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Willie Greer - June 20, 2021
There are so many good soundbars in the market. However, when your budget is limited to only $300, you might end up with a lower quality one if you don’t do the right research.
Our audio experts reviewed the greatest soundbars under $300 in the market and found the models on this list to be worth purchasing. Read on for our top suggestions:
- Compact soundbar designed with simplicity
- Two angled full-range drivers for wide, natural sound
- HDMI-CEC technology
Polk Audio Command
- Immersive home theater sound: performance-tuned driver array and wireless subwoofer
- Amazon Alexa built-in for your smart home
- Compatible with all 4K and HD TVs
Sony HT-S350
- 2.1ch front surround sound with clear high and mid frequencies
- Powerful wireless subwoofer for deep bass
- S-Force PRO Front Surround to emulate wide sound stage of cinema
Reviews of the Best Soundbars Under $300
Bose TV Speaker- Small Soundbar – Best Overall
The small speaker soundbar hides a lot of hardware under the hood. The soundbar has 2-angled full-range drivers and is optimized specifically to clarify dialogue spoken on screen.
The affordable device features Bluetooth connectivity for easy streaming from your mobile devices. Aside from that, the setup is also incredibly easy with just a single cable connection from the soundbar to your TV.
Thanks to the height of only 2-inches tall, the wider and flatter profile of the Bose TV Speaker Soundbar is ideal to place under your TV or mount on the wall to save space.
Pros
- Comes with a remote control
- Bluetooth connection
- Small profile
- 2-angled full-range drivers
- Enhances dialogue
- Simple setup
- Compatible with other Bose audio components
Cons
- Very small remote with small buttons
- No subwoofer for enhanced bass
Sony HT-S350 Soundbar – Best Surround Sound
Known for providing great surround sound experience, you wouldn’t expect less from their entry-level and mid-range sound bars. Some products in their lineup feature a powerful subwoofer that boosts the bass in movies and TV shows.
The Sony HT-350 soundbar comes with two channels and one wireless subwoofer for an optimized sound stage.At 6.30 inches and 320w, the soundbar’s external speaker unit pumps out a deeper bass. Plus, with EQ modes, you can adjust the bass and other settings as you need.
A smart feature of the Sony HT-S350 is its ability to isolate voices and amplify them over background noise. Similar to ZVOX Accuvoice, this ensures dialogue clarity so you won’t miss any detail when watching your favorite shows.
The system measures 35.4 x 2.51 x 3.46 in., easily fitting in with your system. The setup of the speakers is simple – just connect it to your TV or media device with the HDMI cable or optical cable.
Pros
- Sony HT-S350 is a great choice within the 300 budget price range
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Comes with two channels and features a wireless subwoofer
- S-force Pro settings provide excellent audio output and surround sound effect
- Offers quality voice enhancement
- Good customer reviews
- Great overall performance
- The SONY soundbar is easy to setup
- 7 EQ modes
Cons
- “Voice” mode must be enabled to get treble
- No Dolby Atmos
Polk Audio Command Soundbar – Best in Advanced Features
In this price range, you’ll be lucky to find a product that has Alexa, but Polk Audio Command Bar has this. The Command Bar is a Dolby and DTS surround sound system (like Yamaha YAS-108) for a high-quality listening experience.
While testing multiple soundbars under 300, we weren’t convinced that we could find a soundbar with Alexa, so the Command Bar comes as a surprise.
The best part about this Polk Audio Command Bar (aside from the price point) is the built-in Alexa. You can stream audio content in multiple rooms and pair the Command Bar with Bluetooth smart home devices as well. It’s also compatible with Google Assistant.
If you have an ultra HD TV, this Polk soundbar is also compatible with it. Just connect the Command Bar to your TV with dual HDMI inputs or optical cables.
And with the subwoofer, the Command Bar gives the best value for the money in the soundbar market.
Pros
- Dolby Digital and DTS for great audio output in your living room
- The quality wireless subwoofer in the Command Bar delivers amazing overall performance and bass results
- Accessibility to Alexa provides the full-range convenience
- The Polk home theater setup offers Wi-Fi in its feature set
- Dual HDMI port
- Night mode
- Bluetooth for music streaming
Cons
- Alexa isn’t a full-fledged version
- Remote is clunky
HW-Q60R Harman Kardon 5.1 Soundbar – Best for Bass
Next on our list is the Samsung HW-Q60R. Samsung soundbars often receive a high rating in reviews due to the amazing sound and low frequencies. For the 300 budget price range, you get 5 channels and one subwoofer with the Samsung HW-Q60R.
The Samsung Harman Kardon HW-Q60R soundbar integrates the innovation of the brand and the expertise of Harman Kardon. The subwoofer and the bar work together with such precision that you can almost hear the action is before you even see it on-screen.
The 4K pass-through with HDR10 will deliver seamless audio. This gives you panoramic sound, whether you’re listening to music or watching a movie.
Out of the 5 channels, the center channel in the Samsung HW-Q60R is better when producing the best dialogue while supported by the other channels. As long as you are sitting directly in front of the Samsung HW-Q60R, you’ll get clear dialogue every time.
Want to see more options boasting of five channels? Check our recommended 5.1 soundbars here.
Pros
- Game Mode Pro provides good sound quality in games
- The 4K pass-through on these sounding bars present no lag and provide a seamless transition in sounds
- Provides Bluetooth support
- Center channel produces clear voice sound waves and a well-balanced audio experience
- One of the best budget soundbars
Cons
- Bass should be cranked up to the highest setting
- Can be difficult to set up
JBL Bar Home Theater Starter System – User-Friendly Choice
Forget DTS, this JBL bar has true wireless surround speakers.
The product has a total power output of 300W. With Dolby Digital and JBL surround, our audio experts agree that this delivers a much better soundstage compared to other higher-end models in the competition.
This JBL bar has an HDMI input, an aux and USB wired connection that gives you even more connectivity ports for PC gaming or music performance.
Although it may not come with a remote of its own, the JBL home theater starter soundbar is compatible with most TV remotes.
With this sound bar, you’ll find that your movie, video game, and TV show will sound much more impressive.
Pros
- Comes with Dolby Digital and JBL surround system, designed with enhanced audio output from all angles
- Bluetooth connectivity makes it easy to pair all your devices to the soundbar
- Comes with HDMI
- Compatible with your TV remote
Cons
- Bass should be cranked up to the highest setting
- Can be difficult to set up
WOHOME TV Sound Bar Wireless and Wired Home Theater System – Cheapest Option
Coming at a different design, this soundbar is made for flat screen TVs with a larger size. The speaker drivers and 2 10W tweeters offer the best treble and audio quality with a frequency response of 105 dB, giving a bass boost to your favorite music and movies.
The Wohome soundbar has both wired and wireless connectivity options that can pair with the built-in Bluetooth up to 33 feet away.
As for wired connectivity, you can choose between RCA, USB port, or optical inputs with RCA and optical cables. For optical audio input, remember to change the TV’s audio output to PCM.
Lastly, we commend their 100% satisfaction guarantee and lifetime technical support. Not all have this, but this WOHOME TV soundbar provides it.
Pros
- Super easy to use with the included remote
- 100% satisfaction guarantee and lifetime of technical support
- The rounded design allows a more comprehensive sound
- Supports Bluetooth, RCA, optical and coaxial input. The optical cable, RCA cable, and 3.5mm stereo cable are provided
- Clear dialogue results even with standard settings
Cons
- Drywall anchors don’t produce high quality sound
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connection
VIZIO SB3821-C6 38-inch 2.1 Channel Soundbar – Compact Choice
Last in our review is the Vizio SB3821-C6 Soundbar. At 100 dB, there is minimal harmonic distortion with this device.
You can pair your setup with the built-in Bluetooth to effortlessly stream your favorite movies and music. Equipped with Dolby Digital decoding, DTS Truvolume, and DTS post audio processing, you will hear a noticeably improved audio compared to your TV speaker.
You can choose from different connectivity options including stereo RCA, 3.5mm stereo mini jack, coaxial, optical, and HDMI ARC (audio return channel). You can use the included remote to set the proper volume level, input, and EQ sound modes.
Alternatively, you can also opt for the Vizio SB3851-E6 if you want satellite speakers.
Pros
- This 2.1 channel sound bar provides 100 dB of crystal clear sound with minimal harmonic distortion
- With Dolby Digital decoding, DTS Truvolume, and DTS post audio processing
- With HDMI Arc capability
- The wireless remote allows for easy setup and configuration
- Good dialogue performance for the price
Cons
- DTS: Virtual X feature is only available from 2018 version of the soundbar
- Noticeable crackles from the speakers
Soundbar Under $300 Buying Guide
The best soundbars under 300 are still considered a budget soundbar. It can still be difficult to find the best option, sinces there are many products like Vizio, Samsung, and Yamaha. And that’s where the right soundbar comes in. So what can you expect?
Subwoofer
Subwoofers immensely improve the bass or low frequencies. Many sound bars (like Vizio SB3651-E6, Polk Signa S1, Samsung HW-551, Samsung HW-Q950T, and Samsung HW-Q60R) include a separate wireless subwoofer because it’s just too powerful to be embedded in the bar itself.
If there is more than one subwoofer or if there’s a dedicated subwoofer in the setup, you would hear the bass or lower frequencies more clearly. And if you have needs for good bass results, having a subwoofer in the setup makes a difference.
Channels
What does it mean when the product description claims the speaker offers 2, 3, 5.1 or 7.1 channels? Basically, a channel refers to the sound produced from a single point.
If your speaker offers 2 channels in its setup, it means the sound comes from two different points. The more channels you have, the better the sound quality, and the more immersive the audio effect is. If you have a 7 channel bar, it might be one of the top Dolby Atmos equipped soundbars available in the market.
Connection
Some might have wireless connection options and have Bluetooth and/or Wifi built-in.
Bluetooth and other wireless options save your house from the clutter of wires. Depending on the soundbar unit, options for wired connections might include: HDMI input, AUX, USB, 3.5mm stereo jack, Coaxial and/or optical options.
Have a Fire TV you want to use alongside your soundbar? We have a separate guide you can check.
Remote Control
Since most speakers and electronic items nowadays can be controlled remotely, chances are your soundbar model will have a remote. If it doesn’t, there might be a compatible app you can download, which is also useful to access control buttons if you lose the remote.
Also, some may come with LED lights or an LED screen so you’ll know the settings or sound levels (volume control) at a glance.
Smart Functions
Smart functions enhance the performance of a soundbar. Certain smart functions higher-end sound bars will have include:
- Voice Enhancement – The soundbar detects a lot of background noise during a scene where the characters have a whispered conversation and enhances the speech. Many sound bar units including the Yamaha SR-C20A have Clear Voice dialogue mode.
- Alexa – Alexa allows you to use the device via the app. Just link the soundbar to the rest of your smart home products. In our reviews, this does the job when you want to stream movies or a quick search.
Sound Modes
While audio modes on the soundbar aren’t necessary, they enrich the the audio performance and sound experience. Top soundbar systems including the JBL Bar 5.1 come with these audio modes as well. But if you’re after improving dialogue sounds, the ZVOX Accuvoice produces great results. Aside from sound systems, TVs can have this as well.
Mount
For wall mounted TVs, you may want to mount sound bars right under it. You can also place it on a table or on the TV stand, depending on the soundstage you prefer.
If you think that mounting is not for your home, you can always opt for your table or vertical soundbars.
Appearance
While most models look like just a single black bar that spans the length of your TV, there are a few purchases with colors. The Sony HT-S350 and the Polk Signa S1, for example, offers different finishes.
Yamaha has some models with great designs, many of which have different finishes that blends in nicely in a modern home.
Warranty/Guarantee
We strongly suggest buying a product that comes with at least one, or both. The warranty will allow you to get your product fixed if something goes wrong. The guarantee will leave you room for exchanges and returns.
FAQ
Are TV Soundbars Worth It?
In short, absolutely! They enrich your overall movie experience.
You will come across audio equipment like the Yamaha YAS-207 and Vizio SB3651-E6 designed with separate woofers and tweeters for added amplification, but some like the Yamaha YAS 108 and ZVOX Accuvoice have them built-in.
Although if you are buying a $70 option, chances are it just functions as a mini speaker. Their biggest role is to offer higher audio quality than just TV speakers alone. They range greatly in price. From under 100 to over a grand, you can be sure you are getting different components.
What about the downsides?
If you are alright with the uniform shape of all soundbars, then you’re good to go. But sometimes, the sound isn’t improved that well because of the soundbar design.
In our reviews, the culprit is the size or form factor. Models like the RSB 3, ZVOX Accuvoice, Yamaha YAS-207, and Alto 5 are too compact to allow for all the necessary parts and components needed to give the best sound performance possible. If you do want a serious upgrade from stereo sound, you can get satellite speakers.
Conclusion
All in all, soundbars are useful (more about it here) if the sounds from your TV speakers just aren’t doing the trick.
We have a list and reviews of products for all budgets out there. We have discovered quality options for under $100, $150, and $200. Despite the low price, all are quality pieces that can bring amazing audio into any home. So if you think that $300 might be above your budget, you could still get the best soundbars under $200.
However, if you can afford something with a slightly higher price tag, we had a few suggestions in these reviews for the best soundbar under 300.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for something for a bigger TV, here’s the review to find the best soundbar for 55-inch tv.
Our Top Pick: Bose TV Speaker
Our team has picked the Bose TV Speaker as the headliner for soundbars priced under 300. It’s the perfect device for smaller spaces and an easy setup. You can get a wider soundstage thanks to the 2 angled full-range drivers and stream all your favorite content via Bluetooth from your mobile devices.
Willie Greer