Hearing declines with age. Why it made the cut: For under $100, the Roku Streambar is a functional way to improve audio on a budget. In this buyers guide well be looking at our favorite soundbars that cost less than $200. Installation is quick and simple, with HDMI (ARC) connectivity and Bluetooth to easily stream music to it from your phone. Post-2009, HDMI (e)ARC connections were made available, eliminating the need for a secondary cable creating a more efficient connection. You dont need a 5.1 system to process Dolby Digital; a 2.1 system can process the audio by mixing down the signal formatting it to fit the soundbars channel configuration. That way, youll be able to experience 5.1 surround sound, which employs the left, right, and center channels, one subwoofer, and two additional speakers that act as surrounds, rears, or front fills for an even more immersive experience. If you think youll want to experience more from your home system at some point, make sure you choose a soundbar that you can add to, like the Samsung HW-A450. The Streambar Pros talents go beyond its out-of-the-box performance. While true immersion is difficult to produce from a 2.0- or 2.1-channel system, Dolby Atmos-equipped soundbars are designed to process the audio and create a more immersive viewing experience through either physical surround speakers or virtualization that reflects sounds off the ceiling and walls. The Signa S2 has all the bells and whistles youd expect from a soundbar at its price, including HDMI ARC and Bluetooth compatibility. Its a good piece of equipment, just dont expect to be completely blown away. Some 2.1-channel soundbars include passive radiators or bass-dedicated woofers in the main unit. We recommend a wired connection to the TV, but you can easily connect your smartphone or tablet and stream music to the Solo 5.

The Streambar Pro works with Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant and is also compatible with AirPlay, so you can share photos, videos, and music from your Apple device. We also appreciated the upgraded Roku remote, which includes several dedicated streaming app buttons for services like Netflix, as well as voice controls and a built-in headphone jack for solitary stream sessions. Dolby Audio support provides simulated surround sound effects and its extremely easy to set up via HDMI. The Signa series is Polks soundbar line, with the range-topping S2 being a universal 2.1 soundbar. This is certainly an ideal range; however, just because the model boasts a wide range doesnt mean it wont suffer from dips and peaks around specific frequencies. A solid soundbar and subwoofer combo with an ultra-slim design. The Samsung HW-R550 is our recommendation. There are also many more 2.1-channel setups which bundle a wireless subwoofer along with the soundbar for improved bass. It is a smart soundbar that sounds incredible for its price and feels premium. As is quite common in consumer electronics, bass is slightly boomy overemphasized out of the box. Some 2.0 bars will utilize drivers to create whats known as a phantom center that virtually creates the illusion of a sound source coming from the middle of a pair of stereo speakers. Speaking of specs, here are a few other numbers and phrases you can look for to suss out your prospective soundbars: Measured in hertz and kilohertz, this range lets you know the range of frequencies (lows, mids, and highs) the physical parts of speakers will support. Featuring an ultra-slim low-profile (2-inches tall) design, placement is easy and you dont have to worry about it obstructing your television. The M21 comes with four EQ presetsGame, Movie, Dialogue, and Musicto enhance and support specific content. Samsung is the worlds largest TV manufacturer by market share, so its unsurprising that theyve also developed quality soundbars to go with them. Few companies are as influential as Bose in the home audio space. While its true that this model does not include any HDMI portsmeaning it cannot support Dobly Atmos, nor can it be used as a hub between different devicesan optical connection can support Dolby Digital and DTS audio (though any surround sound content will be downmixed, true for any 2.1-channel system). The universal remote that is included with the soundbar is a standout feature of the Solo 5. SoundManual.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. The soundbar is surprisingly easy on the eye, with a wood-grain style finish that is a cut above the other soundbars in its price range. Some soundbars will come with EQ Presets that often include certain modes designed to support specific content, like music, dialogue, movies, etc. You may also find an affordable 2.1-channel soundbar, and that .1 indicates it will dedicate speakers solely to basseither passive radiators or woofers in the main bar or an additional, standalone subwoofer. As a result, human voices standing out from the music, sound effects and various background noises on the soundtrack. Soundbars are the modern day solution for great television audio.

We have previously recommended under $100 soundbars, but this slightly more forgiving budget yields big improvements in sound quality and build quality. Its performance isnt perfect. So think hard about whether or not you want a subwoofer in the mix. Before buying a new soundbar, its important to understand your televisions connectivity capabilities, so you can ensure easy setup upon arrival. For an in-depth understanding of the speakers success at accurately reproducing audio, you can take a look at a frequency response graph for the product, often created with third-party audio testing. The A450 is a cut above the rest when it comes to bringing to life the rumble of movies, shows, and games. Youll have to be willing to stretch your budget if smart features are your thing. This soundbar is also capable of outputting 320W of power which makes it reach high volume levels without distorting. However, its still a very decent soundbar in its own right. Just because the soundbar is designed by Roku doesnt mean it needs to pair with a Roku TV; its compatible with any 4K/1080p television that has HDMI ARC or optical outputs. You can toggle this AccuVoice technology with a push of a button on the remote. To notice a big difference, youll have to drastically increase your budget to around $1000that takes you to the 5.1 or 7.1-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar setups. In that case, youll risk messing with directionality, and you might not have an enjoyable experience watching the screen in front of you while hearing dialogue coming from somewhere else. The best soundbars under $200 will typically offer stereo soundthis means an independent left and right channel, also called a 2.0-channel system. In fact, many users suggest getting the YAS-108 and pairing it with a good budget sub like this 8-inch one from Monoprice offers the best sound for the money. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Some even offer AirPlay, built-in Chromecast, or Alexa for enhanced connectivity and control. Soundbars can also act as a hub or switch connecting Blu-ray players and gaming consoles to the television. The device includes a full-featured 4K/HDR Roku streaming device to handle all your streaming needs, providing access to apps including Hulu, Netflix, Spotify, Youtube, Amazon Prime, and more (making it one of our favorite streaming devices). If you decide you want to experience 5.1 surround sound, optional rear speakers with wireless connectivity are available to add. Another noteworthy feature is its gaming mode which creates immersive audio for video games. You can also access Volume Mode settings, including Leveling and Night Mode, to wrangle raucous commercials and keep things quiet in the evenings. The Samsung HW-R550 produces highly detailed sound with bass that is rarely rivalled in this budget. Soundbars bypass underwhelming built-in TV speakers to deliver well-defined, wholly enthralling audio, a simple way to improve your setup. Connectivity options include optical audio, HDMI ARC, USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay. It goes without saying that theyll sound dramatically better than any built-in TV speakers. It also doesnt support DTS, where Samsung does. The soundbar also features an intelligent sound recognition system that lets it recognize the type of content that is being played and fine-tune the equalization according to it. The remote control doesnt offer many functions but gets the job done. Turn it off and youre left with a fairly average speaker. DTS:X, a multidimensional audio codec, can be considered Dolby Atmos competitor. This soundbar can get quite loud despite its small stature, delivering a powerful sound from four 1.9-inch full-range drivers. The 7 Best Center Channel Speakers For Your Home Theater (2022). Besides its all-new sleek appearance, the main improvements over previous generations of Vizio soundbars can be found in the sound. Each of these presets can support Night mode, which you can activate to balance the volume for controlled, quiet viewing. Most soundbars max out close to 95 dB and thats plenty of volume for music listening, binge-watching TV, or immersing yourself in a John Williams Star Wars score. If you find yourself straining to hear the rapid-fire dialogue in the latest Sorkin film or feel Howard Shores Lord of the Rings score is lacking a little luster, it might be time to invest in a soundbar. Very similar to the Samsung HW-R550 in specification and price, the Sony HT-S350 is another soundbar/subwoofer combo that can fill larger rooms.

Its sound profile is slightly bright and it isnt quite capable of producing heart-thumping lows for the bassheads out there, but for its size you wont find better. When recommending affordable technology, its important for us to focus on whether or not the product shines when it comes to basic functions rather than on special features or fancy design. Its unusual to find yourself in a situation where there isnt enough room for the soundbar, but you do want things to be consistent. Will even the best soundbars under $200 truly sound better than a built-in TV speaker? People just dont want to rearrange their entire living room around big speakers and deal with complicated wiring issues. Speech Clarity can help isolate voices, and you can choose from Off, Low, and High settings depending on your needs and taste. One option for satellite speaker placement is to mount them behind viewers, close to ear level for enhanced surround sound. However, they take up space. No matter what, securing a budget-friendly soundbar will instantly up the enjoyment of your at-home viewing. You probably dont want a 40 inch soundbar that is wider than the TV! It also comes with TruVolume, which regulates volume while you watch, so you want to have to reach for the remote every time an upsettingly loud commercial comes on. Youll also want to consider whether youll place it on the TV cabinet or have it wall-mounted. You can also purchase a separate wireless subwoofer or satellite speakers to make it sound even better. For those who plan to game and watch a lot of movies, youll want to get a soundbar with a subwoofer. Some models just pass on the raw audio they are given, while others can internally process digital surround sound technologies from Dolby and DTS. Dont worry, though. However, their narrower nature means comparably inferior stereo separation (harder to distinguish between left and right audio). You can also connect other smart devices like your phone or laptop via Bluetooth for music streaming. While this doesnt mean this soundbar can deliver magic in the form of hyper-detailed, spatialized audio from just 2.1 channels, it can process Atmos content with additional immersive support from Dolby Virtual Surround mode.

However, this could be a great alternative if the slim design is something you value. With a purported frequency response range of 50Hz 20kHz, youll certainly be able to hear more low-end than 2.0 speakers can support, though you may not be able to feel the visceral bass that a separate subwoofer might provide. Besides our top-pick Vizio V21-H8, the YAS-108 is the only other soundbar on our list to feature DTSs latest codec: DTS Virtual: X. If feeling that cinematic rumble is super important to you, keep in mind that this model does not offer the option to add a sub later on. Their space-saving design and ease of setup make them attractive alternatives to traditional home theater systems. Wed recommend going with the HW-R550 since sound comes from 4 drivers as opposed to just 2, giving it slightly improved stereo separation. However, if you have the means to expand, you can upgrade the Streambar by adding a wireless subwoofer or satellite speakers. Sign up to receive Popular Science's emails and get the highlights. Generally speaking, an all-in-one model wont be able to accurately produce low frequencies as well as a dedicated sub so, while you can certainly make do without one, the added unit could enhance and intensify your listening experience. Note that HDMI ARC can support Dolby Atmos, but an eARC connection through an HDMI 2.1 port/compatible cable is strongly preferred and you will need that eARC support for full Atmos audio encoded with uncompressed Dolby TrueHD audio. However, there are some premium standalone soundbars which might be worth stretching your budget for. However, this all-in-one soundbar is about as good as you can get when it comes to standalone models. At just 21.6-inches wide, we recommend this if youre looking for something to accompany a small 32 television. It not only lets you play with the soundbars settings, but can also be used to control your TV and video sources connected to the TV (Blu-ray Disc player, games console etc.). Sure enough, housing a whooping 46 speakers like the Yamaha YSP-5600 can help better simulate 3D surround sound. Finally, the is our ultra-budget recommendation. Runner-up soundbar and subwoofer combo for under $200. Weve consistently found their home theater speakers to offer some of the best sound for the price. You can also toggle the Virtual Surround mode on/off). The three EQ presents include Music, Movie, and TV to enhance your listening experience across different programs. A good rule of thumb is never to purchase a soundbar that is longer than your television. She has been writing for Popular Science since early 2020, contributing product reviews and recommendations, with an emphasis on great sound you can take with you on the go. The fact its wireless also makes the whole setup quite elegant, which is kind of what a soundbar should be all about. You have a little more flexibility when it comes to additional units, like a subwoofer or satellite speakers. We consulted other experts, read first-hand user impressions, and took a look at some of the soundbars in our own homes to whittle down our list of models that let you venture into the world of soundbars affordably. If you dont need the hearing assistance feature, there is no reason to pick the AV200. Bluetooth support also means you can easily stream additional content. After extensive testing, RTings rated the YAS-207 the best sounding budget soundbar and Digital Trends rated the YAS-209 as the best soundbar of 2021. Voice control, plus AirPlay and HomeKit compatible, Expandable with standalone speakers and a subwoofer, Dialog isnt as clear as with higher-end models, Just OK bass performance will make you want to buy the subwoofer. It helps create immersive surround sound and has been used in film and television since 1992. With a tested frequency response range of 50Hz 20kHz, paired with the adjustable bass and treble, youll likely be satisfied with the overall sound quality the Alto 8i can offer. Why it made the cut: The TCL Alto 8i is one of the few soundbars that includes subwoofers and supports Dolby Atmos for under $200. Owners of a Sony TV might want to stick to the Sony ecosystem for better integration and aesthetic consistency. This works by means of an onboard DSP and integrated DAC which boost the common frequencies that human voices produce. Unlike many other budget-friendly soundbars, this unit doesnt have to take up any console or credenza space. As weve mentioned before in Bluetooth speaker reviews, size can impact sound and its unreasonable to expect such small units to deliver heart-pounding bass. Overall wed recommend the Vizio V21-H8 over this in most cases. Theyre thin, low profile and sit right under the TV. When it comes to understanding soundbar specs, the first numbers youll encounter will be available audio channels. Its also worth noting that Vizio also offers the Vizio V51-H6 which is a 5.1 soundbar that adds in two satellite rear speakers. High wattage mixed with manufacturer-designed tuning can help you listen at loud volumes without distortion, ringing, or over-compression. Best standalone soundbar with virtual surround sound. Unlike many budget soundbars which have an overly-bright sound profile, the V21-H8 gets the tonal balance right and confidently produces full-bodied audio. The Sony can get slightly louder, but it compresses more than the R550 and has a rather dark sound profile. The fact that they also act as a surface for your TV means theyre bigger and potentially able to produce more powerful bass. Almost every sound bar comes with Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to easily stream tunes from your phone. When HDMI transmission first hit the scene, you needed one HDMI port and cable to send video and another to support audio, so if your TV was made before 2009, it will likely need a soundbar with an optical digital audio port too. The lack of DTS Virtual:X virtual surround sound means it falls short of the more recent Vizio V21-H8 or V51-H6, but it isnt far off. From the width of your television to the width of the audios frequency range, where are our thoughts on how to approach picking your best soundbar. What it does include, however, is a wireless subwoofer that gives all content a boost. Atmos can process over a hundred sonic objects, assigning them not just channels, but also heights to make it sound like arrows are raining down, bullets are whizzing past your ears, planes are flying directly overhead, doors are slamming shut right over your shoulder, etc. If youre done settling for mediocre sound, our selection of the best soundbars under $200 can help you strike the right balance between price and functionality so you can reap the eternal rewards of better home audio that fits your budget. Almost all soundbars can be wall-mounted, but make sure it wont be too wide or tall. Onboard controls allow you to control power, Bluetooth pairing, volume, and input, while the LCD screen-equipped remote adds EQ settings, listening modes, and more to the control list. These soundbars have side-firing speakers and incorporate separate satellite speakers to give you true surround sound. It is worth mentioning that it measures just 17-inches wide and has a small 24-watt amplifier, so it is clearly a less powerful soundbar than the others that made this list. This codec aims to simulate the sound of a 11.1-channel surround-sound setup and expand the soundstage on both horizontal and vertical planes. A straightforward soundbar with excellent, customizable audio and an included wireless subwoofer to bring the boom. Featuring a two-way speaker design that includes separate tweeters and woofers as well as 3-inch subs for enhanced stereo sound, this soundbar will deliver a powerful sound without extra cabling or equipment. A mountable unit with upward-firing speakers should always be placed away from any obstructions as they use the architecture of your room, including the ceilings, to produce immersive audio. (If you want to know more about how sound waves work, check out our primer.). It doesnt quite match the immersiveness of $2000 Dolby Atmos soundbars or true surround-sound setups. The included remote is not universal but does control EQ presets, inputs, and the bass/treble adjusters. It can decode Dolby Digital and DTS audio while also supporting DTS Virtual:X.