Best Soundbar Under $300: How To Make The Most Of Your Home Theater!
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Soundbars tend to cost quite a bit and for many audiophiles on a budget, it’s difficult to find quality products that are worth their money. In this article, we’ll help you with your research for the best soundbar under 300$ so let’s dive in!
Best Soundbars Under 300$
| Image | Product | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | YAMAHA YAS-207BL Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer | 9.7 | Check Price on Amazon |
| YAMAHA YAS-207BL Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer | 9.5 | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Bose Solo 5 TV Soundbar Sound System with Universal Remote Control | 9.1 | Check Price on Amazon |
 | SAMSUNG HW-T450 2.1ch Soundbar with Dolby Audio | 8.8 | Check Price on Amazon |
 | VIZIO Sound Bar for TV, 36” 5.1 Channel Home Theater Surround Sound System | 8.6 | Check Price on Amazon |
 | TCL Alto 6+ 2.1 Channel Dolby Audio Sound Bar | 8.2 | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Sound Bar | 8 | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Roku Smart Soundbar, 4K/HD/HDR Streaming Media Player | 7.7 | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Sony S100F 2.0ch Soundbar with Bass Reflex Speaker | 7.4 | Check Price on Amazon |
 | JBL Bar Studio 2.0 – Channel Soundbar with Bluetooth | 7.2 | Check Price on Amazon |
Last update on 28th September 2023 / Affiliate Links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Our Recommended Sound Bars:
YAMAHA YAS-207BL Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer
- World’s first sound bar with DTS Virtual: X Virtual 3D surround sound (available via a firmware update available now)
- Slim, understated design perfectly complements your TV
- Wireless subwoofer for powerful bass with flexible placement
- Bluetooth wireless music streaming; Dimensions (W x H x D)(subwoofer): 7 1/8 x 17 1/4 x 15 3/4 inches; Drivers (Center Unit) 4 1 3/4 inch woofers, Dual 1 inch tweeters, (Subwoofer) 6 1/4 inch cone woofer; Dimensions (W x H x D) (Center Unit) 36 5/8 x 2 3/8 x 4 1/4 inches; ARC Yes
- Simple setup with HDMI, optical or analog connection
Last update on 28th September 2023 / Affiliate Links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Yamaha YAS-207BL is our recommendation for anyone looking for absolutely the best soundbar under 300$. It features HDMI, optical and analog connections to connect your sources, and Bluetooth connectivity in order to pair your Bluetooth devices.
The wireless subwoofer is very powerful and can easily fill your home theater making placement quite flexible. The YAS-207BL also features DTS Virtual 3D surround sound via a firmware upgrade which makes this soundbar unique. If you like the slim design and it fits your budget, this is a purchase you won’t regret.
Bose Solo 5 TV Soundbar Sound System with Universal Remote Control
- Single sound bar provides better sound quality compared to your TV.The Solo 5 TV sound system is an easy solution, with advanced technologies that deliver the clear audio your TV can’t.
- Dialogue mode to make every word and detail stand out
- Bluetooth connectivity to wirelessly stream music from any of your devices
- One connection to your TV. Optical audio input (digital); Coaxial audio input (digital); 3.5 mm aux input (analog)
- Universal remote controls TV, bass, Bluetooth connections and more
- Speaker:2.6 H x 21.6 W x 3.4 D (3.73 lbs), Remote control:4.1 H x 1.6 W x 0.4 D (5 oz)
Last update on 28th September 2023 / Affiliate Links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Bose Solo 5 is a great addition to your TV and the sound quality for this soundbar will definitely be an upgrade compared to your TV speakers. It is designed so as to provide clear dialogue and clarity that the built-in speakers of a TV cannot reproduce, and it’s pretty easy to set up under your TV in seconds. You can connect the soundbar to the TV via the optical audio input or the Coaxial audio input, which are digital connections, or with the 3.5mm aux input for TVs that have an analog output.
Moreover, it features Bluetooth connectivity which will allow you to wireless stream music from any Bluetooth-enabled device like your phone, tablet, or media player.
If you want one of the best soundbars for your TV but do not need a subwoofer, this one is worth a closer look, otherwise, look for a combo package elsewhere.
VIZIO Sound Bar for TV, 36” 5.1 Channel Home Theater Surround Sound System
- Performance Brilliant clarity with 6 powerful speakers for a truly Immersive 5.1 surround sound experience.
- Wireless Slim Subwoofer Experience deep, booming bass with this versatile subwoofer that brings you deep, booming bass and can be positioned upright to fit discreetly it in the corner of the room, or lay it on its side to tuck it under your couch.
- Dedicated Center Speaker Delivers crystal-clear dialogue so you don’t miss a word.
- Rear Surround Speakers Experience truly immersive surround sound with volume adjustable speakers placed behind you.
- DTS Virtual: X sound enhancement creates room-filling, floor-to-ceiling virtualized 3D surround sound.
Last update on 28th September 2023 / Affiliate Links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Vizio has created a series of soundbars that are quite popular in the market, ranging from 28-ich up to 38-inch ones. Vizio has a great advantage compared to other brands since they include a subwoofer in the package while keeping the price close to that of competitors. The wireless subwoofer is a great addition to your home theater system and the built-in Bluetooth will help you also pair Bluetooth-enabled devices and stream your favorite music. This is a budget-friendly option that is ideal you anyone in search of a 2.1 sound system, and the 28 inch is aimed towards those with smaller TVs due to its compact design.
What to consider when looking for the Best Soundbar Under 300$?
Most of them are quite easy to install and will be a convenient alternative to those who don’t want to set up surround sound systems. Other methods include the use of HDMI ports connecting your devices or the 3.5mm jacks that are quite common.
Some of the soundbars in the market offer features like Bluetooth connectivity that will let you connect wirelessly in order to play music from Bluetooth-enabled devices which may be quite handy. If you don’t plan to watch movies and want to be able to hear just dialog then a soundbar can obviously stand on its own. Keeping a soundbar for music is also a wise choice as long as it comes with a subwoofer to handle the low frequencies on most songs.
Keep in mind that not all soundbars come with a built-in radio, so if you would like to enjoy some radio stations directly by your soundbar interface you need to double-check this feature on their manual.
Have a look at each device’s specifications if you plan to use Dolby technology as many of them have their own algorithm to provide a pseudo surround sound. There are soundbars on the market that can handle Dolby Atmos with their algorithm.
Most of them are small enough to blend nicely with the rest of the apartment but it is advisable to pick one with a modern design that you would be proud to look at in your living room. Shopping around holidays can get you can great deals that it would be wise not to pass, like on Black Friday.
Connecting your Soundbar:
As you can imagine, connecting more external devices like a PS4 or XBOX One to your soundbar will require more HDMI inputs so it is vital to look for soundbars that come with multiple HDMI inputs so as to handle all your devices without having to buy an HDMI splitter.
There are two more options you might want to consider when buying a soundbar. The last configuration you might need to consider is buying a soundbar with headphone jack output which can be quite handy if you want to connect headphones, for example at night that you need to watch a movie while people might be sleeping nearby.
Maximum Connectivity
Some soundbars are able to connect to the internet and provide you with content from online sources like Netflix or youtube through their own interface. While at it, look for a soundbar that also features USB as it can come in handy, for updates, or even some models that feature a built-in media player.
Keep in mind that you would have better results with external subwoofers as the soundbars with built-in subwoofers are not able to handle low frequencies that well.
I would like to highlight that in recent years Alexa and Google Home have become quite popular and in the years to come more and more soundbar will be able to communicate with Alexa or Google Home in order to have verbal commands to operate your home entertainment system. There are already plenty of videos online that highlight such home theater automation that will blow your mind, so if you haven’t thought about it yet, maybe it’s time for some more research for those soundbars that operate well with home automation.
Sound Placement:
For example, the smaller soundbars will be more suited for laptops, computers, and up to 32 inch TVs while the larger soundbars are ideal for TVs around 50-65 inches. The best placement for a soundbar is around your chest level so in most cause they would perform better when placed under the TV.
You can always place them behind or above the TV but keep in mind that it would be better if the sound waves are traveling directly towards you instead of hearing the sound reflected on nearby walls. Some models feature a built-in tool that can help you optimize for such delay, but obviously, if you can place your soundbar on chest or ear level directly in front of you, you can expect maximum sound clarity.
It is wise to pick some wall mount brackets that can hold the soundbar at the desired height and angle as with any other speaker that you want wall-mounted. Since the soundbar will also handle the center channel where dialogue from movies is played, it is wise to place the soundbar at the center of your viewing area.