Best Soundbar under £100 in 2021

Whenever you buy a new television you will most probably get offered a soundbar go along with it or in case you want to improve the audio from your television then the soundbar is the first thing which comes to mind. While thinking of buying a soundbar there are few questions which often floats around is weather spending extra on a soundbar worth it? and What value will it add up to your audio system? Well, as TVs are slimming down the quality of the sound is also toned down. The reason for this is fairly simple. There is very little space to fit in a powerful sound system. The speakers are becoming smaller and the sound output it gives is also very tiny and muffled.

To be honest, the sound quality has been improving significantly on many high performing and expensive television available on the market but apart from that most of the TVs still don’t sound as good as you might think of it. This is the reason why many manufacturers include a soundbar to go with it. A soundbar can be a great addon to your television which will vastly improve the overall audio experience. This is much better than buying a complete add-on component system. The soundbar comes with several speakers and all the electronic components to power it packs inside a small enclosure which you can connect to your television without the need of a receiver.

Some soundbars come included with a separate subwoofer, usually wireless, while few comes with inbuilt tweeters and woofers to give you a complete surround sound system. Most soundbars are long rectangular bar-shaped and are relatively thin so you can easily place it on the shelf above or below the television. These can also be wall-mounted in case your TV mounted on the wall. Soundbar speakers come in all price ranges. They start as low as £30 to £40 bucks and go all the way up to £500 to £600. Most of the soundbar on the market will sell between these price ranges. However, you don’t usually have to spend a lot to get your hands on a decent soundbar. There are many soundbars you can buy under £100 and in this article, we will talk about them.

Our Pick for the 10 Best Soundbar Under £100

You will be overwhelmed with the variety of options available in the market between each price range and you don’t want to spend your hard-earned money on something which is not worth it. Each type has its own set of pros and cons and there are various factors to look at while picking the best one which will suit most of your needs. To better help you out we have put this list together for the best soundbar we have tested in this budget. We have also included a little advice with each one of them and there’s a dedicated buyer’s guide at the end of the post.

1. Sony HT-SF150

The Sony HT-SF150 is one of the best soundbars you can get in this budget. Starting off with the design you have a slim profile that will easily fit in your home and complement other interiors. On the top, you have the regular touch controls for simple things like volume and apart from this you also get a remote control for more convenience.

This soundbar comes with 2 Channels and 2 force front surround Speakers and a Bass Reflex which gives powerful surround sound experience. The connectivity options are also very simple here. You have HDMI connectivity as well as Bluetooth, Optical and USB Port. The HDMI ARC helps you to control the television and the soundbar with just one remote.

You can also easily hook this up with any other device rather than television such as a smartphone in case you want to enjoy a party or family gathering. One of the best things I like here is the various different placement options. On the back, you get the wall mounting holes and the package itself comes with all the accessories. You can easily mount this on your wall without a need of a technician. Although this soundbar doesn’t come with a subwoofer you get a dedicated tweeter, so it is great in terms of highs and bass response. Overall it is a great soundbar to place your bet in this price range.

2. Bomaker Odine I

The ODINE I from BOMAKER is one of the most good looking soundbars we have on our list. This soundbar has an elegant design with ironing net and luxurious fabric. This looks very modern and stylish; it won’t have any problem blending into your room. It is also sprayed with scratch-resistant paint. Talking about the sound, you get a set of 4 powerful speakers that are capable of delivering 110 dB room-filling surround sound.

With the soundbar frequency starting as low as 50Hz and goes all the way up to 20KHz makes your room into a home theatre. Although you don’t get a digital display, the soundbar still indicates you about the type of connection using small LEDs on the front.

Talking about connections, this soundbar supports AUX, USB, Bluetooth, and Optical. Sadly, you don’t get HDMI connectivity but you can use the Optical mode for the best sound quality. Built-in DSP to choose between 4 sound modes: Bass, Treble, Voice, and General. There are onboard controls on this soundbar but they are on the side and you have to lean a little bit in order to reach them. It also comes with a remote control to get you through most of the options. This soundbar may have few things missing but the beautiful design, high-end audio quality, enhanced bass, the treble effect for clearer dialogue totally made up for the price.

3. Majority Ben Nevis II

The Ben Nevis II from the company Majority is another great and feature-packed soundbar to buy in this budget. This soundbar has a similar design to the ODINE I which we showed you previously. Inside you have powerful 150W speakers that guarantee HD Virtual Cinematic Sound Experience. You have 2.1 channels and one thing which compliments this soundbar is the included wireless freestanding subwoofer.

Well, usually in this price range you hardly get a subwoofer and this soundbar offers you that along with great bass and treble which is simply amazing. The onboard controls are on the sides however there are no such digital displays or an indicator on this one. When it comes to connectivity you get several varieties such as Bluetooth, AUX-In, USB, as well as HDMI ARC.

You can also tune in to Radio Mode if you want with the inbuilt antenna and enjoy FM Radio. This soundbar comes with 3 years free extended warranty which is really appreciated. When the manufacturer offers a longer warranty then you should rest assured that the product will last much longer. This is one of the best soundbars you can think of if you don’t want to spend some extra bucks on the Subwoofer. It is very easy to set up and comes with remote control and gives you a much better 2.1 virtual surround sound as compared to some other soundbars in this price range. Lastly, you also have the choice to choose between a white or a black color variant as per your house aesthetics.

4. Panasonic SC-HTB8EB-K

Moving on the list we have a Panasonic soundbar which is one of the most liked ones on Amazon. This soundbar has received over 4.5 Star ratings so you can expect excellent performance out of it. You get a stylish delta form design which is very attractive and will suit any kind of room. Its low profile easily allows you to place it under the television without blocking the view or the infrared sensor.

It can also be easily wall mounted which allows you to change the sound direction from 0 Degrees to 90 Degrees depending on where you want to place it. It has a triangular design with all the speakers on the front. It is an 80W soundbar and supports 2.0 Channel surround sound.

The powerful speaker delivers high-quality sound, this can be a great addition to your home entertainment system. On the top, you have the onboard controls but you can also control it with the included remote control. You can connect this soundbar with several different options such as HDMI, AUX-In, and Optical Cable. Apart from this, you get wireless connectivity with the help of Bluetooth to easily stream your music wirelessly. Panasonic also offers a companion Music streaming app which is great. Overall this is a great soundbar that delivers amazing sound quality. However, there are few things which this soundbar lacks but it’s totally justifiable for the price it comes at.

5. LG Electronics SJ2

The next up on the list is the LG SJ2 Soundbar. It is among some of the best-looking soundbars on the list. Apart from this, it is also among some of the popular ones. It has received over 4 Stars ratings on Amazon and most of the people who bought this are happy with their purchase. This soundbar is well manufactured with a robust mould grill design on the front of the soundbar. It looks very stylish and modern and will easily attract a lot of eyes.

There are two speakers on the front which deliver high-quality sound output. You can enjoy the rich audio experience and enjoy all your favourite entertainment. It comes with inbuilt tweeter and woofer components housed inside which gives the clear cinematic sound output. On the front, you have LEDs to indicate you about the connection.

This soundbar also comes with an included wireless subwoofer which is amazing. It allows you to enjoy superb sound quality without compromising on the design. Now talking about connectivity features you have USB, AUX-In, Optical cable as well as wireless connectivity. However, the HDMI port is missing on this soundbar. Using Bluetooth, you can directly stream the audio from devices such as your smartphone or Laptop. This soundbar also comes with a remote but you can also use your own remote from a different company or just use the TV remote. Should you buy this soundbar? Definitely, this is one of the best and feature-packed soundbar you can get in this budget. It looks amazing as well as sounds well. The only con is the HDMI port but you can buy the Optical cable in the combo offer.

6. MEGACRA UP-S9920

If you are looking for one of the loudest sound bars then here’s your bet. This soundbar comes from the company MEGACRA and comes with 100-watt speakers. It comes with the 40-inch deep bass transfer which can easily with a large room with its crystal-clear sound. However, if you want to save some bucks then you can also go with the 34 inches or the 28-inch variant.

The mold grill design on the front gives the soundbar a nice look. Inside you have 4 full-range speakers as well as 2 tweeter speakers and 2 bass reflex tubes. You can expect how crystal-clear sound and dialogs will be. It will ensure you immersive audio experience with bass blasting on you giving a theatre-like experience.

This soundbar comes with built-in DSP so you get various different sound modes to choose from. It automatically adjusts the Bass and Treble but having the ability to tweak the settings comes handy. You can choose between Movies, Music, Dialogue and Gaming mode to suit different occasions. You have dual wired and Wireless Connection, speaking of that you can pair this with Bluetooth or use the AUX-In, RCA or optical inputs to make the connection between the TV and the soundbar as well as with some other devices. Talking about controlling the soundbar, there are onboard controls on the sides and you get a remote control to do all kinds of settings. Lastly, you have the usual 12 months of warranty from the manufacturer.

7. Mpow 29-Inch

Here’s another of those top-rated soundbars on the Amazon. It comes from the brand Mpow at a very affordable price. You would not believe how much feature this soundbar packs and still costs a fraction of the price. On the front, you have the mold grill design and the onboard controls are shifted to the sides giving you a clean front.

Inside you get a set of 4 speakers out of which there are 2 full-range speakers and 2 bass reflex tube which deliver powerful and richer bass while watching movies, tv shows or just enjoying movies at the house party of a gathering. Advanced DSP technology with 2.0 channel for exceptional clarity and clearer dialogues. You can choose between different modes such as movies, news, movies, and games.

While watching movies you get 3D Stereo Surround Sound with crystal clear and dynamic home audio experience. Now when it comes to connectivity options you have HDMI ARC, Optical port, USB, and AUX-In. Most of the modern and high output options are available on this one which is really appreciated. Most of the time we see some of these options missing but here there is no compromise. You can also pair this with Bluetooth with your Television or any other devices and stream audio wirelessly. Controlling and setting up this soundbar is also very simple. On the front, you get an LED indicator and an included remote control for added convenience.

8. BOMAKER 2.1 Channel Soundbar with Wireless Sub

Moving closer to the end we have one of the best-looking soundbars on the list. It comes from the company BOMAKER and might be just a little above the budget. If you can spend a few extra bucks we will definitely recommend you to get this soundbar as it offers some amazing specifications. It has an Ultra-slim and sleek design and comes with scratch-resistant and environment-friendly coating.

This 35-inch soundbar will easily blend in your room, it is very easy to set up and you can control it either with the onboard controls or with the included large remote control. On the front, you also get an LED display to easily let you check through some of the different sound modes. Spending a little extra can get you some amazing features such as this one.

Since we are talking about sound modes, this soundbar offers 4 different sound modes to enhance your audio experience. You can choose between movies, music, sports, and gaming. Apart from this, it can automatically adjust bass and treble with a click of a button. This 150W soundbar can deliver 2.1 Channel surround sound as well as comes with an included separate subwoofer to compliment everything. It features built-in DSP and Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity. Other than that, you can also hook this up with USB, RCA, AUX, and Optical cable. It doesn’t include an HDMI port so you have to use the Optical port or the Wireless feature for the best possible sound quality. You can also mount this soundbar on your wall with the included accessories and yeah! can’t forget the remote control.

9. Majority Snowdon II

Here’s another soundbar from the company Majority. The Snowdon II comes with a much affordable price as compared to the previous one but still packs some amazing features and specifications. It has a triangular design with all the speakers firing from the front and the onboard controls are sifted on the sides. The design here is really great and will easily compliment the look of your room. Since it is priced much lower it has to cut some corners but we will talk about that later on.

It is a 120W soundbar that provides powerful and high quality cinematic virtual surround sound output. It has an inbuilt subwoofer which is something we don’t usually see in soundbars at this price range. When it comes to connectivity you have multiple connection options such as Optical, RCA, as well as Bluetooth.

However, this one doesn’t come with an HDMI port or an AUX-IN port which might be a deal-breaker for some. If you are getting this soundbar then we recommend you use the Optical port because that will deliver the highest sound quality. You can also personalize the audio setting as you like. Easily adjust the treble or bass settings using the included remote control. The remote is also larger this time to easily fit in your hand. Another great thing in this soundbar is the full technical support from the Manufacturer. You get 3 Years of manufacturer warranty so you can expect this to last much longer. This soundbar includes most of the accessories however you don’t get to see the wall mounting package included with it.

10. Samsung HW-N300

Ending the list with the Samsung HW-N300 soundbar which fits just under the budget. During the sales, you might get a better discount on this as it is one of the most popular ones. Just like most other soundbars, this one is also a black rectangular piece of the slab but the most important area where these soundbar tops are the sound quality. It comes with 4 built-in speakers that deliver stunning sound into your home.

It has a sleek design which saves a lot of space and you don’t have to put multiple speakers around your home. It also supports wireless music streaming from your smartphone or tablet and talking about the connectivity option you have several different options such as Optical cables, HDMI, and AUX-In.

It also comes with remote control and you can do a simple setting and use the same remote for both TV and the soundbar which is very convenient as you don’t usually have to carry multiple remotes. However, this feature might not work with all the TVs so kindly check with your manufacturer and confirm this. It also packs all the wall mount accessories so you can quickly mount it on the wall if you like. So, this Samsung soundbar is amazing to pick in this budget if you are looking to fill your medium to large-sized room with its powerful and high-quality sound. It is a perfect addition to your home entertainment system.

What value does a soundbar add to a sound system?

Is the inbuilt speaker of the television being not good enough? Well, No, nowadays televisions are becoming slimmer in size and there’s very little space left to fit a high performing speaker. Most of the television (Not talking about the most expensive ones) will disappoint you when it comes to overall sound quality. What do we mean by sound quality? As the inbuilt speaker is small, they are not capable of reproducing, deep, low, bass sound. They are also not able to create high pitched treble sound since they are not exactly facing towards you. The sound coming out of these speakers are rather tinny and muffled.

When you add a soundbar to television it will fix most of these issues. You will have several different speakers facing towards you blasting the bass. You can really differentiate between the highs and lows and the dialogues will be crystal clear. You can also choose between several sound modes to suit the occasion. A soundbar adds a lot of value to your audio system. They are definitely worth it. They will give you a better sound than your television. In most of the cases, they will offer excellent for movies and TV shows. Apart from this, you can always use them in case of a party or a gathering.

What is DSP (Digital Signal Processing)?

Digital Signal Processing is the process of converting analog sound into digital signals. This is a common feature and you will find this even in some of the affordable soundbars. However different manufacturers use their own terms to describe this technology. You can figure this out with the separate equalizer settings. What do we mean by equalizer settings? Well, if you see different sound modes listed in the description such as Movies, Gaming, Music, and Dialogue then you can trust that they are probably managed by DSP.

When the soundbar uses Digital Sound Processing it not only broadcasts the sound coming out of the television but also makes use of algorithms and processes the audio to create the desired experience. Let’s take an example: If the equalizer setting is set to Movies then the DSP will take the sound and enhance the human voice and fine-tune it to make the dialogues much clear. When it comes to gaming settings the DSP will enhance the bass and other sound effects such as the rumble of an explosion and gunshots.

Things to Consider While Buying a Soundbar

There are a lot of things you should focus on while choosing the right soundbar. After going through the review there are still a lot of people who will wonder which one, they should choose out of these. So, if you are one of them and not sure what to choose then read along with the buying guide to know the important things you consider.

The Size and Design

Soundbars come in various different sizes ranging from 28 inches to more than 42 inches. Choosing the correct size should depend on the size of your television and most importantly the size of your room. If you have a larger room then consider getting a larger soundbar such as a 40-inch one which will be more powerful to fill your room with adequate sound.

As you are going to place the soundbar just below or in front of your television make sure it doesn’t exceed the size of your TV otherwise it will look odd. Now coming to the design, you should go for a soundbar that looks attractive and blend with the design of your room. You will probably be going to place the soundbar just in front of the TV or going to mount it on your wall. So, it is always something you have your eyes on.

Number of Channels

In most of the soundbar, you will have a 2.0 or 2.1 Channels. The choice should mostly depend on the type of sound experience you want. Let’s say you want louder sound than the inbuilt TV speakers and don’t care much about the low frequencies than the 2.0 Channel will be sufficient for you. On the other hand, if you want a more cinematic experience with deep bass and consider choosing the 2.1 channels. The only major difference between these two channels is that the 2.0 channel doesn’t include a subwoofer which is responsible for the enhanced bass while a 2.1 channel comes with an included subwoofer.

Digital Display or LED Indicator

These are the features that are usually found on some of the expensive options. However, there will be a few soundbars that will include these features. A Digital display will let you know about the type of mode, the volume, and many other things while an LED indicator will do the same but a little differently. In this case, you have to go through the user manual and remember all the LED colors otherwise you will be confused about what’s going on. These features are just optional but having them will add more convenience to your everyday life.

Remote Controls

Do you always want to get out of your bed and then control the little things on the soundbar? Nobody likes this, nowadays there is nothing better than controlling your devices wirelessly. Always pick a soundbar that comes with a remote in fact almost all the soundbar in the list comes with an included remote control. Some of the soundbars even allow them to be controlled with the TV remote or a remote from a different soundbar. The remote control will also include various other controls which are not present on the onboard controls.

Onboard Controls

There’s nothing cooler than controlling your soundbar with the remote control but it is always great to have some onboard controls handy. You never know when you lost the remote control somewhere or they just run out of batteries and there is no extra battery at home. In this situation, it is better to just get out of your bed and use the onboard controls. Also, one thing you should consider here is reachability. The controls should be placed good enough to reach without struggling.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)

Active or passive soundbar: which is better?

An active soundbar comes with an inbuilt sound amplifier. It is very simple to set up and use however this won’t let you choose a specific receiver and you cannot connect it to multiple sources. On the other hand, passive soundbar will not have a built-in amplifier. So, you need to connect it to the receiver or a separate amplifier. Choosing between an active or passive soundbar is just a case of convenience. The major advantage of choosing a passive soundbar is the ability to choose your receiver or amplifier also you can connect it to multiple sources.

Does the audio quality of the soundbar depends on the input method?

Yes! the quality of the soundbar definitely depends on the type of input method you are using. The old RCA input is not capable of delivering digital signal so you will miss out on a lot of things such as virtual surround sound. In case you use other input methods such as HDMI, Optical port, or even Wireless connection such as Bluetooth then you won’t miss out on anything.

How do I connect new soundbar to my TV?

Soundbar nowadays comes with various different connectivity options. The most common ones you can find are the HDMI, Optical, AUX-In, USB, RCA, and Wireless. These options will not present on all the soundbars, it completely depends on the manufacturer. Simply check for the back of the television and see all the available options and then check which of these are available on the soundbar. The quality of the soundbar is also depends on the type of input method so we recommend you to either use the HDMI, Optical or Wireless connection.

My soundbar doesn’t support HDMI. Which method can I use to connect it to the TV?

In case your soundbar doesn’t have the HDMI option then you can use other connectivity features such as Optical Cable, AUX-In, USB, and ARC Cable. Some of these will not deliver as high-quality sound as the HDMI cable. Instead of that, we recommend you to Optical cable which delivers High-Quality sound as close to the HDMI port.

Final Verdict

There could not be a better and effective way to make your television sound better than to hook it up with a soundbar. This will make your TV much louder and clearer since most of the televisions nowadays are designed to be thin their inbuilt speaker sounds very awful. With that many options available these days it is very hard to pick the right soundbar for your television. All you have to do is to go through all the features that you need on a day to day basis. Simply consider a few things such as size, design, controls, and the type of connection and you are good to go.

Hopefully, after going through the reviews and in-depth guide you can make a proper buying decision. This article has been put together with lots of effort and time so you don’t have to visit different sites and compare each one of them.

Just in case you are still left with any doubt, facing any issue or simply want to tell us about a soundbar which deserves to be on the list, then don’t forget to let us know by dropping a comment below or simply email us and we will be happy to help each one out. Also, don’t forget to share the article with your friends and family who are also looking for a soundbar to improve their audio experience. We will be back soon with another update. Till then, keep visiting.