No matter how big and expensive tv screen you get, it will never provide the sound you yearn for. If you want a sound as unique as the colors of your television, you need a soundbar.
Soundbars are a necessity for anyone who wants to have a solid entertainment at home. They come in all shapes and sizes and bring the voice of your new or old television to life. It not just provides fantastic sound but can blend in any room, making it look more aesthetic.
This single unit can be plugged into the wall without any complicated installation process and bundles of wires. Luckily, unlike speakers, soundbars do not occupy all the space in your lounge or room and hence, no more tripping over the cables. Simply place this long bar beneath your television set and enjoy your favorite tv shows, movies, and even games like never before!
| SiteStripe Image | Title | Buy |
|---|---|---|
  | Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Sound Bar | Buy on Amazon |
  | Sound Bar, TV Sound Bar with Subwoofer, 120W 2.1 Soundbar | Buy on Amazon |
  | ZVOX Voice-Clarifying Sound Bar with Patented Hearing Technology | Buy on Amazon |
  | Bose Solo 5 TV Soundbar Sound System with Universal Remote Control, Black | Buy on Amazon |
  | Sony HT-S350 Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer | Buy on Amazon |
  | Yamaha YAS-108 Sound Bar with Built-in Subwoofers & Bluetooth | Buy on Amazon |
  | Soundbar, TaoTronics Three Equalizer Mode Audio Speaker for TV | Buy on Amazon |
Does Your Home Theater Need a Soundbar?
If you are confused about getting a soundbar, ask yourself the following questions.
- Does not being able to hear the dialogues in a room full of people make you feel irritated?
- Do you have to sit close to your TV every time your favorite show is playing so you can have a so-called immersive experience?
- Are your external speakers’ wires spread all across the lounge, leaving no decent space for anything?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then my friend needs a soundbar. It would not just solve sound quality but also make your room look decent and clean. Considering the pandemic situation, it is not safe to go to a cinema, and it might be the best time to make your home theatre at a minimum price.
If the price is why you haven’t bought a soundbar yet, we have some good news for you. You can get incredible soundbars under $200!
Yes, you do not have to spend thousands of dollars to get the sound quality you want. We have compiled a list of the best soundbars to provide you an incredible sound quality under $200. Read below to pick your favorite one!
Soundbars under $200
Listed below are the most affordable and reliable soundbars you can get your hands on in the year 2020.
Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Sound Bar
This system comes with the main soundbar and a subwoofer that communicates with the Bluetooth.
Design
The size of the central unit is 35.43″ (89.99 cm) x 2.15″ (5.46 cm) x 3.22″ (8.18 cm) and weighs 3.96 lbs (1.8kg), which makes this soundbar super lightweight and easy to carry around the room. The subwoofer weighs 11.46 lbs (5.2kg), which makes it compact and light as well.
This soundbar’s design is quite basic, so if you are looking for an aesthetically pleasing soundbar, this might not be the one. It comes in black color, and you will find five circular buttons on the top of the soundbar. The buttons provide essential functions such as power and volume. At the center of this soundbar, five LED lights provide information about working features, such as Bluetooth streaming. This soundbar’s low profile does not obstruct the TV IR signal, so you do not have to rely on IR repeaters to solve this issue.
Connectivity and Performance
The Polk audio soundbar comes with an HDMI port with ARC functionality, AUX 3.5mm mini-jack, and digital optical input. These ports are located on the backside of the soundbar. A USB port is also located on the bottom side, and this soundbar offers wireless capabilities by supporting Bluetooth streaming. Unfortunately, it does not provide any WiFi support.
This soundbar is very easy and straightforward to use. It does not come with a wide range of complex features, making it easy to use for people who have no prior experience with soundbars or external speakers. It hardly takes a few minutes to be set and run.
You would have to select an audio mode depending upon the content (music, movies, and games) and adjust the voice setting. It has unique tuning and provides a warm, bassy sound quality. You can also enhance the bass according to your preference. It is quite decent for movies and light music, but the bass is not suitable for aggressive metal.
Verdict
In terms of price, the sound quality it provides is evident and crisp. It offers better performance than the other soundbars at this price.
Pros
- Solid bass performance
- Affordable price
- Easy to set up and use
Cons
- No surround depth
- Limited features
Sound Bar, TV Sound Bar with Subwoofer, 120W 2.1 Soundbar
This budget speaker is great for music enthusiasts as it provides impressive sound quality that can fill up all kinds of space, whether lounge or a room.
Design
This soundbar features a jet black surface and a sleek design that can blend with your lounge’s colors and make it look even great. The soundbar is not too high, making it easier for the users to watch TV without interruption.
It comes with onboard controls for pitch and sound. The soundbar also offers a wide range of input options for the setup process. The wired connections include HDMI ARC, USB input, Aux, and optical. These are compatible with projectors, television sets, tablets, amplifiers, Blu-ray players, and computers.
Performance and Connectivity
Users can switch between four different sound modes using the remote control according to their preference. These include movies, news, music, and 3D mode. The remote control can also be used for adjusting the bass and treble according to the sound mode being used.
The Bluetooth 5.0 and DSP technology offered by this soundbar is quite reliable. You can connect and enjoy seamless transmission even from a long distance. It allows users to play their favorite shows and songs from anywhere around the room.
If the soundbar has not been used for more than 10 minutes, it shuts down automatically and saves power.
Verdict
This soundbar offers a wide range of input and connectivity options. Apart from providing excellent sound quality, it also shuts down after being inactive to dave energy.
Pros
- Fairly loudspeakers
- Several connectivity ports
- Wall-mountable design
- Incredible connectivity
Cons
- Soundbars can turn off without warning when not in use.
ZVOX Voice-Clarifying Sound Bar with Patented Hearing Technology
The ZVOX AccuVoice AV200 is designed to make the televised voices more comfortable to hear by people. It targets the people with hearing loss, and so provides reliable sound quality.
Design
This soundbar measures 17 inches and is much smaller than a typical soundbar. It is exceptionally lightweight and can be mounted beneath your TV easily. You can also place it in your TV cabinet, and according to the manufacturers, unlike the other soundbars, this does not need to be placed in the center of the cabinet or wall. It also features an anodized extruded-aluminum cabinet that helps make the speakers more powerful.
This soundbar comes with a large orange LED display. On the right side of the soundbar, you will notice rubberized controls and a bass port. It does not support HDMI, and users usually connect the soundbar with their television sets using a digital optical cable that comes with the soundbar. There is also a 3.5mm combo analog/digital stereo input that can be used if your TV does not have the feature to support a digital optical cable.
Connectivity and Performance
The AccuVoice soundbar offers a wide range of connectivity features and cables. However, all these connections are wired as this soundbar does not support WiFi, Bluetooth, and USB.
It can be easily enabled and disabled by a handy remote.
Users are provided with the option to use from three surround-sound modes according to their preference. The sound quality offered by this soundbar is precisely what it promises. It can differentiate voices from other background sounds so the listeners can adequately hear what the people on screen are saying.
Verdict
The sound quality of this soundbar is reliable and can differentiate the voice from any background noise. However, it lacks advanced features such as WiFi and Bluetooth.
Pros
- Boosts TV voices above the background noise and soundtracks
- Attractive design
Cons
- Does not support Bluetooth and WiFi
- Lacks HDMI
Bose Solo 5 TV Soundbar Sound System with Universal Remote Control, Black
Being one of the most compact soundbars in the market, bose solo 5 is perfect for anyone looking for a low profile soundbar to fill up the room with quality sound.
Design
If you are not a fan of complex digital gadgets, this soundbar is for you. It is designed to keep things simple and mounted on the wall without a complicated installation process. The design is fundamental and can fit well in any room or lounge. The top and sides are made up of good-quality plastic, while the front is covered with a black grille. The plastic keeps the soundbar lightweight, without giving out an odd look.
Two drivers sit behind the grille and are positioned in the center of the soundbar. It comes with LED lights that indicate whether certain features are working or not. The soundbar can be operated by a remote, which, unlike the soundbar, is not compact. However, the remote can be programmed as a universal TV remote and work with a Blu-ray player or any other infrared device.
Connectivity and Performance
This soundbar offers several input options, including coaxial, optical, and auxiliary inputs. It also comes with a built-in Bluetooth feature, which allows you to play music by connecting it with your computer or phone.
The sound quality of a solo five depends upon the size of your TV. It provides better sound when connected to a smaller TV rather than a big one. The voices projected are crisp and clear, with a focused midrange. Users are also provided with a bass boost option, but it decreases the midrange clarity.
Verdict
Bose Solo 5 is perfect for anyone who has an average-sized television. Its remote can be converted into a universal TV remote as well.
Pros
- Easy and straightforward to use
- Compact size
- Comes with a Universal remote control
Cons
- Narrow sound field
- Lacks front panel display
- Supports smaller TVs that are up to 40 pounds
Sony HT-S350 Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer
The Sony HT-S350 is a low budget soundbar that has an abundance of power and delivers reliable results.
Design
The wireless subwoofer and soundbar come in a matte black color, and the central unit features touch-sensitive buttons for power, Bluetooth, television, and volume. The top panel is made out of faux-leather, and the grille covers the drivers at the front. It is about 35 inches wide and can sit beneath your TV set easily.
You will find the ports on the backside of the soundbar. It has a power adapter, optical audio input, and an HDMI CEC port.
Performance and Connectivity
The Sony HT-S350 comes with a 6.2-inch black remote through which you can shift between the modes according to your preference. The modes available are cinema, night, music, voice, and an auto mode.
Coming towards the performance, this soundbar provides a loud sound using its 320 Watts of power. If the users want to enhance the dialogue, users can switch towards the voice mode. However, it does not make much of a difference. This mode can be best used for podcasts, interviews, or talk shows since this mode’s higher pitch carries a slight sharpness. If you are looking for a consistent sound, it is best to go with the cinema mode. It can also be used to play games.
Verdict
The Sony HT-S350 is more comfortable to set up and provides reliable performance. However, it comes with limited connectivity options.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Easy installation
- Power and clear audio
Cons
- Limited connectivity options
Yamaha YAS-108 Sound Bar with Built-in Subwoofers & Bluetooth
The Yamaha UAS-108 offers a clear sound and allows the users to add subwoofers according to their bass requirements.
Design
The Yamaha soundbar offers subtle design and comes in a decent black color. Unlike most of the soundbars, it has rounded edges and does not take much space since the package does not include a separate subwoofer. Instead of that, the soundbar has two 3 inch integrated sub-woofers. It also comes with tweeters and woofers at each end of the bar with bass ports.
The entire unit except the sides is covered with the fabric. On the sides, you will find ports for the integrated subwoofers. The soundbar can be mounted on a wall or placed beneath the TV on the shelf. It does not have an on-screen display, instead a series of LED lights indicating the functional features.
Connectivity and Performance
This soundbar comes with remote control, power cable, optical cable, analog audio in adapter, manuals, and spacers for wall-mounting. Moreover, it can be connected to a maximum of two devices with Bluetooth for streaming music. The YAS-108 soundbar offers an HDMI input and output. It also supports HDCP 2.3, HDR passthrough, and 4K Ultra HD.
The sound quality offered by the YAS-108 is better than most of its competitors, even without external subwoofers. It produces a clear and crisp sound and provides plenty of basses. Users can switch between several sound modes, including surround and stereo, 3D surround, and clear voice that helps hear the dialogues better.
Verdict
The YAS-108 offers plenty of features and fantastic sound quality even without external subwoofers.
Pros
- Amazing bass
- HDMI and 4K passthrough
- Users can add their own subwoofers for more bass
Cons
- No app support
- The fabric of the soundbar can get dirty
Soundbar, TaoTronics Three Equalizer Mode Audio Speaker for TV
The TaoTronics soundbar is a thirty-two-inch long soundbar which is lightweight and provides good quality sound at a somewhat less price.
Design
The TaoTronics soundbar is simple but does not look odd when placed in the lounge or room. The entire soundbar is covered in plastic that comes with a brushed metallic look. Unexpectedly, the design of this soundbar is decent and does not look cheap at all.
This compact soundbar comes with an integrated subwoofer instead of an external one. At the back of this soundbar, you will find two connectivity inputs and an integrated power cable.
Connectivity and Performance
Users can both set up a wired connection and Bluetooth, according to their preference. The Bluetooth feature also allows the users to connect their smart devices such as cellphones and tablets with the soundbar. The remote control can activate both Bluetooth and optical connectivity. It offers three different sound modes, which are the game, music, and movie mode.
The stereo frequency and the stereo soundstage of this soundbar are average. It works well for interviews and podcasts but does not provide an immersive and high-quality music and movie sound.
Verdict
The TaoTronics soundbar is very affordable and offers an average sound quality. If you are looking for high-end sound quality, this might not be the right choice for you.
Pros
- Compact design
- Decent build quality
- Bluetooth connectivity
Cons
- Boxy sound profile
- Limited enhancement features
Conclusion
If you are tired of your TV set’s low-quality sound and are looking for affordable options that can provide better sound, we have listed the best budget soundbars you can choose from. These soundbars come with a wide range of features and sound modes.
However, if we were to choose one from the seven soundbars mentioned above, we would select the Yamaha-YAS 108 soundbar. This soundbar does not come with an external subwoofer. Instead, it offers integrated subwoofers that provide better sound quality than a lot of its competitors. It provides plenty of basses, and users can also switch between several sound modes.
It also allows you to add external subwoofers if you want more bass!
