Finding the best soundbars under $100 can be a bit of a challenge. Don’t worry if you want to improve the sound quality of your TV without breaking the bank. Soundbars are here to save the day. Even though a cheap soundbar might not give you the brilliant cinematic sound of Dolby surround sound, it is still a way to improve your audio experience. With these speakers, the dialogue will be clearer, the music will have more subtleties, and the dialogue and the music will go together well.
Also check out our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best soundbars under $200, and the best small soundbars. If you don’t think your TV speakers sound good at all and you don’t want to spend a lot of money, a cheap soundbar is the perfect solution. Whether you use it to watch movies and TV shows or stream music via Bluetooth, you can upgrade your TV for less than $200.
Everything from movies to TV shows, concerts to sporting events, social clips to YouTube videos will be sonically enhanced, and for less money than you think. There are many excellent on the market for TV soundbars that cost half, and in some cases a third, of what some premium models charge. We’ve passed that point and entered an era where cheap doesn’t necessarily mean bad. These models have already been tested several times, and they all have solid features. Below, we have mentioned Best Budget Soundbars.
Here is the list of Best Soundbars under $100
TCL Alto 6+ 2.1 Channel Dolby Audio Sound Bar
The Alto 6+ is an affordable 2.1-channel soundbar with subwoofer that is easy to install and control. It offers multiple connectivity options, including Bluetooth for wireless streaming and aux inputs for connecting older devices. EQ presets include movie, music, and TV modes to enhance dialogue. The 6+ can also decode Dolby Digital audio and downmix 5.1 surround sound to 2.1 stereo.
The included subwoofer does have a power cord, but it connects wirelessly to the main bar, so you don’t have to worry about proximity to the TV to get room-filling sound (although there’s still a bit to consider when it comes to optimal subwoofer placement). And if you have a Roku TV, you’re in luck, because the Alto 6+ is “Roku Ready,” which means it’s optimized for pairing and compatible with your TCL Roku remote.
VIZIO SB2920-C6
You get a predominantly black soundbar with silver accents for an elegant and sleek finish. There’s not much to discuss in this regard, but it complements your interior and also enhances your TV speakers. Measuring just 29 inches, the Vizio soundbar is a perfect fit for TVs measuring 32 inches and above. Since most TVs in the home are this size, the Vizio Soundbar is the optimal choice. It is also among the perfect soundbars for smaller TVs, making it ideal if you own one.
The SB2920-C6 also features LED indicators on the left side. These let you know how well your soundbar is performing. To understand what these little lights mean, you can refer to the user manual. Most importantly, these indicators show if the devices are paired and if the system is working properly.
VIZIO 2.0 Home Theater Soundbar
Vizio is one of our most recommended brands when it comes to affordable soundbars, and its most affordable model, the S6, is no different. This simple and straightforward model offers Bluetooth connectivity, a night mode for balanced sound during quiet times, and bass/treble adjustment. It also has four EQ presets, including movie, music, dialogue, and game modes. Although it doesn’t support Dolby Digital Audio, it can take advantage of DTS Virtual:X, which adds virtual treble and surround elements to encoded content.
At just 20 inches long, this slim soundbar fits easily under most TVs and is easy to connect and adjust. Yet it still manages to deliver 91 dB – impressive for such a small footprint. This slim unit is a great option for guest rooms, second TVs, or first-time soundbar users. And since it’s easy to transport, you can take it wherever the party goes.
Richsound Research TB220L
The TB220L is plain, unobtrusive, and doesn’t offer much in the way of visual flair. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Given the versatility of its functional design, the fact that the TB220L has a fairly unobtrusive aesthetic can be a real plus when it comes to deciding exactly how the soundbar should fit into your audio setup.
The materials feel much higher quality than you might expect for the price. The front of the TB220L is a continuous metal grille that runs the length of the unit. It’s elegant and gives the device a real quality feel that might seem a bit lackluster on an all-plastic device. The buttons are well placed and hidden on the right side of the soundbar in a way that makes them easily accessible and minimally detracts from the overall look of the device.
AmazonBasics 2.1 Channel Bluetooth Soundbar
The AmazonBasics 2.1 Channel Bluetooth is an affordable yet simple 2.1 soundbar with an integrated subwoofer. It may be affordable for those on a tight budget, but its low price is reflected in its build quality, sound reproduction, and features. Its bass-heavy and uneven sound signature creates a dark sound. Unfortunately, when you play bass-heavy audio files at maximum volume, you can hear a lot of distortion. Overall, this is a budget soundbar that offers nothing but a poor sound experience.
Its bass-heavy sound signature is uneven and dark. The bass lacks punch and boom, while the treble is dull and dark. There is also some hiss and compression artifacts when you turn the volume up full. On the plus side, you can stream audio from your phone or tablet via Bluetooth for wireless listening through the soundbar.
Creative Stage 2.1 Channel Under-Monitor Soundbar
Creative’s superb 2.1-channel Stage system begs to differ. This elegant soundbar offers a compelling mix of sound quality and features-including HDMI and a subwoofer-at a highly affordable price. It accomplishes something Creative has been striving to do for 20 years: transcend the PC and bring it into the living room. In other words, it’s suitable for smaller rooms and TVs if you’re on a budget. Its sound outperforms the built-in speakers as well as any TV.
However, its tiny size makes it better suited as a PC desktop or gaming system than a TV soundbar. I found it difficult to distinguish left from right when sitting on the couch, and I only felt the full force of the small subwoofer when it was at my feet. If you want to supplement your TV sound and have the space to do so, the Vizio SB3621 is worth the extra money for the Stage. Soundbars like the excellent Vizio SB362An-F6 have drawn the map for soundbars under $100: They should have Bluetooth, an optical input, and an internal subwoofer. The Creative Stage not only lights that card on fire, but eats the smoldering pieces of card. The soundbar has both a separate subwoofer and an HDMI ARC input.
Sony HT-S100F
The best soundbar under $100 that we tested is the Sony HT-S100F. This 2.0 setup has a simple, standalone design and is a solid choice for conversational content like TV shows and podcasts. It also gets pretty loud, so you can use it to fill a large room with your favorite tracks. Right out of the box, this soundbar has a fairly neutral sound profile, although the lack of low-end bass and recessed highs can make the audio sound a bit muddy. However, dialogue and key instruments can still be heard clearly. You can also use the Voice Mode feature to make dialog clearer, as well as the Auto Volume mode to even out the volume when watching Sony smart TVs at night. Unfortunately, this soundbar can’t reproduce the deep thumps and rumble found in bass-heavy music genres like EDM. Also, there aren’t many sound customization features to help you fine-tune your sound. Still, it’s a solid improvement over your existing TV speakers.
Roku Streambar
You can buy the Roku Streambar for £130 right now from various UK retailers, including Amazon and Argos. For a combined soundbar-streamer, this is not a bad deal at all. The Roku Streaming Stick+ costs £50 on its own, so with the Roku Streambar you essentially get a cheap soundbar for only £80, although the savings cancel out if you already own a 4K streamer. Clearly, it’s a better deal if you need both a streamer and a soundbar.
Streambar is an unusual product, but not unique. The Anker Nebula Fire TV soundbar offers an all-in-one package similar to Streambar, streaming 4K HDR via Amazon’s Fire TV operating system for €180. It is more expensive, sure, but it also supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, dynamic HDR formats absent from Streambar. And instead of a basic stereo setup, the Nebula offers 2.1-channel audio.
TCL Alto 3
Bring loud, clear sound to any room with the TCL Alto 3 TS3100 2.0-channel soundbar. Stream all your favorite music and podcasts from apps like Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn and more, wirelessly from your smartphone, tablet or laptop with Bluetooth wireless technology. At less than 22 inches wide, its compact design makes it easy to fit in any room. With versatile connections including optical, AUX 3.5mm or Bluetooth, you can go from unboxing to listening in minutes. Specialized sound modes bring movies, music, and TV to life so you can always hear every detail.
Dolby Digital decoding maximizes sound clarity and creates room-filling virtual surround sound. You can use your Bluetooth-enabled device to stream music wirelessly to your soundbar. Enjoy your favorite movies, TV shows, and music with enhanced sound quality. With optical, AUX 3.5mm or Bluetooth connections, you can start listening in minutes. Specialized sound modes bring movies, music and TV to life.
Samsung HW-B450 2.1ch Soundbar w/Dolby Audio
Soundbars that are available for less than $100 are pretty basic, but if you’re willing to spend a little more money, you can get a lot more bang for your buck. The Samsung HW-B450 is the best bar under $150 that we tested, and while it’s a basic 2.1 bar, it has more features than the TCL Alto 6+. With its bass, treble, and subwoofer level settings, you have a lot more options to customize the sound, and there’s even an automatic volume mode to balance the volume when you’re watching TV at night.
The soundstage of the bar is a bit wider, and the default sound is more neutral and balanced. Voices and lead instruments are clear thanks to the balanced mids, and it offers more detail in the highs than the TCL soundbars. Its dedicated subwoofer adds a bit more thump in the bass department, which is ideal for fans of bass-heavy music like EDM. There’s no HDMI support, but you can stream 5.1 surround sound formats like Dolby Digital and DTS via Optical, though they’re downmixed to stereo.
Final Words
We hope you have understood this article on the best cheap soundbars. Better sound does not have to cost a fortune. If you have realistic expectations and focus on functionality rather than luxury features, you can find the best soundbars under $100. Before purchasing, you need to consider connectivity and compatibility to make sure the soundbar can support your TV. After that, you can consider how many audio channels you need and whether you want to expand them in the future.
