The 5 Best Budget Soundbars - Summer 2021 Reviews

The best cheap soundbar that we've tested is the Sony HT-S100F. This 2.0 setup comes with an S-Force Front Surround feature advertised to help create a more immersive sound. It's also Bluetooth-compatible, making it easy to wirelessly stream audio from your mobile devices to the bar.

Out-of-the-box, this soundbar has a neutral sound profile, though it lacks some low-bass and can sound a bit dark. It should still be suitable for listening to dialogue-centric content like podcasts and TV shows, and there's even a dialogue enhancement feature to help make voices clear and crisp. It also gets pretty loud, making it ideal for listening to music in large rooms and at crowded parties.

Unfortunately, you can't turn off the S-Force Front Surround mode, which could be a bit disappointing for some users. Also, this soundbar doesn't support Dolby Atmos content, and it lacks a Full HDMI In port, so you can't use it as a hub between different devices. If you're on a tight budget, it's still a solid upgrade over your existing TV speakers.

The Samsung HW-A450 is the best budget soundbar under $200 that we've tested. This 2.1 setup comes with a dedicated subwoofer that helps deliver a little extra boom in the bass range. It's also Bluetooth-compatible, so you can wirelessly stream audio from your mobile devices to the bar.

This soundbar offers a pretty neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, so it's suitable for listening to many different types of audio content. It also comes with many sound customization features, including a graphic EQ and presets and bass and treble adjustments. It gets pretty loud, too, and there's even a dialogue enhancement feature to make voices more clear.

Unfortunately, this soundbar struggles to reproduce low-bass, even with calibration, so you don't feel the deep thump and rumble in action-packed movies. It doesn't support Dolby Atmos, either, and it lacks a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough. That said, it still offers a very customizable listening experience at an affordable price.

The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is the best budget soundbar under $300 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, making 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.