Best Soundbar under $200 In 2024 – Reviews & Buying Guide

Finding a high-quality soundbar can be extremely challenging, especially when balancing factors like customer reviews and the price range of the soundbar. There are a lot of things to consider, and this buyer’s guide is taking a look at seven of the best choices that are currently available on the market.

BEST CHOICE

BEST PREMIUM

BEST VALUE

VIZIO Sound Bar for TV, 28” 2.1 Surround Sound System for TV with Wireless Subwoofer and Bluetooth, Channel Home Theater Sound Bar – Remote SB2821-D6
Bose Solo 5 TV Soundbar Sound System with Universal Remote Control, Black
Samsung HW-J355 2.1 Channel 120 Watt Wired Audio Soundbar

VIZIO SB2821-D6

BOSE SOLO 5

SAMSUNG HW-J355

BEST CHOICE

VIZIO Sound Bar for TV, 28” 2.1 Surround Sound System for TV with Wireless Subwoofer and Bluetooth, Channel Home Theater Sound Bar – Remote SB2821-D6

VIZIO SB2821-D6

BEST PREMIUM

Bose Solo 5 TV Soundbar Sound System with Universal Remote Control, Black

BOSE SOLO 5

BEST VALUE

Samsung HW-J355 2.1 Channel 120 Watt Wired Audio Soundbar

SAMSUNG HW-J355

Affiliate links: Clicking the device names, images or check price buttons will redirect you to the product listing on the appropriate Amazon.com (.co.uk, .de, etc.)  / Image courtesy of Amazon

Each of these soundbar products has earned a positive reputation with its customers. Some of these soundbars focus on providing a higher quality design while ignoring the costs, while other products have placed emphasis on value and budget-based pricing. 

More than likely, you will probably want to have the best of both worlds. It makes sense to want a quality soundbar, but to have one at a respectable price range is a completely different story. As we check each product off one by one, you will likely gain a better understanding as to which of these products are at the top of your list. 

Best Soundbar under $200 in 2024

VIZIO SB2821-D6 28-Inch 2.1 Channel Soundbar

Best Soundbar under 200 - VIZIO SB3621n-F8M 36" 2.1 Channel
VIZIO SB3621n-F8M 36″ 2.1 Channel Sound Bar / Credit: VIZIO

The VIZIO SB2821-D6 28-Inch 2.1 Channel Soundbar has earned the top spot because of its popularity in the market. One of the reasons that this product is so popular with customers is because of the incredible value it provides at its generous price range. 

This device comes with Bluetooth streaming support and quality sound that really enhances the listening experience. The efficient technology and design that went into making this product is the real reason that it has resonated with customers in such a positive way. 

Pros

  • Bluetooth Streaming
  • Easy Installation Process
  • Affordable Price Range (Great Value)

Cons

  • No Warranty is Included

Bose Solo 5 TV Sound System with Universal Remote Control

Best Soundbar under 200 - Bose Solo 5 TV Sound System with Universal Remote Control
Bose Solo 5 TV Sound System with Universal Remote Control / Credit: Bose

The Bose Solo 5 TV Sound System clocks in as the second-best choice in this countdown of products. This could be considered one of the highest-end products when it comes to finding a top-tier quality soundbar. 

A universal remote control is included with this device so that it can be linked to Bluetooth streaming, television, and other supported devices. A state of the art dialogue mode is integrated to make every detail apparent to users. 

Pros

  • Bluetooth Streaming
  • Universal Remote Control
  • Enhanced Audio Quality

Cons

  • Expensive Price Range

ZVOX AccuVoice AV200 Sound Bar

Best Soundbar under 200 - ZVOX AccuVoice
ZVOX AccuVoice AV200 Sound Bar / Credit: ZVOX

The ZVOX AccuVoice AV200 Sound Bar is certainly a great product choice for customers to consider. This particular product enhances sound quality and also features a unique hearing aid compatibility feature. 

This device is a perfect soundbar for an in-home theater system because of the premium sound that can bounce through the entire room. The setup process is extremely convenient and simple, which is a major bonus for users that want to plug it in and begin using it immediately.

Customers have expressed extremely positive remarks regarding this product and it has also received an endorsement from Amazon for a good and reliable soundbar. This product could certainly match up against the best soundbar on the market.

Pros

  • Easy Setup and Installation
  • Hearing Aid Technology Integrated
  • Compact Home Theater Design

Cons

  • Expensive Price Range
  • Short Term Durability
  • No Warranty is Included

Yamaha YAS-108 Soundbar

Best Soundbar Under 200 - Yamaha YAS-108
Yamaha YAS-108 / Credit: Yamaha

The Yamaha YAS-108 Soundbar is another high-quality product that has rightfully earned its place on this countdown to the best soundbar on the market. This particular soundbar features built-in subwoofers for enhanced bass technology.

Bluetooth streaming technology is also supported by this soundbar as well, and the feature can easily be toggled between two separate devices. The 3D virtual sound technology that is presented by this soundbar is simply outstanding, marking one of the major reasons that customers love this product. In addition to the customers leaving positive feedback, Amazon has also endorsed this product and recommended it on their page. 

Pros

  • Enhanced Bass Technology
  • Bluetooth Streaming
  • Easy Installation Process

Cons

  • Expensive Price Range

Samsung HW-N400 TV Mate Soundbar

Best Soundbar Under 200 - Samsung HW-N400 TV Mate Soundbar
Samsung HW-N400 TV Mate Soundbar / Credit: Samsung

The Samsung HW-N400 TV Mate is an extremely compact soundbar and is simplified so that it can connect to your television without any trouble at all. It is also capable of streaming audio or music with a Bluetooth connection. Users can use their smartphone or remote to manage the soundbar at all times. 

Pros

  • Compact Design
  • Bluetooth Streaming
  • Compatible with Surround Sound

Cons

  • General Durability

VIZIO SB3621n-F8M 36″ 2.1 Channel Sound Bar

Best Soundbar under 200 - VIZIO SB3621n-F8M 36" 2.1 Channel Sound Bar
VIZIO SB3621n-F8M 36″ 2.1 Channel Sound Bar / Credit: VIZIO

The VIZIO SB3621n-F8M 36″ 2.1 Channel Sound Bar is a high-end product choice for users that are looking for a top-tier product. This device features enhanced audio quality and Bluetooth streaming technology all built into one single device. For a great value, customers can be rewarded with all of the great integrated features in this device. 

Pros

  • Enhanced Audio Quality
  • Bluetooth Streaming
  • Easy Installation Process

Cons

  • Expensive Price Range

Samsung HW-J355 2.1 Audio Soundbar

Best Soundbar Under 200 - Samsung HW-J355 2.1 Audio Soundbar
Samsung HW-J355 2.1 Audio Soundbar / Credit: Samsung

The Samsung HW-J355 2.1 Audio Soundbar features a high-quality design type in order to provide customers with optimal performance and sound quality. The device can optionally be mounted to the wall and there is also Bluetooth streaming support, which happens to be an extremely popular feature among customers.

This product has a lot of great features that are integrated into one single device. To make things even better, this device can be installed and calibrated with ease. These are just some of the reasons that it has earned a podium spot on this product list.

Pros

  • Bluetooth Streaming
  • Wall Mountable (Optional)
  • Enhanced Sound Quality

Cons

  • General Durability

Soundbar Under $200 – Buying Guide And FAQ

This list of products is among the highest-rated in the market. Now that we have had time to take an in-depth look at each particular soundbar, it is time for you to finally make a decision. The goal was to place these products under the spotlight so that you could gain all of the information that is needed to make a clear and concise decision regarding each product choice. 

While all of these products are trying to accomplish the same task, they often get there in significantly different ways. This is what makes the decision challenging, but with all of the things that have been learned today, you will likely be more prepared to make your purchase selection!

Finding a good soundbar can be extremely challenging, especially when balancing factors like customer reviews and the price range of the soundbar. There are a lot of things to consider, and this buyer’s guide is taking a look at critical considerations you should know before buying one for your home theater.

Soundbar Cheat Sheet

In a hurry? Don´t worry, we´ve prepared a cheat sheet that may help you to choose the right soundbar.

  • 3 or more channels is a must-have
  • An active soundbar is better than a passive
  • Placement and size
  • Connectivity

Are Soundbars Worth It?

As TVs have gotten thinner, soundbars have become an important product that can enhance the movie experience. For many people, soundbars are the best way to get better sound quality from a TV.

They’re simple to use, inexpensive, and easy to set up when compared to a standard surround-sound system. In fact, you only have to plug a couple of wires and that´s all. The market today is full of high-quality soundbars.

The best is that more and more companies making their own versions, so everybody can find the right one. Tip: Best soundbar brands according to us are Sonos, Bose, Yamaha, or Sony. The best budget soundbar brands – Vizio or Wohome.

Soundbar Under $200 – Is It Worth A Buy

Even in the under $200 category, you will find great sounding soundbars. Of course, you can´t expect a sound performance of top-line products, but you will definitely get a clearer and louder sound than from TV.

Critical Soundbars Considerations

There are many different features to consider before making your soundbar purchase and it can be overwhelming to know what is important and what´s not. Here are the most important features your soundbar (even the cheap one) should have.

3 or more channels is a must-have. If you are looking for a cheap soundbar then you probably found models with only 2 channels. Avoid them. They have the sound of mini stereos. For a better surround sound experience, aim always for soundbars with 3 or more channels.

An active soundbar is better than a passive one. Buying an active soundbar is a better option – they come with built-in amplifiers. With this, you can save some space.

Placement and size. Finding a good spot for a new soundbar is a complicated decision. On a wall, on a shelf or under a TV? These are things you should know before buying. Tip: A soundbar shouldn’t be wider than your TV.

Connectivity. Even in the under $200 category, there are many soundbars with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connections. This is especially great for streaming musing from PC, phone or tablet.

Warranty. Always buy from an authorized dealer. You deserve a full manufacturer´s warranty and support for your investment.

Soundbar vs Soundbase – What’s The Difference?

When it comes to boosting your TV’s sound, a soundbar or sound base is the cheapest (easiest) way to do it. While these types of speakers are similar in basic, there are still some key differences that you need to be aware of before you buy.

A soundbar is long and thin like a bar that sits in front of your TV. A decent soundbar should deliver a crystal clear spoken word performance – voices are crisp and even whispered dialogue will be heard clearly.

A sound base is a large, flat base that your TV actually sits on top of. They are deeper than soundbars, but shorter in width. Soundbases are specially designed to sit under the TV or on a shelf directly below the TV. Compared to soundbars, sound bases lack a separate subwoofer and struggle to produce the same kind of deep bass that traditional soundbars with subwoofers are capable of.

What Size Soundbar Should You Get?

As we already mentioned, your soundbar shouldn’t be wider than your TV. It is only an aesthetic decision, however, big sized soundbar doesn’t mean that you get better sound.

Optimal soundbar lengths for TV screen sizes: The first number is a soundbar length in inches, the second number is for TV screen size:

  • 12 / Any TV
  • 38-45 / 42-inch to 50-inch
  • 50 / 55-inch to 65-inch
  • 60 / 70-inch and larger

Active vs Passive Soundbars: Which Should You Buy?

The passive soundbar doesn’t have a built-in power amplifier and requires a receiver or amplifier to work. On the other hand, they come with better speakers which produce better sound. While passive speakers may be cheaper than active soundbars, they will cost you more at the end, if you take into account that you have to connect more components together to get better TV-watching performance.

The active soundbar has built-in amplifiers and surrounds sound processors to separate the center channel sound. They are more expensive than passive soundbars, but you don’t need an external amplifier to produce front-channel sounds.

Which Connections Do You Need?

There are several ways you can connect the soundbar to your TV, so you can customize your movie-watching experience. Learn about all the connection options.

HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) – Perhaps the easiest way. Just connect your soundbar to your TV’s audio return channel (ARC) input with an HDMI cable. That´s all.

Digital optical or digital coaxial – Next best option if your soundbar doesn’t have the HDMI connector is to use a digital optical or digital coaxial cable. This cable is capable of transferring digital audio up to 5.1 surround sound.

3.5mm line out or RCA – If the two options above are not available, you can use a 3.5mm line out connector or RCA input/output socket. Unfortunately, both of these types of cables are not capable of delivering a full digital surround sound experience, they can carry only analog audio.

Headphone jack – Another option, but probably the worst of all of these. You can connect your soundbar to a TV via the headphone jack but the sound quality is bad and you have to adjust the volume settings of your TV first to get a decent sound.

Wireless connectivity – Do you want to stream music from your PC, phone, or tablet? Many of the new soundbars on the market come with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity, so they make it easy to stream music from anywhere – Spotify, Pandora, iTunes.

What Soundbars Cost

You find a decent soundbar for less than $100 but don’t expect much in the way of special features. When you step up to the $200 range, you will get some interesting features such as a subwoofer or virtual surround sound. If you really want to enjoy a true TV-watching experience, you should spend closer to $500 and get features such as Hi-Fi audio, 4K passthrough, or Dolby Atmos.

You Might Also Like

Sources

  1. How to choose the right soundbar, What Hi-Fi? 
  2. 4 ways to connect your soundbar to your TV, Team Knowhow 
  3. Connect the soundbar to your TV, Samsung 

Main photo by ZVOX

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