10 Best Cheap Sound Bars 2025 in the United States

The Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar offers a premium surround sound experience for your TV, highlighted by Dolby Atmos and Bose TrueSpace technology, which creates immersive spatial audio. The soundbar boasts six transducers, including upward-firing dipole speakers for enhanced surround sound, making it feel like sound is coming from all directions, including overhead. Its AI Dialogue Mode ensures ultra-crisp vocal clarity, so you won’t miss any dialogue from your favorite shows or movies.

The soundbar supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, and includes options for easy setup with optical and HDMI eARC cables. Additionally, it features Amazon Alexa for voice control, aiding in hands-free operation and smart home integration. At 180 watts, it provides powerful audio output suitable for home entertainment, though it may not excel in settings that require exceptionally high power or larger spaces.

The soundbar also allows private listening with compatible Bose headphones and can be grouped with other Bose speakers via Bose SimpleSync for party mode. Despite its robust features, the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar is relatively lightweight at 12.68 pounds, and its sleek black design should fit comfortably on most tabletops. This soundbar is ideal for users seeking advanced audio capabilities, smart features, and a sleek design for home entertainment.

The JBL Bar 500MK2 is a 5.1 channel soundbar system delivering a powerful 750 watts combined output, boosted by a sizable 10-inch wireless subwoofer that provides deep, impactful bass. This makes it great for those wanting a strong, immersive sound experience for movies, music, or gaming without spending too much. It supports Dolby Atmos, which adds a 3D surround sound effect that can make you feel like sounds are coming from all directions – a feature not always found in budget soundbars. JBL’s MultiBeam 3.0 technology helps fill your room with wide, clear sound even if you’re not sitting directly in front of it. Dialogue clarity is also enhanced by PureVoice 2.0, which adjusts speech volume so you don’t miss quiet lines or subtitles.

Connectivity is versatile with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HDMI eARC, Optical, and USB options, plus support for popular voice assistants like Google Assistant and Siri, allowing for hands-free control. The soundbar works well with various streaming services and offers easy room calibration to tailor the sound to your space. Its slim, rectangular design is easy to wall-mount or place under a TV.

On the downside, the soundbar weighs over 24 pounds, which might be a bit heavy for some setups. It’s also made of plastic, which is common but less premium feeling. While the 5.1 configuration and powerful subwoofer deliver excellent audio for the price, audiophiles seeking very high-end clarity or build quality might want to look elsewhere. For a budget-friendly soundbar that brings advanced features like Dolby Atmos and multi-room audio, the JBL Bar 500MK2 is a strong choice for enhancing home entertainment without breaking the bank.

The Polk Audio Signa S4 is a compact and affordable sound bar that stands out for including Dolby Atmos, which adds a 3D surround sound effect through up-firing speakers. It delivers a 3.1.2 channel setup with a wireless subwoofer, offering rich, deep bass and a wide soundstage that can enhance TV viewing significantly. With 410 watts of power, it provides loud and clear audio suitable for most small to medium-sized rooms.

Connectivity options are solid for the price, including HDMI eARC, Bluetooth, optical, USB, and analog inputs, letting you easily connect it to modern TVs, smartphones, or tablets. The sound bar also features Polk’s VoiceAdjust technology, allowing you to customize voice clarity so dialogue is easy to hear without raising volume too much. Its slim design (just 2.4 inches tall) fits well under most TVs without blocking screens or remote sensors, and it can be wall-mounted if preferred. Setup is straightforward, requiring just one cable, which is great for users who want a simple installation. However, the subwoofer is wired rather than wireless, meaning you’ll need to place it near a power outlet and the sound bar.

The Signa S4 delivers excellent sound quality and features for its price range but lacks water resistance and some more advanced sound modes that pricier models might have. It remains a strong choice for anyone wanting an easy-to-use, immersive sound upgrade for their TV without spending too much.