What is the Best Soundbar Under $100?

33 Sound Bars Tested
380+ Hours of Research
400+ Reviews Examined
Unbiased Reviews

Getting a good soundbar for a cheap price is possible, but it isn’t easy. If you aren’t careful, you would end up paying for something you would either toss out later or return to the seller.

If you don’t want to waste money or handle the stress of online customer service, this list is for you. Our audio experts tested multiple soundbars and found these most reliable models for just $100 and below.

Small and Compact
Vizio SB2920-C6
Editor’s Choice
VILINICE 16-Inch Soundbar
Best for Smart TV
TaoTronics Three Equalizer Mode

Best Soundbars for Samsung TV Reviews

1.

VILINICE 16-inch Soundbar

The small and compact 16-inch soundbar is capable of big sound. There is built-in DSP technology, which drives deeper and richer sound directly to you. The DSP works with the full-range drivers to envelop you with sound.

There are also three different equalizer modes that you can customize to suit your content. Your music, news and movies won’t sound the same again after the VILINICE soundbar optimizes the sound.

The tiny soundbar also features both wired and wireless connections. It’s Bluetooth-enabled for streaming and has AUX/RCA and optical fiber for cabled connections. Overall, it’s the best soundbar under $100 that we’ve tested in the sound lab.

What We Like

What We Don't Like

2.

Vizio SB2920-C6 29-inch 2.0 Channel Sound Bar

The Vizio SB2920 delivers 95 dB of crystal clear sound, minimal harmonic distortion, DTS studio sound ™ , tru volume ™, and Trusurround ™ technology. It also comes with full range speakers, giving you a wide soundstage and a well-balanced sound profile.

If you don’t like wired connections, you can easily bypass that by pairing the soundbar via Bluetooth connectivity. Setup is easy as well. Just connect the soundbar to your TV with the included cable and you’re done. The design and small size makes the installation easy.

At 29 inches, the Vizio sound bar has a compact size.  It’s minimal and streamlined, so it easily fits into small spaces. And while it doesn’t have a subwoofer, the features of the SB2920 C6 sound bar are still top-notch.

What We Like

What We Don't Like

3.

TaoTronics Soundbar Three Equalizer Mode Audio Speaker

When it comes to choosing the best soundbar under $100, you should at least look for different modes like this soundbar does. The TaoTronics Three Equalizer Mode Soundbar features 3 different modes—game, movie, and music mode.

You can choose between them to fine-tune your TaoTronics sound bar for the optimal audio settings and sound profile, whether for listening to music, movies, tv shows, and other content.

These modes can be set via the remote control that’s included with your purchase of the speakers. We find the remote control comfortable to hold in the hand, which is extra points for us.

With its Bluetooth connectivity feature, you can easily stream music from any Bluetooth-compatible device. However, if a set wired connection is more stable for you, you can connect the soundbar to your TV using the audio cable connection, RCA, or optical input.

As most soundbars are, this design is slim, measuring at 32 inches. The setup is incredibly easy as well and can be done with the touch of a few buttons.

All in all, our experts say that this soundbar effectively provides a full panoramic sound experience despite being a  cheap model.

What We Like

What We Don't Like

4.

Cowin Sound Bars for TV

As a 43-inch TV sound bar, Cowin is the largest we have on our list of best soundbars under $100.

This soundbar unit produces bass with minimal distortion, giving great sound even without a subwoofer. Plus, its DSP feature offers amazing precision for each of the different modes (news, movie, music).

As for the setup, Cowin supports two connections—wired and wireless. Wired connections include UX, RCA, and optical audio input. You can also connect other devices with this Cowin Sound Bar for TV via Bluetooth, which also allows you to stream music and movies from a mobile device.

Furthermore, you don’t have to worry about extra purchases because this soundbar provides everything you need in one package for a home theater experience. You get the necessary cables, a remote, and the user manual to help you power up the sound bar.

Another thing that our experts like about this soundbar is the 18-month warranty. That provides an additional safety net for you just in case you need to return or repair the product. On the whole, it’s one of the best soundbars under $100 for TVs.

What We Like

What We Don't Like

Soundbar Under $100 Buying Guide

For this budget, you can still buy a good soundbar that rivals those produced by higher-end brands. After all, great sound doesn’t need to be thousands of dollars in price.

If you’re not really much of an audiophile and you want to save a little money, a new soundbar under $100 is enough to complete your room entertainment system. A budget soundbar fits the needs of those just looking to have a bit of improvement to their TVs and to hear surround sound.

But even with a tight budget, you don’t want your money to go to waste. Let’s look at some features you need to consider when buying soundbars.

(Interested in learning more about soundbars? Read our comparison of the Sonos Playbar and Beam, next!)

Subwoofer

A subwoofer does make a difference in audio quality, especially when compared to TVs. But it still depends on your preference if you find it necessary to get the results you want. If you love to get that good heavy bass, built-in or separate subwoofers should be on top of your list. 

A good quality subwoofer will give you the home theater experience right on your couch. Some soundbars including the leading Dolby Atmos soundbars even offer a wireless subwoofer which you can place in an ideal spot in the room.

That said, there are still soundbars don’t come with a subwoofer at all, like the Yamaha ATS1080-R, and this might reflect in the price as well. Consider if you need a subwoofer, and whether or not you need it wired or wireless.

Another thing to consider is the size of the soundbar, as some are best with TVs that are 55 inches or over. So, the TV size would come into play here as well.

Channels

The channels refer to the point where sound is projected from the soundbar. As you can imagine, the more channels you have, the more likely you will get to experience that good surround sound.

An extra note: numbers you see accompanying the title of the product (2.1, 5.1, 7.1, etc) indicate how many channels and subwoofers the soundbar has. The first digit refers to the number of channels, and the number after the decimal refers to the number of subwoofers.

In this list, a number of soundbars only have two channels, but that’s a given since we’re talking about under $100 soundbars here. If you want to have more channels, soundbars like that usually have a higher price. 

So, set how many channels you want or need before buying a soundbar. If you have the extra budget at a slightly higher price range, we recommend going for a 2.1 channel soundbar like the TCL Alto 6+. Depending on the store or online platform, you may be able to find the Alto 6+ at this $100 price range as well.

And if you really want 3D sound or the full surround sound quality, go for the 5.1 system. That will give you a better listening experience that even the best soundbars under 100 can’t deliver.

Sound Modes

It’s good to have sound modes included in the soundbar, particularly because it optimizes sounds for different content such as TV shows. At some point, you would need to use some of these to hear the best audio that fits the type of content.

The most common modes we see people use are news, standard, movie, music modes. For the news mode, the dialogue will be enhanced, while for movie mode, the treble and bass are amped up to the quality you want so TV shows provide a better listening experience.

These sound modes ensure that you’re getting the best audio experience and the ideal stereo sound no matter what you’re viewing. This is one of the features that set a soundbar like the ZVox Accuvoice AV157 apart from a TV speaker. 

Connection

When looking for the best soundbar under $100, it’s necessary to check the available connections. Having both wired and wireless connection options is a good sign that your soundbar is more flexible when it comes to compatibility. They also make the setup easy, as with this Vizio soundbar.

Bluetooth is most commonly seen as the wireless option in today’s soundbars. On the other hand, wired connections would include aux, RCA, optical cords, USB port, and HDMI. By far, the HDMI port is the easiest connection to set up. Some soundbars may have two HDMI inputs, which is useful if you want to connect two components to your soundbar.

Depending on the preference you set, having both wired and wireless options in the model is ideal as it gives you more flexibility with sound bar placement. Most connectivity options are pretty simple, but if you need any help, just consult the user manual.

If you have an LG device, here are more specific setup instructions for LG soundbars.

Remote

Remote control adds more convenience to a device like Beam or Ray Sonos soundbar. With it, you can set and control your settings right from your living room couch.

Many manufacturers include one with the package, even at the lower price range. So, there is no need to go out and search for a universal one. Remember where you put the remote after use though, as some remotes are a little bit on the smaller side when it comes to size.

In case you lose the remote, another way to control your soundbar model is through the onboard buttons on the bar itself. However, many will agree that using a remote control is far better.

Conclusion

There is no need to fork out hundreds or thousands of dollars if you can find a pretty decent soundbar under 100, right?

Although even the greatest soundbars under this price point do not come with a lot of the fancy features such as voice control, these budget sound bars could be the best option if you’re only looking for enhanced sounds.

Soundbars enhance the sound of your TV speakers and may also offer virtual surround sound to simulate a cinematic experience. If you don’t have any specific needs, any of the above products will meet your expectations in adding power and quality to your entertainment system.

If you have a few more bucks to spend on a soundbar model, you’re looking at wider options, some of which we included in this comparison for the models under 150 dollars.

Our Top Pick:
VILINICE 16-Inch Soundbar

Our audio engineers were blown away by the small package that is the VILINICE soundbar that is still capable of big sound. It’s our top pick for the best soundbar under 100 for all that it offers including Bluetooth, EQ modes, built-in DSP technology and full-range drivers that will transform your viewing experience. 

Writer

Willie Greer
Willie Greer
Willie Greer is the founder of The Product Analyst. A cinephile, he has made it a personal quest to achieve the awesomest home theater possible. He now shares what he has learned through the years on the site, and has enlisted the help of tech-savvy colleagues in providing more insight about today’s most sought-after gadgets.