Soundbar Under $100 — Top Budget Brands
Best Soundbar under $100 — Cinematic Sound Guide
Buying an audio device under $100 is a real thing now. Just forget about the high-tech features and costly additional functions that are usually offered for the professionals. A lot of famous companies now give you a chance to find the best soundbar under 100 dollars. Don’t forget to take into consideration a few main features that differ an affordable device from a usual one:
- the soundbar under $100 connects directly to a TV, not via the AV-receiver;
- a budget sound panel is nothing more than just a simple replacement of the standard TV acoustics;
- mostly, its cabinet is made from plastic.
Before buying a soundbar, it’s necessary to analyze its advantages and disadvantages, even if it’s a budget product. Read this article about four soundbars that we have selected and be ready to choose the best soundbar under 100 dollars!
Soundbars Under $100 Reviews
TaoTronics TT-SK023
This model can become one of the best soundbars under 100 dollars for those looking for budget units. It provides much better sound than a flat-screen TV can offer, but with no punch of bass or a super-wide soundstage.
The bar has a couple of options in terms of connectivity. One can hook it up to a TV via an optical cable or wirelessly, through Bluetooth. The latter also allows connecting smartphones and tablets for streaming music and videos. Consider changing the TV audio output to the PCM setting when using an optical cable.
One main advantage that can make it totally the best sound bar under 100 is its straightforward use. All the status indicators are on the front panel. They are not a series of dots. They show optical or Bluetooth connection, modes, and on/off status. Moreover, they are not just LEDs but relevant labels to give an idea of their meaning.
The unit feels well built, having a metal grille on the front panel and hard plastic on its other surfaces. The control buttons allow you to manually adjust the volume and turn the device on or off. The bar measures 31.5 x 2.36 x 2.36 inches, weighing 3.9 pounds.
The remote control, optical cable, screws for wall mounting, and manual are included in the box. Of course, I’d like to see batteries for the remote. There is no sub in the package, and this is really remarkable while listening to music or watching movies.
Pros:
- The soundbar produces good sound quality, directing mid-range frequencies right to the user rather than down or on the back.
- The device is designed with Music, Game, and Movie modes.
Cons:
- The bar may not fit the latest TV models since it lacks HDMI connectivity.
- Those having TCL Roku-based TVs have to buy Roku branded speakers to enable the Bluetooth option.
Bomaker
This sound bar under 100 dollars is designed to create a 2.0-channel system with 50W of peak output power. This is a Bluetooth capable model to hook up other devices wirelessly. Besides, it has an optical and aux port to use the cable for connections with TVs or computers. It also has a USB port to plug in a USB device. This bar lacks HDMI that makes it impossible to use the same remote to control both the soundbar and TV.
This can be potentially the best budget soundbar under 100 dollars thanks to its several sound modes. The General mode serves to enhance movie and music sound, while Voice EQ adds clarity to dialogs. The Treble setup makes all the frequencies more balanced. DSP (Digital Signal Processing) and the 3D Surround tech are also onboard to widen the soundstage and provide efficient sound dispersion for immersive bass and clear vocals.
It has a remote control and control buttons on the cabinet. The latter are designed to make volume up and down, turn on the device, and change the source. Note that it’s possible to switch between modes via a remote control only.
The unit is made with a couple of drivers inside, having dimensions of 16 x 5 x 4.8 inches, and weighing 3.08 pounds. It has rubber feet to be placed steadily on the table or counter. There is a remote and mounting hardware in the package.
Pros:
- The bar is very loud. Even 50% of the volume is enough to fill the room with immersive sound.
- The sound stays clear at high volumes.
Cons:
- A bit of humming appears in lows sometimes.
- There is no optical cable in the box.
Bestisan S652
While searching for the best Bluetooth soundbar under 100 dollars I can’t fail but mention the BESTISAN S6520 with 2 bass ports on the front panel for better and louder lows. This bar also has Music, Movie, and Dialog modes. The bar supports 3D surround sound and has DSP to produce clear and accurate sound. This model doesn’t provide too much treble and lows out of the box it makes possible to calibrate them.
The unit has optical, RCA, auxiliary, and USB ports. It features Bluetooth to connect phones, stereo, and multiple wireless speakers.
This model is made with a pair of 3-inch full-range drivers inside. The manual buttons for basic control are on the side. The indicator on the front panel changes its color based on the bar’s status. For example, it's red when the bar is off and green when it is on and connected via optical cable. The device is 28 x 4 x 4.1 inches in size. The mount screws, wall mount brackets, digital optical cable, stereo RCA to 3.5mm audio cable, and power adapter are in the pack.
Pros:
- It produces great surround sound for any type of content, including movies, news, and music.
- The device feels sturdy, made of hard plastic, having a metal grille and rubber feet.
Cons:
- The bar is relatively high and blocks the part of the TV screen.
- The manual buttons to regulate volume are not convenient. It’s necessary to press and hold them to make the volume up or down.
Bestisan BYL
Another candidate on our best soundbar under $100 list is the BYL Bestisan. It features 100W of peak power and 105 dB of loudness. The device can be connected to TVs, computers, laptops, and mobile devices, increasing volume and making the overall sound clear and precise.
The bar has a Dialog setup to hear the conversation in detail no matter how intensive the background sound is. This option is useful while watching the news or TV shows. The Movie mode, on the contrary, boosts background sound effects but still keeps balance with vocals. It’s also possible to choose the Music setup to enjoy clear instruments and voices. If it is not enough, the bar offers bass and treble adjustment to harmonize all frequencies.
DSP makes the sound balanced between all the connected speakers, specifying which frequencies are for the tweeter or woofer. Besides, it fixes some problems with the bar, TV, and speakers’ placement.
The soundbar is connected to the source via RCA, optical cable, or Bluetooth. It has no dedicated output to hook up a subwoofer. There are 4 full-range speakers and a couple of tweeters behind its grille. The glossy plastic unit measures 40 x 4.1 x 4.13 inches and weighs 8.2 pounds.
Pros:
- The bar provides a true surround sound that completely fills the room.
- The Music setup works perfectly for gaming.
Cons:
- It lacks power for outdoor activities.
- There is no HDMI connectivity in this model.
Wohome S05
This 2.1-channel sound bar under $100 comes with a built-in subwoofer and a bass reflex port on the back. Such a construction provides richer bass than many other models in this class. The unit has 60W of peak power and 97 dB of volume. So, there are no risks of damaging the internal TV speakers at maximum volume.
It allows setting Default, Movie, Music, and News modes to customize the sound. The DSP technology makes it clearer and balanced, and sends sound in different directions. The bar has built-in Bluetooth to stream content wirelessly at the distance of up to 30 feet. Wired connections are possible through 3.5mm jack, optical, and RCA inputs.
The bar is made of plastic having a metal grille and manual control buttons on the side. The indicator on the front reveals the bar’s status by changing its color. The soundbar is designed with 3 drivers, 2 full-range 20-watt speakers, and a 20-watt sub-range speaker inside. It weighs 4.89 pounds, having 32 x 4 x 3 inches in size.
Pros:
- Can be connected to Amazon Echo to play music.
- The sound quality is stable, regardless of content, frequencies, and volume.
Cons:
- When the users turn off the bar and then turn it on again, they will have to make sound adjustments from the very beginning.
- The unit boosts bass for small environments only.
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