VIZIO SB3820-C6 38-Inch 2.0 Channel Sound Bar
Fantastic Sound Without A Subwoofer
This VIZIO Sound Bar produces rich, full sound and blows a lot of pricier competition out of the water. An added bonus is that it contains all the cables you need, right out of the box.
Pros:
- Doesn’t need a subwoofer.
- Works with Bluetooth.
- Can be controlled by remote control from a distance.
- Powered by Dolby Digital (cinema-grade sound).
- Very easy to install, sleek design.
- Great rich, balanced sound. High range of volume with crisp clarity of sound.
Cons:
- Remote control back design flaw. The back can easily fall off and get lost.
- Doesn’t come with feature to isolate dialogue.
Key Features
Sonos Beam - Smart TV Sound Bar with Amazon Alexa Built-in - Black
Can't Beat Sonos Sound
Sonos is synonymous with sound, and this sound bar is no exception. For such a compact speaker, this sound bar really does a great job of filling a room.
Pros:
- Easy to install and use.
- Can be voice controlled with Amazon Alexa (and others).
- Can be used in conjunction with other Sonos speakers.
- The Sonos sound can’t be beat. Powerful sound for such a compact size.
Cons:
- Not as much sound depth on the low end.
- No Bluetooth
- Price
Key Features
Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim Universal TV Sound Bar
Great For Dialogue
This sound bar has an incredibly rich sound and includes an easy-to-install subwoofer. The voice adjust technology has three settings, allowing you to isolate dialogue easily.
Pros:
- Includes mini jack and optical digital audio.
- Easy to use and install Bluetooth.
- Excellent price.
- Rich all-around sound with included subwoofer.
Cons:
- Remote control doesn’t work well from a distance.
- Set up instructions are a little confusing.
Key Features
Samsung 2.1 Soundbar HW-R450
Simple Set Up And Great Sound
This sound bar can be up in running in less time than it takes to order a pizza, even for our most technically challenged CinemaBlend staff. This sound bar produces a rich sound.
Pros:
- Soundbar produces crisp, clean sound.
- Great for smaller rooms.
- Easy to install (wired or Bluetooth)
Cons:
- Subwoofer doesn’t produce as much low end sound as we would expect.
- Doesn’t fill a large room as well as others we reviewed.
Key Features
120Watt Sound bar, BYL 2.1 Channel SoundBar Subwoofer
User Friendly
We found this sound bar has sound quality on par with bars that are three or four times the price. It’s easy to set up and user-friendly.
Pros:
- Built in subwoofer.
- Comes with 1-year warranty.
- Well balanced sound.
- Stable Bluetooth connection.
- Easy to set up, user friendly.
- Excellent price.
Cons:
- Remote can’t be used to control TV volume.
- Audio isn’t as crisp as some of the alternatives.
Key Features
What is a Sound Bar
A sound bar is a speaker that works with your television (typically right underneath) to boost the built in sound of your TV set. Prices on sound bars range drastically. In our analysis, we tried to consider units that wouldn’t break the bank, but would dramatically improve overall cinematic and TV-viewing enjoyment.
When considering what sound bar to buy, think about your room size, ease of install, how important it is that you can control it with your voice, and whether it will be part of a bigger home theater system (or work in conjunction with a subwoofer).
Shopping Guide for Best Sound Bar
A sound bar is one of the easiest ways to enhance your home theater. They’re easy to install and will add a level of sound depth and richness to whatever you’re watching. There are plenty of sound bars on the market at every price point, so in order to make the best choice, you’ll have to consider what features are most important to you. We’ve considered almost everything-- from sound richness, to ease of installation, compatibility with voice-activated systems like Alexa, and overall value.
Tip
To get the most out of your sound bar, turn off your television’s internal speakers. As TV sets get thinner, their speakers become more of an afterthought. The competing sound from the TV’s subpar internal speakers and your sound bar won’t be as appealing to your ears.
