When it comes to home entertainment, you may not be satisfied with the audio quality of your TV speakers. If you’re looking for a basic audio upgrade and nothing fancy, then you need to start looking at the best budget soundbars. Soundbars have a wide range of price categories but you don’t have to necessarily always buy a high-end model to experience better audio. Soundbars with affordable price tags offer great audio quality that is definitely worth the upgrade from your TV speakers. But if you’re open to buying a mid to high-range soundbar, then check out our other soundbar article that includes a wide range of them.
If you need better dialog clarity and the ability to differentiate between highs and lows, these soundbars get the job done. They are also compact and offer various connectivity options, allowing you to connect them to multiple devices. So whether you want them in your living room or your kitchen, they can be easily moved and installed in different places easily.
Searching for “best budget soundbar” on Reddit or Google isn’t enough, you need to be well-informed about what you’re buying. And just because you’re not going to spend a lot of money on a soundbar, doesn’t mean you should buy any random ones. We’ve made a list of the 7 best budget soundbars that will fit your modest entertainment needs.
Is a Cheap Soundbar Better Than No Soundbar?
Just because a soundbar is cheap doesn’t mean it’s bad, but yes, a basic soundbar is better than no soundbar at all. A soundbar offers many advantages that you might miss out on if you don’t have one and rely solely on your TV speakers. Features like surround sound and bass effects are something that does not feel authentic on TV speakers. So even if you’re buying a lower-priced soundbar, you should definitely buy it.
Best Budget Soundbars in 2024
Imagine watching movies like Sicario or Civil War and not being able to feel the intensity of those shots, what a waste it would be, right? But we understand that you also might have budget constraints. So, we’re featuring 7 of the best budget soundbars that you can get and upgrade the audio quality for better movie immersion.
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Why We Love
Easy installation
Textured surface
Includes a remote control
Compact and sleek design
Dolby Audio and DTS:X support
70Hz – 20kHz frequency response
But…
Max volume may be unsatisfactory
To start the list, we’ve got the VIZIO V-Series 2.0 Compact Soundbar. It is an extremely good soundbar with some great features that you might find on mid to high-end soundbars. It is built-in with two full-range speakers to deliver 4K HDR content with crystal clear audio clarity. To take it a step further, it even boasts Dolby Audio, DTS:X, and DTS TruVolume HD technology that makes watching movies more immersive. It is built with a compact form factor that will easily fit most entertainment units, or you could just place it in front of your TV and see it seamlessly blend in. You can connect it via Bluetooth, HDMI ARC, and AUX, giving you plenty of convenient options.
Why We Love
Low price tag
Easy to set up
Wall-mountable
Slim and portable design
40W two full-range speakers
Bluetooth, optical, and AUX connectivity
But…
Occasional connectivity issues
If you want to add a layer of realism to your movie-watching experience, the RIOWOIS DS6341M Soundbar with Subwoofer will do that for you. RIOWOIS is a lesser-known brand but it shouldn’t be. The soundbar comes with a 4-inch subwoofer that adds to the immersion by delivering low-frequency sound which is mostly a physical feedback, just like what you’d experience in a theater. It is ideally made for smaller rooms and has enough power to fill the room with high-quality audio. And with its wireless connectivity, you can use it with a lot of devices; be it your TV, computer, or mobile, it works with all of them. This best budget soundbar with subwoofer combo is an excellent product for the price you pay.
Why We Love
3 preset modes
Compact and lightweight
Includes a remote control
Includes a wall-mounting kit
Physical buttons on the side
Dedicated port for a subwoofer
But…
Provided power cable is short
You can get the Saiyin 17-inch Soundbar for under $40! This is an incredible deal for a basic soundbar that offers everything you’d expect from it. Unlike a lot of other soundbars in this price category, the Saiyin 17-inch soundbar can deliver a great surround sound effect that pulls you into the movie. The dialogs are much clearer and the music is more distinguishable when compared to TV speakers, too. This is mainly because of its two 40W full-range speakers that are built to generate life-like audio. You can further enhance it using its three equalizer modes — music, movie, and news. It is a great option for those who like to customize their audio systems. Lastly, it has an LED indicator that shows the active connection type, which will help you identify what device you’re connected to. This is definitely one of the best soundbars under $50.
Why We Love
Wall-mountable
Slim form factor
Integrated tweeter
Bass Reflex speaker
Touch buttons on the top
S-Force Front Surround support
But…
Doesn’t feature Dolby given the price
If you’re ready to spend a little over $100, then you could get the Sony HT-S100F 2.0ch Soundbar. With Sony’s amazing reputation for great products, this soundbar is a no-brainer. Banking on its 2-channel speakers, the Sony HT-S100F can deliver a theater-like audio experience right in the comfort of your home. It can even produce deep bass effects to let your heart feel those punches from action movies and video games. And with its voice-enhancement features, you never have to worry about any lack of dialog clarity while watching movies. You can connect it to your TV or other devices using HDMI (ARC), optical, USB, and Bluetooth — take your pick! With this Sony soundbar, those jet noises from Top Gun: Maverick are going to kick in a lot harder.
Why We Love
3 preset modes
7-degree tilt design
Includes cables for all its ports
Distinguishable highs and lows
Synchronization with TV remote
Bluetooth 5.3 range of up to 49 feet
But…
Higher price category
The Ultimea Apollo S40 gives users the ability to split the soundbar into two speakers and place them vertically, adding the possibility of multiple variations to set up their entertainment unit. Its built-in tweeters and subwoofer deliver surprisingly loud and clear audio that brings movies to life. It uses a DSP chip that minimizes audio static and improves clarity. The soundbar easily achieves both highs and lows, for a dynamic audio experience. It even comes with preset modes that you can switch between for more optimized audio settings. Additionally, its exclusive BassMX technology delivers an excellent bass effect, adding more value to the soundbar.
Why We Love
Room-filling 3D sound
Includes remote control
DTS Virtual:X technology support
Bluetooth, USB, optical, and AUX
Additional port to connect subwoofer
But…
Doesn’t include HDMI
Vizio soundbars have been one of our favorites for their amazing audio and build quality. The VIZIO SB2020n-J6 is as impressive as the higher-end models from the brand. It is compact and has a pretty decent price tag attached to it, making it ideal for small setups. Even with its 2-channel setup, it utilizes its built-in full-range speakers to create an audio experience that would usually be achieved on higher-end models. It can reach up to 90dB of total SPL output, outperforming other soundbars in its category. So, be it watching movies or playing games on your PS5, it’s going to be extremely immersive with this one.
Why We Love
Bluetooth support
4K HDR streaming
User-friendly interface
Compatible with any TV
Dedicated audio presets
All-in-one remote controlled
But…
Finicky connection
The Roku Streambar SE is a great option for anyone who’s looking for Roku’s streaming features and an upgrade to their TV speaker. This is definitely one of the most compact soundbars that we’ve come across, yet it delivers impactful audio. It is a 2-in-1 soundbar that is capable of streaming 4K HDR content on all its supported applications while also offering enhanced audio for a better viewing experience. There are two front-facing speakers that deliver crisp and clear dialog so that you don’t ever have to use subtitles. Plus, it also intelligently reduces volume during commercials and normalizes it when the show or movie resumes.
How We Chose the Best Budget Soundbar
These budget soundbars were chosen by our team of expert technicians who have years of experience testing out all kinds of home entertainment devices. The team chose over a dozen soundbars to test that fall under the affordable category and then began testing them. These soundbars were tested for their audio quality, build quality, and all their additional features. The tests were run while watching movies and playing games, giving them a broad understanding of their quality. So, go ahead and pick the one you like, they’re sure to impress you like they impressed us.
FAQ
What is the best budget soundbar for clear speech?
The Saiyin DS6301 17-inch Soundbar for TV is one of the best soundbars for clear speech.
What is the best quality sound bar?
The VIZIO V-Series 2.0 Compact Soundbar is one of the best soundbars that balances both quality and price.
Is there an alternative to a soundbar?
Surround sound speakers are a great alternative to soundbars, which are also more expensive than them.WER
Do you really need a soundbar with a smart TV?
If you want better audio quality than what you’re experiencing with TV speakers, then yes, you need to add a soundbar to your entertainment setup.
Which is better, a 2.1 or 5.1 soundbar?
In terms of audio experience, 5.1 soundbars are definitely better owing to their 5-channel speaker system that has better and more immersive audio. But keep in mind that they are also more expensive. So if you need a more affordable option, then 2.1 soundbars are the better choice.