Best budget soundbars of 2026

It's no secret that modern TVs don't pass muster when it comes to sound quality. Despite all the wonderful display tech in top TVs, their ultra-thin frames can't support the power, clarity, or articulation needed for a good home audio experience. Luckily, soundbars provide the perfect solution for most folks. And the good news is, you don't need to spend big money to get a big upgrade over your TV's tinny sound. The best budget soundbars can deliver a sizable performance boost without a huge price tag.

After testing dozens of soundbars across price points, my favorite entry-level option is the Vizo 2.1 AIO, which offers full, balanced stereo sound, easy setup, and a slick style for under $200. If you want something even more impactful, the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 5 ups the ante with a wireless subwoofer that complements the bar perfectly for serious cinematic punch. I've also found other budget-friendly models that are perfect for smaller spaces or for people who want immersive Dolby Atmos audio with dedicated upfiring speaker drivers.

All of my recommendations for the best budget soundbars prioritize value, and each has been put through my extensive testing process, informed by over a decade of experience reviewing audio gear.

Our top picks for the best budget soundbars

Best overall: Vizio 2.1 AIO (SV210D-0806) - See at Walmart

Best upgrade pick: Sony Bravia Theater Bar 5 - See at Amazon

Best compact model: Bose Smart Soundbar - See at Amazon

Best for Dolby Atmos: Klipsch Flexus Core 200 - See at Amazon

Best overall

The Vizio AIO (All-in-One) SV210D took me by surprise with its sleek, minimalist design and all-around solid performance, making it the best budget soundbar for anyone who wants a lot for a little. This is a simple, stand-alone stereo soundbar, so you don't get a separate subwoofer, but for the money, it delivers fantastic value.

Its oval-shaped frame, covered in acoustic felt, provides a pleasing design that quietly folds into your decor. The bar's height of just over 2.5 inches means it should fit beneath most TVs, and its 34-inch width makes it easy to place on most consoles. Flanged bass ports at the sides provide some extra oomph, while onboard buttons at the center control Bluetooth pairing, volume, and power.

Connection is swift and simple thanks to HDMI eARC/ARC support, which should let you automatically control basic functions like power and volume with most TV remotes. That's a good thing, since, like a number of newer soundbars, the Vizio AIO doesn't include a dedicated remote. Instead, all major settings and controls are handled by Vizio's app, which provides an intuitive, easy-to-navigate layout, even for tech novices. However, it's worth noting that the soundbar's lack of an optical input means TVs 15 years or older may need an adapter for connection.

When it comes to sound, the Vizio AIO really pulls its 7.5-pound weight, providing big dynamics when called upon, dialogue that's full and clear without sounding strained, and smooth transitions across the bass, midrange, and treble. Bass is relatively subdued in a bar this size, but it's bigger than I expected and easily creams the thin, wispy sound of an average flat-panel TV.

The bar uses a 2-channel configuration for basic left-right audio separation. It also technically supports 3D audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, but since it lacks upfiring audio drivers or surround speakers, it can't fully showcase their benefits. Any immersion in such formats is limited to virtualized digital effects, which aren't very convincing here. If you want a true 3D audio experience, you'll need to upgrade to pricier models like the Bose Smart Soundbar or the Klipsch Flexus Core 200.

The AIO's lack of WiFi limits your streaming options, but its Bluetooth feature is cleverly integrated, letting you wake the bar from sleep with your phone for quick wireless music playback. Limitations aside, the Vizio AIO SV210D performs better than the vast majority of bars I've tested in its class, and even some priced well above it.

Best upgrade pick

It's been a while since I was this enthused about a soundbar with a design as basic as the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 5. The flat, round-cornered bar and matte-black subwoofer aren't exactly glitzy, and while you do get a remote, the bar skimps on basics like included connection cables. But as I've come to expect from Sony, while the package isn't always flashy, it's the sound that writes the checks, and the Bar 5's performance pays off handsomely.

Setup is a cinch, thanks in part to Sony's app, which walks you through the process step by step. Physical connections include HDMI eARC/ARC and an optical port for legacy gear like a CD player or older TV. The app provides additional settings like input swapping and bass control, but you won't find fancy extras like auto-calibration to adjust the sound to your specific room. Luckily, the Bar 5 doesn't need it.

Fire the system up, and you'll be treated to clear, smooth, and musical sound, with clean dialogue from its dedicated center speaker, and potent bass from the included 16-inch tall wireless subwoofer. Perhaps the system's best feature is just how well the bar and sub work together to enable seamless transitions across registers.

The Bar 5 also supports every major audio format, including Dolby Atmos. Like the Vizio AIO, this model lacks upfiring audio drivers and dedicated rear speakers, but the Bar 5's Atmos playback is bolstered by Sony's impressive Sound Field virtual surround feature, which expands the soundstage. It's not as effective as having physical side- or up-firing drivers, but it still does a good job pushing effects beyond the bar's 35-inch profile.

Sticking to its minimalist theme, the Bar 5 lacks WiFi support for streaming via protocols like Spotify Connect and Apple AirPlay, and instead relies solely on Bluetooth. But that's good enough for basic music streaming, which still sounds great thanks to the harmony between the bar and sub, offering smooth bass grooves and lyrical strings and woodwinds. If impressive sound quality on a budget is your guiding star, the Bravia Theater Bar 5 is an excellent choice.

Best compact model

Those looking for a bar with modern features, musical sound, and the high-flying effects of Dolby Atmos in an utterly compact form factor will find it all in the versatile Bose Smart Soundbar. An update of the older Bose Smart 600, the Smart Soundbar's design has remained largely unchanged — on the surface, anyway. Underneath, Bose found intriguing ways to carve out improved performance through digital processing and AI.

The biggest difference is AI dialogue, which reinforces voices, leading to a major upgrade in comprehension and overall clarity. In other words, you're going to hear every word in every film or TV show, no matter how chaotic. Speaking of chaos, the Smart Soundbar's side- and up-firing drivers brilliantly render the dizzying effects of Dolby Atmos films and TV shows, bouncing sound around your room to put you in the center of the action.

The bar's slim profile and convenient 27.3-inch width make it the most compact option in this guide, allowing it to fit into virtually any room or setup. It's an especially good solution for people in apartments. However, there are some drawbacks to this size. Namely, the soundbar struggles to deliver pulse-raising bass in action scenes.

Luckily, thanks to its networking capabilities, you can always add a wireless Bose Base Module (i.e., subwoofer) for more punch or tack on rear speakers for a true surround setup. You can even use Bose's funky clip-on Ultra Open Earbuds as personalized rear surround channels. Of course, those extras will all add significantly to the price, but it's nice that budget shoppers can grab the bar on its own and then upgrade later if they want.

While the Smart Soundbar's primary physical connections are limited to HDMI eARC and optical input, it offers plenty of ways to stream, including support for Apple AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, and Bluetooth. You'll also get Amazon Alexa+ smarts, including voice control and compatibility with Alexa smart products. You'll have a hard time finding a more versatile bar, let alone one at such an accommodating size, making this the perfect option for the modern minimalist who wants to save space.

Visit our guide to all of the best Bose soundbars and best Bose headphones.

Best for Dolby Atmos

If you want to squeeze the most cinematic thrills out of each and every dollar, look no further than the excellent Klipsch Flexus Core 200. Like the Bose Smart Soundbar, the Flexus Core 200 supports Dolby Atmos 3D sound with dedicated upfiring drivers, but the Klipsch is larger and delivers a wider soundfield with bigger bass.

Made from real MDF cabinetry and backed by sibling brand Onkyo's circuitry, the Flexus Core 200 looks and sounds more like a traditional speaker setup than most soundbars. And while I'm generally a soundbar advocate, that's a big compliment.

Klipsch gets the most out of your soundbar budget by betting most of its chips on performance, while sacrificing features like WiFi support and a spare HDMI port. Like a lot of modern bars, there's also no support for DTS audio formats, which is a bummer for those with a large Blu-ray collection. DTS content will still play, but the bar needs to convert it to another format, which could cause a loss in quality.

But make no mistake: this soundbar still provides modern extras, including a dedicated app for setting controls, Bluetooth streaming, and its own flexible connect system (hence the name), letting you add a Klipsch wireless subwoofer and rear surround speakers. In a throwback to older systems, you can also connect a traditional powered subwoofer via a wired connection. That's something you won't find in the vast majority of mainstream soundbars.

As for individual performance, the Flexus Core 200 delivers much bigger bass than Bose's Smart Soundbar thanks to its larger frame and dual four-inch woofers. And its upfiring drivers provide convincing height effects for Dolby Atmos tracks, while a dedicated center-channel speaker ensures clear and intelligible dialogue, no matter how hot the action gets. It all adds up to fantastic performance for your money in a system that can stand alone or serve as an entry point for a bigger setup if you add more components over time.

How we test budget soundbars

As part of my search for the best budget soundbars, I tested dozens of options and put in thousands of hours of testing over a decade-plus career as an A/V editor and reviewer. I've tested many of the most popular options from brands like Sony, Sonos, Bose, Klipsch, Yamaha, JBL, Samsung, Polk, and others.

But I don't just test soundbars, I live with them too. That helps me evaluate factors like usability and convenience, alongside basics like setup, controls, app functionality, and of course, audio performance. Whenever possible, I test a soundbar for multiple days (and sometimes weeks) to truly discover what it's like to own.

I follow a custom review template that includes testing each soundbar I evaluate with movie scenes I've heard multiple times, while making sure to rotate in new scenes every couple of months. I also simply watch TV and movies with my family at home, which is also my testing environment. I do the same with music, including listening to a Spotify playlist I've compiled over several years, called Audio Tester, with songs across genres and decades, from jazz to hip hop and everything in between.

For a budget-oriented list like this, I also focus on value first and foremost, with an eye toward affordability. That comes with tempered expectations, but given that nearly every soundbar delivers better audio than a TV, it's satisfying to find those that rise above the rest.

What to look for in a budget soundbar

When looking for the best budget soundbar, you'll want to ensure it's easy to set up. This generally starts with HDMI eARC/ARC, which enables a simple connection to modern TVs and usually lets you use your TV remote to control soundbar power and volume automatically. That's important since a lot of newer soundbars don't include their own remotes, offering an app at best.

I also recommend looking for a soundbar that has as many audio channels as you can afford. Many budget soundbars will offer 2.0- or 2.1-channel sound. The latter is preferred, since the ".1" means there's at least an attempt at a dedicated speaker (or speakers) for bass, if not a separate wireless subwoofer. Subwoofers take up more space, but they're the only way to achieve truly powerful low-register performance for effects like explosions or bass-forward music.

That's not to say a soundbar without a subwoofer can't offer satisfying bass; it just won't be as authoritative down low. Whenever possible, a 3.0- or 3.1-channel soundbar is preferred since that refers to a dedicated center channel for dialogue, while a 3.1.2-channel system or higher means you'll get dedicated upfiring drivers for height effects in 3D audio formats like Dolby Atmos.

Speaking of formats, once again, the more the better. Most soundbars support all of the major Dolby formats, which are popular with streaming content. If possible, it's also nice to get support for DTS formats, which are more prevalent on Blu-rays. DTS is falling out of fashion with some audio brands, and it's not a necessity by any means, but it's always good to have options. If your bar doesn't support DTS, it will still play a DTS soundtrack by converting it to a format it does support (like PCM), it just may not sound as good. However, that's less of a concern in the budget segment.

You'll also want to consider whether you'll be using the bar for music streaming. If so, bars that support WiFi protocols like Spotify Connect or Apple AirPlay are generally better than Bluetooth, not only because they often sound better but also because they won't use up your phone's battery or resources. With Bluetooth, your phone is essentially tied up. If you want smart features, make sure your chosen bar supports your preferred smart assistant and has onboard microphones.

Budget soundbar FAQs

Are budget soundbars better than your TV's speakers?

Absolutely. Frankly, I can't remember the last time I reviewed a soundbar from a major brand that didn't fully trounce the sound of even the best TVs I've tested. From speaker size to acoustic design, soundbars are almost always better.

How much should I spend on a budget soundbar?

This depends to some degree on the time of year, since Black Friday and similar sales can offer big discounts. But generally, I recommend spending at least $100. Anything less than that is liable to have noticeable sound deficiencies, a lack of good features, reliability issues, or some combination of all three.

What is HDMI ARC?

HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) is a connection that transmits audio and video signals. It was introduced in 2009, and you'll find it in virtually every TV made in the last 10 years, and the vast majority of modern soundbars. You'll find it labeled on one of the HDMI inputs on your TV and soundbar of choice.

As long as your TV and soundbar support HDMI eARC/ARC, you can connect them with a high-bandwidth HDMI cable and send audio signals back and forth. If your soundbar offers extra HDMI inputs for a streaming player or gaming console, you may also be able to pass video signals through to your TV. In most cases, HDMI eARC/ARC also allows your TV remote to automatically control volume and power on your soundbar.

HDMI eARC is the upgraded version of HDMI ARC, and has become the most common standard. The main benefit of eARC is its ability to transmit lossless audio formats to and from a TV, resulting in higher-quality sound when you have a lossless source.

Check out our guide to the best HDMI cables for recommendations to use with an HDMI eARC/ARC connection.

Do budget soundbars support Dolby Atmos?

Several budget soundbars offer Dolby Atmos support, including multiple picks in this guide. But just being able to decode Dolby Atmos doesn't mean that a soundbar can fully showcase that format's benefits. The biggest thing to look out for is whether a soundbar offers dedicated up-firing drivers, which are necessary for an effective reproduction of the height element that makes 3D audio formats like Dolby Atmos stand out from traditional sound formats. Maybe just as important for soundbars without rear surround channels are side-firing drivers, which help bounce sound off your walls for better immersion.

Some soundbars without dedicated Dolby Atmos speakers can create a decent virtualized experience, but it will never be as effective as counterparts with dedicated up-firing and side-firing speakers. As with surround sound, the more channels and dedicated speakers your soundbar supports, the more expansive and immersive your Dolby Atmos experience will be.

For more information on Atmos technology, check out our guide to all the ins and outs of Dolby Atmos.

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