The Best Soundbars for Every Budget

[Karlston]

The Best Soundbars for Every Budget

Every TV deserves a soundbar to call its own, and these are our favorites.

 

 

You've probably already shelled out for a nice big TV, and maybe a streaming gadget to play your Netflix, but what about your sound?

 

It doesn't matter how large your screen is, or how much it cost—it probably sounds awful. You'd be surprised by how much more you enjoy those Netflix Originals and movies with a halfway decent soundbar or surround system. Explosions pop, dialog sounds far crisper, and you may even notice details you’ve never picked up on before.

 

Why You Need a Soundbar

 

We have yet to test a modern TV that didn't sound crummy without some kind of audio accessory added. That's mostly due to the way modern models are designed: Great-sounding speakers are bulky, and as TVs have gotten thinner, with shrinking bezels and sleeker designs, manufacturers are having a harder time building in great sound.

 

Even if you can only afford to spend $150 on a new soundbar with subwoofer, it’s essential to getting the most out of your viewing experience. To help, we put together this list of the best soundbar bundles we've tested, and included a little advice on how to make the most of them.

 

Updated, May 2020: We've added new links, updated prices, and added the Roku Smart Soundbar to the list.

 

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  Photograph: Vizio

  Best Value

  Vizio Soundbar & Subwoofer (SB3621n-F8M)

   

  Vizio is one of the best brands in the business when it comes to delivering good sound at palatable prices, and its most recent 2.1-channel model is a shining example of this ethos. This compact soundbar is sleek, easy to set up, and has a wireless subwoofer that can sit next to your couch.

   

  With 3.5 mm, USB, and optical cable inputs—plus Bluetooth for playing music from your smartphone—you can enjoy its crystal-clear audio from virtually any device you own, though you will have to shell out for a more expensive bar if you want to use HDMI ARC to control your sound using your TV’s remote control instead of the included Vizio remote (though it does have IR codes to program your TV remote manually if you’re tech savvy).

   

  Inputs: Optical, coaxial, USB, 3.5 mm audio, and Bluetooth

   

  Alternatives: We like this model best because of its thin subwoofer, but there are a few other options. This 38-inch Vizio bar with a sub ($150) and 36-inch Vizio bar with a sub ($180) are both also a solid upgrade over the crappy speakers built into most TVs. There are a lot of Vizio models that will do the trick, too—just try to get one with a subwoofer.

   

  $154 at Amazon

  $150 at B&H Audio

  $150 at Best Buy

   

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  Photograph: Yamaha

  Best Smart Soundbar With a Built-In Sub

  Yamaha YAS-109

   

  I always recommend snagging a soundbar with a subwoofer included for maximum audio enjoyment, but if you live in a smaller apartment, or simply just don’t have room for a subwoofer in your living room, the subwoofer-less Yamaha YAS-109 is for you. It might not come with a sub, but this small Yamaha bar comes packed with great tech.

   

  With the same great built-in Alexa, Spotify Connect, and the same dual HDMI inputs as the YAS-209 (also on this list), you’ll get a stripped-down bar that’s capable of being the center of your living room audio experience—from playing your favorite movies to telling you the news and weather—without making you touch a remote.

   

  Inputs: 2 HDMI ports (one ARC), optical, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and mics for voice-activated Alexa

   

  $200 at Amazon

  $240 at Best Buy

   

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  Photograph: Yamaha

  Best Smart Soundbar With a Dedicated Sub

  Yamaha YAS-209

   

  If you’re looking for a soundbar and sub combo that doubles as a smart speaker for your living room, there is no better option than the Yamaha YAS-209. It has Amazon Alexa built in, two virtual surround sound modes, Wi-Fi, Spotify Connect, and Bluetooth. You can do everything from play Taylor Swift to check the weather. That’s a heck of a lot of features for such an affordable bar.

   

  The YAS-209 also sounds better than it has any right to at this price. Audio comes through crisp and clear, with impressive width and depth, and the included subwoofer bolsters explosions, footsteps, and your favorite bassy tunes.

   

  Inputs: 2 HDMI ports (one ARC), optical, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and mics for voice-activated Alexa

   

  $300 at Amazon

  $300 at Best Buy

 

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  Photograph: Roku

  A Bar With Roku Built-In

  Roku Smart Soundbar

   

  If you're after a soundbar that also doubles as an awesome streaming device, WIRED senior writer Adrienne So swears by the Roku Smart Soundbar (7/10, WIRED Review). After years without a soundbar, I sent her home with Roku's latest model, and she was so impressed that she shouted it from the rooftops. Setup is extremely easy, and because it comes with Roku's simple streaming interface (and support for 4K, surround sound, and High Dynamic Range), you'll be able to stream your shows easier than ever. You can also add on a Roku subwoofer or surround-sound speakers down the line, should you want even bolder, more immersive sound.

   

  We've also linked to the .Onn Walmart version below. It's cheaper and slightly weaker, but still a lot nicer than standard TV speakers and it still comes with Roku.

   

  Inputs: 1 HDMI port (with ARC), optical, Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz), USB 2.0, Bluetooth, voice remote.

   

  $180 at Amazon

  $180 at Best Buy

  $129 at Walmart (Budget Version)

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  Photograph: Vizio

  Best Affordable Atmos Surround Sound

  Vizio TV Sound System With Dolby Atmos (SB36512-F6)

   

  If you’re into console gaming, you know just how important it is to detect that opponent creeping behind you in the shadows. This affordable Dolby Atmos soundbar from Vizio helps you hear every footstep in real, physical space. Atmos bars also fire sound upward, expanding your TV's soundstage. At under $500, it’s also the most affordable Atmos-enabled bar you’ll find, making it a no-brainer for film buffs, too.

   

  Dolby Atmos support means that Xbox One gamers will have the ability to hear what’s going on above them too, which is perfect for hearing—and subsequently avoiding—that gun-toting helicopter above you.

   

  Inputs: 2 HDMI ports (one ARC), 3.5 mm, optical, USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Google Chromecast built in

   

  $228 at Walmart

  $250 at Best Buy

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  Photograph: Sonos

  The Smartest Soundbar

  Sonos Beam

   

  The Beam is only 26 inches long, but packs a punch. It can't match the more expensive Sonos bars for oomph, but is powerful enough for most home theater setups. It has microphones and you can choose to connect to Alexa, Apple Airplay 2, or Google Assistant, which makes it smarter than most any other bar.

   

  The other big draw is how seamlessly the Beam integrates with other Sonos speakers you own. Sonos is the best speaker company for multi-room audio, letting you build a full system with other Sonos speakers, or even the powerful (and highly recommended) Sonos Sub.

   

  Inputs: HDMI (ARC) port, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Apple AirPlay 2, mics for voice-activated Alexa or Google Assistant

   

  Note: Sonos is releasing a $799 soundbar. We have not yet tested it, but the Beam is still likely the best value given its price.

   

  $399 at Amazon

  $399 at Sonos

  $400 at Best Buy

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  Photograph: SENNHEISER

  Absolute Best Soundbar (If Price Is No Object)

  Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar

   

  Acclaimed audio brand Sennheiser waited decades to launch its first home soundbar, and it shows. The company’s massive—and massively expensive—Ambeo Soundbar showcases some of the most advanced processing and audio quality we’ve ever heard from a bar. Even without the addition of satellite speakers for surround, the Ambeo uses its tech to throw sound around your space with full Dolby Atmos immersion. At times, it sounds so good you might think there are little tiny speakers to flying all around your room.

   

  It's the best-sounding bar we’ve ever heard. It doesn't matter if you're listening to Netflix Originals or your favorite music, the Ambeo offers rich, detailed sound. It’s not for the budget-conscious, sure, but it doesn’t have to be: This is creme-de-la-creme of compact home theater audio, and much like LG, Samsung, and Sony can use exceptional image quality to convince people to shell out thousands for their flagship TVs, Sennheiser’s Ambeo does the same with sound.

   

  Inputs: 3 HDMI ports (one ARC), optical, RCA, Bluetooth, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Google Chromecast built-in

   

  $2,500 at Sennheiser

  $2,500 at Best Buy

 

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  Photograph: Best Buy

  These Didn't Quite Make the Cut

  They're OK, but Not Great

   

  There are a lot of great soundbars out there, and we don't have room to feature them all. Here are some other great models.

   

  Sonos Playbar Is an Excellent (Older) Sonos Bar: Sonos is replacing this Playbar with the new Arc soundbar, but if you see a Playbar for less than $400, it's still a very nice soundbar that can outpower the Beam, and it will connect to the Sonos ecosystem.

   

  JBL Link Bar ($250) Is a Decent Google Soundbar: The JBL Link Bar is a great Google Assistant alternative to the Yamaha YAS-109, which has Alexa. It has a wide soundstage and a massive array of inputs—and built-in Android TV. On the downside, the response time of its Google voice assistant is especially slow, and Google's Android TV is much clunkier than Roku or Fire TV. This model does not have Amazon Prime and our unit ran out of internal storage after installing only a half-dozen apps. It's a fun soundbar, but wait for it to go on sale.

   

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  Photograph: Amazon

  Get Hooked Up

  Properly Connect Your Soundbar

   

  We've included a list of connectivity features next to every soundbar on our list. The vast majority of soundbars will connect to your TV best via optical or HDMI cables—HDMI being preferable in most cases.

   

  If your TV and soundbar both have an HDMI-ARC port (looks like HDMI, but labeled ARC), try connecting that way. It will allow you to use your TV remote for volume. Also make sure CEC is enabled. Use an Optical cable only if HDMI isn't available.

   

  Finally, check your TV audio menus to make sure your TV's internal speakers are set to off (so you don't get any weird audio fluttering), and find the best spots to place your speakers and sub.

 

Source: The Best Soundbars for Every Budget (Wired)

[straycat19]

Notice that none of the soundbars reviewed are from Samsung and I just bought one of those, the RM50, for my girlfriend.  For $200 it has 290w and a separate bass speaker.  Works well with her Samsung TV.