It’s time to improve the sound of your living room. Here’s our selection of the best budget soundbar and subwoofer, affordable, available right now.
The best Soundbar on the market today is produced by Deli, Yamaha, Philips and Sonos for high-end models. The high-end models on the market today also allow the use of the most advanced new technologies such as Dolby Atmos. Sony, Bose and Samsung for the affordable range with the best value for money. The Soundbar is an audio speaker to be connected to the TV to get clearer, more powerful and directional sounds. Are you wondering what is the best budget soundbar and subwoofer to buy? In this buying guide, we will see how to choose it and which are the best soundbar and subwoofers on the market.
Also, read our other guides on the best portable wireless speakers, high-end speakers, Bluetooth party speakers with bass, and the best budget PC speakers.
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What are the benefits of a soundbar?
Among the advantages of the soundbar, there is not only a powerful sound, but also several other functions that completely change the audio experience.
Let’s start with the simplicity of installation. The soundbar is very easy to install. It is made up of a small and handy structure and can be connected to the TV with a simple cable.
The ability to better follow the dialogues of the films thanks to the clear voice technology, without having to raise the volume too much in correspondence with a dialogue that is lower than the other sound effects, and the function Night, which limits only some classes of sounds, allowing a clear listening in the room, without disturbing neighbors and roommates.
Another important aspect is multiservice connectivity. Some types of soundbars also support mp3 players, smartphones, consoles or other devices and thus work as multi-function speakers.
How to choose a budget soundbar: types and characteristics?
Let’s see the most important features that we need to be able to choose the best soundbar.
Structure
The budget soundbar can be composed of a single piece, usually horizontal, to be placed under the TV. It is the best choice for those who do not have much space. Among these, we can find a soundbar without a subwoofer, which can be added separately, or a soundbar with an integrated subwoofer.
Subwoofer
The subwoofer serves to improve audio quality, especially with the reproduction or serious sound. The external subwoofer can already be included with the soundbar, or it can be purchased separately later, in this case, it is necessary to check its compatibility. The connection of an external subwoofer can be done via cable or wireless.
Home theater
In addition to the soundbar, you can buy more speakers to be placed in different places in the room, just like the classic home theater system, and get a real surround sound.
Active or passive soundbar
Buying an active soundbar means obtaining a complete soundbar with all the components in a single object with the exception of the possibility of adding external speakers or subwoofers. In short, the soundbar is ready to use, just connect it to the TV and follow the installation instructions. Among the active soundbars, the simplest and most essential ones are commonly called entry-level soundbar.
On the contrary, a passive soundbar provides for the choice of different components by the purchaser who will have to decide which speakers to install and connect the whole system to himself. This choice is naturally dedicated to the most experienced who are able to evaluate the audio quality and choose the appropriate equipment.
Connectivity
Usually, the connection of the soundbar to the TV is very simple, more and more often entrusted to a single cable. Bluetooth is very useful for connecting to other devices, especially when you want to install external speakers or subwoofers. The Wi-Fi or NFC connections are instead dedicated to other devices such as smartphones, tablets or mp3 players that will allow you to take advantage of the soundbar to the best of its potential.
Compatibility
If we have the last generation TV it will be easier to connect the soundbar and enjoy all its benefits. If, on the other hand, we are thinking of enhancing a television that is already a few years old, it is worth considering compatibility in terms of connections. The best soundbar in fact, in addition to boasting new devices Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, will also be equipped with various types of connections including the classic jack for RCA connection, AUX, an optical connection, HDMI output, and so on.
The 6 best sound bars quality price
Currently, the models of the famous companies LG and Samsung are those that offer better products in this sector. However, Bose has opened a gap with his Solo 5 model that has not only allowed him to enter very competitive terrain but also to become one of the most outstanding. Are you ready? Let’s start then.
Also, see the best soundbars from Bose.
Yamaha YAS-107BL Sound Bar with Dual Built-In Subwoofers
There are several reasons why you might be interested in this Yamaha soundbar. Starting from the affordable cost to all budgets, it is ideal for those who want to spend as little as possible for such a device but without sacrificing the quality that remains very high and the Japanese house, moreover, is a guarantee in this regard.
In addition to the excellent relationship between performance and price, this soundbar has met with great success in sales and appreciation among consumers for the minimum occupied space. It is, in fact, a very thin model, compact and without an external subwoofer, the ideal for those with limited space available in the hall.
The design is not only compact and ultra-thin but also very elegant. If you have the TV mounted on the wall you can install the soundbar just below, ensuring a dramatic effect of sure impact.
+ PROS
- Exceptionally clean and clear dialog
- HDMI 2.0a support, with 4K UHD HDR passthrough
- Preamp subwoofer output, so you can add the missing sub
– CONS
- Status lights are small and can only be seen when the soundbar is wall-mounted
- No subwoofer included
- Very basic feature set (apart from HDMI 2.0a)
Discover more and the price here
Budget Soundbar: Samsung HW-J355
This is probably the best economic soundbar in the entry-level range, capable of improving the basic audio offered by the TV. It is one of the best-selling models, first of all, thanks to the really competitive price. If we consider the value for money is one of the best soundbars on the square, although it is not one of the best ever.
The design is simple, but the device comes with a built-in subwoofer that works in an acceptable way on the bass, the “easiest” element to improve compared to what a TV speaker can do. The connection with the unit is via cable.
Also, see the best soundbars with subwoofers from Samsung.
There are no extraordinary features regarding the software, but Clear Voice is supported. It also supports Bluetooth connectivity, so it will be possible to stream audio directly from a tablet or smartphone, and the overall quality is not bad considering the price.
+ PROS
- Multiple input ports
- Wall-mountable design
- Bluetooth connectivity
- 120-watt power output
- Wired 5.25-inch subwoofer
- 37-inch 2.1-channel design
- Reasonably priced
– CONS
- Lagging issues
Discover more and the price here
Budget Soundbar: Philips Fidelio B5
This is another best budget soundbar and subwoofer to buy now. The Philips Fidelio B5 is an exceptional kit, it is almost the perfect soundbar for those interested in obtaining a good quality sound similar to that of the cinema, but that has no interest in completely distorting the living room to install a 5.1 surround sound system from use only occasionally. The B5 is a good quality audio bar and is able to recreate a rather satisfying surround sound experience using both Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS Digital Surround decoding.
The mix of comfort and sound of good quality and the ability to recreate a surround sound, make the Fidelio B5 a good choice for all those who are passionate about cinema, but who do not have the possibility of mounting a 5.1 sound system.
+ PROS
- Instant surround sound
- Versatile Bluetooth speakers
- Easy to use
– CONS
- Massive as a single bar
- Quite pricey
- Weak stereo sound
Discover more and the price here
Q Acoustics M4 Soundbar with Built-In Subwoofer
The Q Acoustics M4 soundbar will probably look a bit ‘trivial, will have only 2.1 audio and will not have any HDMI port, but has a quality of reproduction of music and movies that soon forget these small defects. The M4, in fact, emits a very good sound and is proof that in this price range it is useless to look for a soundbar that has more channels.
This soundbar sounds much better than any other competing soundbar in the same price range and is one of the best quality-price soundbars available on the market, especially if the use you make of it will be to listen to music and watch movies.
+ PROS
- Potent, vigorous sound with excellent composure
- Hard-hitting, natural bass
- Solid build quality
– CONS
- No HDMI sockets
- Ungainly design
- Cheap remote
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LG 4.1 Channel Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer
This is another best budget soundbar and subwoofer to buy now. The LG SH7B is a good soundbar from all points of view. The features that complement it and the good sound quality make it a good choice for those with limited space. The quality of music playback and surround sound are not amazing, but they are still good in relation to the price of this audio bar.
Also, see the best Soundbars with subwoofers from LG.
It’s really easy to install because the subwoofer is wireless, but Android users may have some problems due to the LG app, which is full of errors. The sound quality is acceptable considering the cost, but, on the high end, the traditional speakers remain superior in terms of sound clarity. However, if you are looking for a soundbar to which you can connect any type of support, the LG SH7B is a great choice.
+ PROS
- Flexible connectivity
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi streaming
- Powerful sound with clear dialogue reproduction
– CONS
- Middling music quality
- The subwoofer crossover is set a bit low
Discover more and the price here
Best Budget Soundbar and Subwoofer: Panasonic SCHTB70
The innovative design of this flat and elegant soundbar impresses with its accurate workmanship and good sound quality.
This is a 2.1, with two front elements of 60W each and one dedicated to the bass, the 130W subwoofer.
It supports the system of high-definition sound reproduction thanks to Dolby Digital, Pro Logic and Virtual Speaker, abbreviations that indicate the good quality in the reproduction of audio both the videos and of the musical pieces to be listened to directly from the soundbar.
The compatible playback formats are the main ones, and the presence of a good wireless system supported by Bluetooth and NFC technology makes it easy to connect without cables with compatible devices. This is a soundbar that combines good sound performance and ease of connection with compatible devices.
+ PROS
- Compact design for limited space
- Four angles to deliver sound based on your setup
– CONS
- Subwoofer lacks power
- Indicator lights near useless
- The sound quality is subpar
Discover more and the price here
Best Budget Soundbar and Subwoofer: Sonos PLAYBAR
Sonos Playbar is probably the best budget soundbar and subwoofer under 1,000 dollars. The particular design makes this device also appreciable as an item of furniture, but it is inside that we find the most interesting elements.
This Sonos home solution connects directly to our router and is easily installed via smartphone using the official app for iOS or Android.
This model tends to send the sound around the room creating a very special effect. It lacks the feeling of being “wrapped”, because the sound is not sent directly to us. The advantage is that even if you are not in an ideal position the audio quality will be excellent. In addition, the bass is excellent even without the presence of an additional sub, which you can still add at a later time.
The situation is more than positive for the dialogues, clean, clear, well defined and differentiated by soundtracks and special effects.
+ PROS
- Beautiful sound
- Integrates well into Sonos system
- Can wirelessly add sub and satellites
- Clever audio modes
- Rich, broadly-compatible apps
– CONS
- Not cheap
- Requires particular TVs
- No remote in the box
- Only one input
Discover more and the price here
Conclusions: The best budget soundbar
That’s all for now, friends. In summary, it is not possible to know perfectly how one of the best soundbars will behave in terms of audio quality. But you can have an idea. To check it out, you have to check how many Watts it has in order to establish the power, and if there are additional technologies that could improve the sound quality while using these speakers to watch TV or music. Also, the presence of an integrated or external subwoofer is decisive in the best soundbars, specifically when it comes to bass. Do not forget to share this article with your social friends. Thank you for reading.