Best Budget Soundbar 2022 | Boost your listening for less!
Best Budget Soundbar 2022 | Boost your listening for less!
The Bose Solo 5 TV sound system comprises a single soundbar that delivers distinctly improved sound quality for all your favorite TV programs.
Best Overall: Bose Solo 5
It brings clarity to your audio, from dialogue to sound effects. As if that wasn’t enough, its dialogue mode makes each word stand out. You can position this soundbar practically anywhere. And with Bluetooth technology built-in, you’re able to listen to your favorite music too wirelessly. The soundbar is so versatile you can position the soundbar wherever you choose—be that by the TV on a shelf or even mounted directly on the wall using the optional WB-120 wall mount. The Solo 5 TV sound system is an easy solution, with advanced technologies that deliver the clear audio your TV can’t. And dialogue mode makes every word even more accessible to understand without adjusting the volume from scene to scene.
Best with Subwoofer: VIZIO SB2021n-J6
Vizio’s tiny, budget-priced SB2021n-G6 soundbar is a champ when it comes to beating expectations. This 20-inch, $148 soundbar doesn’t look like much, yet it manages to crank out impressively rich, detailed audio for its size, while DTS Virtual:X processing helps to deliver 3D effects that sound amazing given the SB2021n-G6’s pared-down specs. Naturally, some serious corners have been cut to achieve SB2021n-G6’s budget price tag. The soundbar lacks such basic features as HDMI inputs and Wi-Fi connectivity, meaning you won’t control the soundbar with an app. the Vizio SB2021n-G6 comes equipped with just three drivers: a pair of 1.61 x 2.24-inch drivers in the central unit for the left and proper channels, plus a down-firing 5.25-inch driver for the wireless subwoofer. Save for a small rear vent that helps augment the soundbar’s bass response; that’s all you get in terms of drivers and other acoustic features.
Best with built-in streaming: Roku Streambar
The Roku Streambar is a budget-level 2.0 setup. This impressively small soundbar allows you to access different streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu in one place via Roku’s media streamer. You can also upgrade it with a separate subwoofer and satellites down the line. However, it struggles to produce low-bass and has a veiled treble. It also doesn’t get deafening and doesn’t support Atmos. On the upside, you can wirelessly stream audio via Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2, and Wi-Fi. Its center channel also reproduces dialogue clearly and is well-suited for vocal-centric content.
The Roku Streambar has an excellent build quality. Its top and rear sides are made of dense, rigid plastic, while the front and sides of the bar are wrapped in a tight fabric, so it doesn’t feel like it can easily rip. That said, dust and dirt may still collect on the material. There’s rubber underneath the soundbar, which is a nice touch.
Best Value: TCL Alto 6+
The Alto 6 Plus also sounds impressive, delivering a much bigger sound than you expect at first glance. Its simplicity has a downside: you can’t adjust the audio — what you hear is what you get. But for the money, you get more than you paid for in improved sound. You can connect to your TV via HDMI ARC or use optical digital or 3.5 mm. There’s a USB port for playing music, and you can stream wirelessly using Bluetooth. The Alto 6 Plus doesn’t have many unique features, so there aren’t many buttons on the soundbar itself: just power, input, Bluetooth, and volume.
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