If you thought that you needed to spend an arm and a leg to get a solid soundbar, that’s not the case anymore. When you have budget options like the TaoTronics Soundbar TT-SK026, it’s hard to spring for the big-ticket items. We have found the best soundbars that you can get for under $100 today.
Best Overall: TaoTronics TT-SK026 Soundbar
TaoTronics has been expanding out of the headphone market and moving into soundbars with options like it’s TT-SK026. This soundbar is unique in the fact that it includes both a built-in display and an integrated subwoofer.
Possible connections include RCA, Optical, or coaxial, along with Bluetooth 5.0 for your smartphones or tablets. The LED display shows off what mode is being used, along with the sound level of the soundbar itself. There are even different audio modes for you to choose from, which will help amplify movies, the news, or anything else that you are listening to.
Those looking for HDMI support will have to look elsewhere as TaoTronics omitted that option from this model. The other surprising omission, given the TT-SK026’s other features, is smart home integration with the likes of either Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.
Pros:
- Four different connection options
- 360 degrees of sound
- Different audio modes built-in
- LED display
Cons:
- Lacks smart home integration
- No HDMI input
Best Overall
TaoTronics TT-SK026 Soundbar
Great for just about everyone
TaoTronics knocked it out of the park with the TT-SK026 with its LED display and multiple listening modes.
Best for Most Situations: VIZIO SB2920-D6
VIZIO is already known as a budget brand for televisions, so it makes sense for the company to offer a matching soundbar. That’s what you get with the SB2920-D6 Soundbar with its two full-range stereo speakers, Deep Bass technology, and sleek design.
The SB2920-D6 is capable of producing up to 95 decibels with the two speakers and DTS TruSurround. Plus, there is Bluetooth built-in so you can pair your smartphone, tablet, or even computer to this soundbar. This is an excellent option for those with televisions measuring at least 32 inches, as the SB2920-D6 is 29 inches wide.
Having Dolby Digital integration is all fine and dandy, but the SB2920-D6 sports just two speakers and that’s it. The company opted not to include a built-in or wireless subwoofer which may hinder the “punch” you could be looking for with your media playback. Additionally, you are limited to only Optical inputs, as there is no HDMI compatibility to be found with this soundbar.
Pros:
- Built-in Bluetooth
- Up to 100 decibels
- DTS TruSurround built-in
- Good size for smaller TVs
Cons:
- No subwoofer
- May be small for larger TVs
Best for Most Situations
VIZIO SB2920-D6
Great for just about everyone
VIZIO’s SB2920-D6 is fantastic for those who don’t care about a subwoofer or having HDMI input with its integrated Bluetooth.
Best Value: Bestisan 28-inch Soundbar
Some soundbars are quite big and can end up taking up too much space after getting them set up with your television. That won’t be an issue with the Bestisan Soundbar, as it measures in at just 28 inches lonh. This is large enough to look compact under even smaller televisions, and blends in when placed under larger televisions.
Bestisan has built-in three different sound modes so that you always get the audio quality that matches whatever you are listening to. You can even adjust the bass and treble on your soundbar, giving you even more fine-tuned sound quality with the Bestisan Soundbar.
Unfortunately, that’s about all that the Bestisan Soundbar has going for it. There’s no HDMI port, you can’t use your existing universal or TV remotes to control it, and the soundbar does not support either Dolby or DTS audio. These can be a bit of a bummer, but this soundbar is still pretty solid overall.
Pros:
- Three different sound modes available
- Slim and lightweight
- Bass and treble are adjustable
Cons:
- Does not support Dolby and DTS
- No HDMI port
- Not compatible with universal or TV remotes
Best Value
Bestisan 28-inch Soundbar
Blend into the experience
With Bluetooth and adjustable audio modes, the Bestisan Soundbar offers great value in a small package.
Best All-in-one System: Pyle TV Soundbase Soundbar
Back in the old days, soundbars were a bit different than what you think of when you see soundbars in your brick and mortar stores. The Pyle TV Soundbase is a call-back to those days. It acts more like a base station than a traditional soundbar.
The Soundbase offers a bottom-mounted subwoofer, along with multiple input and output methods, including Bluetooth. With its size, you can even put your TV on top of it, allowing you to save space without needing to make space for a new speaker system.
As one can expect with a soundbar of this size, you will not be able to mount it on the wall without building some type of shelf. On the connection side of things, you won’t want to get too excited for Bluetooth as it is only equipped with Bluetooth 3.0, which is a thing of the past. Plus, the 20-watt speakers may not give you the crispest playback for your movies and TV shows.
Pros:
- Built-in Bluetooth
- Bottom-mounted subwoofer
- Multiple input/output methods
- Throwback design
Cons:
- 20-watt speakers
- Only includes Bluetooth 3.0
- Can’t mount on a wall
Best All-in-one System
Pyle TV Soundbase Soundbar
Works as a TV stand and speaker system
The Pyle TV Soundbase is great if you’re looking to save some space as it doubles as a TV stand.
Best for Starters: TCL Alto 7
When you think about a soundbar, it’s usually for the reason of mounting it below your television. The TCL Alto 7 does so much more than that in a very compact package.
The Alto 7 offers many different connection methods — you’ll get HDMI, Auxiliary, Optical, and even Bluetooth. This gives you plenty of versatility to connect any device that you can think of. Ffor those who don’t want to put the soundbar on a stand, TCL has included a wall-mounting kit so you can save space.
In 2020, we would have liked to see Bluetooth 5.0 built-in, but TCL only opted to use Bluetooth 4.2 since you’ll get increased range. The Alto 7 is a fantastic-looking soundbar, but may be a bit on the larger-side, as this measures in at 36 inches.
Pros:
- Sound modes optimize content playback
- Many input methods
- Wall-mounting kit included
- Built-in subwoofer
Cons:
- Only Bluetooth 4.2
- A bit large for smaller TVs
Best for Starters
TCL Alto 7
Surprisingly solid
The TCL Alto 7 has almost everything you could want including Bluetooth, multiple input methods, and more.
Best for the Biggest Sound: Wohome TV Sound Bar S28
A lot of budget soundbars don’t have subwoofers included, or they are smaller options that don’t give you much punch. That’s not the case with the Wohome TV Sound Bar S28 as you get six total drivers, including dual-subwoofers for the best output possible.
There are four different sound modes available on the Wohome S28 to provide a more fine-tuned experience when watching an array of content. And with Bluetooth 5.0 you can pair your computer, tablet, or smartphone and stream some music or podcasts while you’re having a party or doing some housework.
For some, this may not matter, but if you have a 42-inch or smaller television, the Ben Nevis II may look a bit comical. That is due to its smaller size, as it measures in at 38 inches long, but that may not matter considering the built-in subwoofers. We were also disappointed to notice there is no smart home integration in an age where the smart home has become increasingly popular.
Pros:
- Built-in dual subwoofers
- Output of 105dB with six drivers
- Four different sound modes
- Bluetooth 5.0 onboard
Cons:
- No HDMI
- Lack of smart home integration
Best for the Biggest Sound
Wohome TV Sound Bar S28
The biggest punch available
Wohome has created a surprising sound bar with the S28 thanks to its dual-subwoofers and Bluetooth 5.0.
Bottom line
Soundbars come in all different shapes and sizes, and there are ways to use soundbars that one may not have thought of before. Plus, you don’t need to throw cash at the problem of improving your home stereo system anymore with picks under $100 like the TaoTronics TT-SK026 Soundbar. With this soundbar, you get a 360-degrees of sound, Bluetooth 5.0, and a great stereo experience to improve your movie nights.
When you dive into the budget market, there are definitely corners to be cut, and it’s evidenced by issues like lack of HDMI ARC support or an external subwoofer. Other omissions include the lack of smart home integration, which could leave you looking elsewhere for a soundbar.