Soundbars have become a popular choice for home entertainment systems due to their ability to provide high-quality sound without the need for complicated setups. They are an excellent option for those who want to enhance their TV’s audio experience without breaking the bank. In this article, we will be discussing the best budget soundbars for home entertainment.
When purchasing a soundbar, there are several critical factors to consider, such as sound quality, connectivity options, and design. Sound quality is perhaps the most crucial factor to consider, as it directly affects your overall audio experience. Connectivity options such as Bluetooth, HDMI, and Wi-Fi are also essential to ensure seamless connectivity with your TV and other devices. Finally, the design of the soundbar should complement your home’s decor and fit seamlessly into your entertainment setup.
We spent countless hours researching and testing various budget soundbars to identify the ones that offer the best value for money. Our top picks provide excellent sound quality, multiple connectivity options, and sleek designs that will complement any home entertainment setup.
Best Budget Soundbars for Home Entertainment
If you’re looking to upgrade your home entertainment system, a soundbar is a great place to start. Not only do they offer better sound quality than your TV’s built-in speakers, but they’re also more affordable than a full home theater system. In this roundup, we’ve compiled a list of the best budget soundbars that will enhance your movie and TV watching experience without breaking the bank. Our team has researched and tested various options to bring you a comprehensive list of top performers. Check out our recommendations below.
Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Sound Bar
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly soundbar that delivers high-quality sound with deep bass, the Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Sound Bar is an excellent choice.
Pros
- The sound quality is excellent, with deep bass and clear dialogue thanks to Polk’s patented Voice Adjust technology and Dolby Digital decoding.
- The included wireless subwoofer provides a powerful, room-filling home theater experience.
- The soundbar is easy to set up and can be wall-mounted or placed in front of your TV without blocking the bottom edge or IR remote sensor.
Cons
- The soundbar lacks some advanced features like Wi-Fi connectivity and voice control.
- The included HDMI and optical cables are relatively short, so you may need to purchase longer cables if your TV is far from the soundbar.
- The soundbar may not be loud enough for larger rooms or outdoor use.
Overall, we highly recommend the Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Sound Bar for anyone looking to upgrade their home theater experience without breaking the bank. With its excellent sound quality, easy setup, and wireless subwoofer, it’s a great value for the price.
Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer
If you’re looking for an affordable soundbar that delivers rich sound with deep bass, then the Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer is a great option.
Pros
- The included wireless subwoofer delivers deep bass impact that enhances the overall sound quality.
- Polk’s exclusive Voice Adjust technology and Dolby Digital decoding maximizes sound clarity and reduces voice delays, making it easier to understand dialogue.
- It’s easy to set up and use, and it fits most spaces, whether you want to wall-mount it or place it in front of your TV.
Cons
- The lack of an LCD screen on the front of the soundbar means that you can’t see the volume level.
- The soundbar may not improve speech intelligibility as much as you had hoped.
- The quality of the bass may not be as good as some higher-end soundbars.
We recently tried out the Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer, and we were impressed with its performance. The soundbar comes with a wireless subwoofer that delivers deep bass impact, which enhances the overall sound quality. The soundbar itself is slim and can fit in most spaces, whether you want to wall-mount it or place it in front of your TV.
Polk’s exclusive Voice Adjust technology and Dolby Digital decoding maximizes sound clarity and reduces voice delays, making it easier to understand dialogue. We found this to be particularly useful when watching movies or TV shows with a lot of dialogue.
Setting up the soundbar is easy, and it comes with an HDMI cable for quick and easy setup. You can also connect it to your TV via optical input or AUX. Plus, you can wirelessly stream music from your favorite streaming apps like Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn, and others directly from your smartphone, tablet, or other compatible devices through the built-in Bluetooth technology.
Overall, we think the Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer is an excellent value for the price. While it may not have all the features of higher-end soundbars, it delivers excellent sound quality and value that is on par with any mid-to high-range soundbars available in the market.
Bose TV Speaker
If you’re looking for a compact and affordable soundbar that enhances your TV’s sound quality, the Bose TV Speaker is a great option.
Pros
- The dialogue audio is excellent, and the speaker is designed to clarify and elevate vocals and pronunciation.
- The sound is wide and natural, thanks to two angled full-range drivers that deliver a more realistic, spatial audio experience.
- The setup is straightforward, with a single connection to the TV via an optical audio cable or an HDMI cable.
Cons
- The bass is not as powerful as you might expect, so you might want to add a wired subwoofer for a more home-theater-like experience.
- The soundbar doesn’t always sense when the TV is on with the HDMI eARC technology, which can be annoying.
- The performance of the TV may slow down when using this speaker, which can be frustrating.
We were impressed with the Bose TV Speaker’s compact size and ease of use. The sound quality is excellent, with enhanced dialogue and wide, natural sound. The setup is straightforward, and we appreciated the option to connect up to three devices using the inputs. However, the bass could be more powerful, and the soundbar doesn’t always sense when the TV is on. Overall, we recommend the Bose TV Speaker for anyone looking for an affordable and compact soundbar to enhance their TV’s sound quality.
Audvoi SR190AD Sound Bar
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly soundbar with a dedicated subwoofer, the Audvoi SR190AD is a great option.
Pros
- The 5.25” subwoofer offers deep and powerful bass, perfect for action movies and bass-heavy music genres.
- The 3D surround sound system delivers noticeably better sound than your TV alone, expanding the sound horizontally and vertically for an immersive surround effect.
- The soundbar supports multiple connections, including advanced Bluetooth 5.0 wireless connection and wired connection including HDMI-ARC, optical, and 3.5mm aux in for your traditional or smart TVs, projectors, DVDs, and other devices.
Cons
- The soundbar’s display light can be distracting when watching a movie, but it can be turned off.
- Some users have reported that the soundbar is not as loud as they would like it to be.
- The customer support from Audvoi may not be as responsive as some users would like.
We were impressed with the Audvoi SR190AD’s professional 6 equalizer modes, which include News/Movie/Music/Game/Bass/3D equalizer modes to suit different audio system needs. The setup was easy, and the surround sound system’s elegantly slim design is compatible with modern TVs, and never blocks the TV screen. The wired 4-inch subwoofer easily fits in most spaces and adds rich bass from anywhere in the room.
Overall, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly soundbar with a dedicated subwoofer, the Audvoi SR190AD is a great option that delivers noticeably better sound than your TV alone.
LARKSOUND Soundbar with Subwoofer
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly soundbar with a subwoofer for your home entertainment system, the LARKSOUND Soundbar with Subwoofer is a great option.
Pros
- The small design of the soundbar makes it easy to fit into any room without taking up much space.
- The dedicated wired subwoofer delivers deep and powerful bass, making movies and music come to life.
- The professionally tuned EQ modes, including Music, Movie, Voice, and Normal, make the soundbar perfect for any type of content.
Cons
- The bass may not be deep enough for some users.
- The sound quality may not be as high as more expensive soundbars on the market.
- The remote control’s volume control for the subwoofer only goes up to 4.
We were impressed with the LARKSOUND Soundbar with Subwoofer’s performance. The small design of the soundbar is perfect for small rooms, while the dedicated wired subwoofer delivers deep and powerful bass. We loved the professionally tuned EQ modes, which made every type of content sound great.
The soundbar also features Bluetooth 5.0 for stable and fast transmission, as well as a range of connectivity options, including HDMI ARC, Optical, AUX, and USB. The soundbar is easy to set up and use, making it a great option for those who want to improve their home entertainment system without breaking the bank.
Overall, we highly recommend the LARKSOUND Soundbar with Subwoofer for anyone looking for a budget-friendly soundbar with a subwoofer. It’s stylish, compact, and delivers great sound quality for the price.
LARKSOUND 2.1 CH Soundbar
If you’re looking for an affordable soundbar with a built-in subwoofer, the LARKSOUND 2.1 CH Soundbar is definitely worth considering.
Pros
- The built-in subwoofer offers room-filling sound, making a noticeable difference to your TV and movie-watching experience.
- The professionally tuned EQ modes (Music, Movie, Voice, Normal, and Night mode) enhance your audio experience, making it easier to pick up on sonic details you might have missed before.
- With multiple connectivity options, including Bluetooth 5.0, USB, AUX IN, HDMI, and optical connection, you can easily stream your favorite music and podcasts.
Cons
- The sound quality isn’t as good as some higher-end soundbars, and the bass can be a bit overpowering at times.
- The remote control can be a bit finicky, and it’s not always easy to adjust the volume or switch between EQ modes.
- The soundbar can be a bit bulky, so it may not fit well in smaller rooms or on smaller TVs.
Overall, we think the LARKSOUND 2.1 CH Soundbar is a great budget option for anyone looking to enhance their home entertainment experience. While it may not offer the same level of sound quality as some higher-end models, it’s definitely a step up from your TV’s built-in speakers. Plus, with its multiple connectivity options and professionally tuned EQ modes, it’s easy to customize your audio experience to your liking.
Buying Guide
When it comes to choosing the best budget soundbar for your home entertainment system, there are a few key features to consider. We’ve compiled a list of important factors to help you make an informed decision.
Sound Quality
The most important aspect of any soundbar is the quality of its audio output. Look for a soundbar with a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), which measures the clarity of sound over the background noise. Additionally, a soundbar with a wide frequency response range will provide a more immersive audio experience.
Connectivity
Make sure the soundbar you choose has the connectivity options you need. Most soundbars come with Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to easily stream audio from your phone, tablet, or computer. If you plan on using your soundbar with a TV, make sure it has an HDMI port or optical audio input.
Size and Design
Consider the size and design of the soundbar in relation to your home entertainment setup. A soundbar that is too large or too small may not fit well with your TV and other components. Additionally, the design of the soundbar should complement your existing decor.
Additional Features
Some soundbars come with additional features, such as built-in voice assistants, EQ settings, and virtual surround sound. While these features may not be necessary for everyone, they can enhance the overall audio experience.
In summary, when choosing a budget soundbar, prioritize sound quality, connectivity, size and design, and additional features. By considering these factors, you can find a soundbar that meets your needs and enhances your home entertainment system.
