The 5 Best Budget Soundbars - Spring 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 V21-H8 is the best budget soundbar under $200 that we've tested. This 2.1 setup has a bass-heavy sound profile that's well-suited for thumpy genres like EDM or action-packed movies. That said, it can still reproduce dialogue in TV shows or podcasts quite clearly and accurately.

While this entry-level soundbar doesn't have many inputs, there are two AUX ports as well as an Optical In and HDMI ARC port. It also supports Bluetooth, which is nice if you like to wirelessly stream audio from your smartphone. There are four EQ presets to help you customize its sound to your liking as well as bass and treble adjustments, dialogue enhancement, and virtual surround features available. The bar can also get loud, although there are some compression artifacts at max volume.

Unfortunately, it doesn't support Dolby Atmos, which may be a bit disappointing for movie fans who want a more immersive audio experience. It also doesn't support Wi-Fi, Chromecast, or Apple AirPlay connectivity. That said, the Vizio delivers a customizable sound and is a suitable choice for those shopping for a more affordable soundbar.

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, 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.