart Sub 12 – controlled by the Smart Connect 5.1.
Features and Practice
The front A45s are full-fledged 3-way floorstanding loudspeakers with three 174mm woofers and 600W system power. The Smart Connect offers three HDMI inputs and one eARC output, plus optical, coaxial, analog, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, and Spotify Connect. Operation is via remote control and a TV screen menu.
The Atmos question is also expandable: the Smart Connect supports Dolby Atmos, and additional active speakers can be integrated as height channels. With the Smart Amp, even passive ceiling-mounted speakers are possible.
Sound for Music
A different league – there's no other way to say it. It's like unlocking a new level. This is partly due to the volume, but simply also to the placement: there are a good two and a half meters between the floorstanding speakers, and no soundbar can achieve that – although the Canvas comes close.
It creates a presence and sovereignty in the room where the question of sound modes no longer even arises. This honest music reproduction, as known from a classic stereo system, apparently can only be achieved by a real HiFi speaker – a soundbar comes close, but not quite.
Sound for Movies and Surround
Even with surround, the Canton system was another dimension better. And that, even though we listened to it in classic 5.1 – without Atmos height channels. You first notice that the dome is missing at the top because you've gotten used to it. If you concentrate on what's there, a tremendous sovereignty remains.
The palpable bass was new: not just the very low frequencies from the subwoofer, but pressure in the gut. Speech intelligibility was excellent, and the resolution of the individual surround effects at the front, rear, and sides came across differently than with the soundbars.
Who it's for
Fair enough: This is a proper home cinema setup against soundbars – the comparison isn't entirely fair, and it would be sad if it turned out differently. But that's exactly why it's here: to show what's possible if you accept speakers in your living room and still don't want to run cables.
Anyone who finds such speakers cool is strictly speaking no longer a soundbar customer – but someone who should consider a real home cinema. What expansion options there are, what matters for placement, and in what order to spend your budget, is explained in detail here: Home Cinema Buying Guide
If you prefer to start small, you'll find suitable configurations in the Smart system below.
Prices (tested configuration): Smart A 45 pair including Smart Connect 5.1 – €3,399 · A 45 CS Center – €1,145 (RRP €1,345) · A 45 BS pair – €1,799 (RRP €2,049) · Smart Sub 12 – €899*
View Canton Smart · Home Cinema Speaker Sets
8. What we learned
Four insights emerged throughout the entire test:
First: One-body soundbars are amazing – until you hear something better. What Devialet, KEF, and Canvas achieve from a single enclosure would have been unimaginable a few years ago. The surprise effect is real. It only lasts until a system with physical rears plays in the same room.
Second: Physical rear speakers cannot be simulated. The bird in the Atmos trailer only truly flew around the listening position when there were actually speakers at the back. Virtual surround goes far – but not that far. If you want the effect and can set up speakers, you should.
Third: With music, the wheat is separated from the chaff more clearly than with movies. Movie sound thrives on effects and dynamics, and all candidates deliver there. Music demands tonality, stage, and timing – and that's where the differences between the devices were greatest.
Fourth: The external subwoofer brings out frequencies you didn't know were there. You listen to a movie example ten times and think it can't go any deeper – until a subwoofer is in the room that alone has more volume than an entire soundbar.
The Videos for Comparison
We also filmed the complete comparison – in two parts, otherwise no one would make it to the end. Remember: surround formats cannot be transmitted via video, so you won't hear the spatial effects. However, you can easily compare the sound samples at the end of the videos.
Part 1 – the one-body solutions:
Part 2 – systems with rear speakers:
9. What suits whom?
No winners – but a clear assignment.
You want maximum simplicity: one device, one cable, done
Devialet Dione or KEF XIO. Both flat, both wall-mountable, both surprisingly powerful in bass without a subwoofer. The Dione, if bass foundation and understatement are more important to you than expandability. The XIO, if you want to keep the door open for subwoofers and rears – and appreciate the finer app control.
Music is at least as important to you as movies
Canvas HiFi. The best soundbar for stereo playback in the test and the best speech intelligibility too. Prerequisite: You can do without Dolby Atmos and like the idea that speakers and TV form a visual unit.
You want true surround and a ready-made package
Yamaha True X Surround 90A. Bar, subwoofer, and two battery-powered rears in one purchase, excellently crafted, with the clearest and cleanest sound image among the surround systems. The battery-powered rears elegantly solve the problem of not always wanting speakers behind the sofa.
You want to expand gradually – or already own Sonos
Sonos Arc Ultra. Start with the bar, add subwoofers and rears if you want. The most potent surround experience in the test, with the most sophisticated app. But less detail and very sparse in terms of connections.
You don't want to lay cables, but also don't want to compromise on sound quality
Canton Smart. In its full configuration with the A45, it's a true wireless home cinema and hi-fi system. And because the system is scalable, you can also start with a soundbar plus subwoofer and add Smart Speakers as rears later.
Your room is open, has sloped ceilings or very high ceilings
Then opt for physical rear speakers instead of reflected surround – i.e., Yamaha, Sonos or Canton. Virtual surround needs walls and a ceiling off which sound can reflect.
Your soundbar must be in a closed shelf compartment
Then all solutions with upward-firing Atmos drivers are practically out – the sound will hit the shelf above. Talk to us, we'll find a suitable alternative for your furniture situation.
You have a projector instead of a TV
Pay attention to additional HDMI inputs. Most candidates here only have one port for the screen. A system with multiple inputs – such as the Canton Smart Connect with three HDMI inputs – solves the problem much more elegantly.
And now: listen for yourself
As detailed as we describe it here – sound remains subjective, and your room is not our demo room. Most of these devices are on display in our Rellingen showroom, and anything not currently set up, we will set up for you. Please make an appointment so we can take our time.
If the journey is too far: Describe your room, your TV, and what you plan to do with it – we offer equally detailed advice by phone or email.
Make an appointment or describe your situation →
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* All prices quoted are non-binding price recommendations or our sales prices at the time this article was created. The soundbar market is very dynamic; actual prices may differ at the time of reading. You can find current prices in our online shop – and if a price doesn't suit you, please feel free to contact us.
Author: Frank Buck
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