Best for Backwards compatibility
Samsung HW-Q990F Soundbar
4.5 feature score
Highest scored product for this feature based on supporting review evidence.
Best Sound Bars for Backwards compatibility
Backwards compatibility Decision Dashboard
Safest pick
Bluesound Pulse Cinema Soundbar
4.5 feature score
Balances feature score, supporting reviews, and overall product strength.
Most evidence
Yamaha Audio SR-C30A Soundbar
1 supporting review
Has the broadest review evidence for this feature.
Best overall product
Sonos Arc Soundbar
4.1 overall score
Strongest overall product among items with scored evidence for this feature.
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Backward compatibility was supported by praise for legacy optical and RCA input support alongside modern HDMI eARC.
Pros: Distortion at high volume, Voice clarity
Cons: Spotify Connect reliability, Chromecast compatibility
Compatibility beyond Samsung is positive in limited evidence, with one reviewer saying it works fine with non-Samsung TV products.
Pros: Multi-speaker pairing reliability, Gaming HDMI passthrough
Cons: Google, Cabinet construction / bracing
One reviewer says its connection options make it useful with older and newer TVs.
Pros: Inter-speaker connectivity, Stereo imaging accuracy
Cons: Status indicators, Distortion at high volume
Backwards compatibility was a drawback because some older Sonos devices are not compatible with the S2-based Arc setup.
Pros: Multi-speaker pairing reliability, Spotify Connect reliability
Cons: Gaming HDMI passthrough, Video passthrough support