Best Budget Soundbars in 2025: Top Sound Quality at an Affordable Price

Looking for the best budget soundbars in 2025? Explore top picks that deliver impressive sound without breaking the bank.

Finding Your Perfect Budget Soundbar in 2025

If you’re hunting for a soundbar that won’t empty your wallet but still sounds fantastic, you know the struggle is real. With so many budget models flooding the market, how do you pick the truly great ones? Well, you’re in the right spot. For just around $130, you can snag a soundbar that outperforms most built-in TV speakers.

Our team has tested hundreds of soundbars since this category first popped up in the early 2000s, carefully selecting only the best budget-friendly options. Every new model goes through rigorous comparisons in our specialized labs, matching them against similar competitors and price points. Curious about our testing process? We dive deep to make sure each soundbar earns its spot.

Below, you’ll find the cream of the crop in budget soundbars chosen by our experts. And if your budget is a little more generous, don’t miss our guides on the best soundbars overall and the best Dolby Atmos soundbars.

Quick Picks for Budget Soundbars

Best Overall

1. Sonos Beam Gen 2

With excellent sound, Dolby Atmos support, and a feature-rich package, this model is a brilliant upgrade for your TV speakers.

Best Under $130

2. Sony HT-SF150

A wallet-friendly soundbar that's perfect for anyone seeking a simple boost over their TV's built-in speakers.

Best for Bass

3. Sony HT-G700

This affordable Atmos soundbar comes with a separate subwoofer delivering powerful, punchy sound and excellent value.

Cheapest Option

4. Hisense HS214

An entry-level TV speaker soundbar that’s a great fit for tight budgets and small spaces.

Best for Dialogue Clarity

5. Sonos Ray

Compact yet mighty, this Sonos soundbar delivers room-filling sound and crystal-clear vocals at a fair price.

The Best Budget Soundbars We Recommend in 2025

1. Sonos Beam Gen 2 – Best Budget Soundbar Overall

The sleek Sonos Beam Gen 2 delivers refined sound and superb Dolby Atmos interpretation.

Specifications:

• Audio formats: Dolby Atmos DP / Dolby Atmos True HD / Dolby Digital / Multichannel PCM / stereo PCM
• Connections: HDMI eARC, Wi-Fi, Ethernet
• Streaming: Apple AirPlay, Spotify Connect
• Voice control: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant compatible
• Dimensions: 7 x 65 x 10 cm

Pros:

• Effective Dolby Atmos processing
• Warm, sophisticated sound
• Smart streaming features

Cons:

• No extra HDMI ports
• No virtual DTS:X support

Packing Dolby Atmos from such a compact chassis is no small feat, but the Beam Gen 2 pulls off an immersive experience without any upward-firing speakers. Instead, two of the five front speakers cleverly simulate height and surround effects through advanced psychoacoustic techniques (HRTF). While it may not perfectly recreate true vertical sound, its virtual Atmos beats most competitors in price and even rivals pricier models.

The soundstage is spacious and enveloping, rich with detail — “watching movies in Atmos with the Beam Gen 2 feels like real movement, depth, and space, enhancing immersion and drama.”

Few budget soundbars offer network capabilities, but as a Sonos product, the Beam Gen 2 seamlessly integrates into multi-room setups and supports lossless Amazon Music Ultra HD and Dolby Atmos Music. If space and budget are tight, this is the Dolby Atmos soundbar to beat.

2. Sony HT-SF150 – Best Under $130

This affordable soundbar is a solid step up from your TV’s built-in speakers.

Specifications:

• Audio formats: Dolby Digital, Dolby Dual mono, LPCM 2ch
• Connections: HDMI, optical, USB, ARC
• Streaming: Bluetooth 4.2
• Voice control: None
• Dimensions: 6.4 x 90 x 8.8 cm

Pros:

• Premium look and feel
• Impressive soundstage width
• Very budget-friendly

Cons:

• Slightly muffled sound
• Lacks punch

Sony’s SF150 offers a straightforward upgrade with clean build quality that doesn’t look out of place under a pricier TV. It supports multiple inputs, including HDMI ARC and optical, and Bluetooth streaming. The S-Force Front Surround tech broadens the soundstage, adding some cinematic flair even at this price.

As we put it in our review: “Watching Netflix’s Unbroken with the SF150 in ‘Movie’ mode, the soundstage feels wide, airplanes fly by clearly, and scene transitions pack dramatic punch.” While the sound can feel broad and dialogue a tad muffled, this is expected given the price. If you want detailed music playback, look higher up, but for a quick TV audio boost, this is a sweet deal.

3. Sony HT-G700 – Best for Bass

A solid entry-level Atmos soundbar with a generous dose of bass.

Specifications:

• Audio formats: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X
• Connections: 1x HDMI eARC, 1x HDMI input
• Streaming: Bluetooth
• Voice control: None
• Dimensions: Soundbar 6 x 98 x 11 cm; Subwoofer 39 x 19 x 40 cm

Pros:

• Powerful, weighty sound
• Impressive Atmos effect
• Stylish, solid build

Cons:

• Lacks clarity and crispness
• No streaming features

The HT-G700 might not be tiny, but it impresses with a strong sound and wireless subwoofer, plus support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Sony’s Vertical Surround Engine and S-Force Pro Front Surround techs craft a convincing Atmos soundstage, and that beefy subwoofer adds real low-end punch.

As noted in our review: “The subwoofer allows bass depths unmatched by competitors without one, adding satisfying weight. The way sound fills the room is also impressive, and the HT-G700 makes surprisingly effective Atmos simulations.”

While it can’t match premium models like the Sony HT-ST5000 for clarity and lacks streaming or voice controls, it’s a great budget choice for cinematic home theater sound with a thumping bass foundation.

4. Hisense HS214 – Cheapest Soundbar

It’s hard not to adore this inexpensive yet effective 2.1-channel soundbar from Hisense HS214.

Specifications:

• Audio formats: Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, 2-channel and multichannel PCM
• Connections: HDMI ARC, optical, coaxial, 3.5mm aux, USB 2.0
• Streaming: Bluetooth 4.2
• Voice control: None
• Dimensions: 5.8 x 65 x 9.5 cm

Pros:

• Decent bass performance
• Clear vocal reproduction
• Compact size

Cons:

• No remote display for functions
• Not very dynamic

The Hisense HS214 is a straightforward way to improve your TV sound with clearer dialogue and a wider tonal range. While it won’t match the dynamic detail of higher-end soundbars, you might spend more elsewhere and get less in this segment.

The subwoofer adds a nice touch of depth, making sounds feel more substantial and musical than expected for such a small soundbar. As described in our review: “Watching Leonardo DiCaprio’s bear fight scene in The Revenant on Blu-ray, the added power means every hit and growl packs more impact and danger.”

Its slim profile and quality build mean it fits well under both new and older TVs, and its small size suits tight spaces. Wall-mount options are included but may affect bass performance due to the downward-firing sub.

Connectivity includes all the basics: HDMI ARC, optical, coaxial, USB for MP3/WAV/WMA/FLAC, 3.5mm aux, and Bluetooth 4.2. All at a very reasonable price.

5. Sonos Ray – Best for Dialogue Clarity

A confident, punchy, and compact soundbar with crystal-clear vocals.

Specifications:

• Audio formats: Stereo PCM, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS Digital Surround
• Connections: 1 optical input
• Streaming: Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect
• Voice control: None
• Dimensions: 7 x 56 x 10 cm

Pros:

• Outstanding vocal clarity
• Punchy, assured sound delivery
• Detailed highs

Cons:

• Limited low-end extension
• Slightly clinical sound
• Narrow soundstage

While not the warmest or most cinematic soundbar out there, the Sonos Ray nails the biggest gripe most users have: dialogue clarity. Testing it with Blade Runner 2049, we found the murky soundscape and dialogue snippets crystal clear and confident, avoiding the “boxy” sound often heard in budget models.

Though it lacks the warmth of the Beam Gen 2, its speech intelligibility is a big win. Designed for practicality and affordability, the Ray fits nicely in small spaces or even on a desk, thanks to its compact, cone-shaped design and front-firing speakers. It doesn’t feature virtual Dolby Atmos decoding like pricier Sonos models and opts for a classic optical input instead of HDMI eARC, which might limit use with some game consoles or monitors.

Earlier bass issues causing a low-frequency hum were mostly fixed in a 2022 update, improving its overall rating.

Also Worth Considering

Best budget soundbar alternatives we've tested include:

• Sony HT-S2000: Slightly pricier but offers stellar dialogue, solid dynamics, and plug-and-play simplicity.
• JBL Bar 300: Stylish with a feature-rich set and crisp, bass-heavy sound.
• Majority Sierra Plus: A lesser-known brand delivering solid, entertaining sound for a great price.
• Sharp HT-SB700: Packs impressive sound scale for its size and cost.

How to Choose the Best Soundbar for You

Still wondering which soundbar suits your needs? Here are some key points to consider:

Sound Quality

Upgrading from your TV’s built-in speakers is the main reason to get a soundbar. Even an average soundbar will blow most TVs out of the water with better detail, impact, weight, and volume.

Audio Formats

You’ll encounter formats like DTS Digital Surround and Dolby Atmos. While some budget models have Atmos, it’s usually less robust than in premium models.

Subwoofers

Want more bass punch? Look for soundbars paired with a wired or wireless subwoofer. In budget ranges, subwoofers might not always deliver deep bass, so higher-end separate subs could be a better choice if bass is your focus.

Bluetooth and Streaming

Bluetooth is common for wireless music playback from external devices. Some budget soundbars also support Apple AirPlay 2 or smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant, though these are rarer at lower price points.

For extra guidance, you can always check out detailed how-to guides on selecting and setting up your soundbar.

How We Test Soundbars

Our expert reviewers test soundbars at facilities in London, Reading, and Bath. Every soundbar is hooked up to a reference TV and compared against the best in its price and feature class, whether reigning champions or recent standouts.

We listen to varied movie and TV show styles, assessing all audio formats and built-in features. Devices get ample “break-in” time before reviews. Verdicts are team decisions, free from PR influence, reflecting nearly 50 years of impartial reviews.

FAQ

• What exactly is a soundbar?
  Soundbars are slim, often rectangular speaker systems designed to sit under or mount on your TV, offering clearer, louder sound than built-in TV speakers.
• How do I connect a soundbar to my TV?
  Most soundbars and TVs support optical connections. HDMI ARC or eARC is the preferred method today for easier setup and better sound formats like Dolby Atmos.
• Should my soundbar be the same brand as my TV?
  Not necessarily. Focus on the best soundbar within your budget. Sometimes matching brands helps with compatibility, but it can also cause tonal mismatch.
• Which is better for soundbars: ARC or optical cable?
  ARC/eARC supports higher bandwidth audio and immersive formats like Dolby Atmos, while optical is limited to compressed surround sound.
• What’s the best equalizer setting for a soundbar?
  Many soundbars have auto-calibration tools for room tuning. You can also adjust individual channels to suit your taste. Flat or standard modes usually offer the best baseline for customization.

Ready to upgrade your sound experience? Shop your favorite album cover posters that celebrate music’s finest moments—perfect for your audio setup—at our store here.