Last updated on October 21st, 2020 at 04:48 am
Want to take your home theater system to the next level? Then the soundbar is the answer and here we bring you the review of the best sound bars under $200 available in the market.
Nobody had heard of sound bars until the TV sets got sleeker and thinner. The slim TV sets did not do great with the sound quality though, which is what brought along the sound bars. The latest television sets come with smaller bezels and thinner panels and thus do not have space for a good quality or a solid pair of speakers. So, adding an external sound bar solves the problem of poor sound quality. Most of the sound bar models are easily placed on the television sets without hogging up on too much of space.
So instead of shelling out a hell lot on the big branded television sets for that extra sound quality, it is just better to buy a decent priced TV set and just hook it up to an external soundbar. Keep reading for all the details you need to know!
There is a huge market for the sound bars, and ReviewerTouch will review the top 10 sound bars under $200 for you. Our price tracker makes sure to only filter in the sound bars which are within the $200 price limit.
Apart from the price range, the design of the sound bars plays a significant role in the decision making. Some sound bar models might need a separate shelf, and some might be able to sit in front of the TV set.
But whatever be the budget, there are soundbars for every design in every price range. Want to buy a speaker for your car, Read This Best Car Speakers Review
Best sound bars under $200 comparison table
- 4.5 pounds
- 5.8 pounds
- 15 pounds
- 3.5 pounds
- 3.3 pounds
- 5.2 pounds
- 3.31 pounds
- 9.76 pounds
- 9.5 pounds
- 9 pounds
- 29 x 3 x 3 in
- 38 x 3 x 3 in
- 23.8 x 9.8 x 4.7 in
- 37.7 x 2.6 x 2.3 in
- 35.7 x 2.8 x 2 in
- 2.9 x 37.9 x 3.6 in
- 31.2 x 2.7 x 2.6 in
- 3 x 19.7 x 2.8 in
- 3.6 x 31.8 x 4.2 in
- 43.8 x 6.5 x 4.7 in
Make an informed decision to buy best sound bars
We understand that it can be difficult to choose a soundbar which would complement the TV set and maintain the aesthetics of the living room along with being compatible with other electronic gadgets. To help you we have chosen the top 10 sound bars for you,so that we can assist you in making an informed and right decision. An external sound bar helps in improving the audio quality since they provide better sound than the speakers on the TV set, Speakers for Jeep Wrangler, smartphone or even computer or laptop for instance.
External components give more value for the money in most of the cases, but surely they do require extra cables and space. Setting up an external component like a soundbar is not much of a task though as they are pretty straightforward to install. Most of the sound bars have powerful amplifiers, utilize additional drivers and feature advanced designs, which then help in decreasing distortion and improving overall audio clarity. Thus, if you need high-quality audio without much of space requirements or much of complexity, you should consider buying a soundbar.
Top sound bars under 200 reviews
VIZIO SB2920-C6 29-Inch 2.0 Channel Sound Bar
Need more convincing to buy this Vizio SB2920 soundbar? The Vizio SB2920 soundbar comes equipped with digital optical cables, RCA-to-3.5mm cable and digital coaxial cable for simple connectivity. It also includes a remote control and comes equipped with outputs for external connections like that of USB and stereo RCA. You can keep the Vizio SB2920 soundbar either on a table top, or mount it up on the wall. Vizio SB2920 comes with the wall mounting hardware for easy installation and setup.
Vizio SB2920 is one of the best selling sound bars under the price limit of $200. Vizio got the bestselling tag due to the features like DTS TruVolume and DTS TruSurround. DTS TruVolume was designed to provide a volume level that is consistent with the many audio sources. All the user needs to do is set the volume once, and you will not need to change the volume again until you desire to. DTS TruSurround delivers detailed virtual surround sound without needing any rear speakers.
The Vizio SB2920 sound bar’s package comes equipped with
- 29″ sound bar HD
- Remote control with 2 x AAA batteries
- Power adapter
- Digital optical cable
- Coaxial audio cable
- Stereo RCA to 3.5mm audio cable
- Two wall mounting brackets
- Two wall mounting screws
- Owner’s manual
- Great volume increasing capacity
- Crisp and clear sound
- Option of turning on True Surround HD or True Volume
- Needs turning on separately
- Subwoofer not included
Vizio is fast becoming a favorite brand for visual and audio equipment at a pocket-friendly price. Vizio offers visually appealing compact designs that are easy to place even in a small space. The Vizio speakers also look far more expensive than they are and would improve the room’s aesthetics from any corner. The Vizio SB2920 gives you the opportunity to turn it up in full when you want to hear the sound all around the room with the help of DTS TruSurround.
DTS TruVolume also minimizes the disturbances and reduces the distractions of frequent volume change. Overall Vizio SB2920 is a great buy for any room. It would be even better for a large living room, and you will be able to hear the audio in all directions, all thanks to Vizio’s technology. So, think no more and go and buy this soundbar for your home audio system.
VIZIO SB2920-C6 29-Inch 2.0 Channel – Video Review
VIZIO SB3821-C6 38-Inch 2.1 Channel Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer
Also, the subwoofer that comes along with the Vizio SB3821 has little stubs on the bottom that help in keeping the subwoofer’s box shape above the ground. If the soundbar has a line of sight from the subwoofer, the wireless gadget has a range of about 60 feet. The range is good to know before making any purchase as it might lead to installation issues or where to put the wireless subwoofer issues.
The Vizio SB3821 has the capacity of producing about one hundred decibels of clear and distortion free sound. The sound bar’s rich audio delivery is perfected even more by the subwoofer’s rich bass.
Less distortion means that you will get to hear more sound than the noise. The Vizio SB3821 also comes with a remote control and a Bluetooth feature. The remote comes with easy to understand controls of audio settings. The Vizio SB3821 also makes use of technologies like DTS TruVolume, DTS TruSurround, and Dolby Digital decoding to produce the sounds so very clear.
Dolby Digital is an audio standard for DVD, cinema, and Blu-ray. Dolby Digital provides enhanced audio delivery for an engaging experience. DTS TruVolume was designed to deliver a volume level that is consistent with the many audio sources. All you need to do is set the volume once, and you will not need to change the volume again until you desire to. DTS TruSurround delivers detailed virtual surround sound without needing any rear speakers.
The Vizio SB3821 sound bar’s package comes equipped with
- 38″ sound bar HD
- Remote control with batteries
- Power adapter
- Digital optical cable
- Coaxial audio cable
- RCA to 3.5mm audio cable
- Wall mounting screws
- wall mounting screws
- Owner’s manual
- 5″ wireless subwoofer
- Built-in-Bluetooth
- Highly clear audio
- Does not have extra bass
Vizio SB3821 is another one of the good and cheap soundbars under $200 budget. Vizio being a great brand offers limited time warranty along with the purchase. Vizio is a brand you can trust because so do the world and its performance does not fall short of its reputation. So go ahead, do not think twice and make the purchase!
Pyle 300 Watt Bluetooth Soundbar with USB/SD/FM Radio and Wireless Remote
The Pyle SBV200BT comes with all the basic accessories required to start playing the audio. It includes the 3.5mm cable, a remote control with batteries, power adapter, and an instruction manual. In the center of the Pyle PSBV200BT’s black panel is a command center in a square shape that comprises of USB and SD inputs, onboard controls and blue backlit display. The controls for FM radio, bass and treble control, navigation and activation of the 3D processing system can easily be managed through the remote control.
The Pyle PSBV200BT’s drivers include a pair of two-inch midrange drivers and one-inch tweeters at the ends. Connecting via Bluetooth is relatively easy with just a click of the button, and the pairing of the audio systems begins instantly. One can navigate and control the audio from either the remote control or the paired device. However, there is a drawback in the Pyle SBV200BT, and that is that it employs an old Bluetooth version – 2.0+EDR.
The midrange output for acoustic or lighter rock music turned out to be a little weak and did not provide the same excitement as one would want or imagine. However, the most important feature of this sound bar is its 3D audio processing system which provides a full effect across the room. According to some customer reviews, the 3D effect was even better when implemented during gaming or movies.
Overall, the Pyle PSBV200BT is a great buy at a very affordable price of under $200. Given its spectacular virtual surround effects and pounding bass, Pyle’s PSBV is a great fit for the top sound bar under $200 list. The money you pay for this speaker is a small amount of the excitement you will get in return in your living room.
- Robust bass
- 3D virtual surround processor
- Weak midrange
Samsung HW-J355 2.1 Channel 120 Watt Wired Audio Soundbar
Samsung HW-J355 sound bar comes with the latest technology Bluetooth connectivity which enables it to be easily paired with other electronic devices like smartphones and MP3 players as well. You can also connect this sound bar to your Spotify account using tablet or phone. Samsung HW-J355 also comes equipped with 3D Sound Plus which is a surround sound effect which helps in providing the spectacular sound all across the room.
Another clever sound technology used by Samsung in its HW-J355 soundbar is the Clear Voice Technology that is designed to distinguish and pick up the human voices and render them accurately. Thus, this technology helps the people who have difficulty in hearing what people are saying on the television.
Just pair the soundbar through TV Sound Connect with the Samsung or any TV set or any other Bluetooth compatible device and let the music play. The TV Sound Connect helps in keeping the living room wire-free with its wireless connectivity. So with Samsung HW-J355, you get to keep your home clutter free and enjoy the crystal clear sound as well.
Samsung HW-J355 has subwoofers that produce deep lows, and the sound bar delivers balanced audio that creates a spectacular sound. Samsung HW-J355 soundbar supports AV decoding for WMA, MP3, FLAC, AAC, OGG and WAV formats.
The soundbar also comes with input units for USB, optical and AUX cables.
The Samsung HW-J355 sound bar’s package comes equipped with
- Samsung HW-J355 sound bar along with subwoofer
- Remote control, batteries
- USB cable
- optical cable
- Wall-mounting kit with screw
- User manual
- Clear Voice Technology
- 3D Sound Plus for surround sound
- 120 watts of total power
- The size might be a little on the larger side
Samsung Electronics HW-K360 2.1 Channel 130 Watt Wireless Audio Soundbar
Samsung HW-K360 gives a 3.1 channel feel and about 130 Watts of power output to give the music and sounds around the room a huge boost. Samsung HW-K360 almost makes a room feel like a cinema theater. Samsung HW-K360 was designed and engineered at Samsung Audio Lab in California. Samsung HW-K360 is a 2016 model that features multiroom-capable mid-range audio feature. Samsung HW-K360 belongs to the Samsung’s K series which boasts some new features but nothing very radical. Thus, the Samsung HW-K360 has an impressive design, functionality, and television boosting sound quality.
Samsung HW-K360 soundbar comes with Bluetooth connectivity that allows for the sound bar to be paired up easily with smartphones or MP3 players. The feature allows you to either turn your room into a home theater kind of room or the music entertainment kind of place. Samsung HW-K360 allows you to control the soundbar either with its remote control or through the TV’s remote after setting it up with the sound bar.
Samsung HW-K360’s design is very classy and sleek which allows it to sit on top of the most units or at the bottom without cutting any video. Samsung HW-K360 is wireless which makes it very easy to manage the house because wireless means less cable clutter to manage. Samsung HW-K360 comes with only two wires – a power cord and an optical cable for television connection. Samsung HW-K360 soundbar offers clear vocals along with strong bass levels which allow you to listen to loud movie dialogues and heavy bass songs without losing any quality of the vocals.
- Premium build quality with stylish and sleek design
- Crisp sound with excellent dialogue reproduction
- Great range of features and multi-room functions
- Lacks treble refinement, can look aggressive
Overall, Samsung HW-K360 is an awesome buy for an entry level or beginner sound bar user. Also, its connectivity and design make it very visually appealing.
VIZIO S3820W-C0B 38-inch 2.0 Home Theater Sound Bar with Integrated Deep Bass
Vizio S3821W comes with just one cable, which means that all it takes to operate Vizio’s model is just one cable. Could a sound bar be more clutter free and compact? We don’t think so. Vizio S3821W comes with a separate and wireless subwoofer which enables you to set up your audio system in any way that you like. Vizio S3821W is stated to emanate less than one percent of harmonic distortion. Vizio S3821W comes with Dolby Digital technology, thus providing high-quality audio. Vizio S3821W soundbar is a 2.1 channel and has pretty cool features like Bluetooth, DTS TruSurround, and DTS TruVolume.
Bluetooth enables music streaming from smartphones or MP3 players by pairing the devices with the sound bar. DTS TruSurround provides depth to every sound element and is extremely clear, thus dismissing the need for any rear speakers. DTS TruVolume creates a smooth experience by balancing the volume and other levels. Vizio S3821W sound bar’s bass levels are pretty dynamic which provides for explosive audio.
- Ability to position wireless subwoofer wherever one seems best
- Multiple input options
- Clear sound with almost no distortion
- TruVolume sound leveling is not very functional
Vizio is a great brand to buy audio systems. No wonder There is more than one Vizio sound bar model on this list of top sound bars under $200. Vizio has come a long way in improving upon its models be it design based or sound quality based.
Vizio S3821W is an incredible addition to any home theater system. Vizio S3821W offers the best buy for the bucks by providing super features at an affordable price. If you do not trust this review, feel free to go to the nearest electronics store to test out the sound quality.
We are sure you will not doubt us or our reviews again. Vizio S3821W is a top rated sound bar that provides exceptional sound quality, user-friendliness, and a stylish compact design to get with its pocket-friendly price. Vizio S3821W is a soundbar you will not regret purchasing.
AmazonBasics 2.0 Channel Bluetooth Sound Bar
The price range of your choosing will help in figuring out what features will be available in the electronic systems. Fixing on the price range will also assist in narrowing down the choices. Amazon Basics 2.0 Channel Bluetooth sound bar makes a wire-clutter free room possible due to its Bluetooth technology. Amazon Basics 2.0 Channel Bluetooth soundbar comes with a wireless subwoofer and a clear mode dialog which helps in streaming the media quickly.
The quality diminishes a little with the increase in the size of the television sets. Also, the Bluetooth technology allows the Amazon Basics sound bar to stream music and other content through the wireless connection with smartphones and other MP3 devices. Amazon Basics 2.0 Channel Bluetooth Soundbar comes with three sound modes – news for more clear dialog, a standard for television programs and movie for optimized soundtracks.
It also comprises of dual full-range speakers for that extra clear audio quality. This extremely affordable and pocket-friendly soundbar is rated as one of the good soundbars. Amazon Basics 2.0 Channel Bluetooth Soundbar comes with a sleek and stylish design. It is of perfect size to place in front of the TV set or wall-mount it besides it.
The Amazon Basics 2.0 Channel sound bar’s package comes equipped with
- 2.0 channel Bluetooth sound bar
- Remote control with batteries
- RCA to RCA cable
- optical cable
- Power adapter
- Stereo cable
- Two wall brackets
- Crisp and balanced sound
- Three sound modes
- Not meant for chest pounding sound
Amazon Basic 2.0 Channel Bluetooth sound bar is a great purchase for someone looking to augment their television set’s audio in a not so expensive manner. There are not many cons or negative reviews for this soundbar and the sound bar is a good value for money.
Razer Leviathan – Elite Gaming & Music Sound Bar With Dolby Surround Sound
Razer Leviathan’s Elite gaming and music soundbar feature Bluetooth v4.0. Bluetooth v4.0 is a ptX technology that makes the audio quality no different from a wired connection with a dynamic range. You can enjoy audio streaming with this sound bar without the clutter of wires running across your living room.
Razer Leviathan’s Elite gaming and music sound bar’s Dolby technology uses a combination of Dolby Digital, Dolby Virtual Speakers, and Dolby Pro Logic II. The dedicated subwoofer of Razer Leviathan’s Elite gaming and music sound bar reproduces bass all the way to decrease the distortion of lower frequencies.
- Powerful sound for the size and price
- Bluetooth connectivity
- No remote control
JBL Cinema SB100 Soundbar Speaker
JBL Cinema SB100 also features HARMAN Display Surround which allows the people in the entire room to listen to the audio equally clear. It creates a room-filling 3D soundstage for that optimum performance and audio delivery. JBL Cinema SB100 is also incredibly easy to operate with just a necessary plugin. The HARMAN Display Surround technology allows for listening to cinema sounds without adding any additional speakers. It maintains the original audio mix and a special balance of all its tunes.
JBL Cinema SB100 incorporates left and right woofers, controls, amplifiers, and tweeters into a single soundbar which simplifies the connections and its operation. JBL is known for its exceptional bass response speakers. Thus, the JBL Cinema SB100 soundbar comes with the same technology and allows you to increase the low-frequency performance by just hitting a button on the remote control.
The remote control is a credit card sized remote which has the volume learning capability. The remote control determines the infrared volume control coding from the existing TV remote control, thus dismissing the need for controlling the volume on two different remotes.
- Boosts dialogues
- HARMAN Display Surround technology
- No Bluetooth connectivity
JBL Cinema SB100 is extremely compact in size to be placed anywhere. It can be put on a shelf or mount it on the wall. JBL Cinema SB100 comes with the wall-mounting hardware that comes in the package.
JBL Cinema SB100 comes with enough inputs for a direct connection with a TV set or any other disc player. This sound bar model from JBL allows you to add an external powered subwoofer if you need to increase the bass performance even more. It comes with a subwoofer RCA output for easy external connection. JBL Cinema SB100 is a great buy with all the nice features and excellent audio quality. It gets ten on ten rating from us.
BÖHM B2 Premium 60-Watt 40″ inch Sound Bar for Flat Screen TVs with Bluetooth
The setting up is that easy! All you need to do to set up the sound bar is plug in the BÖHM B2 sound bar into the TV’s audio output, and you are all set to listen to that perfectly crystal clear and high-quality audio.
BÖHM B2 soundbar comes with an expansive and virtual surround sound that will make the whole experience even more engaging. BÖHM B2 soundbar uses spatial time delay technology to help in creating a room-filling surround sound experience. BÖHM B2 soundbar also features three modes of audio – Music, Movie and TV modes. Each of the audio modes is accompanied by 60 Watts of power for a thrilling experience in every way. BÖHM B2 sound bar also features intuitive remote control, where you can switch between the three audio modes with just a click of the button on the remote control.
- Compact design
- Three audio modes
- Easy setup, no configuration required
- Bluetooth connectivity is limited
- No digital display for volume level
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) of cheap sound bars
Is it possible to connect the soundbar to TV with optical fiber cable?
Yes, apparently it is possible. So to connect what you need is just your optical cable, TV and a soundbar. So the first thing is to connect one end side of your optical cable to ‘Audio Jack’ of the soundbar. Now connect the other end side of that cable to the optical out jack on the TV. Now press the ‘Source’ button. Or do remote change the mode “D.IN.” It’s done now.
Can any TV remote be used to control a soundbar?
Yes. Sometimes it is possible and sometimes not. Actually, it depends on your TV. But the maximum time it works. Your TV’s optical audio output is fixed, that’s why you must use the soundbar remote to control volume. Some soundbars have multiple HDMI inputs and use ARC. And some soundbars can be taught the power and volume commands of the TV so you can use one remote.
Is it possible to mount a sound bar on the wall?
Yes. Mounting a soundbar on the wall is possible. Some soundbar may not have the facility to mount it on the wall. But maximum soundbar nowadays and all of above mentioned coming with hardware to fit it on the wall.
Suppose someone has a TV and a ‘Blu Ray Player.’ Now is it possible to use the soundbar for both of them?
Our mentioned all soundbars are designed to play audio from any sources that are connected to your TV. You can make your Blu-ray player connected to the TV, and it will play right through the soundbar’s system.
How to connect devices like tablets, iPad, phones wirelessly with your soundbar?
First, power on your Soundbar. Then tap the ‘source button’ until the display of it reads BT. Sometimes later your soundbar will get ready. And it will show ‘Ready’ on its screen. It means your soundbar is ready to pair any devices that support Bluetooth.
Now go to your device’s Bluetooth menu. It means to turn the Bluetooth on to your device from where you want to play something through the soundbar. Then find out your soundbar name on the Bluetooth screen on your device. Then pair with it. If you are on a PC or it has a different OS than windows, then you may need a code to pair with your soundbar. In that condition just tap 0000. Sometime your tablet device will prompt you to confirm an auto-generated key, then just do verify it to pair the two devices.
Once your soundbar and your device (PC/phone/ tablet/iPad/iPod) have been paired via Bluetooth, you can stream music or anything that has music from your device to the soundbar. Once the soundbar and Bluetooth device have been paired, you can stream music from your device to the soundbar. So it is such an easy task, and this is how you can pair your Bluetooth supported device with a soundbar.
Conclusion
So here we have reviewed the top soundbars under $200. And even though we understand that there might be a lot of choices for you, the ultimate decision lies in your hands.
We write these reviews to assist you to make an informed decision and make a sound investment. Everything has to be worth your money. There is a huge market for soundbars, and you might feel overwhelmed.
But just a little research into what features you would want and which features are not a priority will help you in choosing worthy soundbars under $200 better suited to your needs.
Every price range will boast off some interesting features, but not all of them might be useful to you or your home. So, go ahead, do some research into the features you want, read reviews and go buy!
Related reviewsLast update on 2024-12-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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