(checked 2026-10-10)9,353 ratings.
Tom's Guide's best soundbar under $100 and RTINGS' best standalone bar under $200: simple, slim and a clear step up from TV speakers. It has no subwoofer or real surround, testers disagree on whether voices sound clear or muffled, and about 1 in 8 Amazon ratings are 1 or 2 stars.
Top complaints
- Thin or muffled sound for some
RTINGS says it lacks treble detail, so voices sound muffled, and without a sub there's no low-end thump. Tom's Guide lists 'sometimes tinny'. Amazon's summary calls sound quality and volume mixed, with some saying it's mediocre or not loud enough.
- Doesn't always wake with the TV; Bluetooth drops
Tom's Guide says it sometimes doesn't turn on automatically with the TV. Amazon's summary says some owners report Bluetooth trouble staying connected and remotes that don't work.
- No surround and no upgrades
Tom's Guide notes there's no surround sound and you can't add a sub or rears later. RTINGS says its virtual surround isn't very convincing, and there's no DTS, HDMI input or Wi-Fi.
What owners love
- Great value
Tom's Guide calls the sound balanced and great for the price and says it brings life to TV shows. Amazon owners rate it positively for value.
- Easy setup, slim design
Amazon owners praise the simple setup and sleek, unobtrusive look. Tom's Guide notes it's only 2.5 inches tall, with a built-in IR repeater and a well-made remote.
- No lip-sync problems
RTINGS says latency over ARC is superb, so you shouldn't see audio-video sync issues.
Source: RTINGS best soundbars under $200
- You want bass or surround for movies
- You might add a subwoofer later
- You need Wi-Fi, an app or DTS
- The cheapest real upgrade over TV speakers
- TVs from about 32 to 48 inches
- Plug-and-play simplicity
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Tom's Guide: Best under $100 (updated 2026-10-06). Balanced sound and a good remote, but sometimes tinny and it occasionally fails to turn on with the TV.
- RTINGS: Best standalone soundbar under $200 (updated 2026-08-25). Adequate for TV, but voices sound muffled and there's no bass thump.