The 5 Best Budget Soundbars - Winter 2021 Reviews

The best cheap soundbar that we've tested is the TCL Alto 6+. While this 2.1 setup is quite simple and straightforward, it's still a viable option for listeners looking to upgrade over their existing TV speakers. The bar is decently well-built, and it even comes with a dedicated subwoofer.

Overall, it has a decently well-balanced sound profile, though some songs can sound a bit flat or dull. There are a few EQ presets available to help you customize its sound, and there's also a dialogue enhancement feature that can make voices clearer and crisper. The bar can get loud without a lot of compression, so you can also use it in a large room or at a crowded party.

Unfortunately, it doesn't support Dolby Atmos content, and it has a poor surround performance, so it may be disappointing for listeners who want to immerse themselves in their favorite movies. It also lacks a Full HDMI In port, so you can't use it as a hub between your devices. However, it's Bluetooth-compatible, so you can stream audio from your phone or tablet to the bar wirelessly.

The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is the best budget soundbar under $200 that we've tested. This decently well-built 5.1 setup comes with a dedicated subwoofer and two satellite speakers that can help immerse you in your favorite audio. It also has a 3.5mm AUX port, so you can connect your smartphone to the bar using a wired connection.

It has a great stereo frequency response that delivers extra boom and punch suitable for bass-heavy genres like EDM or action flicks. It's still balanced enough for most audio content and can reproduce voices clearly and accurately, which is great for podcasts. It also has EQ presets so that you can tweak its sound profile to your liking. If you like to listen to audio at high volumes, this soundbar can get loud, which makes it an excellent choice for large or crowded rooms. It also supports Bluetooth and has low latency over its ARC and Optical In port.

Unfortunately, it lacks a Full HDMI In port and doesn't support Dolby Atmos content, which can be a little disappointing if you love to watch movies. While the satellite speakers have a fair surrounds performance, they're very bass-heavy, so your audio could sound a bit boomy or muddy. That said, If you're looking for a versatile soundbar on a budget, it's a suitable choice.

The best soundbar under $300 that we've tested is the Vizio SB36512-F6. This 5.1.2 setup comes with a subwoofer and two satellite speakers that help provide a more immersive listening experience. It gets pretty loud without a lot of distortion, so you can use it at parties or in large rooms.

Overall, it has a neutral sound profile that's suitable for listening to lots of different audio content, and the touch of extra bass helps bring action-packed scenes in your favorite TV shows to life. There are a few EQ presets to help you customize its sound, too. It also supports surround and Dolby Atmos content and is a very good choice for watching movies.

Unfortunately, it doesn't have a dialogue enhancement feature, which can help make voices in TV shows sound more crisp and clear. Also, the fabric covering the soundbar seems like it could rip or get dirty easily. That said, it offers a very good overall performance, and it's a solid choice for lots of different uses.