Best soundbar under $ 200 / $ 200: best cheap soundbar for the money

Best soundbar under $ 200 / $ 200: best cheap soundbar for the money
No matter how good a TV you buy, sound quality will always be a big concern. Whether you buy an OLED TV or buy something cheaper like a TCL or Vizio, few TVs will be able to produce enough high-quality sound to fill the room. This is where sound bars come in. While some soundbars can cost thousands of dollars, like the Creative X-Fi Sonic Carrier and the Sennheiser Ambeo 3D Soundbar, there are plenty of good-sounding options that cost a tenth of the price. That's what this guide is for. Over the years we've tested hundreds of "bars" which gives us a pretty good idea of ​​which ones reduce noise and offer great sound at a good price. Below are the best soundbars under $200 / $200 that improve the sound of your entertainment center without breaking the bank.

Best soundbar under € 200 / € 200 at a glance

  • Sony HT-MT300
  • Roku smart soundbar
  • Vizio SB362An-F6
  • Razer Leviathan
  • Yamaha YAS-108
  • (Image credit: Sony)

    1. Sony HT-MT300

    The benchmark for affordable 2.1ch soundbars

    Speaker configuration: 2.1 | Claimed Audio Power: 25W / 20W | Connections: USB, analog, optical and Bluetooth. Simple to set up and use It's well balanced Compact form factor No HDMI ARC Most people just want a soundbar that works and sounds great, and Sony's entry-level HT-MT300 soundbar does exactly that. For $200 / £200, you get a compact soundbar that fits in almost any home theater and a wireless sub you can place under your sofa to really feel the bass. The Sony HT-MT300 soundbar consists of two parts: a compact soundbar that measures 50 x 5.4 x 10.3 cm (W x H x D) and a slim subwoofer that you can slide under your sofa to feel every thump and explosion. The Sony HT-MT300 soundbar punches well above its weight with movies and music, especially when watching action-packed movies and even at moderately low levels. With the subwoofer turned at 75%, the HT-MT300 managed to rock our living room when the rocket was launched at Interstellar. Music also sounds great from the Sony HT-MT300, although we want a bigger, more immersive soundstage. The two woofers in the soundbar are fairly close together, so physics works against the soundbar when it comes to stereo separation. For the most part, the Sony HT-MT300 is a winner, keeping it simple and focusing on the things that matter: sound and ease of use. Read the full review: Sony HT-MT300

    (Image credit: Roku)

    2. Roku smart soundbar

    Roku Smart Soundbar Will Improve Your TV Audio Problems And Outdated Smart Platform

    Speaker configuration: 2.0 | Claimed Audio Power: N/A | Connections: USB, HDMI 2.0 output, optical, and Bluetooth HDMI ARC Integrated 4K Roku player No HDMI input ports Narrow soundstage The Roku Smart Soundbar is an attempt to solve two of the biggest problems plaguing homeowners TVs for a long time: horrible sound and outdated smart TV interfaces, with an elegant solution. These are problems that other manufacturers like JBL and Anker are trying to solve with products like the JBL Link Bar and Nebula Sound Bar, but the Roku model is the only one that offers Roku TV, which is a definite plus considering the platform advantages. Out of the box, the Roku Smart Soundbar is a pretty basic 2.0 soundbar. There's a front mesh that hides the drivers and wraps around the front of the soundbar, and a matte black plastic top with a Roku badge. For its price and design, we think the soundbar does quite well. There's no problem making noise and filling small to medium-sized rooms, and the volume doesn't crackle or distort at any time. It has worker-like performance, which is a clear increase over 10W TV speakers, but it lacks the clarity and dimensionality of soundbars that cost just a few hundred dollars. Plus. You can add some to that by bundling the Smart Soundbar with the Roku Smart Subwoofer ($179.99) and Roku TV Wireless Speakers ($199.99), but that's a pretty big investment for a system that doesn't have Dolby Atmos. Read the full review: Roku Smart Soundbar

    (Image credit: Cliff Joseph)

    3.Vizio SB362An-F6

    Impressive sound upgrade for your TV at a great price

    Speaker configuration: 2.0 | Claimed Audio Power: N/A | Connections: analog, optical and Bluetooth. Powerful and dramatic sound. Dolby Audio and DTS Virtual:X No dedicated tweeters No HDMI The key feature of the SB362An-F6, also called a "2.1-inch 36 soundbar" on most retail websites, is its excellent value for money, which it's just €149 in the UK. and €99 even more competitive. in the United States, where it launched late last year. Despite the bargain price, the SB362An-F6 is thoughtfully crafted, measuring 36 inches wide and 2 inches tall and 5,2 inches deep (914xx52x133mm). It will sit comfortably under the screen of most TVs, and Vizio also includes a pair of wall-mount brackets. Inside the main unit, the soundbar houses four main drivers, with a pair of 2.6-inch (67.8mm) wide-band woofers and two 3.0-inch (76,2mm) subwoofers, though the subwoofers benefit from a further backed up by two passive radiators that help add even more bass rumble. Some people may prefer separate tweeters to handle vocals and higher frequencies, especially if you want to use the soundbar for music listening too, but the low cost of the SB362An-F6 means there needs to be a compromise here. These passive radiators sometimes get a little carried away, exaggerating the rumble of the bass instead of keeping it tight and accurate. And, when switching to Bluetooth to stream music from a Tidal account, the lack of tweeters reveals a weakness in some of these queen harmonies on Somebody To Love. However, this Bluetooth option is handy to have, and the SB362An-F6 will be perfect for listening to a few tunes when you're collapsing on the sofa during the summer heat wave. Read the full review: Vizio SB362An-F6

    (Image credit: Razer)

    4. Razer Leviathan

    A solid 2.1ch soundbar for gamers who want to enhance their PC sound

    Speaker configuration: 2.1 | Claimed Audio Power: 30W | Connections: analog, optical and Bluetooth. Includes a subwoofer Lots of inputs Dicey subwoofer jack Limited surround sound Just when you think you really know a business, it shuts down and unleashes something completely out of left field. Take Razer: historically, he was a stylus peddler and the king of keyboards. He only looks at the venerable Razer BlackWidow Ultimate or Razer DeathAdder Chroma. The $199 Leviathan ($159, AU$279) is a lot for Razer. This is Razer's first soundbar, mostly, but also the first step from it into your living room and the consoles that live there. It's the first Razer product that can directly interface with your Xbox One and PS4 through its optical audio input port, as well as your PC or TV through an auxiliary input. Best described as a mid-size, all-black soundbar, the Leviathan measures 19.7 x 3 x 2.8 inches (W x H x D) and costs around £4.5. Don't let its dimensions put it off, it's similar in size to other entry-level soundbars and produces more than enough sound to make up for its diminutive stature. Aside from some balance issues, the overall sound quality of the Leviathan is good, regardless of which input you decide to use. The Dolby Pro Logic II codec will transform any signal (analog, optical or Bluetooth) into simulated 5.1 surround sound. However, it must be simulated, as the unit is a shy conductor of true 5.1 sound. However, the effect is very weak and anyone used to using a true 5.1 surround sound setup will notice the lack of separate left and right channels. Read the full review: Razer Leviathan

    (Image credit: Yamaha)

    5.Yamaha YAS-108

    Yamaha's entry-level sound bar has everything you need at a price that's hard to beat < p class="specs__container">Speaker configuration: 2.0 | Claimed Audio Power: 30W | Connections: HDMI, analog, optical and Bluetooth Slim profile with integrated woofers. DTS Virtual:X No external subwoofer No multicast capability Although a bit basic, the Yamaha YAS-108 is a solid choice for people looking for a basic two-channel soundbar with good sound quality, especially in the mid-range. . Why people love it, is that it is surprisingly compact and yet offers great clarity. Throw in Bluetooth support and Alexa integration, and the result is a solid entry-level bar for most people. Sure, if it had an external subwoofer for more powerful, multicast bass response like the rest of the Yamaha range, that would be better, but for under $200/$200, we'll take what we can get.