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    Analysis

    Gaming soundbars: a sourced buyer's guide (October 2026)

    Based on RTINGS's lab reviews, Samsung's HW-Q990H, HW-Q990F and HW-Q800H stand out for gaming because they pass 4K 120Hz or VRR video through,[1][2][3] while the LG S95TR was found to have low latency across most formats and connections.[4] Popular alternatives involve trade-offs: the Sonos Arc Ultra has no full HDMI input and the Hisense AX5140Q lacks 4K 120Hz passthrough.[5][6] ContentLora did not test any of these products.

    Editor reviewedUpdated Gaming
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    How this guide works. ContentLora does no hands-on testing. This roundup draws on RTINGS, which buys soundbars and measures them in a lab, and on HDMI specifications. Every finding is attributed. We compare features and published findings, not prices, because soundbar prices change frequently. For what each spec means, see Gaming soundbars explained.

    What matters for gaming

    Three things separate a good gaming bar from a good film bar. The first is low latency: RTINGS advises close to 0 ms over ARC/eARC.[7] The second is eARC, for lossless and object-based audio over one cable.[8] The third, if the console plugs into the bar, is passthrough that keeps VRR and ALLM working.[9][10]

    Strong gaming feature sets (per RTINGS)

    • Samsung HW-Q990H. An 11.1.4-channel flagship that succeeds the HW-Q990F, with 4K 120Hz HDMI passthrough. RTINGS notes some bass compression near maximum volume.[1]
    • Samsung HW-Q990F (2025). The previous flagship, with broad format support and HDMI 2.1 video passthrough.[2]
    • Samsung HW-Q800H (2026). A 5.1.2-channel bar and subwoofer whose passthrough supports VRR, HDR and ALLM. It offers virtual surround but no DTS support.[3]
    • LG S95TR. A 9.1.4 system that RTINGS found has low latency across most audio formats and connections.[4]

    Good bars with gaming caveats

    • Sonos Arc Ultra. An all-in-one bar that Sonos says reproduces a 9.1.4 Atmos experience, but with no full HDMI input.[5]
    • Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9. A standalone bar that simulates surround with phantom speakers, which RTINGS notes cannot get very loud.[11]
    • JBL Bar 1000MK2. It has detachable wireless satellites. RTINGS found they lag the bar with Atmos content and that the bar falls short of HDMI 2.1 passthrough requirements.[12]
    • Hisense AX5140Q. A 5.1.4 system with dedicated satellites but no 4K 120Hz passthrough.[6]
    • Samsung HW-Q600F. A mid-tier 3.1.2 bar that downmixes surround audio.[13]

    How to choose

    If your console or PC must plug into the soundbar, for example because the TV has few HDMI 2.1 ports, the cited findings point to bars with documented 4K 120Hz or VRR passthrough, such as the Samsung HW-Q990H, HW-Q990F or HW-Q800H. If the console can stay on the TV, eARC removes the passthrough question. Bars like the Sonos Arc Ultra are then viable, and latency becomes the main thing to check. For competitive play, wired speakers and low measured latency matter more than extra height channels. These are judgements drawn from the cited findings, not our own test results. Check current RTINGS measurements, which are updated as products are retested.

    RTINGS found VRR and ALLM passthrough on Samsung’s 2026 HW-Q800H, a step below the flagship.[3] If that pattern spreads, more mid-range bars may add gaming passthrough. That is our expectation, not a manufacturer commitment.

    Competing views

    Make the soundbar the HDMI hub

    Bars with full 4K 120Hz, VRR and ALLM passthrough let the console plug straight into the bar, keeping one cable to the TV.[3][1][2]

    Keep the console on the TV and use eARC

    Routing audio back over eARC sidesteps passthrough limits entirely, which opens up bars with no HDMI input or limited passthrough.[8][7][5]

    Prioritise low latency over channel count

    For competitive play, low measured latency and wired speakers matter more than height channels or wireless satellites, which can add delay.[4][12][14]

    Questions readers ask

    Did ContentLora test these soundbars?

    No. This guide summarises RTINGS's published lab findings and HDMI specifications. We did not listen to or measure any product.[1][8]

    Which soundbars pass through VRR for consoles?

    RTINGS lists the Samsung HW-Q800H as passing VRR, HDR and ALLM. It reports HDMI 2.1 passthrough on the HW-Q990F and 4K 120Hz passthrough on the HW-Q990H.[3][2][1]

    Is the Sonos Arc Ultra good for gaming?

    RTINGS notes it has no full HDMI input, so a console must connect to the TV and send audio to the bar over eARC.[5][8]

    Do wireless rear speakers add lag?

    They can. RTINGS found the JBL Bar 1000MK2's detachable satellites show latency relative to the bar and subwoofer with Dolby Atmos.[12]

    Sources

    Each numbered claim is a statement we checked against the sources listed with it. Status shows how well established it is.

    1. [1]

      RTINGS describes the Samsung HW-Q990H as the 11.1.4-channel successor to the HW-Q990F, with 4K 120Hz HDMI passthrough and some bass compression near maximum volume. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    2. [2]

      RTINGS describes the Samsung HW-Q990F as the 2025 flagship successor to the HW-Q990D, with broad audio-format support and HDMI 2.1 video passthrough. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    3. [3]

      RTINGS describes the Samsung HW-Q800H as a 2026 5.1.2-channel bar-plus-subwoofer whose video passthrough supports VRR, HDR and ALLM, with a virtual surround mode but no DTS format support. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    4. [4]

      RTINGS found that the LG S95TR, a 9.1.4 system, has low latency across most audio formats and connections. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    5. [5]

      RTINGS notes that the Sonos Arc Ultra, an all-in-one bar Sonos says reproduces a 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos experience, has no full HDMI input. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    6. [6]

      RTINGS describes the Hisense AX5140Q as a 5.1.4-channel system with dedicated satellites and no 4K 120Hz video passthrough. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    7. [7]

      RTINGS advises that because most TVs synchronise ARC/eARC audio and video, a soundbar's audio latency over that connection should be as close to 0 ms as possible. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    8. [8]

      HDMI eARC carries audio from a TV to a soundbar or AV receiver over a single HDMI cable and supports uncompressed 5.1 and 7.1 audio, up to 32 channels, and formats including Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio and DTS:X. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    9. [9]

      HDMI Variable Refresh Rate lets a console or PC deliver frames as fast as it can and reduces or eliminates lag, judder and frame tearing. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    10. [10]

      HDMI Auto Low Latency Mode lets a console or PC signal a display to switch automatically into a low-latency game mode. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    11. [11]

      RTINGS describes the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 as a 2024 standalone flagship bar that uses 360 Spatial Sound Mapping and phantom speakers to simulate surround sound, but notes it cannot get very loud. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    12. [12]

      RTINGS found that the JBL Bar 1000MK2's detachable wireless satellites show latency relative to the bar and subwoofer with Dolby Atmos, and that it does not meet HDMI 2.1 video-passthrough requirements. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    13. [13]

      RTINGS describes the Samsung HW-Q600F as a 2025 mid-tier 3.1.2 soundbar that downmixes surround audio. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    14. [14]

      RTINGS says gamers should make sure soundbar latency does not affect their performance against other players, and that some makers such as Samsung offer manual audio-sync controls. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    Revision history (1)
    1. Page created.

    Created Oct 10, 2026. Last reviewed by an editor on Oct 10, 2026. Next scheduled review: Jan 10, 2027.

    Cite this page

    "Gaming soundbars: a sourced buyer's guide (October 2026)." ContentLora, updated Oct 10, 2026. https://contentlora.com/analysis/gaming-soundbar-buyers-guide

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