In this article, we’re going to look at the Top 5 Best Soundbars Under $200 Of 2022. We made this list based on our own opinion, research, and customer reviews. We’ve considered their quality, features, and values when narrowing down the best choices possible.
If you want more information and updated pricing on the products mentioned, be sure to check the links in each product we mentioned.
So, here are the Top 5 Best Soundbars Under $200 Of 2022.
#1. Vizio V Series V51-H6
The most versatile soundbar under $200 that we’ve tested is the Vizio V Series V51-H6. Though it usually retails for a little more than $200, a recent drop in price puts it into our price range. It’s a 5.1 setup that ranks among the best budget soundbars that we’ve tested thanks to its versatile overall performance with everything from music to TV shows.
Out-of-the-box, this soundbar has a neutral, balanced sound profile that reproduces clear and accurate dialogue in movies and TV shows. Thanks to its two satellite speakers, it’s a fair choice for surround sound, too. Sound objects in your favorite movies, like voices and footsteps, are accurately localized to pinpoint locations in the soundstage, so it feels like the action is happening all around you.
#2. Samsung HW-A550
The best 2.1 soundbar under $200 that we’ve tested is the Samsung HW-A550. Compared to 5.1 setups like the Vizio V Series V51-H6, 2.1 soundbars only come with two built-in channels – the left and right stereo channels. As a result, they’re ideal if you mostly listen to stereo content, like most music and TV shows.
Right out-of-the-box, this soundbar has a neutral sound profile with a little extra punch in the bass range. Voices and lead instruments are reproduced clearly and with detail, and you can even use its dialogue enhancement feature to make dialogue sound more crisp. It has a wide selection of sound enhancement features, too, including a graphic EQ that lets you customize its sound more to your liking.
#3. TCL Alto 8i
The best Dolby Atmos soundbar under $200 that we’ve tested is the TCL Alto 8i. This 2.1 setup is pretty unique – it’s a standalone bar with an integrated subwoofer, and it’s one of the only soundbars in this price range that offers Dolby Atmos support. It’s ideal if you love watching movies on 4k Blu-rays and streaming platforms, where object-based formats like Dolby Atmos are commonly found.
Thanks to its balanced mids, this soundbar reproduces dialogue clearly and accurately. Its default sound is a bit dark and boomy due to the extra bass and the recessed treble, but you can always use its bass and treble adjustments to create a more neutral sound, ensuring that you hear the detail in the higher frequencies. Its night mode feature is useful for watching movies at night, too – it reduces the dynamic range while ensuring that you still hear all the sounds in your program.
#4. Sony HT-S200F
The best small soundbar under $200 that we’ve tested is the Sony HT-S200F. At just under 23 inches wide, this compact soundbar can easily fit between the legs of a 55″ TV stand. Despite its small size, it can still get loud enough to fill your living room with sound.
It’s a 2.1 setup, with a fairly balanced mid-range that reproduces dialogue in your favorite podcasts and TV shows with clarity. Like most other soundbars, it has some features to help enhance your TV-watching experience, including a dialogue enhancement feature. Also, its night mode reduces the overall dynamic range to balance the volume level, so you can still hear quiet parts of your program, like dialogue, without being overwhelmed by louder sounds, like explosions.
#5. Sony HT-S100F
Looking for a more affordable soundbar? The best setup under $100 that we’ve tested is the Sony HT-S100F. It’s a standalone 2.0 setup that’s best-suited for listening to dialogue-centric content like TV shows and podcasts. It has a similar performance to the Sony HT-S200F, but without an integrated subwoofer, it doesn’t reproduce as much rumble in the low-bass.
This soundbar can reproduce voices pretty clearly, thanks to its balanced mid-range, but there’s a slight peak that can muddy dialogue a bit. Like the S200F, it has a basic selection of sound enhancement features, like a dialogue enhancement mode and a night mode. It even gets a bit louder, too, so you can crank up the volume to fill up a larger space.