The 5 Best Budget Soundbars - Black Friday 2020 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, too, 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 best budget soundbar that we've tested is the Vizio V Series V21-H8. This 2.1 model has a dedicated subwoofer that produces deep and boomy bass. It's decently well-built, and it's Bluetooth-compatible, so you can stream content from your phone to the bar.

Overall, it has a boomy, bass-heavy sound profile that adds an extra thump and punch to bass-heavy music genres and action-packed shows. If you prefer a different sound, a few EQ presets are available, including a dialogue enhancement feature that helps make voices sound clearer and crisper. There's also an auto-volume mode to help balance the volume level between different programs.

Unfortunately, while it gets pretty loud, there's a bit of compression when it's played at max volume. Also, it doesn't support Atmos content, and it downmixes surround content into stereo, so it may not be the best choice for an immersive movie-watching experience. That said, if you're on a budget, this is a solid upgrade over your TV speakers.

The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is the best soundbar under $300 that we've tested. This 5.1 setup comes with a dedicated subwoofer and two satellite speakers to help create a more immersive listening experience. It can get loud without a lot of compression, so it's a solid choice for listening to audio in a large room or at a crowded party.

Overall, it has a balanced, neutral sound profile that's suitable for listening to lots of audio content, and the sub helps add a little extra boom in the bass range. There are four EQ presets available to help you customize its sound, as well as auto-volume and dialogue enhancement modes to make voices sound more clear and crisp. It's also Bluetooth-compatible, so you can stream audio from your phone to the bar wirelessly.

Unfortunately, it doesn't support Dolby Atmos content, which may be disappointing for some movie fans. It also lacks a Full HDMI In port, so you can't use the bar as a hub between your devices. However, this soundbar still offers a versatile performance at a more affordable price.