As flat-panel HDTVs have gotten increasingly thinner, so has their sound quality. The soundbar was born to provide a higher-quality audio experience than your HDTV delivers in a convenient all-in-one box. Most soundbars on the market are active (or powered), combining the speakers, amplification, and audio inputs (sometimes video inputs, too) into one box that sits near your TV.

Some manufacturers offer passive (non-powered) left/center/right soundbars to replace the front channels in a surround sound setup. These days, the configurations are endless: Soundbars can have two, three, five, or even seven speaker channels. Sometimes they’re packaged with separate surrounds and/or subwoofers, and sometimes they’re not.

Check out our review archive below to read about the latest entries to this popular category.

• Five Tips to Pick the Right Soundbar