Best Soundbar Under 100-The Ultimate Review and Buying Guide for 2020
Soundbars are increasingly becoming very popular today. This is due to growth in use of flat-screen TV sets. It’s true that today’s flat TVs produce great picture quality. The picture quality in the top models is actually crystal clear.
However, these TVs come with small inbuilt speakers. These speakers are hardly able to produce clear audio. When watching a movie or music videos, you won’t get the best sound. Also, TV speakers tend to be small and without much power. Most of them are not set in the best direction. They often direct sound downwards or behind them.
Luckily, they offer a great sound experience that TVs don’t have. The top manufacturers of the best soundbars design them to sound better than the speakers that come with TVs.
As their popularity increases, more types have come up in the market. Thus, we have prepared this review and buying guide on the best soundbar under 100 to assist you in figuring out the one that will be suitable for you.
Best Soundbar Under $100 2020 Comparison Table
Name | Channels | Remote Control | Subwoofer | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TaoTronics Sound Bar [Overall best] | 2.0 | Yes | No | ||
2.0 | Yes | No | |||
2.1 | Yes | Yes | |||
2.0 | Yes | No | |||
2.1 | Yes | Yes | |||
TENKER Soundbar for TV [Budget Friendly] | 2.0 | Yes | No | ||
2.1 | Yes | Yes | |||
2.0 | Yes | No | |||
2.1 | Yes | Yes | |||
2.0 | Yes | No |
1. TaoTronics Sound Overall Best Under 100$ in 2020
TaoTronics is a budget build soundbar that outperforms inbuilt TV speakers. It’s made to transform your humble TV space into a theatre-like room. It’s specially made with 4 full-range speakers and 2 passive radiators for enhanced bass. It’s designed to make movies come alive through its great sound. Let’s look at is hits and misses.
TaoTronics Key Highlights and Benefits
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict: While TaoTronics has some minor shortcomings, it offers great sound all at an affordable price. If you’re not happy with your inbuilt TV speakers, and your budget is tight, then consider TaoTronics.
2. VIZIO SB2920-C6 29-Inch
VIZIO offers great sound all in a compact design. Its design focuses on serving 32 inch and above TVs, but you can use in for any other TV size. It allows you to create a home theater like environment right in your home. This is because it delivers real DTS and Dolby Digital audio effects, something that your inbuilt TV speakers might be lacking.
Key Highlights and Benefits of VIZIO SB2920-C6 29-Inch
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict: VIZIO is designed with affordability in mind, yet it features the latest sound technologies. Sound is decent enough and Bluetooth connectivity works efficiently. Thus, it’s worth your consideration.
3. AmazonBasics 2.1 Channel
It’s quite annoying to buy a large TV only to find its speakers not delivering quality sound. AmazonBasics is designed to offer a great solution to this problem. It boasts of coming with an inbuilt subwoofer and passive radiators. At less than $100, let’s looks at its features and benefits.
Features and Benefits of AmazonBasics 2.1 Channel
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict: AmazonBasics is designed for anyone who wants a high-quality option without breaking the bank. It offers great sound control features and most notable is its subwoofer. Thus, why not consider this soundbar?
4. FULOXTECH TV Sound Bar
FULOXTECH is designed with quality in mind, yet it’s one of the best soundbar under 100. Its design considers today’s consumers who like mobility and it also considers consumers who are under a tight budget. Here are the unique features that come with FULOXTECH.
Features and Benefits of FULOXTECH TV Sound Bar
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict: FULOXTECH comes with all the features you’d want in a soundbar, yet it has been built with affordability in mind. Why not consider it and get crisp, clear audio from your flat panel TV or any Bluetooth device?
5. WOHOME TV Sound bar, Model S05
WOHOME S05 boasts of being a unique option in that it comes with an inbuilt subwoofer for enhanced bass. It delivers a whopping 97 decibels surround sound, something that regular flat TVs hardly manage. Thus, check out its features and benefits below to know why you should consider it.
WOHOME Model S05 Key Highlights and Benefits
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict: WOHOME S05 delivers quality surround sound and delivers both highs and lows without distortion. Thus, in case you need a soundbar that can deliver real bass, WOMOME S05 is right for you. It’s also ideal for anyone on a tight budget.
6. TENKER Soundbar for TV - Budget Friendly
TENKER is designed with latest 3D sound effects in combination with noise reduction technologies. It aims to offer acoustic sound that puts you into the actual movie or music scene. With this soundbar, you’ll experience true cinematic sound. Let’s assess its good and bad sides.
Highlights and Benefits of TENKER 32 inch Bar
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict: If your TV room is small to medium, then this 32 inch TENKER soundbar is best suitable for you. It’s extremely affordable yet it comes with all the great features you would need in a soundbar.
7. LuguLake Soundbar
LuguLake is very unique in that it comes a set of speakers that can be split into two standing satellite speakers. Its subwoofer comes as a separate unit. Thus, you can stall it as a soundbar for your TV or set it up as a standing speaker set to suit your design needs. Here’s a looks at its features, pros, and shortcomings.
Features and Benefits of LuguLake Soundbar
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict: If you’re out there looking for a soundbar that performs like a home theater, LuguLake is the option to go for. With all its great features and a price tag under 100, it’s surely worth your consideration.
8. MEGACRA Soundbar
MEGACRA is one of the best soundbar under 100. It boasts of featuring all the latest technologies. That’s why it qualifies for consideration in this review. It’s also massive in size, making it suitable even for larger TV rooms. Here’s its review.
MEGACRA Soundbar Key Features and Benefits
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict: If your TV room is larger, MEGACRA is made for you. Its great size, loudness and quality is ideal for bigger rooms and bigger TVs. With all its great features, it will cost you under 100, thus consider checking it out.
9. Vinoil Sound Bars TV
Vinoil is made with innovative technologies in mind. Everything about it includes the latest technology. It’s also designed to match with modern décor and fashion to match with contemporary homes. Here are its hits and misses.
Features and Benefits of Vinoil Sound Bars TV
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict: Vinoil is a great budget soundbar for high quality sound and deep bass. It’s most suitable for anyone whose TV set has an AUX output. Moreover, you can easily connect your laptop or smartphone via Bluetooth. Thus, consider Vinoil soundbar in your shortlist.
10. BlitzWolf Smart Soundbar
BlitzWolf is specially made for power and deep bass. It makes you feel like you are in a real movie scene or football stadium. Listening to music with it also gives you a studio-like listening experience. Let’s look at the areas it performs best and where it has some shortcomings.
Features and Benefits of BlitzWolf Smart Soundbar
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict: BlitzWolf is ideal for anyone who needs a smart soundbar. It’s automated ON/OFF controls makes it more operable. Also, it comes with all possible connection modes for a modern TV, thus it’s worth your consideration.
Things to Consider Before Buying the Best Soundbar Under 100
There’re many options to choose from under $100. Upon going through this review, you might be still wondering the one to choose from those reviewed here. If you’re still unsure about the option to choose and the one to leave, read on through this guide for a list of the things you should consider before investing in a soundbar.
1. Connection Method
Different types offer different connection options. Some offer both wired and wireless connection modes. The choice you’ll make should depend on the connection option your TV or devices you need to connect have. If your devices have different connection options, then you should go for a type that offers those connection options.
For instance, if your TV has RCA or AUX, then you need to consider a type that offers similar connection modes. Also, consider an option that allows you to connect via Bluetooth. This will make it possible to stream your music wirelessly. With a Bluetooth capable soundbar, you’ll be able to stream audio from other devices like smartphones and laptops.
2. Remote Control
There’s nothing cool than controlling your favorite gadget wirelessly. If you need freedom to control a device, then go for a type with remote control. It will allow you to operate it from your seat or coach. This way, you’ll not have to keep walking to the soundbar to control it. Moreover, most remote controls often come with all possible controls unlike onboard controls.
3. Onboard Controls
Although it’s fun to operate a device using its remote control, it’s also ideal to consider an option that has onboard buttons. You never know when the remote control may run out of batteries late at night and there’re no spare batteries at home.
Also, you might misplace your remote and you don’t have time to search for it while your favorite show is running. In such instances, onboard control buttons are a savior. They’ll help you to operate it when you have problems with your remote. Also, the buttons should be easy to reach without struggling.
4. Number of Channels
Most options come with either 2.0 or 2.1 channels. Your choice should mainly depend on the kind of sound experience you want. If you just want louder sound than your TV speakers without much focus on low frequencies, then a 2.0 channel option would suffice.
Otherwise, if you want a cinematic experience with deep bass, then consider a 2.1 channel option. The key difference between the two is that a 2.0 channel type does not come with a subwoofer for enhanced bass while a 2.1 channel option comes with an inbuilt or separate sub for deep bass.
5. Size
Soundbars come in different sizes. The choice you’ll make should mainly depend on the size of your TV screen and the space in your TV room. For larger TV screens and TV rooms, you would need a larger and more powerful soundbar. Otherwise, your TV room will look odd if you invest in a small soundbar for an extremely large TV screen.
6. Design
You’ll obviously place a soundbar next to your TV, may be below it or next to it on the wall. Thus, it will be a major focal point while watching TV. As a result, you should consider the design of the soundbar. Go for a soundbar that is attractive to blend with your taste of design.
Frequently Asked Question
Q. What value does a soundbar add to a sound system?
A: You love watching movies, favorite TV shows or series on your big TV. However, the TV’s speakers produce sound that doesn’t match the high-quality pictures the screen projects. A soundbar is the simplest and cheapest way to get better sound that completes your watching experience. The soundbar will give you all the action and dialogue in bigger, clearer, and crisper audio.
Q. Active or passive soundbar: which is better?
A: The choice between an active soundbar and a passive one is a matter of convenience. An active soundbar has inbuilt sound amplification ability. It’s simple to set up and use, but it won’t let you choose a certain receiver, and you cannot connect it to multiple sources. A passive soundbar doesn’t have in-built amplification ability, so you need to connect it to a receiver or an amplifier. The advantage of using a passive soundbar is that you can choose the receiver or amplifier to use. Also, you can connect it to more than one source. However, a passive soundbar is a little bit more complicated and time-consuming to set up.
Q. How many channels do I need the soundbar to feature?
A. The number of channels depends on what you need from the soundbar. You will find soundbars with varying number of channels – two, three, five, and seven. Is sound amplification the only thing you need from the soundbar, or do you need it to also enhance surround sound? More channels are required if you need to listen to better surround sound. For sound amplification only, a two-channel soundbar is good.
Q. Which is the best place to put my soundbar?
A: You can place the soundbar anywhere around your TV provided it doesn’t come in the way of the remote control beam or compromise your comfort. Popular areas for soundbar placement include on the TV stand, in front of the screen, under the TV set, or in a mounted position.
In the case of a wall-mounted TV set, mount the soundbar as well leaving a gap of about 10 to 15 cm between it and the TV. Check the user guide to see if the manufacturer has provided the best spot for wall mounts.
If you decide to put the soundbar inside a cabinet, place it as forward as possible to avoid obstructing sound directed to the sides.
Q. Does the compatibility of a soundbar with diverse inputs matter?
A: It is a good idea to choose a system that can connect to many different wired devices. The soundbar should have diverse input ports so that it can amplify audio signals from various devices in addition to your TV. Units that feature RCA AUC input, coaxial digital output, 35mm audio input and other input types are flexible enough for multiple connections.
In addition, consider the soundbar’s Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. The more devices to which a particular soundbar can connect, the higher the value it provides. Bluetooth is especially important for users who want to build multi-room sound systems.
Q. Which is the best budget soundbar?
A: If you are seriously looking for a soundbar with powerful sound, supports different devices, is easy to operate, and gives you freedom to choose between different sound effects, check out TENKER Soundbar for TV. It is one of the best budget picks for soundbars.
This inexpensive soundbar offers you the latest 3D sound effects and champions cutting-edge noise reduction technologies. You’ll be amazed at how it immerses you into the action of your favorite blockbusters and TV shows.
Q. How do I connect new soundbar to my TV?
A: You can use an HDMI cable to connect a soundbar to your TV. This is by far the most preferred way due to the main reason that an HDMI cable is able to cope with different sound systems – from 5.1 surround sound and higher. The cable can also process the latest cinematic experiences such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Your TV needs to support HDMI-ARC for you to use this method.
Q. My soundbar doesn’t support HDMI. Which method can I use to connect it to the TV?
A: The other option is to use digital coaxial or digital optical cable. These cables can transfer audio up to 5.1 surround sound. Also, you can use 3.5mm line out connector although this will only be possible if there is a line-out port on the TV. RCA connectors are still another option here. Make sure you connect the RCA cables accordingly; red-to-red, white-to-white and so on. If your TV does not have a stereo RCA output, you can use the RCA connectors with the DVD, set-box box, or Blue-Ray player.
Final Verdict
What could be more satisfying that finding an effective way of making your flat screen TV sound louder and better? As you can see in this review, it’s possible to use a soundbar to make your TV louder. Since modern TVs are designed to be slim, their inbuilt speakers perform poorly. You’ll thereby need a soundbar to get better and louder sound from your TV.
With all the multiple types of soundbars available today, it becomes challenging to make a good choice. All you’ll do is ensuring that you go for a soundbar that has the features you need. Before buying a soundbar, consider factors such as design, size, remote control, modes of connection and channels.
With this review and guide in mind, you’ll surely make an informed choice when buying the best soundbar under 100.
