Best Soundbars Under $200

There is nothing worse than settling down to watch your favorite film and being let down by poor sound quality, is there? 

Who wants to hear the muffled, ‘I am Iron Man,’ when we could be treated to Tony Stark at full blast. Explosions, car crashes, and favorite songs sound so much better on good quality speakers. 

And why shouldn’t you be able to have that at home? Soundbars are becoming increasingly common in homes across the country.

They are easy to install with your TV and often provide a more resonant sound than our paper-thin TV screens.

But how do you know which is the best? Especially when you are on a budget. Finding the best soundbars under $200 can feel like a never-ending challenge. 

But that’s where I come swooping in to save the day, Avenger style.

This guide will take you through the best soundbars under $200, with a helpful buyer’s guide to help you make your choice and an FAQ section for any questions you may have!

In a hurry? Check out my top pick to grab your soundbar and get the base pumping. 

Top 5 Best Sound Bars Under $200

MY TOP PICK

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EDITORS CHOICE

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BEST VALUE

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OUR TOP PICK

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For those after outstanding sound quality that will enhance your home theater experience, Polk’s TV soundbar could be the one for you! 

Sitting at the top of the budget, the ultra-slim bar comes with a wireless subwoofer!

The subwoofer will enhance the bass of your sounds and create a listening experience like no other.

The subwoofer is compact and can be neatly stored on the floor next to your TV unit. It provides a subtle bass that will be enjoyable and fill most medium-sized rooms well. 

The bar measures just over 2-inches tall and is suitable for almost every space. Its slim design means it won’t block your TV’s bottom edge or remote sensor and can even be wall-mounted to save even more space!

Polk uses its exclusive voice adjust technology and Dolby Digital Decoding to maximize sound clarity and reduce voice delays for a seamless audio and video experience. 

The sound quality is on par with mid to high range soundbars available on the market, providing you with excellent audio and outstanding value for money.

You get different settings for movie, music, or night audio, alternate volume rockers for the soundbar and subwoofer, allowing you to adjust the sound to suit you. Three different ‘clear voice’ settings are to be used for TV and movies. 

The bar will connect to a wide range of TVs, including 4k HD Smart TVs. Polk’s soundbar boasts HDMI, ARC, optical input, and AUX connection ports for you to connect your devices. There is no WiFi or virtual surround sound features, but the sound quality more than makes up for that!

The soundbar also allows you to stream music wirelessly from streaming apps like Spotify from your phone, tablet, or compatible device.

The bar uses it’s built-in Bluetooth technology to do this, allowing for an easy connection. 

Some customers found the included remote a little challenging to use as the angle needs to hit the remote sensor.

However, you can control your sound through the TV, and it’s remote, so you should not need to worry about this. 

The entire soundbar is easy to use, and you can be set up in minutes. The subwoofer, HDMI, and optical cables are connected to your TV, and within minutes, you can be listening to your favorite music. 

Customers found the sound quality to be excellent for the price. They found little to no distortion when playing music or film.

For those looking for superior sound quality and minimal setup, this soundbar from Polk is the one for you! 

Pros

  • It comes with a wireless subwoofer. 
  • Amazing sound quality 
  • Allows you to stream music from streaming apps wirelessly. 
  • Quick and easy set up.
  • Reasonably priced

Cons

  • Some customers found the remote difficult to use

More time to browse? Check out my other great options below.

EDITORS CHOICE

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Bose’s Solo 5 soundbar is an excellent option for those after clear sound quality for music and dialogue! 

At the top of the price point, but still a bargain, the Solo 5 works to deliver clear audio your TV speakers often fail to provide.

The dialogue mode provides clarity and makes every word and detail stand out. Never again will you miss a plot defining line! 

The soundbar features Bluetooth allowing you to connect your devices and stream music with ease.

The connection on the Bose 5 is fantastic; with just one wire, you are connected to your TV and ready to go! The soundbar boasts an optical input, coaxial audio input, and an AUX input. It’s worth noting that there is no HDMI cable with this soundbar. 

The Bose 5 works with a universal remote to control your speakers, DVD player, TV, and other connected devices.

You can control the bass levels separately, allowing you to tailor the sound to your desires. It is compatible with HDTVs to bring you the superior sound quality you have previously missed out on. 

Some customers found that the soundbar would be better suited to a smaller sized room, as the sound struggled to fill larger or open-plan rooms. This can be a common issue with soundbars or sound systems in general. 

Customers praised the soundbar’s sound quality, particularly the dialogue mode, which allows the dialogue and music/effects in the film to be heard perfectly.

The wall mounting feature was also enjoyed by customers, making the soundbar even more compact and easy to use. 

For those after good sound and crystal clear dialogue, the Bose 5 soundbar is the one for you! 

Pros

  • Reasonably priced 
  • Universal remote controls your TV, bass, Bluetooth, and more! 
  • Dialogue mode enhances film and tv watching.
  • One connection to your TV for easy setup
  • Can wirelessly stream music from your device

Cons

  • Customers found it more suitable for a smaller room.

BEST VALUE

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Samsung’s T450 soundbar is an excellent option for those who are after enhanced sounds. Featuring Dolby Audio, this soundbar takes audio quality to the next level without breaking the bank. 

You get a separate wireless subwoofer with the soundbar, providing you with rich and deep bass for your music and films.

The soundbar also features smart sound technology. The soundbar will detect what you are watching and automatically optimizes the sound to ensure the best quality for you. Welcome to the future! 

What’s great about this soundbar is the game mode feature, which optimizes gaming when a console is connected.

It offers a clear directional sound that is sure to enhance your gameplay. Gameplay mode works with Xbox One, PS4, and  Nintendo Switch only. 

The soundbar connects to your TV via Bluetooth and features no additional cabling, saving you the snake-like mess behind the TV!

It means that the soundbar will not be compatible with all TV’s, but it’s an excellent choice for those with smart TV’s. 

The T450 features a one control remote, which can control your TV, as well as the soundbar. This feature only works with selected Samsung TV’s; it is worth checking if yours is compatible before purchasing. 

Customers were impressed with the fantastic sound quality and how easy it was to set up. Thanks to the lack of wires, the soundbar took as little as five minutes to set up!

Many referred to it as the best sound for the budget. However, it is let down by the lack of audio ports. 

If you are after a Bluetooth soundbar that will work wirelessly and enhance your TV experience, then Samsung’s soundbar is the one for you. 

Pros

  • Reasonably priced 
  • The wireless subwoofer provides rich and deep bass. 
  • The smart sound feature provides the best sound for what you are watching. 
  • Game mode optimizes sound and boasts clear directional sound. 
  • It connects to your TV via  Bluetooth instead of cables.

Cons

  • There is no HDMI or additional optical inputs.

RUNNER UP

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For those looking for excellent sound quality without blowing the budget, the Yamaha YAS 108 is the one for you! 

The YAS 108 features dual-built in subwoofers to deliver deep bass without compromising the soundbar’s sleek design.

Some customers found that the built-in subwoofers provided little additional bass to their music or films. 

There is a noticeable bass, but it caused the bar to vibrate and sound slightly distorted if turned up too loud.

For those who don’t want too much bass or are concerned about disturbing neighbors, this should not be an issue for you. 

The soundbar features DTS Virtual:X virtual 3D surround sound, which provides a surround sound style of audio along with the subwoofers. It creates a more spacious and lifelike sound, without the added cost a usual surround system would bring. 

The clear voice feature provides an enhanced vocal frequency to ensure dialogue can be heard in your films and TV shows. Ever found yourself having to turn the volume up just to hear a whisper of conversation? The clear voice feature should put an end to that! 

The YAS 108 can be wall-mounted and features HDMI, digital optical, and stereo mini inputs to connect to your TV with ease.

It also has Bluetooth allowing you to connect your devices and stream music with ease. The YAS 108 lets you switch between two devices when connected to the Bluetooth easily, giving you more flexibility than ever before. 

The soundbar features separate treble and bass control, bass boost, and other standard features that come on a soundbar.

The touch controls on the top of the soundbar are excellent, and the remote is easy to use, allowing you to control the speaker and subwoofer volume separately. 

Customers enjoyed the sound quality overall, especially being able to adjust the subwoofer volume separately.

It’s an excellent soundbar for those after something quick to set up and easy to use without compromising on sound quality!

Pros

  • Features a built-in subwoofer 
  • Clear voice allows for enhanced dialogue clarity. 
  • Bluetooth streaming allows switching between two devices.
  • Quick and easy to set up
  • Features Virtual 3D surround sound

Cons

  • Some customers found the subwoofer did not perform very well.

RUNNER UP

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For those on a tight budget, the Majority Bowfell small soundbar is an excellent option to go for! 

Although small in size, the soundbar with a built-in subwoofer packs a mean punch. It features improved sound drivers, enhanced HD sound quality, and built-in subwoofers.

The subwoofers provide a deep and rich sound that is surprising when you see the bar’s small and slim size. 

The small but mighty bar works to deliver cinematic style sound at home. Some customers found that the bar did not supply as much bass sound as they would like, but it is an excellent option for those on a bargain. 

You can connect the soundbar to your TV, including Smart TV’s using an RCA, optical cable, Bluetooth, USB, or AUX connection.

The bar comes with RCA, optical, and AUX cables ready for you to plug in and go. 

The soundbar also comes with a remote, allowing you to adjust the treble and bass settings.

Depending on your current TV and remote you may also be able to control it with a universal remote, saving you time switching between them. 

Customers were pleased with the sound quality in general, finding that they performed better than their TV speakers.

The soundbar provides excellent volume for a small to mid-sized room, although it does have fewer features than others included in this list. 

Pros

  • Very affordable 
  • Built-in subwoofer 
  • Can connect to TV and devices via Bluetooth for streaming purposes. 
  • Wide range of input connections including USB, AUX. RCA and optical. 
  • The bass and treble settings can be adjusted separately.

Cons

  • Bass sounds not as strong as some customers would like.

Best Sound Bars Under $200 Buying Guide

Not too sure what you need from your soundbar? My handy buyer’s guide will help you through that process. 

Connections matter?

When it comes to your soundbar, you want to make sure it will connect to your TV.

They will generally be universal, but it is vital to make sure that the soundbar supports these if you have an HD or 4K TV. 

It is not just enhanced picture quality with an HD TV but also better sound, and you don’t want to lose that through your soundbar. 

HDMI ARC or HDMI eARC is the better soundbar connection option to use. They are well supported newer TVs and can support the higher quality sound and advanced audio formats available. Often these are also able to be controlled by one remote without needing to program the remote. 

Optical audio connections are offered on almost all soundbars but often cannot carry sounds over 5.1 surround sound.

That is where an eARC would be a better connection option. They can have a higher price tag on time, though. An eARC will provide high-quality audio and alleviate any sound delay and sync issues between your TV and soundbar. 

An eARC will only work if your TV supports this, so it is essential to check this when looking for your soundbar. 

Added extras?

Soundbars are great for providing all you need in one compact bar, but it’s always nice to get a little extra, isn’t it?

Most soundbars will come with the necessary cables allowing you to connect to your TV quickly and easily.

Depending on the brand, they may also come with remotes; it is worth looking for those that offer universal remotes or will be compatible with universal remotes. These soundbars can then be controlled by one remote, saving you hassle every time you turn on the TV. 

WiFi or integrated Alexa are newer features that are also available on soundbars.

These can sometimes take you out of the $200 budget, but these are excellent additions if you can find them. They allow you to voice control your soundbar and have increased connectivity. 

It is also worth looking for soundbars that come with additional subwoofers or built-in subwoofers. These are great for enhancing the bass in films and music without the additional cost of purchasing an additional subwoofer.

It is worth checking the reviews and researching these, as often these built-in subwoofers add little depth to the sound. 

How much?

When it comes to soundbars, the price can vary dramatically. In this article, I have already set a price limit of $200.

This price still may be out of your budget, but fear not, for there are many great options that are still affordable. 

It is crucial to have a budget in mind and stick to it as best as possible. Remember that you don’t need to spend a fortune to get excellent audio quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Get your last-minute questions answered here! 

Do I need a separate subwoofer?

For those who love a deep bass, subwoofers provide that and can be an integral part of a sound system.

You do not necessarily need a separate subwoofer with your soundbar, although if you have the budget, it is worth considering purchasing one. 

A subwoofer will enhance your sound quality but can be a costly addition. It is worth looking for soundbars that come with additional subwoofers or a  subwoofer built-in to save some money.

As time progresses, you can always add to your soundbar if you feel it needs an extra boost.

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