It is perfectly understandable if you find yourself wanting a soundbar as a replacement for your inbuilt TV speakers. These speakers, which provide decent sound, cannot match up to the unparalleled quality of a soundbar. In case you did not know already, a soundbar is a very powerful device that can greatly enhance your visual and audio experience while you sit in front of the television munching on nachos and drinking soda!
Let us get another thing out of the way as well- not all soundbars are outrageously expensive devices! Although most of them will surely put a dent in your wallet, you are likely to come across several other contemporary models that you can buy for just under 200 dollars. Yes, you read that right! Imagine owning such a cheap soundbar that delivers excellent performance!
The good news for you is that you have come to just the right place if you have made up your mind to buy a budget soundbar under $200 that easily exceeds your expectations.
Vizio V21-H8
The Vizio V21-H8 soundbar is one of the best choices you have at your disposal if you are looking for a soundbar under $200 that does not compromise on quality in any way.
This 2.1 feature-rich soundbar comes with its own wireless subwoofer model. Such a model adds an extra punch and boom to your audio. Largely, the Vizio V21-H8 offers a very versatile performance that can meet most of your entertainment needs. It even boasts a special AUX port for exclusive voice assistant speakers.
The sound profile of this soundbar is bass-heavy with an even mid-range. That makes the device ideal for listening to anything that falls between podcasts and audiobooks and music genres that are bass-heavy. Furthermore, if you desire a different type of sound, there are some treble and bass adjustments available, and some EQ presets as well.
Another useful feature of this soundbar that comes in handy for almost everyone is that it is fully compatible with Bluetooth. That allows you to wirelessly stream any audio from your laptop, tablet, or smartphone to the soundbar. There is no need to plug in any wires!
It is important to note though, that the Vizio V21-H8 budget soundbar does not support Atmos content. That might be slightly upsetting news for core movie fans. You are also likely to experience some distortion at maximum volume, hence it may not be best to listen to music from this soundbar at parties.
Apart from this minor drawback, this particular soundbar ticks all the necessary boxes and features everything you would want in such a device. The best part- you pay less than 200 dollars for it!
- Very versatile soundbar.
- Very good audio given the low price of the device
- Several connectivity options
- Some distortion at very high volume.
Polk Audio Signa S2
If you want a certain soundbar that is exceedingly appropriate for listening to content that has a lot of dialogue, such as TV shows and audiobooks, you can always consider the Polk Audio Signa S2 soundbar.
Although it does not have as many connectivity options as the Vizio V21-H8 soundbar and does not support DTS content either, it provides a balanced mid-range sound perfect for dialogue-heavy content.
In addition, the Polk Audio Signa S2 features a splendid dialogue enhancement feature that makes every voice sound more crisp and clear. There is also an auto-volume mode, which evens out the level of volume between various programs.
The device is also bluetooth-compatible, enabling you to stream audiobooks and podcasts wirelessly from your smartphone to the soundbar. Although this soundbar can get considerably loud, you will see some compression at maximum volume.
- Very striking to look at.
- Dialogue enhancement feature is great.
- Impressive sound which is ideal for movies with a lot of dialogue.
- Not as many connectivity options as you would desire.
Yamaha SR-B20A
The Yamaha SR-B20A is a terrific budget soundbar that you can purchase for just under 200 dollars.
It offers great and dynamic sound and also boasts a space-saving compact design. Such a design allows you to accommodate the soundbar anywhere you want. This handsome looking soundbar features a 2.1-styled speaker set up that can fill the living room in your house with dialogue friendly and balanced sound. In addition, the Yamaha SR-B20A sound has sufficient smart features and sound modes to assist in justifying the device’s already low price tag!
The soundbar provides 120 Watts of power and has 2 integrated subwoofers. It also includes standard features like Bluetooth connectivity and an HDMI ARC input. One of the best things about this soundbar is its superior virtual surround system that offers dynamic sound and makes sure you get an immersive experience. Another great aspect of the Yamaha SR-B20A soundbar is the clear voice system. This particular happens to be common in all Yamaha soundbar models.
The soundbar is also versatile and supports various audio formats such as Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby Digital, and DTS Digital Surround.
- Soundbar has a very simple configuration.
- Space-saving design.
- Superior virtual sound system feature.
- Does not boast too many advanced features.
Samsung HW-R450
With the Samsung HW-R450, you get the Best subwoofer and soundbar combination for less than 200 dollars.
This very efficient 200W soundbar sounds just as fascinating as it looks on the surface. What’s more, you do not require a Samsung Television to utilize it. Moreover, the Samsung HW-R450 soundbar comes equipped with a wireless subwoofer model. This subwoofer positions the Samsung HW-R450 ahead of the other soundbars in the market that do not come with a wireless soundbar. A subwoofer can provide superior gaming and cinematic experiences, which is precisely what you get with this particular soundbar! The fact that the subwoofer is wireless also makes the entire setup look very classy.
Moreover, this soundbar generates a highly detailed and top-quality sound that you are unlikely to get with any other soundbar under $200.
The Samsung HW-R450 soundbar also boasts a cutting-edge sound recognition system that recognizes the kind of content you are playing on your television and then fine-tunes the equalization accordingly. Another appealing feature of this soundbar is its top-quality gaming mode. This model produces immersive gaming audio, which will make you think you are actually present in the gaming environment! How cool is that!
- Fantastic intelligent sound recognition system.
- Generates very powerful sound.
- Ideal for gaming as the soundbar produces quality gaming audio.
- The length of the soundbar is slightly longer than desired.
VIZIO SB2821-D6
The VIZIO SB2821-D6 soundbar by VIZIO has rest of this feature, you have the freedom to stream anything you please from any Bluetooth- compatible device such as a laptop, smartphone, etc.
The VIZIO SB2821-D6 also includes a remote that is incredibly simple to use without you having to flip through the user manual. Apart from the remote control, the device also has on-bar controls that you can use alternately.
Furthermore, this soundbar looks very pleasing to the eye. Both the subwoofer and soundbar have high-quality metal ends. The mesh coverings over the soundbar’s speakers look very aesthetically appealing as well.
Overall, this soundbar is the way to go if you are looking for a standard soundbar device that ticks all the necessary boxes and can provide you quality entertainment.
- Easily and automatically links with the subwoofer.
- Pleasant metallic design.
- The soundbar is ideal for bass lovers.
- Does not have any inherent virtual assistant, which is a common feature in most modern soundbars.
- Lacks extra features like the sound enhancement mode and the quiet mode.
TCL alto 6 2.0 channel home theater sound bar with bluetooth
The Alto 6 is a good piece of audio enhancer that comes within a reasonable budget to immerse yourself in your favorite entertainment with a bigger, clearer sound. Roku TV Ready is considered a reliable choice to Say goodbye to juggling remotes to adjust the volume or sound settings. The Roku TV Ready will give you some of the finest sound quality with the treble and bass effects mainly. The TCL Alto 6+ has a Soundbar Length of 31.5 inches to deliver meaningful experiences through thoughtful design and the latest technology.
Another interesting feature is that the TCL Alto 6+ works well with Streaming all your favorite music and podcasts from different apps like Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn, and wirelessly from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop by using the Bluetooth wireless technology.
- Easy access to sound settings
- Compatibility with the TV remote.
- Bluetooth wireless technology.
- Rich and Vibrant sound quality.
- Supports the Dolby Digital-enhanced content.
- It struggles to reproduce a thumpy bass
- Very Limited sound enhancement features.
- No room for correction.
Bottom Line
If you were to compile a list of the best budget soundbar under $200 dollars that you can buy in 2021, the models above would undoubtedly be the top-picks. Just make sure to go through the features, pros, and cons of each device before you pick one that aligns with your specific requirements and preferences.