The 5 Best Soundbars Under $300 - Spring 2023 Reviews

The best soundbar under $300 we've tested is the Vizio M Series M51ax-J6. It's a versatile soundbar that's great for everything from movies to music to TV shows, and it's one of the only models we've tested that supports Dolby Atmos at this price. Dolby Atmos is an immersive audio format that's commonly found on streaming platforms like Hulu and Netflix, as well as Blu-ray discs. It's designed to bring a cinematic feel to your home audio, using front-firing channels on the satellites to ricochet sound all around you. As a result, it feels like you've been dropped right into the middle of the action on your screen.

Plus, this 5.1 setup has a discrete center channel that's designed to improve vocal reproduction in the mix. Therefore, you don't have any trouble following the action on screen. With a dedicated sub, you feel the rumble in action-packed scenes. If you want a different sound, there are many options on hand, including bass and treble adjustments. Music lovers can stream right from their phones to the bar via Bluetooth, which is handy. For its price, this bar offers great value.

If you don't watch a lot of height content like Dolby Atmos, you may find it's a better value to opt for a bar without built-in Atmos support. The best we've tested under $300 is the Vizio V Series V51-H6. It's another 5.1 bar, and just like the Vizio M Series M51ax-J6, it comes with a built-in center channel for dialogue clarity, a subwoofer to help you feel the rumble in the bass, and two satellites to beam sound throughout your living room. Those satellites are great for surround sound formats like Dolby Digital, which you'll come across on different streaming platforms.

Plus, when it comes to music and more vocal-focused TV shows like sitcoms, the bar does a great job. Dialogue is clearly reproduced, and the sub brings the energy in bass-centric genres like EDM and hip-hop. If you prefer a different sound, you get a similar selection of sound enhancement features as the M Series, like bass and treble adjustments. It's Bluetooth-compatible, too. The only major difference between these bars is their Atmos support, so if you don't watch a lot of it, the V Series is a more affordable pick.

Depending on the size and shape of your living room, you may not have space for a setup with rear satellites. In that case, you'll want to check out the Samsung HW-B650. It's a 3.1 setup with a dedicated subwoofer, but its satellites are sold separately, meaning you can add them now or later. It's a customizable option, too—in addition to traditional bass and treble adjustments, it has a graphic EQ so you can control its sound across the range.

The bar reproduces a clear and accurate sound with everything from music to movies to TV shows. Voices and lead instruments are detailed and present in the mix, and dialogue is easy-to-follow. Thanks to its subwoofer, you feel the excitement in bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop. For surround sound, the bar doesn't perform as well. Without satellites, it has to downmix 5.1 formats like Dolby Digital into stereo to play them. Unfortunately, this doesn't sound as immersive, meaning sound effects are restricted to the space in front of you rather than stretching all around you for a life-like feel. It's fine if you mostly listen to stereo content, but movie lovers will likely want to spring for something with satellites.

No space for a subwoofer? No problem. Standalone soundbars are a great alternative to our top picks, and the best we've tested is the Samsung HW-S60B. This 5.0 model has a sleek design with lots of the manufacturer's premium sound enhancement tools built in, including Amazon Alexa voice assistant support. From the comfort of your couch, you can adjust the bar's volume, switch its preset modes, and more. This bar is also available in white as the Samsung HW-S61B, so you have some options based on your interior design.

Thanks to Samsung's SpaceFit Sound room correction tool, the bar's sound is automatically optimized based on the unique acoustic characteristics of your room. With a pretty balanced sound out-of-the-box, this bar is suitable for listening to many different types of audio content, and there's even Dolby Atmos support, though it has to downmix this content into surround sound to play it. Those who prefer to switch up the bar's sound manually also have access to a full 7-band graphic EQ as well as some EQ presets. Of course, without a dedicated sub, you notice much less thump and rumble in the bass, especially with genres like EDM and hip-hop. But if you're low on space, it's a great option.

There are even smaller standalone soundbars on the market, ideal for smaller-sized TVs and computer screens. The Bose TV Speaker is the best of the bunch, and at less than 24 inches in width, it can easily fit under your TV stand without blocking the screen. It may be small, but this premium setup can still get loud enough to fill the average living room. It's ideal for listening to vocal-centric TV shows and music, with balanced mids ensuring voices and lead instruments are clear and detailed in the mix.

Of course, without a sub, you notice a lack of bass in the mix, and the 2.0 setup doesn't provide a very immersive sound with surround sound formats like the 5.0 Samsung HW-S60B/S61B. While there's a bass adjustment feature on hand, this bar doesn't offer as many sound enhancement features as the similarly-performing Sonos Ray, which is another solid, small pick. The Sonos' room correction feature automatically optimizes audio reproduction based on your room's unique acoustics, which is a premium feature for its price. It doesn't reproduce as much bass as the Bose, but if you want more customization tools, it's worth a look.