Best Cheap Soundbar: Budget options for improving TV sound
Improving your TV’s audio performance can be done relatively inexpensively as the soundbars we’ve featured on this list show.
To make sure these are affordable soundbars, we’ve aimed to keep every entry on this list below the $300 / £300 mark.
When we test we soundbars, we listen to a range of movies, games and music to determine how they sound. We also run through the settings and EQ presets to see what impact they have, cycling through the features to test how effective they are, and pumping up the volume to determine at what point (if any) the sound becomes distorted.
We review new soundbars regularly so you can expect this best list to evolve. For this reason, we recommend checking back to have a look and see what are our favourite models.
If you’re still browsing, we’d also recommend visiting our other best lists, including the best soundbars, best small soundbars and best surround sound systems for your home theatre.
Best soundbar at a glance
- Best cheap soundbar: Wharfedale Vista 200S – check price
- Best cheap soundbar for dialogue: Yamaha SR-C30A – check price
- Best soundbar under £100: Majority Snowdon II – check price
- Best cheap smart soundbar: Roku Streambar – check price
- Best cheap compact soundbar: Sonos Ray – check price
- Best cheap Dolby Atmos soundbar: Polk Signa S4 – check price
- Best cheap gaming soundbar: Razer Leviathan V2 – check price
How we test
Soundbars were created to boost TV sound quality – which means we end up watching a lot of TV. We play everything – news reports for voices, movies for scale and effects steering – to ensure that the soundbars that come through the doors at Trusted Reviews are given a proper challenge. We’ll play different genres of music, too, since a good soundbar should be capable of doubling-up as a great music system.
More complex soundbars feature network functionality for hooking up to other speakers and playing music around the home, so we test for connectivity issues and ease of use. We cover the spectrum of models available, everything from cheap soundbars costing less than £100 to those over £1000, to ensure our reviews benefit from our extensive market knowledge. Every product is compared to similarly priced rivals, too.
- Great with movies and music
- Well-integrated bass
- Low-profile and well-made cabinet
- Exceptional value
- Easy to setup
- Nothing at this price
- Direct, detailed and surprisingly sturdy sound
- As compact and discreet as they come
- Extensive control options
- Soundbar and subwoofer could be on better terms
- Not the most expansive listen
- Capable (though admittedly bigger) rivals
- Super-affordable
- Clear, punchy sound
- Bluetooth support
- Size can obstruct TV receiver
- Digital optical cable not included
- Struggles with dynamic movie soundtracks
- Good vocal clarity
- Space-saving size
- Good streaming performance
- Great value
- No Dolby Vision or HDR10+
- Audio more suited to TV and apps
- Remote only works with Streambar
- Clean and powerful TV audio
- Surprising amount of bass
- Wide soundstage
- Optional surround sound
- Remote setup can be fiddly
- Better at TV than music
- Expansive Atmos performance
- Good bass extension
- Clear dialogue channel
- Great price
- Front-heavy delivery
- No DTS support
- No expansion options
- Great bass
- Customisable RGB lighting
- Razer Synapse companion app
- Full and warm sound during music and gaming
- Subwoofer too large for a desk
- Lack of ports
- Bluetooth audio is less reliable
Wharfedale Vista 200S
Best cheap soundbar
Pros
- Great with movies and music
- Well-integrated bass
- Low-profile and well-made cabinet
- Exceptional value
- Easy to setup
Cons
- Nothing at this price
When it comes to budget soundbars, the one that’s been the top of our list for several years is the Wharfedale Vista 200S. It’s been on the market since around 2019, and while the price has fluctuated, you can get it for £239.
The design is one we found attractive in appearance while the build quality is durable. The black finish and glossy top surface doesn’t scream cheap, and with a width of 900mm, it’s made to partner TVs up to 65-inches in size. Its slim form factor also means you won’t be living in fear of the soundbar blocking the picture.
In terms of features, There’s not much aside from its active wireless subwoofer. If you want wireless connectivity, you’d be better off seeking the smaller but slightly more expensive Sonos Ray. There are three preset EQ settings for media playback in Movies, Music and News to optimise the soundbar’s sound for those types of content.
Our reviewer found the sound was especially good, with the 200S putting in a great performance across the frequency range with a top-end that didn’t suffer from a lack of detail along with some punchy bass. We also observed the Vista 200S could get loud without sounding harsh or compressed due to its 120W of built-in amplification. It dealt with dialogue well, even without a dedicated centre channel, and if you’re interested in playing music, then it delivers on a smooth and clear performance.
Alternatives around this price include the Sharp HT-SBW202 and the Yamaha SR-C30A, but even after a few years, we haven’t heard a rival that offers as much performance-per-pound at this price as the Wharfedale.
Reviewer: Steve Withers
Full Review: Wharfedale Vista 200S
Yamaha SR-C30A
Best cheap soundbar for dialogue
Pros
- Direct, detailed and surprisingly sturdy sound
- As compact and discreet as they come
- Extensive control options
Cons
- Soundbar and subwoofer could be on better terms
- Not the most expansive listen
- Capable (though admittedly bigger) rivals
Years ago, it was Yamaha that really kicked off the soundbar market. They’re not as big a name in the market today as they were back then, but of late they’ve been putting out impressive compact soundbars and the SR-C30A is another one we’ve come to enjoy.
The build quality is serviceable, the main soundbar unit is smaller than the similarly priced Denon DHT-S316 and will happily sit below a small TV in the opinion of our reviewer. At 1.3kg it’s not too heavy to move about and around the rear are keyhole fixings to mount it to a wall. Connections include HDMI ARC and digital optical out, and for wireless transmission there’s Bluetooth support.
Features aren’t much, but there is a control app that duplicates all the functions of the remote control and is simple to use. A choice of four EQ presets in Stereo, Standard, 3D movie and Game are provided to tweak the audio quality, along with Clear Voice and Bass extension options, there are several ways of shifting the sound to your tastes.
The SR-C30A is a 2.1 system with a wireless subwoofer and despite its compact size, we found this system sounded bigger, beefier and altogether more convincing than a number of mainstream TVs or gaming monitors. It’s easily an upgrade on budget TVs it’s connected to.
High frequencies are recreated in convincing fashion; the midrange is assertive and upfront with high levels of detail, allowing dialogue to be loaded with character and tone. The wireless subwoofer can handle the low end of the frequency spectrum with a performance that’s well-controlled, though we found the crossover between the subwoofer and the main bar wasn’t the smoothest.
Nevertheless, for around £300 this is one of the best cheap soundbars. The Wharfedale Vista 200S is still our budget champion, but if that model is too big, the Yamaha is an excellent alternative.
Reviewer: Simon Lucas
Full Review: Yamaha SR-C30A
Sonos Ray
Best cheap compact soundbar
Pros
- Clean and powerful TV audio
- Surprising amount of bass
- Wide soundstage
- Optional surround sound
Cons
- Remote setup can be fiddly
- Better at TV than music
If you’re looking for a compact and affordable soundbar, the Sonos Ray is our top pick. Designed to make non-HDMI TVs sound better, the Ray is smaller and has fewer features than other Sonos soundbars, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t offer powerful sound.
The Sonos Ray has a thin and compact design with curved ends forming a lozenge shape and the option of a black or white finish. The Ray is only slightly smaller than the Sonos Beam at 71 x 559 x 95mm and, like the Polk Signa S4, pairs well with TVs that measure up to 55-inches. You can choose to sit the soundbar in front of your TV, mount it on a wall or event place it in an open cabinet if it’s big enough to accomodate.
The Ray doesn’t come with an HDMI port, sticking with just an optical S/PDIF input and providing a cable in the box. There are touch controls on top of the soundbar for controlling playback, skipping tracks, and adjusting the volume.
The setup is quick and the Trueplay configuration allows you to tune the soundbar to your room. The Ray has an IR input, so you can tune it to use your TV’s remote to control the volume.
Then there’s the app, which makes it easy to connect and disconnect from rooms with multiroom support, as well as play music from Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer or via AirPlay 2.
There’s no Dolby Atmos audio but Dolby Digital still sounds great, albeit not as clean and detailed. There’s also no microphone for voice commands. You can set up skills and control the soundbar with your favourite voice assistant, but you’ll need a separate smart speaker to do so.
Despite its small size, the Sonos Ray has a surprisingly wide soundscape, offering a clear improvement over the audio from the TV we had paired it with. The Speech Enhancement setting boosts voices, and there’s a Night Sound feature for boosting quiet sounds and limiting loud sounds later in the evening. The bass is effective too, though not as room-shattering as the Sonos Arc’s bass response.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Review: Sonos Ray
Razer Leviathan V2
Best cheap gaming soundbar
Pros
- Great bass
- Customisable RGB lighting
- Razer Synapse companion app
- Full and warm sound during music and gaming
Cons
- Subwoofer too large for a desk
- Lack of ports
- Bluetooth audio is less reliable
The Razer Leviathan V2 is our top affordable gaming soundbar, delivering great audio whether you’re gaming or listening to music.
The Leviathan V2 is one of the more toned-down devices we’ve tested from Razer. Both the soundbar and subwoofer sport a matte black finish, with the latter also free of any RGB lighting or other effects. The soundbar is small and slim, fitting snuggling under a monitor for a clean look, though you may need to place the subwoofer under your desk depending on the size of your furniture.
The soundbar feels sturdy and comes with another set of feet for tilting it upwards, but the port selection is lacking. Razer removed the 3.5mm input found on its predecessor, leaving just USB-C and Bluetooth. There’s also a simple selection of buttons, including power, volume, source, and Bluetooth.
18-zone custom RGB lighting lets you customise the soundbar to fit the rest of your gaming setup, as well as match the cues in games and songs. There’s a range of audio presets in the Razer Synapse app, with custom settings for music and gaming, as well as a Bass Boost mode and THX Spatial Audio support to give the sound a more immersive feel.
The audio quality is warm and balanced with an emphasis on bass that feels perfect for FPS games. The sound can easily fill a room, with THX Spatial Audio creating an immersive soundstage, despite not quite being as accurate as Dolby Atmos. Even slower games like Stardew Valley are enhanced with this soundbar, as details are given more clarity and attention.
We found that the wired connection was stronger than Bluetooth, offering better clarity and depth than the wireless connection, though we still appreciated the inclusion of Bluetooth as an option.
Reviewer: Gemma Ryles
Full Review: Razer Leviathan V2
Polk Signa S4
Best cheap Dolby Atmos soundbar
Pros
- Expansive Atmos performance
- Good bass extension
- Clear dialogue channel
- Great price
Cons
- Front-heavy delivery
- No DTS support
- No expansion options
The Polk Signa S4 is our favourite cheap Dolby Atmos soundbar, delivering deep bass and immersive audio at an affordable price.
The Signa S4 has a similar design to Polk’s other soundbars with its simple rectangular shape and black fabric finish blending into its surroundings. The subwoofer is also matte black, sitting on larger feet.
Like the Sonos Ray, the Polk Signa S4 is intended to be paired with medium-sized TVs up to 55-inches either standing or wall mounted, with the soundbar measuring 1046 x 60 x 95mm. The subwoofer measures 200 x 280 x 328mm.
You can find basic controls on top of the soundbar, with more options on the small remote that comes in the box.
The Signa S4 uses a 3.1.2-channel system to deliver Dolby Atmos, with additional support for Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD. The soundbar can also decode PCM, but there is no support for DTS formats.
Connectivity is based around a single HDMI port that supports eARC, allowing lossless audio to be sent back from supporting TVs. There’s also an optical digital input, a 3.5mm analogue auxiliary input, and wireless support with Bluetooth.
Other key features include Polk’s VoiceAdjust to keep dialogue clear and precise, and three sound modes – Movies, Music, and Night.
Sound-wide, the Signa S4 is a good all-round performer that produces a decent front soundstage with a solid foundation of bass. The delivery is smooth, with a clean treble and well-defined midrange, while the upward-firing speakers are effective at generating the front overhead channels and the well-integrated subwoofer adds plenty of low-frequency impact to create a genuine sense of scale.
Reviewer: Steve Withers
Full Review: Polk Signa S4
Majority Snowdon II
Best soundbar under £100
Pros
- Super-affordable
- Clear, punchy sound
- Bluetooth support
Cons
- Size can obstruct TV receiver
- Digital optical cable not included
- Struggles with dynamic movie soundtracks
Majority has traded in affordable audio devices. The Snowdon II is a single-bar home cinema soundbar that’s best utilised if you’re considering wall-mounting your TV.
The reason we say that is because the design is on the large side for putting it beneath a TV, to the point where it covers up the TV’s IR receiver and blocks the remote signals. We didn’t find it to be the most elegant looking soundbar either, but arguably most shopping at this price won’t be as bothered about aesthetics. Around the back brackets for wall-mounting the soundbar and that seems to most optimal way of using it.
Annoyingly, the Snowdon doesn’t ship with any digital optical cable (but does come with an RCA and auxiliary cable). We would expect a digital cable to be packaged with the bar rather than rely on other means of connection since the optical input is the best available on this bar.
Features aren’t much in the grand scheme of things, but there are four EQ preset modes in Flat, Music, Movie and Dialog to optimise the performance for whatever you’re watching’ and the Music and Flat modes can be further tweaked in terms of their frequency range.
The sound quality from this 2.1 system is consistently clear, and at times punchy, delivery of audio. It features an integrated subwoofer but it is limited in terms of bass depth, so in more dynamic soundtracks where more weight and extension to low frequencies is required, it can sound flatter than the similarly priced Groov-e 160 Soundbar.
The Movie preset is the one we found that offered the biggest-sounding performance, as well as sounding more natural with dialogue as the Dialog mode can sound a little processed. Streaming music over a Bluetooth connection offers a similar performance to movies and TV, with good clarity and decent space for vocals to exist in the track. We also found it sound with gaming as well, producing a big, large and detailed performance that avoided sounding cluttered or shrill at higher volumes.
Majority has the Teton Plus model, which is effectively the same but comes with a subwoofer. We’ll be reviewing that model in the coming weeks.
Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full Review: Majority Snowdon II
Roku Streambar
Best affordable smart soundbar
Pros
- Good vocal clarity
- Space-saving size
- Good streaming performance
- Great value
Cons
- No Dolby Vision or HDR10+
- Audio more suited to TV and apps
- Remote only works with Streambar
The Roku Streambar is unique in that it is both a soundbar and video streamer all rolled into one. And as is often the case with Roku devices, the asking price is relatively low at an RRP of £129 / $130, although availability has been lean throughout 2024.
The Streambar is best suited for those who have a TV that’s poor for both and smarts. Its compact size and low key design ensures it won’t hog the limelight from your TV, the size of the Streambar is best suited to TVs smaller than 50-inches.
For its size, the Roku has a good grasp over dialogue clarity, though this at the expense of other effects within a soundtrack so it is not the most cinematic performance. Bass is punchily described and the soundstage the Streambar creates is bigger than expected thanks to its ability to fire audio out from its sides. There’s no immersive audio support like you’d find with the likes of the Sonos Beam Gen 2, though these soundbars retail above £300 / $300.
We found it to be a pretty good video streamer too. It has all the major streaming apps in Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and the UK catch-up apps that come with Freeview Play. With 4K HDR content the steamer puts in a colourful performance, with upscaling that is decent enough that you could get away with watching 720p streams on a 4K TV.
There’s AirPlay and Apple HomeKit for streaming and home smarts respectively, though there’s no built-in voice assistant. The Roku interface mirrors that of other Roku devices, simple in appearance and easy to use, making the Streambar an accessible device for a wide range of people. The remote provided only controls the Streambar and not your TV, so you’ll need to keep your main remote nearby.
Efforts on this list such as the Wharfedale and Yamaha sound better, but they don’t boast the convenience this 2-in-1 device offers. This is a smart little option for those after a no-frills performance for both video and audio.
Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full Review: Roku Streambar
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Some soundbars support HDMI ARC, but in general, cheaper soundbars under £100 tend not to feature any HDMI inputs.