Best Soundbar Under $100 –Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

Who Needs A Soundbar?

Basically anybody can use a soundbar, but it's most popularly required for enhancing the television sound.

So, I guess, since now you already have a good idea on the purchase of a soundbar, it's time to hop into the reviews.

Well, it's pretty complicated to make a good combination of the budget and quality, but don't you worry, we sorted out some of the best soundbar under 100 for you and we're confident you'll find exactly what you're looking for... or perhaps the better.

Best Soundbar under 100 Reviews

1. Richsound Research (RSR) TB220L 32-inch 2.0 Channel Soundbar with Bluetooth

2. MHHDAL 40 Watt TV Sound Bar Wireless Bluetooth Speaker with Subwoofer for TV and Home Audio Speaker

3. LuguLake T180 TV Sound Bar Bluetooth Speaker

4. VIZIO SB3820-C6 38-Inch 2.0 Channel Sound Bar

5. Jensen JSBW-650 Wall-Mountable 2.1 Channel Bluetooth Soundbar Speaker with Built-In Subwoofer

6. Sceptre SB80-PS SB 20 Inch Sound Bar

7. ELlight Bluetooth Small Sound Bar 3.0 Channel 15.7in 10W(2X5W) Wireless Subwoofer Stereo Speaker

8. MEGACRA Sound Bar Wired and Wireless Bluetooth Home Audio Speaker

9. VIZIO SB2920-C6 29-Inch 2.0 Channel Sound Bar

10. TaoTronics Sound Bar Wired and Wireless Bluetooth Audio Speaker

TaoTronics may not be a pretty familiar name in soundbar business, but don't you worry. Just because a name is not popular 'yet', doesn't mean they can't offer something good. In fact, TaoTronics have some really good items that are much better than most popular soundbars. Besides, they're pretty cheap so you can actually bag a pretty good deal to be honest.

Well, if you have a doubt, you can check out TaoTronics Sound Bar Wired and Wireless Bluetooth Audio Speaker's features for personal satisfaction.

So what do we have here? TaoTronics Sound Bar Wired and Wireless Bluetooth Audio Speaker is a 2.0 channel soundbar. However, its drivers are more to be described than to be known as 2 channel drivers only.

Four full range high quality speakers are featured for smooth treble and mid-ranges. Bass is pretty ground-breaking groovy, thanks to the passive radiators.

The black and sleek attire is capable of bringing the style to any room. And it's not just the design. The materials are pretty compact, so you can easily rely on its longevity in the years to come. The drivers' diaphragms are wrapped with soft cloth to bring the most natural sound.

Well, the placement choice is totally up to you. You can mount it on the wall, place it on the stand - however you wish.

Though the soundbar uses wired connection like coaxial, optical, AUX and RCA; music streaming through Bluetooth is still an option.

A remote control is included even though the system features an individual control panel.

So, if you consider this all, it's actually a pretty good deal, don't you think?

Soundbar under 100: Buyer's Guide Soundbar under 100

For the best buying experience, a person should be aware of all the steps that are required in shopping. To make sure that you're fully prepared we'd like you to check out these few notes before heading for the suggestions:

About the Budget and the Item

Well, nothing special to say about it. You came to this article looking for 'the best soundbar under 100", so it's pretty evident what your budget is.

However the point is actually not about that, we're actually here to focus on this: what can you expect under hundred dollars? And, is it rational?

Let's answer the last question first. It's hella rational! Sure you can buy a tremendous soundbar with great features and grand outlook with several hundred bucks. But this is not worth it always.

No matter how carefully you use them, the inner mechanism of sound systems (not just a soundbar, same happens with stereo, speakers and headphones) is prone to be foiled this way or that way.

Well, you can't actually blame the production method or manufacturers for that, these things are kinda sensitive due to their activity and materials. And, sometimes the atmosphere is responsible too.

It's not the case always though, sometimes a soundbar can actually last for a surprising long time. But, hey, it's not true about the 'expensive' soundbars only, those cheap soundbars under hundred bucks can also last long. In fact, sometimes they last longer than the most expensive ones.

So, why spending so many bucks on a thing that's not guaranteed to last long? And when you're getting pretty much the same service from the cheaper one?

I think these questions are enough to answer your question.

And now, back to the first question: What can you expect from it?

Well, it's always true for everything out there: You get what you pay for.

Surely you can't expect individual high quality drivers because their installation costs a lot. However, the state isn't that bad as it sounds. These soundbars won't be a good choice to surround a large room with booming sound or just to 'beat it' with your home theater system, but it's pretty much what you need for your television, so the price actually does a justice here.

Wall Mounting or Stand Placement

The choice firstly depends on the soundbar. Basically, there are rarely any modern soundbar that can't be mounted on a wall, but there are exceptions as well. It depends on the manufacturing.

However, you should go for the one with wall-mounting templates. Sure, you can place all soundbars on a surface, but the wall mounting option gives you an opportunity of saving some space. Plus, you don't have to stress about a specific surface.

Wired and Wireless Connection

Now, that's a very important thing that has to be checked. Since the soundbar is actually intended for television, the bar and the TV must have a similar cable port for connection. Same goes for the DVD player and other multimedia devices that require a plug-in.

Before purchasing, check the connectivity options of your TV or other multimedia devices. Your targeted soundbar must feature the same option.

Wireless connection isn't mandatory but keeping today's technology in mind, I suggest your soundbar should have wireless connection options. For instance, if your soundbar includes Bluetooth connection, it'll be able to stream audio files from Bluetooth enabled devices.

Channel and Drivers

You should have a good knowledge of these two terms. They say a lot about a soundbar. These terms depict what's inside the soundbar. So when you're looking at one, you actually get to know what that soundbar is capable of from these following terms. So, must have a good idea about them.

The Steps to the Road of Purchasing a Soundbar

Advantages of a Soundbar

They're The Flat Screen TV's Savior

Well, I actually even doubt if people still consider buying those 'boxes', 'cause they're so out of style. We live in the era of flat screen. Yeah, flat screens, flat screens everywhere.

You actually have to thank the inventors for this tremendous creation because these flat screens have brought the theater right inside our home. But however, there's a tiny error in the 'creation' that has spoiled the fun for the most of us.

To make the screen flat, they had to get rid of standard sized drivers and the drivers those televisions feature instead, oh boy, could they get any worse. You can't even hear the dialogue clearly, let alone all the chilling and thrilling sound effects.

The arrival of soundbar has been a blessing to the viewers since it takes the sound from the TV and boosts it to give us the experience we've always craved for.

Soundbars feature several drivers and they're constructed following the standard method in order to deliver the original vibe. Moreover, since separate drivers are used; trebles, bass and mid-ranges are distinguished and thus, are pretty clear.

So, in order to hear the sound clearly and in a satisfying volume, to get all the feel of watching a certain genre, you must add a soundbar to your system. The television isn't enough.

It's the Seasoning to Your Sound

Steak is good itself, when perfectly done. But what makes it extra-delicious? Good seasoning! It may sound funny, but soundbar is just like that seasoning.

Soundbar's actual purpose is not to 'produce' sound, it's actually intended for 'boosting' it. Whether the sound of your DVD player, television or stereo system is 'fine', connecting them to a soundbar can make it 'excellent'.

Soundbar only features drivers and radiators to distinguish different frequencies and deliver their most spontaneous frequencies separately. So the sound is bound to be better.

It Can Be Used With Multimedia Devices

Another amazing feature of the soundbar, you can use it with any audio enabled device. Modern soundbars feature both wired and wireless connection options. You can connect the soundbar with a TV, a DVD player, a stereo or anything! (Even a VHS player, if you have one)

If you can't plug it with something, no problem! These days, almost all the soundbars come with a Bluetooth connection, so you can easily stream your favorite song from an iPad, a smartphone or any other Bluetooth enabled device.

Guide to Buy Best Soundbar: How Should You Choose Your Piece

Why A Soundbar?

Yes, there was this one time, when Disney Channel was good, Michael Jackson was alive, Cartoon Network still had its old logo and our Televisions looked like some heavy treasure chest……..or giant microwave oven, you decide. Now the table has turned and things have changed, and so has our TV.

To be honest, in last couple of years, all the houses I’ve visited (of my relatives and friends), I’ve seen slim screens everywhere. Yes, it’s been said, Slim TV it is, those old giants are literally dead. And why shouldn’t they? These flat panel digital TVs have brought the theater-like experience right at our home! Amazing picture, wonderful details! No wonder people pass on a Saturday night out just for binge watching new shows on Netflix.

However, no matter how much the display quality has developed, one thing has dropped unfortunately and that’s a MAJOR drawback. Yes, I’m talking about sound quality.

Remember, in 2016, how everybody freaked out when Apple got rid of the headphone jack? Well, this was new for smartphone users that time, but ‘Modern Televisions’ started the similar thing way before that.

Nowadays, manufacturers’ main headache is this, how can they make it slimmer? Like, if it was possible, they’d get rid of the screen as well. (Well, it may happen in distance future, who knows?) To make it skinny, they’ve reduced the size of units and drivers, and that’s where the problem started.

The speaker modern day television features are not quite what you can call a speaker. To fit it to the flat attire, they’ve cut some slack here too. And the consequence?

These speakers don’t have what it takes to produce quality sound. The driver’s specs have totally been ignored. They’re equipped with small, low powered, poorly engineered components and the outcome is pretty vague.

Let it be a dialogue, some explosion in an action movie, a music video, or spooky background music of a Stephen King movie – you can’t enjoy anything because of the disgusting sound quality.

And it’s not just poor component engineering. Designing has also failed terribly. Speakers of modern televisions are always placed in disappointing places, like downwards or faced towards the wall. You can’t expect something coming right towards your ears, let alone a good surround sound effect if they’re faced in the wrong direction.

Briefly put, TV speakers are added for delivering sound but they can’t. (At least not good sound, to be precise)

And this is why soundbar was invented. To compensate for those speakers’ incapability.

How Does Soundbar Work?

Soundbar is kind of an everything-is-at-one-place package. What do you need for good sound? Some drivers that work to produce distinct and detailed frequencies. Soundbar features those drivers, sometimes tweeter, super tweeter and mid-range drivers particularly.

And it also includes a unit for bass, since this is the main attribute for loud sound. Sometimes there’s a subwoofer to enhance the bass quality. With all these things crammed in one place, a soundbar is manufactured.

Oh, this is not it. A lot of soundbars have an amplifier to amplify weak signals. Many companies introduce brilliant technologies (often of their own) to add more thrill, improve the effects and create an atmosphere for surround sound.

After purchasing a soundbar, you have to connect it to the TV. There is no specific way for this. It can be AUX, RCA, Bluetooth or some other medium. Once it’s connected, all you gotta do is just start playing. Everything inside the bar will do their part and you’ll get what your TV couldn’t give.

Just Soundbar or Pedestal Soundbar

Yeah, the choice that everyone comes across and gets stuck at one point. Admit it, it’s hard to choose, both have their advantages and disadvantages.

However, our suggestion is, stick with soundbar.

Well….

You shouldn’t pick a soundbase because they’re out of style. C’mon, we’re not trying to be rude, this is the harsh reality. TV manufacturers introducing something new every day and soundbases somehow aren’t being able to keep up with these ‘surprises’.

Moreover, nowadays people tend to mount their TV instead of putting somewhere. And these bases have nothing to offer for your wall-TV.

Again, let’s not mention size. Day by day, TVs are growing wider. It won’t be surprising if in near future, people start building theater venue in their home to fit their big screen-like televisions. Soundbases can’t hold big TVs and that’s why there’s no point of choosing them.

Besides, what’s the purpose of purchasing this again? Greater sound quality, right? Guess what, soundbar performs better than pedestal soundbar/soundbase. The bass quality of soundbase is pretty weak and it doesn’t cope well with additional subwoofers.

In every way, it’ll be a loss. So, soundbar it is. Besides, think of all the benefits a soundbar offers:

1. Everything In Shorter Space

Soundbar takes less space than sound base. Soundbases are wider and thus need bigger area for placement. You don’t have to worry about bigger space with a soundbar.

2. Offers Great Surround Sound

Surround sound makes the biggest difference. Pedestal soundbars don’t have a good arrangement for this, whilst soundbars are very dedicated to bring the best 3d surround sound effect. When you want theater-like experience, surround sound is mandatory. Another reason why the soundbar comes first.

3. Amplifies Better

Soundbars are engineered with greater amplification technology. Audio sounds richer when played via soundbar.

4. More Compatible

Soundbar isn’t out of style like soundbase. ​Its features are compatible with all modern TVs and undoubtedly it will remain this way even in near future.

5. Mountable

One more remarkable reason why soundbar is better than soundbase. You can’t mount soundbase, it always requires a top. Plus, it’s impossible to mount something heavy like this. But you can mount a soundbar if you want to.

There Are Different Sizes

You might have noticed, soundbars come in different sizes. It says in lots of soundbars’ descriptions, ‘This is 38 inch, this one is 42’ and so on. Now the questions acutes, does the size really matter?

Sometimes, yes, other times, no.

As we already know, soundbar features a bunch of drivers in order to produce rich sound. Lots of soundbars include a number of specific drivers to ace in a particular field, and these soundbars don’t stop at one place.

They do it for all the fields, to make sure that you get a pleasant performance. However, for accomplishing this goal, they have to expand their size and thus those soundbars grow longer.

But, longer soundbar doesn’t always mean a package of quality drivers. Sometimes manufacturers stretch them for a good outlook and they don’t have much to offer compared to many other shorter bars. So, don’t get excited at first, check the specs to see what it offers and then decide.

Again, it’s better to choose a length that goes well with your TV size.

Channel to Go With

Now, if you consider cheap soundbars, the channels you’re gonna usually come across are 2.0 and 2.1.

2.0 channel is gonna offer you the combination of two stereo speakers, where you’ll get an extra subwoofer with 2.1 channel system.

For cheap soundbars, 2.0 and 2.1 channels are the best options available. And some of them do deliver stunning performance. To be true, these channels are enough for great TV sound (movies, TV shows, news). However, if it’s possible to go for higher channel, because some 2.1 channel systems do volunteer for good surround sound, but you have to go higher for its true experience.

Apart from 2.0 and 2.1 channels, the other available channels are 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1.

Among all these three channels, the most significant change is evident in 5.1 speaker. Left and right speakers are already included, accompanied by a subwoofer. A center speaker is introduced that works mainly for speech clarity. And other two speakers are located in the back. These placements are made to create an ideal surround sound effect.

There isn’t any particular change in 6.1 and 7.1 speakers. The only difference is, 6.1 system features one and 7.1 features two more speakers than 5.1 system. The sound gets stronger and more detailed as the number of speaker increases.

Well, we have only one thing to say, just because most soundbars under 200 feature 2.0 and 2.1 system, doesn’t mean they don’t deliver good sound. Most systems deliver quite rich audio and they’re enough for watching TV.

Technologies That Come Along

Driver quality isn’t everything for good sound, it depends on included techs as well. For a decent TV watching experience (specially movies), Dolby Digital sound technologies are recommended. DTS is devoted to emit virtual surround sound effect to bring you theater-like experience right at home.

Apart from Dolby digital, every company have some patented technologies of their own which are included to cover for the drawbacks of featured speakers. These technologies are always mentioned in product descriptions. Always look up the description to learn about the technologies that are introduced for better performance.

An Additional Subwoofer

Soundbars are made slim. Their slim attire isn’t quite in the favor of producing bass frequencies because there isn’t sufficient arrangement for that. That’s why most soundbars can’t produce strong bass like treble or mid-range.

However, this is not an absolute fact. Some soundbars do include dedicated bass reflex tube, booster or subwoofer of their own that performs brilliantly. But if it’s not the case for your soundbar, you should definitely bring an additional subwoofer home. Speaker sound is never enough without good bass.

Connectivity

Soundbars feature both wired and wireless options since both of them come handy time to time. If a soundbar says ‘it can operate via wireless connection’, there’s an obvious chance that Bluetooth is being mentioned.

Every soundbar primarily uses Bluetooth for wireless streaming. A few soundbars run on NFC or Wi-Fi. NFC is quite helpful if we’re talking old TV models here. Wi-Fi is better than Bluetooth but isn’t quite a familiar option yet.

For wired connection, more options are available than wireless mediums. AUX, USB, RCA, optical – you name it!

AUX is often featured because it’s the most common medium. However, since we’re talking about TV here, our best choices are RCA and optical. Why? Let us explain!

RCA is always featured in TV and other A/V devices. It’s easier to connect to TV via RCA connectors. Moreover, AUX isn’t common in flat panel TV.

And if you’re thinking of making the soundbar the part of your home theater system, you should go with optical and HDMI input.

When you’re going for optical, all you have to do is link all the drivers directly with TV and then connect the TV to soundbar using optical connection. In this case, the TV functions as a switcher. If your TV doesn’t have enough ports for all the drivers, you have to add an HDMI switcher to work this out.

Placement

Soundbars can be placed anywhere. You can place it on the top of a furniture, a stand, anywhere below your TV or just simply mount on the wall.

Now, some soundbars feature bracket, kit and keyhole slot for mounting. But there are few other soundbars as well, that have nothing in this regard. For the one without mounting kit, you’ll have to make a separate purchase for kit if you want to mount it on the wall.

If you’re thinking of putting it on the top of something, don’t forget to check a few things. Like, make sure that there’s enough space for placing it and it mustn’t block the view or signals of remote control.

Some soundbars feature built-in IR repeater so that you can control the TV with your soundbar. If it doesn’t feature any and the signals are getting blocked because of the placement, bring an additional IR repeater.

So, here we are. These were the things that should be known by everybody to make the right purchase. We hope you got everything in one place.

Now, as you’re fully prepared to make the choice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What do channels stand for?

Ans. Whenever you're looking for soundbars, you often come across the terms like 'this is a 2.0 channel soundbar'. The number at the left side of the redix point (.) represents the number of stereo speakers the soundbar includes and the number situated at the right represents the number of subwoofer. For example, when it says 2.1 channel soumdbars, it means the soundbar has two stereo speakers and a subwoofer.

Should a soundbar always require a RCA connection for connecting to a TV?

Ans. RCA connection is generally chosen to establish a connection between the TV and the soundbar, but since modern televisions come with several other options, RCA connection isn't mandatory. But if your TV requires one certain connection option, then it's a whole different story.

Most soundbars today bound to have a bluetooth connection. Is it mandatory?

Ans. No, it isn't. Bluetooth connection gives you a chance to stream your favourite music or audio files from a Bluetooth enabled device without the help of any wire, that's why it's so popular. But if you're okay with just wired connection, that's fine too. Anyway, don't you think it's better to have both?

Do we always need an additional subwoofer with the soundbar?

Ans. It's not always necessary. Some soundbars feature their own subwoofer or radiator to deliver bass, so you don't need an extra if that's the case. Otherwise, additional purchase is an obvious choice. However, it also depends on the user. Many customers don't find the built-in subwoofer's performance satisfying, so they add an extra subwoofer as a boost.

Can anybody mount it on the wall?

Ans. With proper guidance, skills and templates, yeah. For user's convenience, most modern soundbars come with certain tools and templates that are enough for anybody to be able to mount it on the wall. And, if you actually pay proper attention to the instruction manual, with skills, it's not that hard. However, good templates or following the instructions properly isn't helpful for everyone. In this case, you may see a professional.

Does the weather have any impact on the soundbar?

Ans. It actually has. The clothing or the diaphragm can be affected seriously by the weather. You should take extra care of your whole home theater system in a humid or damp weather.

Do I need a soundbar with HDMI?

Ans. No, it's not mandatory.

What is a full-range speaker?

Ans: A full-range speaker is the speaker that covers for as much frequency as possible. In other words, the speaker with wider frequency response range is known as a full-range speaker.

What is the difference between 2.0 channel and 2.1 channel system?

Ans: There are not much differences between these two system. 2.0 channel system consists of two stereo speakers. A subwoofer is added with these two speakers in 2.1 channel system.

How does frequency response range work?

Ans: The frequency response range we see in the description of speakers, tell us how many Hz those speakers are capable of covering.

The first number of the range depicts the least of low end and the last number depicts the highest of treble. In this way, you can learn how detailed, clear and good the audio is going to sound with a specific speaker.

What does RCA mean?

Ans: RCA is a type of electronic connector that is used for transmitting audio and video signals to TV.

5. My soundbar doesn’t have a wall-mounting kit. What should I do now?

Ans: If it doesn’t have a mounting kit, there are two options for you. You can either purchase a separate mounting bracket for this or if you happen to own a flat TV, check its back. Most flat televisions include a soundbar mounting slot.

Final Verdict

So, here we are in the end. We understand the online shopping experience is quiet different from the usual shopping experience. Sometimes it's hard to find the right item since there's nobody here to suggest you a good piece and you can get pretty lost in the crowd.

To get you out of the wreck, we put on a little effort here with some purchasing tips and a few suggestions of good products. Hope, everything worked out for you just as you expected.

Happy shopping!