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You don't have to spend a lot to get better TV sound
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It’s not surprising that when most people go shopping for a new TV, they focus on picture quality, screen size, and price. Sound quality can be an afterthought. But that often leads to disappointment when they get the set home and discover that its built-in audio can’t do justice to the great picture.
Fortunately, that’s easy to remedy by adding a soundbar.
You don’t have to pay a lot to get better sound. The top models in our soundbar ratings, available to members, tend to be expensive, but there are a number of very reasonably priced models that can add sonic oomph to TV and movie soundtracks. The best soundbars under $200 even do a decent job playing music, though audiophiles may want to pay a bit more to get really top-notch audio.
The soundbars listed below provide satisfying sound for $200 or less. Any of them will improve the audio quality on all but the very best-sounding TVs.
Some of the models come with separate wireless subwoofers, which can generally add deeper bass than most TVs can produce. Only one is a complete 5.1-channel surround-sound system, but a few let you expand the system by adding an optional subwoofer or rear speakers.
At these prices, you won’t get Dolby Atmos or DTS:X sound, newer audio technologies that add an element of height for a more immersive surround-sound experience.
Before buying a soundbar for under $200, make sure you know how you’ll connect it to your TV. Many models have HDMI inputs these days, but some have only an optical digital input. Choose a model with Bluetooth if you want to be able to play music from a smartphone or tablet.
The recommendations below are listed in descending order based on their overall scores.
The Yamaha SR-B20A is an all-in-one soundbar with built-in subwoofers; it connects to your TV using either the HDMI ARC or optical digital inputs. It includes DTS Virtual:X, technology that attempts to create a surround-sound experience without rear speakers.
The model, one of Yamaha’s least expensive soundbars, has built-in Bluetooth for pairing with your phone or tablet and a free remote app that lets you control sound modes, switch inputs, and power the speaker using your mobile device.
It’s hard to find a decent-sounding soundbar for about $100, but you have at least one solid option: the Creative Stage 2.1. It’s a budget-priced 2.1-channel system that delivers good overall sound, so more casual listeners should find that it works well for both music and movie soundtrack playback. It lacks some features usually found in pricier models, but it does have built-in Bluetooth for streaming music from a portable device, as well as a wired subwoofer. Note that this model is getting harder to find. It’s being replaced by the Creative Stage V2 2.1. We’ll be buying one for our labs to test.
This all-in-one 2.1-channel soundbar speaker from Vizio, even less expensive than the model above, lacks a separate wireless subwoofer, relying instead on dual built-in subs for bass. The Vizio M21d-H8R has a unique trapezoidal shape, with a tight dark fabric covering. It has built-in Bluetooth for playing audio from a smartphone or tablet and a single HDMI input. It comes with HDMI, optical, and 3.5mm cables, plus an RCA-to-3.5mm cable. It also has a fairly simple remote control.
This budget-priced 5.1-channel system comes with a wireless subwoofer and small satellite surround-sound speakers. Unlike some pricier Vizio models, it doesn’t support Dolby Atmos sound, but that’s not surprising given the price. It does have Bluetooth for wirelessly streaming music from an audio device. It comes with wall-mount brackets, optical and HDMI cables, a 3.5mm mini-jack cable, as well as a 3.5mm-to-RCA cable, plus a basic remote control.
Essentially the 2022 replacement for the Samsung HW-A450/ZA, which is being closed out, the Samsung HW-B450 is a relatively basic 2.1 model with good overall sound quality. The system can be expanded to a full surround-sound system with an optional wireless rear-speaker kit from the company. Though it lacks many of the features found in step-up Samsung soundbars, such as Dolby Atmos audio and Samsung’s own Q-Symphony, it lets the soundbar work in tandem with the speakers in compatible Samsung TVs. It has Bluetooth audio and comes with a remote that can also control your Samsung TV.
The Roku Streambar Pro is a 2.0 soundbar with a built-in 4K Roku streaming player that supports the HDR10 format, but not Dolby Vision or HDR10+. The model essentially replaces the Roku Smart Soundbar, featuring a more advanced voice remote control with a headphone jack for private listening and buttons that can be programmed for voice commands. The soundbar has Roku’s standard access to lots of streaming services.
I've been a tech journalist for more years than I'm willing to admit. My specialties at CR are TVs, streaming media, audio, and TV and broadband services. In my spare time I build and play guitars and bass, ride motorcycles, and like to sail—hobbies I've not yet figured out how to safely combine.
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