March Madness (even though we’re well into April) is almost officially over with the pending NCAA championship games. If you’re hosting a viewing party or just kicking it with family or friends throughout the week, then you’re probably already got a pretty good idea of how things are going to go with snacks, scheduling, and the like—but what about your entertainment setup? The tinny built-in speakers on your television likely won’t deliver the audio clarity you’ll want, but we’ve got an easy fix: a soundbar.There are some things to consider before making your new purchase: Brand is important, as some soundbars are more compatible with TVs of the similar brand. LG doesn’t tend to play well with Sony, for example (a fact I learned the hard way when I purchased the LG C3 OLED). The first number in a model name, followed by ch, refers to the soundbar’s number of channels and the more the better—especially if you’re aiming for a surround sound experience. Some soundbars come with a separate subwoofer and tweeters, though many have those built in so that you just have to worry about a single speaker.Perhaps most importantly, they won’t break the bank thanks to these deals.
For those looking for a true surround sound setup, this Vizio M-Series 5.1 surround system is affordable without skimping on quality. Our expert gave it the Editor’s Choice stamp of approval thanks to its powerful base and surround sound imaging with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support. Check out our review for more details on the Vizio M-Series (M51ax-J6) and transform your TV set into a home theater.
I have one of these in my living room and it’s a real hit on movie nights (though maybe not with my downstairs neighbor) with its floor-shaking bass thanks to the included wireless subwoofer. Setup is as easy as plugging in the HDMI cable and wall-mounting this low profile sound bar or even setting it on your TV stand. There’s also bluetooth connectivity, which I use with my phone when streaming music from Spotify and even a voice adjust feature, which dials back other sounds to give you the best audio clarity. Our experts reviewed both the Polk Audio Signa S1 and Polk Audio Signa S3 very favorably, so chances are the S2 does a great job as well.
Recommended by Our Editors
Samsung is a pretty common TV brand, so chances are this Q-Series soundbar will be compatible with your setup. The included wireless subwoofer can be placed on the opposite side of the room to create a more immersive listening experience. Simply plug into your optical port or connect wirelessly and you’re good to go. If you own a Samsung TV, the Q-Symphony technology makes your TV speakers and soundbar work in concert.
Bose is a brand best known for home audio systems, noise cancelling headphones, and other such auditory devices. The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 utilizes Bose technology to fill your room with sound from a single bar with unparalleled audio quality. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2, and Chromecast are just a few connectivity options you have that allow you to stream your content however you want. Our expert reviewed the previous model, the Bose Smart Soundbar 600 and found it to be average, but the 900 model offers some of the same features with improvements, including more speakers.
More Soundbar Deals to Consider
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FAQ
How much should a sound bar cost? You can get a decent soundbar for as little as $100, though we wouldn’t recommend going lower than that. We would also advise sticking to recognizable brands as a cheap, no-name brand may be more headache than it’s worth. Check out our list of The Best Soundbars for more details on brands, features, and suitable use cases.What is the difference between cheap and expensive soundbars? Typically, the more you spend on a soundbar, the better the audio performance and the more features you have at your disposal. Additionally, some soundbars are packaged with satellite speakers and/or a subwoofer while others are a single bar.How much do you need to spend on a sound bar? That depends on your needs. A single soundbar is usually the cheapest option, though if you want punchier bass or a surround setup, you’ll probably want more speakers. If you’re not sure a soundbar is a good fit for your listening tastes, we recommend going into a showroom like Best Buy and taking a test listen before committing to a purchase.What is the best surround sound bar under $300The Vizio M-Series 5.1 (M51a-H6) received high marks from our expert as an affordable 5.1 soundbar system. We’ve seen sales drop the price low as $259, but even at the current price—$298 at the time of publication—you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck.Is there Another Way I Can Improve My TV’s Sound Output?Yes! Bluetooth speakers are a great option as well. Just bear in mind that they won’t deliver the same impact because they’re meant for a smaller computer monitor rather than a large TV.Do I Need a Subwoofer to Produce Good Bass?Soundbars can generate a range of sounds from low-mid to high frequencies, but they don’t usually get that punchy bass we crave when listening to music or watching action scenes. That’s where a subwoofer comes in. Many soundbars come packaged with a wireless subwoofer or at least come with subwoofer outputs so you can add one later.Bluetooth or Wi-Fi—Which is Better?Bluetooth is easy to set up and allows you to connect to your mobile device in the same way you would a pair of headphones; however, Wi-Fi offers lossless audio due to its high bandwidth. If audio quality is most important to you, Wi-Fi is the way to go.
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