We test a lot of TVs here, so we feel entitled to say this: most TVs sound pretty bad. Built-in speakers have slowly lost the battle against the thin form factor that every premium TV strives for, sacrificing sound performance greatly.
Many manufacturers use clever processing to do the best with what they've got, but they're fighting an uphill battle. Even premium TVs with bigger and/or more advanced sound systems tend to sound good only by the prevailing standards of TVs which, as we've said, is low.
In short, there are very few TVs that can't be improved through the addition of a soundbar. And you don't even need to spend much money – every model listed below costs less than $500, and every one of them sounds better than the vast majority of TVs. Go for our top choice, the Sonos Beam Gen 2, and you'll get better sound than you get from any TV costing less than $5000.
If you're looking for the latest cheap soundbars, check out our review of LG SE6S. Neither is good enough to feature on this list, but one of them could still be right for you.
Right then. Let's take a look at (and listen to) the best budget models around right now.
- Best Dolby Atmos soundbars: the best Atmos TV speakers
How to choose the best soundbar for you
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.
Soundbars add more powerful, direct and better quality audio to your TV but, unlike dedicated speaker packages, your lounge won't have to accommodate six chunky boxes. Instead, a soundbar sits demurely beneath your TV, quietly getting on with levelling up its sound.
So what should you look for when buying one? Bluetooth is a fairly ubiquitous extra feature that allows the soundbar to wirelessly play music from an external device. While network connectivity is less common at the affordable end of the market, it is possible to find models that support other wireless technologies like Apple AirPlay 2, and a few work with smart assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, too.
As most of the models listed don't have app support, you should also look for a decent remote control, ample connections appropriate for your set-up and of course that all-important sound quality. But rest assured, all of the soundbars below sound good – you can read the full, in-depth review attached with each if you need further information. And, you can always visit our dedicated guide on how to choose and set up a soundbar for some extra tips and advice.
The best part is that some of the best soundbars on the market don't cost a fortune, as our list below illustrates, meaning you can make easily make an impactful change to your TV and film watching.
Right then. Let's take a look at (and listen to) the best budget models around right now.
Delivering Dolby Atmos from a small chassis is no mean feat and the Sonos Beam Gen 2 achieves a convincing, immersive performance without so much as a vertical speaker in sight. Instead, when watching Atmos content, two of the soundbars five front-facing arrays are dedicated to reproducing overhead and surround sounds. With its hefty processing power, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 uses psychoacoustic HRTF (head-related transfer function) technology to give the impression of height without needing to get vertical.
While genuine overhead sounds are perhaps a stretch too far for this petite performer, its virtual delivery of the Atmos format outstrips any similarly priced soundbar and even a few that are more expensive. The Beam Gen 2 offers an enveloping, spatial soundscape with rich, detailed audio as well as tangible motion and depth.
Not that many soundbars at this price point come with networking capabilities, but this being a Sonos product, the Beam Gen 2’s ability to integrate into a wireless multiroom system is fundamental to its design. This means you can stream to the Beam Gen 2 from a handheld device using Apple AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect is built-in too. There will also be a forthcoming upgrade to add support for Amazon Music Ultra HD audio, which will give access to lossless 24-bit/48kHz tracks as well as Dolby Atmos Music.
Despite the lack of upward drivers, if space and budget are limited there isn't a better Dolby Atmos soundbar that we'd recommend.
Read the full review: Sonos Beam Gen 2
Think of the Roku Streambar as an upgrade on your TV, rather than an entry into proper home cinema, and it ticks pretty much every box. While it doesn’t quite ascend to five-star status, it easily nails the aspects for which it is most commonly going to be used: projection and clarity. The Streambar will work with any television with an HDMI input, outputting 4K HDR at up to 60fps for those with compatible sets. Everyone else will get 1080p Full HD, with lower resolution signals upscaled.
The bundled remote is splendid, and for an out-of-the-box boost to TV audio and older sets’ smart features, the Roku Streambar is extremely low risk for this price. In that sense, it’s something we can wholeheartedly recommend.
Read the full review: Roku Streambar
Another What Hi-Fi 2020 repeat Award-winner, this Yamaha does a fine job of emulating a surround sound system and deserves pride of place in most home cinema set-ups. Its soundfield is gloriously enveloping, and there are no fewer than seven sound modes to choose from, so you're bound to find one that suits your room and whatever you're watching.
You also get a dedicated subwoofer for extra bass. Add in some beautifully layered detail, and you've got a fine-sounding, great-performing soundbar.
Read the full review: Yamaha YAS-207
For anyone wanting a big sound or hoping to fill a big room with a small soundbar for a reasonable amount of money, the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam could be the ideal candidate.
That said, the sound isn't perfect. Although we might nudge you towards the better all-round sonic performance of the Sonos Beam, that isn’t really comparing like for like – the Bar 5.0 Multibeam boasts a long list of wireless connectivity and, considering its size, it positively kicks down the door and tramples the furniture as it announces its presence in your living room.
Read the full review: JBL Bar 5.0 Multibeam
We’ve tested its bigger and more adept siblings, but now it is time to turn our attention to the newest addition to Sony’s HT-A series of Dolby Atmos soundbars, the HT-A3000. It is the smallest, cheapest and lowest-specced soundbar of the currently available trio, alongside the Product of the Year-winning HT-A7000 and the not-so-Award-winning (but still good) HT-A5000.
So what sets this one apart? Well, it's still a Dolby Atmos soundbar, but Sony has cut a few features out in order to reach a lower price point – which means no upward-firing drivers or additional HDMI inputs. This puts it squarely in the sights of the mighty Sonos Beam (Gen 2). Can it compete? The short answer is no, but the A3000 still has plenty to offer.
The Sony HT-A3000 will almost certainly be a preferable alternative to your TV’s built-in speakers. However, it can’t quite match the Atmos performance of its similarly priced Sonos rival. That being said, it handles the basics well enough, especially when it comes to detail and tonal balance, making this Sony soundbar a solid choice if you want to upgrade your TV’s audio without breaking the bank.
Read our full Sony HT-A3000 review
How we test soundbars
We have state-of-the-art testing facilities in London, Reading and Bath, where our team of experienced, in-house reviewers test the majority of hi-fi and AV kit that passes through our door.
Each soundbar we test is paired with an appropriate reference TV and is directly compared to the best in its price and features class – whether that's the current What Hi-Fi? award winner or a few of the latest models we've been impressed by in recent reviews. What Hi-Fi? is all about comparative testing, and we keep class-leading products in our stockrooms so we can easily compare new products to ones we know and love.
We are always impartial and do our best to make sure we're hearing every product at its very best, so we'll try plenty of different styles of films and TV shows that show what each soundbar is capable of with both advanced and standard audio formats. We'll check all the features onboard including music playback with a variety of genres and allow for plenty of listening time as well as running them in before we begin reviewing.
All review verdicts are agreed upon by the team rather than an individual reviewer to eliminate any personal preference and to make sure we're being as thorough as possible, too. There's no input from PR companies or our sales team when it comes to the verdict, with What Hi-Fi? proud of having delivered honest, unbiased reviews for decades.
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