The 6 Best Soundbars Under $500 - Winter 2022 Reviews

The Vizio M Series M512a-H6 is the best soundbar under $500 that we've tested. This well-built 5.1.2 setup has a pretty neutral sound profile out-of-the-box that makes it suitable for listening to lots of different audio content. Thanks to its dedicated subwoofer, there's also a little extra punch in the bass range.

This setup comes with two discrete satellites that offer a good surrounds performance. It supports Dolby Atmos content, too, using two up-firing drivers in the bar to bounce sound off the ceiling and back down towards you to simulate height. There are even some sound enhancement features available, like EQ presets and bass and treble adjustments.

Unfortunately, this soundbar doesn't have premium enhancement features like room correction. It also doesn't have built-in voice assistant capabilities. However, if you own a third-party voice assistant device like an Amazon Echo, you can plug it into the bar's AUX VA port to control it with your voice, according to the manufacturer.

The best soundbar under $500 with a 3.1 setup that we've tested is the LG SP8YA. This well-built 3.1.2 setup is a solid option for users who don't have space for rear speakers in their setup. It also supports Dolby Atmos content with two up-firing drivers built into the bar to create the illusion of height.

Its AI Room Calibration feature automatically optimizes audio reproduction based on the unique acoustic characteristics of your room. Its sound profile is a bit bass-heavy, so there's some extra thump and punch in your audio. Vocals and lead instruments are still reproduced clearly, though, and you can even use its bass and treble adjustments to customize its sound.

Unfortunately, this soundbar has to downmix surround content into stereo to play it, which doesn't sound as immersive as a setup with discrete surround speakers like the Vizio M Series M512a-H6. That said, it's still a very good choice for listeners who want a versatile soundbar.

The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is the best soundbar under $500 with a compact design that we've tested. This small bar has an excellent build quality, and it uses side-firing drivers in the bar to offer a wide soundstage that rivals home theater tower speakers. Unlike the first generation Sonos Beam, it also supports Dolby Atmos content.

This soundbar has a pretty neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, although vocals and lead instruments may be a bit muddy due to the extra boom in the bass range. That said, you can use its bass and treble adjustments to customize a more neutral sound profile if you want. It also has a Trueplay room correction feature, although you can only access it on compatible iOS devices.

Unfortunately, this setup isn't Bluetooth-compatible, which can be limiting for some users. It also struggles to reproduce the deep thump and rumble in the low-bass. However, you can purchase a subwoofer and satellites from the manufacturer separately if you want to upgrade down the line.

The best soundbar under $500 with a standalone design that we've tested is the Samsung HW-S60A. Its unique Side Horn Speakers on the side of the bar beam sound throughout your space, resulting in a wide and immersive soundstage. It also has a pretty solid performance with surround sound.

This soundbar has a pretty neutral and balanced sound profile out-of-the-box, making it suitable for listening to many different types of audio content. It has lots of sound customization features, including bass and treble adjustments as well as a graphic EQ. You can use its 'Voice Enhancement' feature to make dialogue more clear, and its 'Night Mode' to balance out the volume level when watching TV at night.

Unfortunately, this setup doesn't support Dolby Atmos content. If you're looking for a standalone bar under $500 that supports Dolby Atmos content, you can check out the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam or the smaller Sonos Beam (Gen 2). It's still a solid upgrade over your existing TV speakers, especially for users who usually watch TV or listen to music.

If you're looking for a 2.1 setup, the best soundbar under $500 that we've tested is the Samsung HW-A550. This premium setup offers a neutral, balanced sound profile out-of-the-box, making it suitable for listening to lots of different types of audio content. It gets pretty loud, too, so you can crank up the volume when hosting parties or movie nights.

This soundbar comes with lots of different sound enhancement features. If you prefer a different sound, you can use its graphic EQ and presets as well as its bass and treble adjustments to customize its sound profile. Its 'Adaptive Sound' preset is a dialogue enhancement feature that can make voices sound more clear and crisp.

Unfortunately, this soundbar doesn't support Dolby Atmos content, and its surround performance isn't very impressive. It also struggles to reproduce some low-bass, so you may not feel a lot of thump and rumble in bass-heavy music and action-packed movies. That said, it's still a solid choice for listeners who prefer a 2.1 setup.

The best budget soundbar we've tested is the Vizio V Series V51-H6. This 5.1 setup has two discrete satellites and a dedicated subwoofer that helps reproduce a thumpy, punchy bass. Its default sound profile is pretty neutral, so it's suitable for listening to lots of different types of audio content.

This soundbar offers a solid selection of sound enhancement features, including bass and treble adjustments and EQ presets like 'Movie' and 'Music'. You can also use its dialogue enhancement feature to make voices more clear and crisp. It also gets pretty loud without much compression, so you can crank up the volume when listening at parties.

Unfortunately, this soundbar doesn't support Dolby Atmos content. Its soundstage performance is decent, but it isn't as impressive as other bars like the Vizio M Series M512a-H6. That said, it has good focus, so sound objects seem to come from an accurate, pinpoint location in the soundstage.