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7 Best Soundbars For Home Theater Under $300 (Reviewed)

Ayaan Khan

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The built-in speakers in today’s TV are horrible. Because consumers nowadays want borderless and huge TVs.

To meet these needs; brands are focusing on the display to make it better and larger for the new market demand.

And they are focusing less on the built-in speakers of the TV.  Brands don’t leave that much space in the TV body to fit nice speakers in it. 

That’s why built-in TV speakers are so horrible that a very cheap soundbar can deliver better sound quality than it.

Our Top Tested & Reviewed Products At A Glance

Soundbar	Sound Format	Height	With Subwoofer	Editor's Ratings	Today’s Best Deals
VIZIO V-Series	Entry Level Real 5.1 Surround Sound	2.24 inches	With Seperate Subwoofer	4.9 4.5/5	Check Price On Amazon
Polk Audio Signa S3	Just Dolby Digital 5.1 decoding	3.2 Inches	With Seperate Subwoofer	4.8 4.5/5	Check Price On Amazon
YAMAHA SR-B20A	Virtual 3D Surround Sound	5.2 inches	With Built-in Subwoofer	4.6 4.5/5	Check Price On Amazon

These soundbars can give louder sound, clear dialogues, rich background music, and deeper bass than the TV speakers.

Some newer soundbars can even replicate a 5.1 surround sound system right in your bedroom for under $300.

Although they can’t replace a full-fledged 5.1 surround system, they can give an entry-level taste of it.

I have installed many soundbars in my clients’ theater rooms, bought many for my business, and tested them out in my friends’ houses. That’s why I have the suitable experience to educate you on soundbars.

Let’s discuss each one,  so you can choose the right one for your theater room. I have categorized them into two categories with a subwoofer and without a subwoofer.

All Products At A Glance – Review Of Each Soundbar Is Below This Table

1. VIZIO V-Series – Best Soundbar With Wireless Subwoofer

VIZIO V-Series 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar with Dolby Audio, Bluetooth, Wireless Subwoofer, Voice Assistant Compatible, Includes Remote Control – V51x-J6

Detail Review Of VIZIO V-Series Soundbar

This is the best soundbar in this price range because of its sound, convenience, and value put in the box by Vizio. 

It comes with a Soundbar, two rear speakers, and a wireless subwoofer. The Soundbar itself has three speakers, the front left and right and the center channel speaker.

The rear speakers can be placed at the back of the audience to give that full 5.1 surround sound experience. The subwoofer must be placed near the rear speakers because they need power from the subwoofer.  

The rear speakers are not wireless but are provided with long wires that can be used to Wall mount these speakers.

At the back of the soundbar, you can find an HDMI connectivity port, optical port, AUX, and also Aux VA for any virtual assistant like Alexa.

At the left side of it is a power plug and also a port for the USB drive to stream your audio from the storage.

It comes with a lot of value in the box where you get a wire for each input option. You get HDMI cable, optical cable, 3.5 mm cable, RCA to 3.5 mm cable, and two power cables for the soundbar and the sub.

Along with the wires you get mounting hardware to mount the soundbar and the rear speakers, a mounting template, a setup guide, and a user manual.

How To Set It Up?

1. Just plug the power cable into the Soundbar and connect it through the HDMI cable with the TV or projector.  After that, power up the subwoofer.  
2. Connect the two rear speakers to the subwoofer by plugging the color-coded plugs into each matching color port. Don’t mix it up.
3. Set the audio of the TV to an external
4. Now test each speaker by the test option. 
5. You can access the option by clicking on the setup button of the remote and then toggle to the test option by the large circular button on the remote.
6. This will test each speaker if that is on and working fine.

You can also utilize the Audio Delay facility on the remote if there is a synchronization error between the TV and soundbar audio.

The remote is very robust and I have never seen such a robust remote in this price range with any soundbar.

The levels of each speaker can be adjusted by this remote. The dialogue can be enhanced and can be switched to the preset gaming mode, music mode, or movie mode by the remote.

The other two features that I really like. One is Eco Power mode which will switch off the Soundbar when it is not getting the signal from the TV or projector.  It will save energy.

The other is a night mode that will reduce the bass and will balance all the levels of the sound so nobody in the house or the neighborhood feels uncomfortable.

My client wanted the best Soundbar for his small theatre room on a budget. I installed this soundbar with his projector.

I love the sound of it. The dialogues were clear, the background music was clear and louder, and the bass was the best in this price range. 

There was an option on the remote for dialogue enhancement and that truly brought the change.

I love everything about it except the virtual:X option. 

Because I am a full-fledged Dolby Atmos surround sound guy that’s why I don’t feel the charm of the virtual: X.  But you can try out this virtual:X sound and let me know what you think of it.

You can choose a project of ultra-short throw to go with it. They will give you a fantastic theater experience in your bedroom. Click on the bluish words to read my review about it.

2. Polk Audio Signa S3 – Best For Built-in 2.1 Stereo Sound Tuned Speaker Drivers

Polk Audio Signa S3 Ultra-Slim TV Sound Bar and Wireless Subwoofer with Built-in Chromecast | Compatible with 8K, 4K & HD TVs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Works with Google Assistant,Black

Detail Review Of Polk Audio Signa S3

This one is the best 2.1 performance-tuned soundbar for music and movies. With the dialogue enhancement technology by Polk, the dialogues in music-heavy TV shows and movies sound clear and distinctive.

The performance tuning is different than the real 2.1 stereo sound. In stereo, you get two front speakers and one subwoofer while in a soundbar you get the extra channel that is the center channel. So, in this Polk soundbar, you get 3.1 channels.

The build quality looks really stunning; there are huge fabric grills on the sub and the soundbar.

On the top of the soundbar, you get buttons for Bluetooth, volume adjustment, source, and power on and off.

At the back, it has connectivity options like optical, aux, and HDMI ARC. It also has holes for mounting.

The subwoofer is equipped with a 5.25-inch driver. The sub connects wirelessly to the soundbar and I have never experienced any discontinuity error with it.

The best part is that it is Wi-Fi enabled and Chromecast is built-in. Users can stream music from a plethora of music apps like Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, Google Play Music, and much more.

With the Google Home app; users can connect Google speakers across the home and they will play the same music in harmony.

This soundbar is future-proof because it supports both 4K and 8K TVs.

My friend has this in his bedroom because he was so impressed by all the features it provides. 

I tested it out with the music and movies. The dialogues were clear because of the dialogue enhancement technology and the music experience was great.

I tried the Google Assistant feature and I was able to change the music and volume without touching the remote.

The remote is simple and easy to use. Night mode, Cinema mode, and music mode can be applied by the dedicated buttons on the remote. The bass and volume can be adjusted by the dedicated button on the remote.

3. YAMAHA SR-B20A – Best For Movies & Music With Built-in Subwoofer

Yamaha Audio SR-B20A Sound Bar with Built-in Subwoofers and Bluetooth, Black

Detail Review Of YAMAHA SR-B20A

This is the best solo soundbar for movies and music because it is equipped with high-quality speakers. 

It has two 2.1-inch midrange drivers, two 1-inch tweeters, and two 3-inch subwoofers, and a port.

It looks premium. The Top, front, and sides are covered by good-looking fabric. 

On the top, it has volume up and down, Bluetooth, source, inputs management, and sound modes adjustment buttons.

At the back, it has all the input options and a power plug. It has optical and HDMI ARC connectivity options. It also provides a subwoofer-out connection option.

It has a few cool features like voice clearing and 3D surround sound. 

The remote is minimalist and very easy to use but I liked its mobile app. It can be controlled by a dedicated mobile app.

Its sound mode, volume, and input can be changed by the mobile app along with applying 3D surround sound and voice clearing function.

I installed this soundbar for one of my clients. 

 As I said, the setup was straightforward. 

I tested it out with movies and music. The movie’s dialogues were clear and a good amount of bass was there for the realistic touch.

The music experience was great because a good amount of bass was there as well.

The sub was good in the low and mid-volume but on high volume it gets distorted.

The sound experience is the best for a normal person that needs an upgrade from the TV speakers but for an above-average person, a separate subwoofer will be needed for robust bass.

4. SAMSUNG HW-S60A – Best For Mids And Highs

SAMSUNG 5.0ch S60A S Series Soundbar – Acoustic Beam and Alexa Built-in (HW-S60A, 2021 Model)

Detail Review Of SAMSUNG HW-S60A

This soundbar is the best for the mids and highs of sound because it is focused so much on it.

It consists of 2 tweeters and 2 woofers with a dedicated Centre channel speaker for dialogues.  There are 2 horns, one on each side of it.

The upper body is covered by fabric and it looks very nice. At the top, it has volume up and down buttons with indicator lights. 

At the back, it has all the connectivity options with HDMI Arc and optical and it has no output for a sub. A separate subwoofer by Samsung can be connected to it via Bluetooth.

It has Apple Airplay 2 functionality and any Apple device can be connected to it via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

It also has Built-in Alexa.  Volume is up and down and music can be changed by voice commands. Also, all other features of Alexa can be utilized through it.

It was packed in the box with my friend’s TV when he bought it. 

 I tested it out with music and movies. The dialogues were clear but there was very little bass.

The mids and highs were very good and refined. With the music, very little bass was present too.

The bass is good as compared to TV speakers and normal people can enjoy it who just want an upgrade. 

But a person that is looking for a robust bass then a separate subwoofer will be needed with it.

5. Sony HT-S350 – Best For Movies and Good For Music

Sony HT-S350 Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer: S350 2.1ch Sound Bar and Powerful Subwoofer – Home Theater Surround Sound Speaker System for TV – Blutooth and HDMI Arc Compatible Bar Black

Detail Review Of Sony HT-S350

The build quality of this soundbar is one of the best in this price range. The Soundbar body is made up of good quality plastic and the front grill is metallic. The indication lights are behind the grill.

The plastic on the top of the soundbar has a leather texture, with touch-sensitive buttons for power and volume adjustment.

The subwoofer too is well built. The front grill is made up of metal and there is a port below it.

The green light inside the grill of the sub when blinking means it is pairing but on stable, it means it is paired.

A link button is given at the back of the sub in case there is any connection problem with the  Soundbar. The subwoofer connection is wireless with the soundbar. The sub is equipped with a 6.3-inch driver.

At the back of the soundbar, it has all the connection ports with mounting holes. It does not come with mounting hardware.

This soundbar has 7 sound modes for every kind of need. These modes can be easily accessible from remote by its dedicated buttons on the remote.

My client wanted a 2.1 channel Soundbar for movies and music that look good too. I installed this soundbar in his bedroom.  

This soundbar doesn’t come with mounting hardware. That’s why I took one from home depot on the way to my client’s home.

I tested it out with the music and movies.

The dialogues were clear and deep and the subwoofer bass was able to give that realistic touch to the movies. The sounds of guns, punches, and cars engines, and crushes felt real.

The music experience was good too. I enjoyed every note of the music.

The music will not sound better than the complete 5.1 surround sound but it can definitely sound the best from any TV speaker.

You can set up affordable wall mount speakers with it to have a real 5.1 surround sound. Read my best wall mount speakers’ review here.

6. JBL Bar 2.1 – Best for Movies Dialogues

JBL Bar 2.1 – Channel Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer

Detail Review Of JBL Bar 2.1

This is the 3rd best 2.1 channel soundbar by JBL. The sub is wireless and syncs with the Soundbar flawlessly.

The soundbar looks premium. The front grill is made up of metal and the whole body is made up of good quality plastic.

There is a LED light display behind this grill. This display tells you about the input type, pairing, and much more.

At the top of it, you get buttons for power, source, and volume. At the bottom, it has rubber feet that hold it tight.

At the back, it has all the connectivity ports. There is HDMI out and in port with optical and Aux ports.

The subwoofer body is small but it is equipped with a 6.5-inch driver. The bass is punchy and deep. 

In the box, you get optical cable, aux cable, and power cable for the soundbar.

The remote is made up of cheap plastic and very few options to play with.

My friend has this in his small bedroom. I want to test it out from the setup to the sound quality. I unplugged everything and started the setup process over again. 

The setup was easy and it was complete within 6 minutes.

How To Set It Up?

1. Power up the soundbar, TV, and sub
2. Connect the one end of the HDMI to ARC of the TV and the other end to the HDMI Out of JBL bar 2.1 (because this one is the ARC enabled).
3. Set the audio of the TV to external
4. The sub will sync automatically to the soundbar. The light behind the sub will blink once it is pairing and will be stable when it is paired.

I tested it out with music, movies, and games.  With games and movies, the bass was deep and the sound was crystal clear. It gives a realistic touch to the movies and games. 

The sound was best for movies and games but it was good for music.

It needs improvement in the music department. The music quality was not for audiophiles but a normal person can enjoy it for music too.

7. Bose TV Speaker – Best Soundbar For TV

Bose TV Speaker – Soundbar for TV with Bluetooth and HDMI-ARC Connectivity, Black, Includes Remote Control

Detail Review Of Bose TV Speaker

This is the best soundbar for dialogues. Because with its dialogue mode It can separate the dialogues from the sound and enhance it more.

I have tested this feature and it is delivering very well.

The build quality is firm and good. It is not the best but good. The whole body is made up of good quality plastic and the front grills are made up of aluminum.

At the top of the grill, there are two LEDs, one for the TV and another for the Bluetooth. The two lights change color for each functionality and it is very difficult to remember which colors turn on for which function.

There are no physical buttons on the soundbar; the only way to control it is by remote.

The remote is minimalist and very easy to use.

At the back, it has one power plug and on the opposite side of it, there are connectivity options. It provides HDMI, optical, AUX, USB, and bass out for a separate subwoofer.

My friend’s father has it in his theatre room. His father bought it because of its dialogue enhancement feature. Because he is old and has hearing loss problems.

I tested it out and the dialogues were very clear and easy to understand. There was no bass with the music but the mids and highs were detailed and well defined.

FAQs

Helpful Resources For The FAQs To Read More

1. This was my opinion, read a discussion about this question on Quora. (Resource for the first answer)
2. Learn more from this discussion on Quora. (Resource for the fifth answer)
3. Learn more here from this discussion on Reddit. (Resource for the sixth answer)
4. This was my opinion read more on Dummies. (Resource for the seventh answer)