How many fit
13 of the 31 models checked meet every need here: “I can’t fit a bass box” and “I want music without the TV on”.
13 models fit, out of 31 checkedPicked for one job
Which soundbar should you buy if you want no separate subwoofer?
Top pick
Sonos Arc Ultra
Sonos Arc Ultra is the place to start if a 46.38-inch bar fits and you want Wi-Fi music, with optional Sonos expansion later. For a much smaller cabinet, go with Bose Smart Soundbar, and if you need a separate HDMI source input, go with JBL Bar 300 MK2. None of the three standard packages requires a separate bass box.
Why it suits this job
- The standard package comes without an external subwoofer
- The cabinet sits under the TV without blocking the screen
- The catch
- Separate HDMI inputs are missing, so a console or disc player cannot plug in.
- Go with Bose Smart Soundbar if
- Your TV stand is narrow or the screen sits low. The cabinet measures 27.34 inches wide and 2.21 inches high.
More reasons we picked it
- It supports the TV connection and music source you need
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Choose a single soundbar on cabinet space, HDMI connections and upgrade options, comparing genuine one-bar packages with no hidden bass-box requirement.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the soundbars we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “I can’t fit a bass box” and “I want music without the TV on”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonos Arc Ultra |
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| Bose Smart Soundbar |
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| JBL Bar 300 MK2 |
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| Klipsch Flexus Core 200 |
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Decision guide
How to choose for this job
Pick the one-bar layout that you can place properly. Leaving out an external subwoofer is a decision about space, and it does not promise identical bass performance.
A bar has to fit in all three dimensions
The Arc Ultra is 46.38 inches wide and 2.95 inches high, Bose Smart Soundbar comes in at 27.34 inches wide and 2.21 inches high, and JBL Bar 300 MK2 is 37 inches wide and 2 inches high. Plenty of stand width does not guarantee enough vertical room under the screen, and upward-firing drivers should not end up trapped beneath a shelf.
Factor in how your sources connect
Neither Arc Ultra nor Bose Smart Soundbar has separate HDMI source inputs, so a console or disc player plugs into the TV. JBL Bar 300 MK2 takes one source directly, which can help when the TV’s connection panel is crowded. Check the video mode you need and do not assume every HDMI input handles 4K at 120 Hz.
Any later upgrade needs a real way to connect
Compatible branded subwoofers and surrounds are available from Sonos and Bose. With current firmware and JBL One setup, JBL Bar 300 MK2 can add two Cove M1 or two Cove P1 speakers. Klipsch Flexus Core 200 provides an RCA output too, for a compatible conventional powered subwoofer. All of these are separate purchases. Before choosing a bar for later expansion, compare the complete planned system and the floor space it needs.
An example with real numbers
A 40-inch TV stand and three single bars
Say the stand has 40 inches of usable width and the screen leaves 2.5 inches beneath it.
The mathWidth margin = usable stand width − soundbar width. Height margin = screen gap − cabinet height.
- Nothing blocks the 40 inches of width on the stand.
- The bottom of the screen is 2.5 inches above the stand.
- Cable, ventilation and acoustic clearance are left out of these checks.
| Situation | Width margin | Height margin | Cabinet fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonos Arc Ultra | −6.38 in | −0.45 in | Does not fit |
| Bose Smart Soundbar | 12.66 in | 0.29 in | Meets both measurements |
| JBL Bar 300 MK2 | 3.00 in | 0.50 in | Meets both measurements |
What it tells youBoth cabinet constraints are met by the smaller Bose and by the low-profile JBL. The Arc Ultra calls for a different TV arrangement.
Watch out forA positive margin is no substitute for the manufacturer’s placement and clearance instructions.
What this page can’t tell you
- What specifications establish is fit and connections, and not equal bass output or equal dialogue clarity.
4 options
The top pick and the alternatives
Sonos, Arc Ultra
Sonos Arc Ultra
The Arc Ultra suits you if you want to start with one bar and keep the option of adding a Sonos subwoofer and rear speakers down the road. Plan for nearly 47 inches of cabinet width, and note that your TV handles the source switching.
Top pick ifA roomy TV stand, plus a surround system you assemble piece by piece
Key facts
- The cabinet is 46.38 × 2.95 × 4.35 inches.
- It connects over HDMI eARC or ARC and has no separate HDMI source inputs.
The catch
Separate HDMI inputs are missing, so a console or disc player cannot plug in.
Bose, 892079-1100 (2024)
Bose Smart Soundbar
Under 28 inches wide, the 2024 Smart Soundbar still has upward-firing speakers and Wi-Fi music. Placing it is easier than placing the Smart Ultra. What it lacks is the Ultra’s room-calibration system.
Pick this instead ifYour TV stand is narrow or the screen sits low. The cabinet measures 27.34 inches wide and 2.21 inches high.
Key facts
- The cabinet is 27.34 × 2.21 × 4.09 inches.
- Two of the five speaker units fire upward.
The catch
ADAPTiQ room calibration is missing.
JBL, Bar 300MK2
JBL Bar 300 MK2
Take the low cabinet and Wi-Fi features of the 500 MK2, drop the separate subwoofer, and you have the Bar 300 MK2. One HDMI source can plug straight into it, which helps when the TV is already out of ports. Optional surrounds need current firmware and two Cove M1 or two Cove P1 speakers, bought separately.
Pick this instead ifYou need a separate HDMI source input and want the cabinet to stay only 2 inches high.
Key facts
- Single-bar package in 5.0-channel form.
- The cabinet is 37 × 2 × 4.1 inches.
The catch
It comes without an external subwoofer or rear speakers.
Klipsch, Flexus Core 200
Klipsch Flexus Core 200
Physical height drivers, built-in bass and a wired subwoofer output all come together in the Flexus Core 200. That helps if you plan to add a conventional powered sub down the line. Just know that this model has no Wi-Fi music.
Pick this instead ifKeeping the option open to use a conventional powered subwoofer over RCA later matters to you.
Key facts
- A 3.1.2-channel soundbar built with two built-in 4-inch woofers and two upward-firing drivers.
- The cabinet is 44 × 3.0625 × 4.9375 inches.
The catch
There is no HDMI source input and no Wi-Fi music streaming.
Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Top pick for this job
Sonos Arc Ultra
The standard package comes without an external subwoofer
See price & reviews on AmazonPick this instead if
Bose Smart Soundbar
Your TV stand is narrow or the screen sits low. The cabinet measures 27.34 inches wide and 2.21 inches high.
See price & reviews on AmazonWe may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. How we make money