Soundbases UK: What Forum Users Recommend
Soundbase category discontinued by major manufacturers with What Hi-Fi stopping regular updates per February 2025. Canton DM55 wins as only new soundbase at £300-450 but documented boot-loop faults per AVForums "Stuck on Green" thread warn against reliability. Sonos Playbase leads second-hand at £250-400 used for multiroom integration. Avoid new soundbases: TVs now 65-inch with wide feet physically incompatible with soundbase platforms per forum consensus. Choose soundbars instead for 2026.
| Model | Price | Verdict | What Users Say | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonos Playbase BEST SECOND-HAND |
£250-400 used | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best multiroom option |
"The bass output and multiroom integration still exceed anything available new at equivalent prices" — Smart Home Sounds UK Original £699 RRP discontinued 2020. 10-driver array supports TVs up to 35kg. Sonos ecosystem integration praised across UK forums |
Check Price |
| Q Acoustics M2 HDMI-EQUIPPED PICK |
£100-180 used | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best HDMI ARC option |
What Hi-Fi Best Soundbase award 2019. Features 180-degree sound dispersion technology and HDMI ARC — rare for soundbases Discontinued new. Buy second-hand or new-old-stock only. Supports TVs up to 25kg. 80W amplification |
Find Deals |
| Canton DM55 ONLY NEW OPTION |
£300-450 new | ⭐⭐⭐ New but reliability concerns |
"I have a Canton DM55 soundbase. Each unit lasted only about 3 months before developing the looping fault" — AVForums user 200W output, dual 100mm subwoofers hitting 35Hz. Glass top surface. Supports TVs up to 40kg but boot-cycle fault widespread |
View Deal |
| Samsung HW-MS650/MS750 ❌ AVOID |
£150-300 used | ⭐ Discontinued + issues |
"HDMI ARC dropout requiring optical workaround; volume non-linearity with no change between levels 50-100; intermittent power cycling" — AVForums user reports Samsung Sound+ series discontinued 2017. Multiroom app connection failures documented. Avoid even second-hand |
Not recommended |
⚠️ Category Status Warning
- Soundbases are a dead category. What Hi-Fi explicitly states their soundbase buying guide "will no longer receive regular updates" as of February 2025. Sonos discontinued Playbase in 2020. Samsung, Sony, LG, Yamaha, and Q Acoustics all exited the market 2019-2021.
- Why they died: Modern TVs are 65-inch+ with wide-set or V-shaped feet physically incompatible with soundbase platforms. As one AVForums user summarised: "TV manufacturers cocked it all up by having a 1000 types of TV stand." Dolby Atmos requires upfiring drivers — impossible with a TV sitting on top.
- Only Canton makes new soundbases in 2026 — and has documented reliability problems (see AVOID section below).
- For most UK buyers: choose a soundbar instead. Soundbars surpass soundbases at every price point for features, Atmos support, and reliability.
🔍 Why These Recommendations?
- Sonos Playbase: Discontinued but still the premium choice second-hand. 10-driver array (3 tweeters, 6 mid-range, 1 woofer) with WiFi multiroom and Sonos ecosystem. Original UK RRP £699. UK Sonos Community and AVForums note bass output and multiroom exceed anything new at £250-400 used price. Only optical input — no HDMI ARC. Requires Dolby Digital passthrough from TV.
- Q Acoustics M2: Won What Hi-Fi Best Soundbase 2019. HDMI ARC-equipped — unusual for soundbases. 180-degree dispersion technology means wider listening sweet spot. No longer in production — buy secondhand or clearance stock only. Supports TVs up to 25kg. £299 original RRP.
- Canton DM55: Only actively manufactured soundbase available new in UK. Glass top, 200W output, dual 100mm subwoofers, 35Hz extension. Replaced Canton DM50. Bluetooth, optical, RCA inputs. No HDMI ARC. No DTS decode (Dolby Digital only). What Hi-Fi and AVForums rate it strongest new soundbase but reliability is serious concern.
- Canton reliability issue: Dedicated AVForums thread "Canton DMxx Soundbase — Stuck on Green Fault" documents widespread boot-cycling fault across DM50, DM55, DM75. Multiple users reported units failing within 3 months. Richer Sounds staff warned customer of "a lot of warranty returns" on DM75. Buy only with strong returns policy.
- Samsung MS-series: Discontinued 2017. HDMI ARC dropout, volume non-linearity (no change levels 50-100), dialogue intelligibility problems, intermittent freezing, multiroom app failures all documented on AVForums. Avoid even cheap second-hand.
Sources: AVForums, What Hi-Fi Forum, Overclockers UK, Pink Fish Media, Gear Patrol. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Last updated February 2026.
Why Soundbases Died: Forum Consensus
AVForums thread "Are Soundbases Dead?" documents the category collapse. TVs grew from 55-inch average in 2015 to 65-inch+ by 2020. Large TVs have wide-set or centralised stands incompatible with soundbase platforms. Dolby Atmos became mainstream post-2019 requiring upfiring drivers — impossible with a TV sitting on top. No major manufacturer releases new soundbases in 2026. Forum consensus clear: "The soundbase concept arrived and everyone jumped on it then realised that relatively few folk would buy one and quickly jumped off the bandwagon."
| TV Size | Stand Type | Soundbase Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
| Under 50 inches | Close-set feet (under 40cm apart) | ✅ Compatible with most soundbases |
| 50-55 inches | Centre post or medium-width feet | ⚠️ Measure feet spacing first |
| 55-65 inches | Wide-set feet (60cm+ apart) | ❌ Physically incompatible with soundbases |
| 65+ inches | V-shaped or extreme-width stands | ❌ Use soundbar instead |
"They have disappeared since the TV manufacturers cocked it all up by having a 1000 types TV stand. No soundbase was going to accommodate the massive round stands of the LGs or be thin enough to fit under the TV and in-between the feet of the TV at either end."
— AVForums user, "Are Soundbases Dead?" thread
Soundbase vs Soundbar: What UK Forums Say
AVForums consensus favours soundbars over soundbases in 2026. Soundbars offer better stereo separation because speakers are farther apart. Soundbars support Dolby Atmos via upfiring drivers. Soundbars work with any TV stand design. Soundbases packed more drivers in larger cabinet but this advantage disappeared as soundbar technology improved. The only remaining soundbase advantage is desk tidiness — TV sits directly on the soundbase eliminating visible cables. For 65-inch+ TVs with wide feet this advantage is irrelevant because the TV physically cannot sit on a soundbase.
"I always thought soundbases were a bad choice anyway. Poor stereo effect since they were generally not very wide and getting one so the TV was stable was nigh on impossible. Any good base effects you got with them could be improved even more with a soundbar wireless sub combo."
— AVForums user, "Are Soundbases Dead?" thread
FAQ: Soundbase Questions
Are Soundbases Still Worth Buying in 2026?
No for most UK buyers. The category is dead with What Hi-Fi stopping updates and all major brands discontinued. Modern 65-inch TVs have wide stands physically incompatible with soundbase platforms. No soundbase supports Dolby Atmos. Only Canton makes new soundbases and has documented boot-loop reliability faults per AVForums. If your TV is 50-inch or under with centre or close-set feet and you prioritise desk tidiness a second-hand Q Acoustics M2 (£100-180) or Sonos Playbase (£250-400) remains viable. For 55-inch+ TVs with wide-set feet buy a soundbar instead.
What Weight Can a Soundbase Support?
Most soundbases support 25-40kg. Q Acoustics M2 caps at 25kg. Canton DM55 goes to 40kg. Sonos Playbase supports 35kg. Modern 65-inch TVs often exceed these limits. Older plasma TVs definitely exceed weight capacity. Weigh your TV before buying any soundbase. AVForums and What Hi-Fi Forum document multiple cases of TV feet cracking soundbase top panels when weight limits exceeded. Glass-topped Canton models particularly vulnerable to cracking under heavy TVs placed off-centre.
Do Soundbases Have HDMI ARC?
Most soundbases lack HDMI ARC. Sonos Playbase uses optical only. Canton DM55 has no HDMI. Q Acoustics M2 is the exception with HDMI ARC — one reason it won What Hi-Fi 2019 award. Optical-only limits you to 2-channel PCM or Dolby Digital 5.1 and excludes Atmos. No HDMI eARC means no lossless audio. This limitation is one structural reason the category died — modern soundbars all include HDMI ARC/eARC as standard while soundbases typically relied on optical connections from an earlier era.
Avoid buying new soundbases in 2026. The category is discontinued by all major manufacturers with What Hi-Fi stopping guide updates February 2025. Modern 65-inch TVs have wide stands physically incompatible with soundbase platforms per AVForums consensus. Canton DM55 is only new option at £300-450 but documented boot-loop faults make it unreliable. Buy Sonos Playbase second-hand at £250-400 for multiroom or Q Acoustics M2 used at £100-180 for HDMI ARC if TV is 50-inch or under. Choose soundbars instead for Dolby Atmos and compatibility with modern TV stands.
