Best Soundbar Under 100 Dollars: Top Brands Review 2023

If you’re looking for the best soundbar under 100, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll recommend our top picks and tell you what to look for when shopping for a soundbar. We’ve rounded up the best sound bar under $100 that offer great value. Whether you’re looking for a Bluetooth soundbar or a built-in subwoofer, we’ve got you covered.

Top Rated 13 Best Soundbar With Subwoofer Under $100 – Summer 2023 Reviews

TCL Alto 6+

TCL Alto6+ is our favorite soundbar below $100. The TCL Alto 6+ is one of few soundbars at this price, including a dedicated subwoofer. This improves bass reproduction. This makes it more enjoyable to listen to bass-heavy music.

The sound profile of this bar is fairly neutral in the middle, where most voices can be heard. The recessed treble can make TV shows’ dialogue sound a bit dull. However, it is clear and easy to understand. To enhance voices, you can use the ‘TV” preset. It supports surround sound formats such as Dolby Digital. These are often available on streaming platforms.

It’s an affordable option with a lot of versatility, but its price can fluctuate. You might often find it retailing for more than $100, so keep an eye on price drops to ensure you get the best bang for your buck.

Pros

• Sound profile that is well-balanced with enough bass
• HDMI Arc
• Roku TV Integration
• Clean design

Cons

• Subwoofers are mediocre
• Sound enhancements available are not worth the effort.

Roku Streambar

The Roku Streambar looks like a small, burrito-sized Bluetooth party speaker. It is perfect for streaming audiobooks or watching TV shows.

Although it doesn’t have the same booming bass as a 2.1-channel system, the soundbar is loud enough to be heard from a distance. It has four full-range drivers measuring 1.9 inches in size and can deliver a frequency response of 93Hz-17kHz.

If you have the budget and space, the Streambar can be upgraded to integrate Roku’s Wireless Subwoofer or Wireless Speakers. This will allow you to create a true 3.1- or even 5.1 system in minutes.

Many connectivity options are available, including HDMI ARC and optical, USB, Bluetooth, Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay. The Streambar also offers various streaming apps and services, including Hulu and Netflix.

There are four types of EQ presets Normal, Bass Reduction, and Bass Off. Volume Mode settings, including Night Mode and Leveling, can be accessed to manage loud commercials or keep the house quiet at night. Speech Clarity allows you to isolate voices and can be set up in Off, Low, or High settings, depending on your preferences.

It made it to the top: The Roku Streambar can be used to launch your soundbar system. There is a streamer built-in, and you can add a subwoofer or satellite speaker later.

Pros

• Compatible with Wi-Fi and AirPlay
• Integrated Roku Player
• Expandable

Cons

• Bass is missing
• Volume is somewhat limited.

Wohome 38-Inch Soundbar with Built-in Subwoofer

Wohome’s 2.1-channel soundbar houses six speakers, four 15W dynamic drivers, and two tweeters (10W each). The soundbar also has two bass reflex tubes, improving the bass response.

Although the Wohome Soloist lacks HDMI ARC and any mounting equipment, it’s a solid contender in terms of audio performance. Finding a standalone soundbar that sounds better for the price is hard.

This 38-inch wide TV is ideal for pairing with larger televisions 40″ and 60″ in size. If your TV is smaller, Wohome offers smaller Soloist models. It will need to be connected to the TV via the RCA or optical inputs at the back. Other devices can connect via the auxiliary input to its side or wirelessly by Bluetooth.

The S9920’s ugly and massive design is perhaps its biggest flaw. The S9920’s angled design means that sound is projected upwards. The TV is best placed directly below the surface, although wall mounting holes allow it to be placed in other ways.

Pros

• Six internal speakers provide plenty of power and sound quality.
• An angled design directs sound upwards.
• Operation is simple

Cons

• Bulky appearance
• There is no option to connect an external subwoofer.
• There is no wall-mounting equipment.

Sony HT-S100F

We’ve found the Sony HTS100F to be the best standalone soundbar below $100. It’s a 2.0 entry-level setup ideal for listening to vocal-centric content such as TV shows, like most soundbars at this price.

Although it lacks some of the fancy features found in more expensive soundbars, it is a good choice if you want a simple, plug-and-play setup with no sub.

The soundbar reproduces dialogue straight out of the box. A dialogue enhancement mode also makes voices sound crisp and clear. There aren’t many sound enhancement options, as with budget-friendly bars.

However, there’s an auto-volume mode that helps to balance out the volume when you watch TV at night. It supports surround sound formats such as Dolby Digital and DTS, just like the TCL Alto 6+.

It can’t reproduce the deep bass thump without a subwoofer. You won’t feel the power in fast-paced scenes on your favorite TV shows. You won’t notice the absence of bass in TV shows unless you listen to EDM or other bass-heavy music.

Polk Audio Signa Solo

Polk Audio’s Signa Solo model is the most economical. The soundbar features four 2.5-inch full-range drivers and bass ports that boost the low end.

It is housed in a slim enclosure that can be set underneath the TV to enhance what’s on it. This soundbar does not have an HDMI port, so it cannot accurately produce Dolby Atmos sound.

However, it connects via optical and has Polk’s SDA digital surround technology. This helps create a more immersive soundstage.

You can adjust volume, adjust the bass and select VoiceAdjust settings. The remote also lets you lift dialogue above background noise and music for better clarity.

The Signa Solo can be set to Movie or Music EQ mode, making it an ideal soundbar that doubles as a Bluetooth speaker. Polk offers a 2.1-channel system that is affordable and still supports bass.

Pros

• Wall-mountable
• Music Mode
• SDA surround sound

Cons

• No HDMI port

TaoTronics 32-Inch Soundbar

TaoTronics, a Shenzhen-based tech company, has seen its products explode onto the US electronics market. It’s tempting to buy the largest soundbar for the most money, but you should consider what size room you have and how it will fit into your home.

It is a 32-inch soundbar ideal for smaller living rooms or bedrooms. This TaoTronics soundbar is great for low-volume listening. It has a balanced sound and clear sound. The wood grain finish adds a classy touch that you won’t find in this price range. You can still hear it at high volumes, but some distortion and compression artifacts exist.

This is a great choice if you are tired of the TV’s tinny sound and struggle to understand the important dialogue. However, the Wohome soundbar 38 inches or the TCL Alto 6+ will be a better choice for those with larger rooms.

Pros

• Natural and balanced sound
• Modern, sleek design

Cons

• Distortion at higher volumes
• Built-in TV speakers are only marginally more loud than built-in speakers.

LG SK1

Many affordable options are available with smaller designs if you don’t have much space. The LG SK1 measures just 26 inches long and can easily fit into your living space. It can be placed under most computer monitors making it an ideal choice for gamers.

This soundbar can reproduce voices clearly and accurately due to its balanced mids. You can choose from the Standard or Bass Blast presets, depending on how loud you prefer the mix to be.

Dynamic Range Compression adjusts the volume between loud and low sounds for viewing at night. You can even use surround sound formats such as Dolby Digital or DTS on the device, often available via streaming services.

Because it is small, the soundstage of the LG’s bar is smaller than other models such as the Sony HT–S100F and the TCL Alto 6+.

Finding a bar with truly immersive sound quality in this price range is hard. However, the LG’s soundstage and sound quality are very limited. It’s a good choice if you don’t have much space. However, if you have more room, you can get better immersion with other cheaper options.

Vizio SB2020n-J6

Vizio is a brand we highly recommend when it comes to affordable soundbars. The S6 is the most affordable option. This simple model offers Bluetooth connectivity, Night Mode to provide balanced audio in quiet times, and Bass/Treble adjustment.

Four EQ presets are available, including Movie, Music, and Dialogue. It does not support Dolby Digital audio but can use DTS Virtual:X to add surround elements and virtual height to encoded content.

This slim soundbar measures only 20 inches and can be easily connected or adjusted. It still produces 91 decibels, which is impressive for such a small size. This compact unit is great for guest rooms, secondary TV sets, and first-time soundbar users. It is portable and can be taken with you wherever you go.

Pros

• Support for DTS Virtual:X
• Voice Assistant compatibility
• Price

Cons

• Can distort at loud volumes
• It does not support Dolby digital.

ZVOX AccuVoice AV100 Dialogue Clarifying Sound Bar

As we age, our hearing loss increases. As we age, our ability to hear the voices on TV becomes more difficult. Even though poor quality speakers are not a good idea, the voices can be lost among all the sounds.

ZVOX AccuVoice AV100 employs patented technology to make voices clearer and easier to understand. The integrated DAC and onboard DSP increase the frequency of human voices. This allows human voices to be heard above the background noises, music effects, and other background noises.

Other manufacturers advertise voice enhancement technologies on soundbars, such as Yamaha’s Clear Voice or Polk’s Voice Adjust. ZVOX is the clear leader in this area, and none of these rudimentary technologies are even as efficient.

The voice assistant feature is great, but the speaker is only 10 inches in size. ZVOX offers a larger, more powerful 17-inch soundbar in their AV200. However, these speakers are small and should not be considered unless you require the hearing aid feature.

Pros

• The soundbar intelligently adjusts the input audio source to produce clearer human voices.
• Compact size

Cons

• A built-in TV speaker is better than any other for normal viewing.

Vmai 2.1 Channel Soundbar

PCM stands for Pulse Code Modulation and is a type of digital audio recording. It’s a two-channel digital stereo track you can find on most music and TV programs and many CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays. A soundbar that is PCM-only, such as the Vmai 2.1 channel Sound Bar, is a good choice if you don’t watch a lot of movies.

This soundbar is fairly neutral and has some brightness in the treble. The soundbar reproduces vocals and leads well, making it great for music listening, and TV shows have clear dialogue.

It does not have a lot of sound enhancement options, as with most budget bars. However, you can adjust the bass and treble or improve the dialogue.

It can only support PCM content, so you cannot use it to listen to or play multi-channel surround sound audio formats such as Dolby Digital and DTS. It doesn’t support advanced object-based formats such as Dolby Atmos.

These formats can be found on many streaming platforms, particularly with movies. It’s still an excellent entry-level option if you prefer TV shows and music to watch movies.

Bestisan 60W Bluetooth Soundbar

The Bestisan soundbar delivers reliable sound at a fraction of what other models cost. It won’t blow your roof off with volume or deliver the premium audio quality, but it will probably sound better than your TV speakers. That’s an upgrade worth considering.

The soundbar is 60 watts and features two full-range, 3-inch speakers with bass reflex tubes. The soundbar has three presets for digital signal processing: Movie, Dialogue, and Music. Additionally, the remote control allows you to adjust the bass and treble EQ via buttons.

Although there is no HDMI port, you can connect to Bluetooth 5.0 devices or use the digital optical sound port. You can use the onboard controls to play, pause, and do volume control.

The main unit also displays an LED light color corresponding to the current input selection. You can also mount the unit to a wall to enjoy your music without taking up too much space.

Pros

• Enhanced Bass
• Triple adjustments
• Price

Cons

• The sound quality is not great.

Creative Stage 2.1 Channel Soundbar

A soundbar can produce a decent amount of bass, but a subwoofer unit will give the bass an extra boost. This will allow you to feel the bass kick in action-heavy scenes.

There are not many options for soundbars within the $100 budget. It is even more difficult to find one that bundles a subwoofer. Creative’s impressive launch of one makes it stand out.

It has a 40W soundbar, 40W subwoofer, and 160W peak power. The soundbar has everything you would expect, including Bluetooth connectivity and remote control. Creative has also included a USB port that allows you to play MP3s from a USB thumb drive.

It’s a decent package overall, but it’s not the best small soundbar under $100. The soundbar is small at 22 inches and not large enough to offer great stereo separation.

Creative has also made the drivers mid-range drivers, meaning that the low frequencies will be affected unless the soundbar is used with the subwoofer. This results in a subwoofer and soundbar that are mediocre. They also don’t pack a punch or cleanness of a high-end 2.1 channel setup.

Pros

• There are many connectivity options, including HDMI ARC.
• Kit for wall mounting included
• You can play audio from USB thumb drives.

Cons

• Soundbar of small 21-inch size
• The TCL Alto6+ is superior in nearly every way.

Pyle PSBV600BT

Soundbars are often thought of as long, thin bars. Some people prefer “sound bases,” which are the tabletop sound basis on which their TV can be placed directly.

Soundbases have the advantage that they have more volume and are deeper, giving audio engineers more space to work with. One of the few budget soundbases is the Pyle PSBV600BT. It features a built-in subwoofer. This combination creates the sound of a soundbar and subwoofer in one box.

The overall sound quality is excellent, but the bass can sometimes be too strong, and the mids and highs can feel a bit muffled. The soundbase is missing features that we would like to see, such as HDMI ARC and a better remote controller. This is an excellent option if you want a soundbase under $100.

Pros

• You can get plenty of bass from your existing sub-bass unit without purchasing a separate one.
• It doubles up as a TV platform.
• Comfortable even at loud volumes

Cons

• Details are missing in trebles and mids.
• Bulky appearance

Some relevant posts:

• Best Soundbar Under 1000 2023: Top Brands Review
• Best Samsung Soundbar 2023: Top Brands Review
• Best Soundbar On Amazon 2023: Top Brands Review

How We Selected The Best Soundbars Under $100

We looked at audio specifications, such as Dolby Digital support and the number of channels. This helped us select the best Bluetooth soundbar under 100. We also looked at connectivity, expandability, and overall design to ensure that each model can be used on most TVs.

We also looked at the available standard features and prioritized those with navigable remotes and Bluetooth/Wi-Fi compatibility. We examined the reputation of brands like Vizio, which has a record of producing high-quality models and consulted peer reviews and first-hand user impressions. Finally, we looked into our homes to find the best soundbars for our budget.

Things To Consider Before Buying One Of The Best Soundbars Under $100

What to expect

An affordable soundbar is a great way to enjoy more home-based television and film audio. Flatscreen TVs have dominated the market since the late 1990s/early 2000s.

While the viewing experience has improved tremendously, smaller televisions make it difficult to install speakers. Soundbars were designed to solve this problem. They are a compact, sleek speaker system that doesn’t distract from the flatscreen’s minimalist aesthetic.

Although soundbars don’t have to cost thousands, spending a few hundred dollars on a soundbar can make a big difference in terms of better fidelity, wider coverage, and multichannel options.

If you want to save money and get a soundbar that fits your budget, you should focus on soundbars below $100. This will ensure you don’t have to spend any more on repairs or replacements.

Connectivity

Soundbars can bypass the built-in speakers on your TV, providing better sound quality and coverage. You will need to know the connectivity ports of your TV and the model you are looking at to set up a soundbar and enjoy the benefits. Soundbars connect using an HDMI port and HDMI cables.

However, if you have a TV manufactured more than a decade ago, purchasing a soundbar with an optical sound port might be necessary. Fortunately, most soundbars offer both.

Many connectivity options are available beyond the standard HDMI and optical audio ports. Many models have additional HDMI output ports that allow you to connect Blu-ray players and gaming consoles to your TV.

Many will have Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connections that allow you to connect other smart devices to stream music, podcasts, or audiobooks.

Most units under $100 won’t support advanced connections such as HDMI eARC. This is recommended for Dolby Atmos soundbars and for processing Atmos audio encoded using uncompressed Dolby TrueHD Audio.

If you want to experience immersive Dolby Atmos surround audio, you will need to spend more. Some will allow you to connect to an assistant like Google Assistant or Alexa so you can use voice control.

Dolby Digital and beyond

Although soundbars claim they can support Dolby Sound, this does not mean that they support Dolby Atmos surround sound. You will need a stronger model with either physically upfiring drivers or processing power to virtualize such an arrangement.

A more reliable and affordable soundbar will still support Dolby Digital, an audio codec that produces high-quality sound over a 5.1-channel system. Dolby Digital is compatible with 5.1 systems, and 2.1-channel systems can handle the audio. This allows you to mix down the signal and format it to suit the channel configuration of the soundbar.

Dolby Atmos’ rival is DTS: X. It is a multi-dimensional audio codec. Most soundbars below $200 do not support DTS: X. However, DTS Virtual:X may be used. This simulates multispeaker surround sound with digital signal processing and creates a larger soundstage that impacts music, dialogue, and SFX.

Expandable systems/audio channels

One soundbar does NOT mean one speaker. Even the simplest soundbars use multiple drivers to produce sound. Stereo sound is available on standard models. This means that each channel can be left or right independently.

It’s also known as a 2.0-channel system. Some models use 2.1 channels, while others have an external subwoofer that supports lower bass frequencies.

These subs can be either built into the main soundbar or separately. This is where an inexpensive model will limit its channels. However, other systems can include up to 7.2 channels. A 3.1 system will include a sub, left and right channel, and an additional sub.

For a more immersive experience, 5.1 systems will use one soundbar that contains the left, right, and center channels. One subwoofer is also used. Two additional speakers act as surrounds, rears, or front fills.

If you are interested in a larger system but don’t want to commit yet, you might consider a soundbar you can add to. These soundbars are not compatible with other speakers.

However, some (such as the Roku) can be used to support satellite speakers or a subwoofer made by the same company. We have options for soundbars that are affordable for under $100, no matter how large or small your budget.

FAQs

Can you use a soundbar without a TV?

Technically, a soundbar can be used without a TV, depending on its connectivity options. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi models can be connected to smartphones, laptops, tablets, etc., to stream music and podcasts wirelessly.

To connect additional devices, you can use the AUX and USB ports. Soundbars were designed to support television and film audio. If you want to listen to music more than just audio, consider a budget-friendly Bluetooth speaker or bookshelf.

What does a subwoofer do with a soundbar?

A subwoofer can be added to a soundbar system to support low-end frequencies the main unit might not be capable of boosting. Subwoofers are essential for creating that bass-heavy, anxiety-inducing sound in sound design and score production. While some people can live with it, we recommend an upgrade. They can make for a truly entertaining viewing experience.

Are cheap soundbars worth it?

A cheap soundbar can be a great way to make small improvements to your home’s audio system without spending a lot. They may not be up to speed with the latest audio advances, such as spatialization and 3-D, but they can be used to help you start reinforcing your home system.

Conclusion

The best soundbar under $100 is the Polk Audio Signa S2. It offers great value for the price, with good sound quality and a wide range of features. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, the Vizio SB3621n-E8 is a good choice. We’ll also provide a buyer’s guide to help you choose the right soundbar for your needs. Thanks for reading!

Last update on 2023-03-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API