The Best Budget Soundbars (2024) Vizio, TCL and YAMAHA

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The best budget soundbars make the sound from a TV’s built-in speakers sound better, with clearer dialogue and more powerful bass that brings action movies to life. Each of these models under $200 has been given a thorough review to see if it can make listening to music on medium-sized TV screens more interesting without draining your bank account.

If you have a big TV but the speakers don’t give you the same level of immersion as the picture, you need one of the best budget soundbars. They add bigger, forward-facing speakers that make speech clearer and movies more exciting.

Best Budget Soundbars

Vizio V Series V51-H6

Specifications

Product Dimensions	3.2 x 36 x 2.2 inches
Item Weight	5 pounds
Manufacturer	VIZIO
Item model number	V51x-J6

The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is the best budget soundbars we’ve tried. It’s one of the few systems in this price range that comes with separate satellite speakers for better surround sound.

With 5.1 audio formats like Dolby Digital and DTS, which are often found on streaming services and Blu-rays, you feel like you’re right in the middle of the action, like you’re sitting in a movie theatre.

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TCL Alto 6 Plus

Specifications

Size	31.5 x 4.2 x 2.4 inches
Inputs	Optical digital audio, 3.5mm, USB, HDMI ARC
Bluetooth	Yes
HDMI	Yes

The Alto 6 Plus is even cheaper than the Stage V2, and it comes with its own subwoofer, which is wired instead of wireless like the Stage V2. It’s also strong, making it more than capable of adding deep, rumbling bass to action scenes in movies or music.

The downside is that the low end isn’t as well controlled as it is on more expensive soundbar/sub combos, and you don’t have as many ways to change the sound profile. The fact that it is simple means that people who are new to home theatre might like how easy it is to set up.

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YAMAHA SR-B20A Sound Bar

Specifications

Dimensions	38 x 7 x 5.2 inches
Item Weight	7.1 pounds
Manufacturer	Yamaha
Item model number	SR-B20ABL

Another repeat winner of the Yamaha does a great job of simulating a surround sound system and should be at the centre of most home theatre systems. It has a gloriously enveloping soundfield, and it has no less than seven sound modes.

So you’re sure to find one that fits your room and what you’re watching. You also get a separate subwoofer to make the bass even stronger. Add some beautifully layered details, and you have a soundbar that sounds great and works well.

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Sonos Arc

Specifications

Dimensions	1141.7 x 87 x 115.7mm
Speaker configuration	5.0.2
Connections	HDMI input
Claimed audio power	N/A

Sonos’s Arc soundbar has a full surround sound system built right into it. It’s not cheap, but if you already like Sonos, we think you’ll love how this soundbar gives you really good surround sound.

Then, it improves the 3D soundscape by using Dolby Atmos object tracks to make some sounds bounce off the walls around you, making it seem like they are coming from all directions.

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Majority Snowdon II

Specifications

Output	120w
Audio Processing	Majority Virtual Surround Sound
Connections	AUX In, RCA, Bluetooth
Size	83 x 810 x 83 mm
Weight	1.2KG

The Majority Snowdon II is our least expensive choice. These best budget soundbars costs less than £100 and adds virtual surround sound to a living room. It also has a subwoofer built right into the bar, so it takes up less space and is perfect for small rooms and tight budgets.

While watching movies or playing video games, you can quickly change the preset EQs. Even though the volume is good and the sound is fine, this is best for giving mid-range TV audio a boost rather than completely changing a setup.

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Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Soundbar

Specifications

Dimensions	3.22 x 35.43 x 2.15 inches
Weight	3.9 pounds
Manufacturer	Polk Audio
Speaker Type	Soundbar, Subwoofer

If you want something with more bass and have a bigger room, the Polk Audio Signa S2 is one of the best budget speakers on our list and reviews. It’s a cheap TV soundbar with a wireless subwoofer that makes the low frequencies stand out.

With Polk’s Voice Adjust technology and Dolby Digital decoding, this soundbar can make sound clearer and reduce delays. When we tested it in our listening room, it was just as good as some of the best midrange products you can buy.

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LG SK1

Specifications

Channels	2.0
Power	40W
Connectivity	Optical, AUX, Bluetooth
Dimensions	3 x 25.6 x 3.5 inches
Dolby audio	Dolby Digital

The LG SK1 is another good choice for small TVs. It is small and only has two speakers, but it claims to have a modest 40W power output, which is enough to beat many TV sound systems.

The plug-and-play setup, simple interface, and included remote make it easy to use every day, which could be great if you just want a better TV speaker without a lot of extras. Still, we recommend turning on the Bass Blast mode for more low-end punch.

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FAQs

Are cheap soundbars worth the money?

When your TV’s sound isn’t as good as you’d like, a cheap soundbar is the best thing to do. With the best budget soundbars, you can improve the sound of your TV for less than $200, whether you want to watch movies and TV shows or stream music over Bluetooth.

What is the best soundbar under $100 for music?

1. TCL Alto 6+
2. Sony HT-S100F.
3. Roku Streambar.

Why is a sound bar not the best?

Even though a soundbar will improve the sound of your TV, surround sound speakers usually give the best sound. Most of the time, even the most expensive speaker systems sound much wider than soundbars.