Roku Streambar Pro
Size: 2.8 x 32.2 x 3.9 inches | Channels: 2.0 | Inputs: HDMI ARC, optical, USB 2.0 | Subwoofer: No | Wireless: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, AirPlay | Spatial audio: No
Best for: Improving on the audio in your home in a soundbar that doubles as a streaming device.
Those who want a great blend of smart features and audio should consider the Roku Streambar Pro, the top pick for the best streambar you can buy for under $200. The Streambar Pro supports Apple Home, Alexa and Google Home, so it should work with the vast majority of modern smart home setups—and Apple users will also benefit from AirPlay support for wireless audio. Non-Apple users can stream audio through Bluetooth, which works as both a transmitter and receiver. That means that you can connect a pair of headphones for silent listening to the remote, if needed. As far as a streaming device goes, the Streambar Pro has a 4K output with HDR10 support, though unfortunately no Dolby Vision.
The Roku Streambar Pro sounds a whole lot better than the speakers built into your TV, but it doesn’t sound quite as good as some of the other options on this list. While the bass isn’t bad, there’s no included subwoofer, so bass isn’t quite as deep. And, the soundbar doesn’t support spatial audio formats like Dolby Atmos or DTS:X. Still, if you like the Roku operating system and like the idea of a streaming device and soundbar rolled into one, the Roku Streambar Pro is the way to go.
What the reviews say: One happy Amazon customer says, “I wanted [the Roku Streambar Pro] for a long time. I finally bought it and am very happy with it. It sounds even better than I expected. Especially for the price, I recommend this item because I now hear dialogue so much better, commercials are not as loud and music sounds so much better.”
Pros:
- Has Roku built-in
- Supports AirPlay, Apple Home, Alexa and Google Home
- Expandable with other Roku speakers
Cons:
- No spatial audio
- No subwoofer
Best-Sounding Soundbar Under $200
Low Bass And High Highs
Vizio V21t-J8
Size: 30 x 2.2 x 3.3 inches | Channels: 2.1 | Inputs: HDMI, Optical, 3.5 mm | Subwoofer: Yes | Wireless: Bluetooth 5.0 | Spatial audio: DTS:X
Best for: Improving on the audio quality of music in your home with plenty of bass in an inexpensive package.
The Vizio V21t-J8 soundbar offers a solid audio quality that’s complemented by an included subwoofer for enhanced bass, and still retains crisp and detailed high-end audio. While it doesn’t come with surround speakers, the soundbar supports DTS:X, though unfortunately you don’t get Dolby Atmos support here.
The Vizio V21t-J8 offers some additional features to make the experience of using it more modern. For example, while there’s no AirPlay or Chromecast support, you still get Bluetooth, so you can stream music from your phone. If you need something with additional smart features, it’s probably worth reading on, however if you want a reliable workhorse that gets the basics right—high-quality audio—the Vizio V21t-J8 is your best bet.
What the reviews say: “This sound system was very easy to set up. It could be done within minutes and the sound quality is great. With the price I paid, I’m confident to say it was a 5-star purchase. It’s just enough for a small to medium sized living room.”
Pros:
- Subwoofer included
- DTS:X support
Cons:
- No Dolby Atmos support
- No AirPlay or Chromecast support
Best Soundbar Under $100
Punching Above Its Class
Creative Stage V2
Size: 26.8 x 3.9 x 3 inches | Channels: 2.1 | Inputs: HDMI ARC, USB, optical, 3.5 mm | Subwoofer: Yes | Wireless: Bluetooth 5.0 | Spatial audio: No
Best for: Improving your TV’s audio by spending the bare minimum.
If you want to get better audio in your home by spending as little as possible, then the Creative Stage V2 should be your pick. As you might expect, the soundbar has a cheap build, and simply won’t sound as good as the more expensive options on this list. However, it will still almost certainly sound better than the speakers built into your TV, especially given the fact that it comes with a subwoofer, ensuring that it can deliver relatively powerful bass.
Don’t expect too many bells and whistles here. The Creative Stage V2 supports Bluetooth, but there’s no AirPlay or support for the major smart home ecosystems. It does, however, offer good wired connectivity, including HDMI ARC, USB, optical and 3.5 mm. That’s not bad for a soundbar that’s under $100—though note, it’s only under $100 when it’s on sale, otherwise it has a list price of $110.
What the reviews say: “I was looking for a wired speaker bar for my desktop and surprisingly it is extremely hard to find one. I’ve had Bluetooth speakers in the past and having to connect to them and deal with connectivity issues constantly was so annoying. I can confirm that this speaker has both Bluetooth with a battery (when desired), but I use it 99% of the time plugged into my desktop. It works great and sounds great, too. Never having to, “connect to speaker,” again is an amazing feeling,” says an Amazon customer.
Pros:
- Very inexpensive
- Comes with subwoofer
- Good input selection
Cons:
- Somewhat cheap build
- No smart home ecosystem support
Best Surround Soundbar Under $200
Home Theater On A Budget
Vizio V51x-J6
Size: 3.2 x 36 x 2.2 inches | Channels: 5.1 | Inputs: HDMI 3.5 mm, optical | Subwoofer: Yes | Wireless: Bluetooth 5.0 | Spatial audio: DTS Virtual:X
Best for: A surround sound experience on a budget.
You can get a surround sound system for under $200 with the VIZIO V51x-J6, which represents excellent value for money. That’s largely due to the fact that it comes with a subwoofer and surround sound speakers, making for actual (not virtual) surround sound. The subwoofer connects wirelessly to the soundbar, with the surround speakers connecting via wire to the subwoofer, so most should find that it’s relatively easy to manage the cables.
Despite the fact that the system is a surround sound system, it doesn’t have height channels, meaning that it can’t fully support object-based formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. It does, however, support DTS Virtual:X, which is aimed at trying to recreate a spatial audio experience without height channels. While the results of this aren’t usually very convincing, the fact that the system does still have physical rear speakers should make it more immersive than the vast majority of standalone soundbars out there. Just a note: If you go through Amazon, the price jumps to $220 when it’s not on sale; Walmart has the less-than-$200 price tag.
What the reviews say: One Amazon customer says, “Pleasantly surprised for the cost; it has very quick setup. You plug everything in, turn it on and it works perfectly. All functions work as advertised. It’s nice to have separate bass and treble controls for the bar. You can really dial in a great balanced sound with the sub. The sub is surprisingly good—smaller than a shoe box, but really pumps with head room to spare. Works great for the bedroom, but would probably be okay for a small living room as well.”
Pros:
- Subwoofer and surround speakers included
- DTS Virtual:X support
- Very good value-for-money
Cons:
- No physical height channels
Best Dolby Atmos Soundbar Under $200
Audio Quality From Above
Vizio M213ad-K8
Size: 2.1 x 36 x 5.5 inches | Channels: 2.1 | Inputs: HDMI eARC, optical, USB, 3.5 mm | Subwoofer: No | Wireless: Bluetooth 5.2 | Spatial audio: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X
Best for: Spatial audio support at a low price.
Dolby Atmos is available at a reasonable price with the Vizio M213ad-K8. It doesn’t have surround sound speakers or a subwoofer, but it does technically support Dolby Atmos thanks to the fact that it has built-in speakers that fire audio up towards the ceiling, to recreate the height effect. Now, to be clear, for a true Atmos surround experience you may want to think about saving up a little more for a system with physical rear speakers. But if you want Atmos without paying more than $200, the M213adK8 is a great, budget-friendly way to do it.
It’s not just great for Atmos support, either. The Vizio M213ad-K8 has a good selection of inputs, and while there’s no support for things like AirPlay, there is Bluetooth for streaming audio from your phone. Additionally, the Vizio M213ad-K8 is super sleek and stylish and should look great as a part of any home entertainment setup.
What the reviews say: ”I needed to improve the sound of the terrible factory TV speakers on our living room TV. I also didn’t want to mess with wires for remote rear and side speakers,” says one customer. “The Vizio M-Series All-in-One 2.1 (M213ad-K8) was exactly what I was looking for. It sits low and wide in front of the TV and delivers room filling sound from its built in six speakers. It worked so well that I purchased another for my parents’ TV. They always complained that they couldn’t hear the voices on their flat screen TV. Now they compliment the TV sound every time I visit. I have since recommended this system to multiple friends.”
Pros:
- Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support
- Good bass response
- Good selection of inputs
Cons:
- Subwoofer and surround speakers cost extra
How We Chose The Best Soundbars Under $200
We picked the best soundbars under $200 through extensive research and some hands-on testing. We started by looking at the features that are most important to a modern soundbar, including audio quality, wireless connectivity, port selection and more.
We then leveraged extensive experience in reviewing consumer technology to compare the specs and features on offer, in an effort to ensure that only the best products were included on the list. Every soundbar on this list is both highly-reviewed and praised by customers.
The team at Forbes Vetted is well-versed in all things tech. We’ve researched and personally tested hundreds of tech products, on top of covering the latest news and tech shows. The Vetted tech team is overseen Rebecca Isaacs, who is the consumer tech and electronics editor at Forbes Vetted.
Christian de Looper, the writer of this story, is an audio expert and has extensive experience working with soundbars and Dolby Atmos soundbars. His expertise includes a degree in music technology. He has also fully tested the top choices for the best gaming headsets.
In addition to working with audio, his experience extends into the smart home space here at Forbes Vetted, where he’s extensively covered networking, from the best modem-router combos to the best gaming routers. With years of experience in the tech space, de Looper’s other bylines include CNN, Wall Street Journal, Tom’s Guide and many more.
