Best Soundbar Under $300 in 2022
-
Klipsch Cinema 400
Best soundbar under $300
$329 at Crutchfield -
Polk MagniFi Mini
Best small soundbar
$299 at Crutchfield -
Polk Audio Signa S3
Best for music
$244 at Amazon -
Best under $200
Vizio V21
$190 at Target
If you watch a lot of movies and television shows at home, a soundbar is an essential part of your home entertainment system. That’s because a soundbar can transform your viewing experience and help you feel more immersed in what you’re watching. ? ?
It’s possible to spend as little as $80 on a soundbar, the sweet spot for this kind of speaker is around $300. For this price you can expect features such as Bluetooth connectivity,?HDMI, and a wireless subwoofer. Most bars include a voice-boosting mode, and dialogue will sound so much clearer than you ever heard from your TV. If you’re a music fan you can also expect your favorite tunes to sound better than any Bluetooth speaker you could name.?
As I write this the Klipsch Cinema 400 is $75 off which makes it an even better value. However, if price is no object, you can also check out our list of best soundbars. Or, if you want a soundbar that answers voice commands, you should consider a soundbar with Amazon Alexa. Without further ado, here are our current picks for best soundbar under $300.?
Ty Pendlebury/CNET
Klipsch Cinema 400
Best soundbar under $300
It may not have the whizz-bang features of some of its competition, but if you’re looking for superlative performance this is where you should start. As the best soundbar under $300, it offers head-turning looks with those exposed tweeters and a big subwoofer. And the included remote control offers independent control of the sub. Get quality sound with both music and an episode or two of Loki. The built-in Bluetooth, wireless connectivity allows for music streaming from compatible devices. Virtual surround sound mode provides a more immersive listening experience along with Dolby Digital decoding.
Read our Klipsch Cinema 400 review.
$329 at Crutchfield
$329 at Amazon
$330 at Best Buy
Sarah Tew/CNET
Polk MagniFi Mini
Best small soundbar
The problem with most soundbars is that they’re ginormous — if you have a small TV or accompanying stand they may dangle off of it. The MagniFi Mini’s main speaker is barely a foot across and yet it’s able to offer an ultra-wide sound with clever use of technology. Sounds good, and you’ll barely know it’s there. It includes a 3.5mm stereo minijack input (cable included) and a 6′ Optical cable.?
Read our Polk MagniFi Mini review.
$299 at Crutchfield
$300 at Best Buy
$180 at Amazon
Ty Pendlebury/CNET
Polk Audio Signa S3
Best for music
The Polk Audio Signa S3 may not have the stylish looks of the Klipsch or JBL but it offers pretty much what a 21st century music fan needs. Apart from the HDMI port, it has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi streaming (iOS and Android) and a mini-jack for connecting a turntable if you like. It sounds great, too.
Read our Polk Signa S3 review.
$244 at Amazon
$280 at Best Buy
Best under $200
Vizio V21
While the V21 with Wireless Subwoofer is outclassed by the others on this list and may not be the best soundbar under $300, it is one of the best under $200. If you only have a limited budget it offers excellent value. It has the all-important HDMI connection, Bluetooth and a separate sub. The Vizio delivers great sound and costs around half the price of these competitors.
Read our Vizio V21 review.
$190 at Target
$175 at Amazon
More home theater essentials
- Best Streamer in 2022
- Best AV Receiver for 2022
- Best Dolby Atmos Soundbar in 2022
- Best Universal Remote for 2022
- Best 32-inch TV for 2022
- Best 75-inch TV for 2022
- Best 65-inch TV for 2022