Struggling to find a cheap soundbar under $200 / $200 that sounds good? You are not alone, unfortunately. No matter how good a television you buy, sound quality will always be a major concern. Whether you pay for 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 a 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 great-sounding options that cost a tenth of the price. This is the purpose of this guide. 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 sub-$200/$200 soundbars that enhance the sound of your entertainment center without breaking the bank. We expect to see a number of great soundbar deals during Prime Day 2021. Stay tuned for upcoming deals, as there's a good chance that at least one of the soundbars on the list below will see a substantial price drop.
The best soundbars under € 200 / € 200
(Image credit: Vizio)
1. Vizio V-Series 2.1 Channel Soundbar
The best soundbar under $ 200, period
Features Speaker Configuration: 2.1 Claimed Audio Power: 25W/20W Connections: USB, Analog, Optical, HDMI ARC, and Bluetooth TODAY'S BEST DEALS Reasons to Buy
- Excellent audio quality + Easy setup + Simple design + Economical
Reasons to Avoid -No built-in assistant The Vizio V-Series 2.1-Channel Soundbar is living proof that you don't have to pay more than $200 for a great-sounding soundbar. But at such a low price, it's almost unthinkable that Vizio wouldn't have to cut corners. The result is a soundbar that may not be feature-rich, but it offers one area that really matters: sound quality. The Vizio V-Series 2.1-Channel Sound Bar comes with a subwoofer that connects to the bar wirelessly, and it's also relatively sleek and stylish. It's another black box, with a power button and bass port on the back. There isn't much you can do with the subwoofer other than find a place to put it and plug it in, after which it will automatically connect to the bar and you can forget about it. The soundbar sounds great in a variety of different settings, from watching TV shows and movies to just listening to music. Whether we were watching something explosive and action-packed, like Avengers: Endgame, or something a little more toned, like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, the soundbar delivered well-separated sound with enough detail to keep things interesting. Vizio has been a budget and mid-range champion for a few years now, and the V Series 2.1-channel soundbar is a perfect example. The soundbar is relatively straightforward, but if you're on a budget under $200 and want to upgrade your TV's built-in speakers, you can't do better than this. Read the full review: Vizio V-Series 2.1 Channel Soundbar
(Image credit: Sony)
2. Sony HT-MT300
It's a bit older, but it's still the benchmark for affordable 2.1-channel soundbars.
Features Speaker configuration: 2.1 Claimed audio power: 25 W / 20 W Connections: USB, analog, optical and Bluetooth TODAY'S BEST DEALS
Reasons to buy
- Easy to set up and use + Well balanced sound + Compact form factor
Reasons to Avoid -No HDMI ARC Most people just want a soundbar that works and sounds great and Sony's HT-MT300 entry-level soundbar does just that. For $200 / £200 you get a compact soundbar that fits in almost any home theater, and a wireless subwoofer that you can place under your sofa to really feel the bass. The Sony HT-MT300 sound bar consists of two parts: there's a compact sound bar 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 hit and blast. 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 75% mounted, the HT-MT300 managed to rock our living room during the rocket launch at Interstellar. Music also sounds great with the Sony HT-MT300, although we wanted a bigger, more immersive soundstage. The soundbar's two woofers are pretty close together, so physics plays 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)
3. Roku smart soundbar
Roku Smart Soundbar Will Improve Your TV Audio Problems And Outdated Smart Platform
Features Speaker Configuration: 2.0 Claimed Audio Power: N/A Connections: USB, HDMI 2.0 output, Optical, and Bluetooth TODAY'S BEST DEALS Reasons to buy
- HDMI ARC + Integrated 4K Roku Player
Reasons to avoid
- No HDMI input ports - Narrow soundstage
Roku's smart soundbar is an attempt to solve two of the biggest problems that have long plagued TV owners - horrible sound and outdated smart TV interfaces - with an elegant solution. These are issues that other manufacturers like JBL and Anker are trying to address with products like the JBL Link Bar and Nebula Soundbar, but Roku's model is the only one that Roku TV offers, which is an advantage, true given the strengths of the platform. . Right 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 face of the soundbar, and a matte black plastic top with a Roku badge. For its price and design, we think the soundbar performs decently. It has no problem making noise and filling small to medium-sized rooms, and the volume doesn't really crackle or warp at any time. It has a working performance that's a vast improvement over 10W TV speakers, but it lacks the clarity and dimensionality of soundbars that only cost a few hundred bucks more. You can add more 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)
4.Vizio SB362An-F6
Impressive sound enhancement for your TV, at a great price
Features Speaker Configuration: 2.0 Claimed Audio Power: N/A Connections: Analog, Optical, and Bluetooth TODAY'S BEST DEALS
Reasons to buy
- Powerful and dramatic sound + Dolby Audio and DTS Virtual: X
Reasons to Avoid -No dedicated tweeters -No HDMI The main feature of the SB362An-F6, also known as the '2.1-inch 36 soundbar' on most retailer websites, really is its value, costing only € 149 in the UK and an even more competitive price of €99. in the US, where it launched late last year. Despite the big price tag, the SB362An-F6 is thoughtfully crafted, measuring 36 inches wide, 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 mounts. Inside the main unit, the soundbar houses four main speakers, with a pair of 2,6-inch (67,8mm) full-range woofers and two 3,0-inch (76,8mm) subwoofers (2 mm), though the subwoofers benefit from additional backup from 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 has to be a tradeoff. These passive radiators sometimes get a little carried away, exaggerating the low-end rumble rather than keeping it tight and precise. And, when switching to Bluetooth to stream music from a Tidal account, the lack of tweeters reveals weakness in some of those high-pitched Queen harmonies on Somebody To Love. However, it's handy to have this Bluetooth option, and the SB362An-F6 will be perfect for just listening to some tunes when you're sprawled on the couch during the summer heat wave. Read the full review: Vizio SB362An-F6
(Image credit: Yamaha)
5.Yamaha YAS-108
Yamaha's entry-level soundbar has everything you need at a price that's hard to beat
Features Speaker Configuration: 2.0 Claimed Audio Power: 30W Connections: HDMI, Analog, Optical, and Bluetooth TODAY'S BEST DEALS Reasons to Buy
- Slim profile with integrated woofers + Virtual DTS: X
Reasons to avoid
- No external subwoofer - No multicast capabilities
Although it's 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 midrange. The reason people love it is that it is surprisingly compact and provides great clarity. Throw in Bluetooth support and Alexa integration, and the result is a solid entry-level bar for most people. Of course, if it had an external subwoofer for meatier, multi-cast bass response like the rest of Yamaha's lineup, that would be better, but for under $200/$200 we'll take what we can get.
(Image credit: Creative)
6. Creative Step v2
Creative Stage v2 is suitable for small rooms
Features Speaker configuration: 2.1 Claimed audio power: 30W Connections: HDMI, optical input, 3,5mm jack and USB-C TODAY'S BEST DEALS Reasons to buy
- Clear sound for dialogue + Easy to set up
Reasons to avoid
- Not suitable for large rooms - May sound a bit flat for music
For anyone looking for a soundbar for their small studio or even a college dorm room, the Creative Stage v2 is a great option. It's pretty compact, comes with a subwoofer, and is a huge improvement over your TV's speakers. Plus, at just over $100, it's an affordable upgrade to your viewing experience. So why isn't it higher? Unfortunately, it is too small for...