Well, there’s no need to worry as you can simply fix it by installing an external soundbar with your TV. We have already picked up some of the best soundbars under 500 from the market, so all you need to do is, check out the list and find the best suitable one for yourself. However, don’t forget to check for a few important things like:
Power Output: Since the built-in speakers on the TVs are not usually loud, a soundbar is a good alternative to use. You can know about the loudness of a soundbar on the basis of its power output. For instance, a soundbar with a power output of 400 Watts is generally louder and better than a soundbar with a 200 Watts output. Connectivity: You should not neglect to check the connectivity options available on a soundbar. Apart from wired connectivity options such as HDMI, USB, AUX, etc., if you want a cleaner look for your setup, wireless connectivity features like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi are very important. In fact, wireless connectivity options also allow you to use your mobile or laptop with the soundbar as well. Surround Sound: One of the most interesting features that soundbars are quite popular for is surround sound. Depending on your requirements and the size of the room, you can choose between options like 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, and 5.1 surround sound to turn your room into a theater.
There are a few other important things that you should consider while picking the best soundbar under 500 from the market. In case you are curious to know, you will find all that useful information in the detailed “Buying Guide” which is mentioned below in the article. As of now, let’s quickly take a look at the list and see which of these best soundbar options will work best for you.
Best Soundbar Under $500 List
Best Soundbar Under $500 Reviews
1. Polk Audio Signa S3 Ultra-Slim TV Sound Bar
Best EARC Soundbar Best Multi Channel Home Theaters Subwoofer Cable vs RCA Best Wireless Subwoofer Kits
When it comes to providing high-end audio systems at affordable prices, Polk Audio is one of the best brands out there to trust. Speaking about the features of the Signa S3 Ultra-Slim TV Soundbar, it’s quite slim and comes with performance-tuned drivers capable of providing 2.1 channel surround sound. The soundbar unit includes dual 1.25” x 4.4” oval mid-range drivers, and dual 1” tweeters as well. Apart from that, you also get an external subwoofer with a 5.25” driver. With that said, both the low-end and high-end performance of this soundbar is quite impressive and worth the price. One of the good features of this soundbar is that its power output is about 160 Watts, so it’s ideally loud as well. On top of that, this soundbar also uses Dolby Digital 5.1 decoding and has an exclusive voice adjust technology that automatically adjusts the volume by judging the surroundings. In terms of connectivity, this soundbar has HDMI ARC, optical input & a 3.5mm audio jack. Apart from that, it also has Bluetooth and a built-in Google Chromecast that allows you to use this soundbar with your Google Home speaker to listen to music right from your mobile phone. Best Features:
1 channel surround sound External subwoofer with 5.25” driver The rated power output of 160 Watts Built-in Chromecast
Pros:
Very slim Stylish design Loud and crisp sound quality
Cons:
It turns off automatically when left on mute
2. SAMSUNG HW-Q60T 5.1Ch Soundbar
Samsung is one of the best TV brands out there. If you already own a Samsung QLED TV, then pairing it with an HW-Q60T 5.1Ch soundbar with 3D surround sound and the acoustic beam will make it a great option. This HW-Q60T 5.1 Channel soundbar is a premium option that has various amazing features. It comes with a total of 9 speakers that provides a total power output of 360 watts. With its immersive 3D theater-quality sound of DTS virtual X, you can enjoy excellent sound quality from the front, above, and side (wraps around as X turns) that matches perfectly with your Samsung QLED TV. Its acoustic beam technology will deliver sound accurately that makes you feel the depth of moving sound on the screen, and its adaptive sound technology will let you hear the voice clearly at a low volume. While Q-series soundbar speakers symphony with your TV speakers to offer full, immersive, and cinematic sound. Speaking of the subwoofer, it is completely wireless that won’t take any extra time to set up. This soundbar features Bluetooth connectivity and it’s unique as it allows you to connect up to 2 devices wirelessly simultaneously. Also, you can use HDMI to connect this soundbar to your TV. Furthermore, you can control the key functions of a soundbar like a volume, power, or other sound effects with a Samsung TV remote. Best Features:
1 channel surround sound Bluetooth and HDMI connectivity Wireless external subwoofer Rated power output of 360 watts 3D surround sound and DTS virtual X feature
Pros:
Excellent sound quality with adaptive & game pro sound modes Wireless surround kit for more sound without wires. Durable, long-lasting, and stylish design Comes with a 1-year limited warranty
Cons:
Rear speakers are not included Does not have Wi-Fi streaming or Alexa-enabled support.
3. TCL Alto Dolby Atmos Sound Bar
TCL is yet another popular brand in the market that sells feature-rich TV options in the market, and also a few good soundbar options to pair with them as well. With that said, we have picked up the TCL Alto 9+ Soundbar for you to check out as we were pretty much impressed by its features as well as the design. The main highlight about this soundbar is that it’s loaded with smart features as it can be operated using Apple AirPlay, and also via Google Home since it comes with a built-in Chromecast as well. Since it supports both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, you can simply connect any mobile or laptop with the soundbar. Talking about its sound quality, it’s brilliant, thanks to Dolby Atmos Surround Sound decoding that makes its 3.1 channel audio system work like wonders. If you are concerned about the loudness of this soundbar, it delivers a loud sound output of about 540 Watts. On top of that, it also boasts RAY∙DANZ technology that helps it create a really wide soundstage and elevates your experience while watching movies. While the left and right channels on the soundbar take care of all the background details, the center channel ensures all the dialogues reach your ears clearly. In addition, a wireless subwoofer also comes along with the soundbar that takes care of all the low-end notes and offers you rich and deep bass. Best Features:
1 channel surround sound Comes with a wireless subwoofer unit The rated power output of 540 Watts Built-in Chromecast
Pros:
Works with Apple AirPlay The subwoofer delivers deep bass Modern design and high build quality
Cons:
Doesn’t get much loud
4. Klipsch Cinema 600 Sound Bar 3.1 Home Theater System
Klipsch is one of the best brands in the audio industry as it makes almost all kinds of speakers, and is typically a premium brand choice that you can definitely consider for your soundbar purchase. Yes, the price is a bit on the higher side since it comes from one of the most premium brands. That being said, you don’t have to think twice about the sound quality as the engineers at Klipsch are truly perfectionists. It’s a 45 inches soundbar that comes with 3.1 surround sound, and an additional 10” subwoofer to take care of all your bass requirements. With its peak 600 Watts power, it can truly fill your living room with its mind-blowing sound output. Meanwhile, the installation of this soundbar only takes a few minutes as the whole process is pretty seamless, and it connects with any TV without any issues. For the connectivity, Klipsch has loaded it with HDMI ARC, and the subwoofer units come pre-paired with the soundbar wirelessly. In fact, the center channel on this soundbar is optimized to provide loud and clear vocals, which comes in quite useful when watching movies. Best Features:
1 channel surround sound External 10” subwoofer unit The rated power output of 600 Watts Comes with a 1-year long warranty
Pros:
Premium quality Excellent soundstage Can adjust volume automatically
Cons:
Doesn’t offer bass/treble adjustment
5. VIZIO Sound Bar for TV 5.1 Surround Sound System
Coming up next, if you are not looking forward to spending much on a soundbar, VIZIO has a pretty good deal available for you at quite an attractive price point. Despite being one of the most budget-friendly soundbar options on this list, it brings you 5.1 channel surround sound, which is way better than the competition. The 5.1 channelization becomes possible as it comes with two additional speaker units, which you can place behind your couch. Meanwhile, the center speaker and the stereo setup on the soundbar completes your home theater setup for a complete surround sound experience. The surround sound experience is backed up by DTS virtual: X that creates a fantastic soundstage and truly brings the theater-like experience right to your living room. Although the peak power output of the soundbar is not disclosed by the brand, it does get ideally loud. The brand does mention that the loudness of this soundbar can get as high as 101dB which is quite decent. On the other hand, the bass heads should also feel glad to know that its subwoofer is engineered to deliver room-shaking bass as deep as 50 Hz. In fact, it’s highly advanced too as it allows you audio streaming over your home’s Wi-Fi network, and also supports Bluetooth connectivity as well. Best Features:
1 channel surround sound Comes with Bluetooth connectivity Uses DTS Virtual: X technology Built-in Chromecast
Pros:
Lossless audio quality even on wireless connections Rich and thumping bass Immersive surround sound
Cons:
Not ideal for large-sized rooms
6. SAMSUNG 3.1ch A650 A Series Soundbar
For the next spot on this list, we have yet another great soundbar option which has been released earlier this year by Samsung that you should not miss checking out. Here, we are talking about the SAMSUNG 3.1ch A650 A Series Soundbar that comes with the support for Dolby Digital 5.1 virtual surround sound that delivers a really immersive sound experience and is perfect to pair with any TV. Since this soundbar has 3 channels, the center channel is focused to optimize the dialogue delivery to make your movie-watching experience better. At the same time, the other two channels make sure you get a true stereo experience and get to hear accurate and precise sounds from every angle. You can comfortably use this soundbar in a large-sized room as it delivers a 420 Watts loud output which is good enough to fill any room. Samsung also offers an external subwoofer unit with this soundbar, so you can expect this soundbar to offer a really bassy output which is great if you are a music lover. Apart from that, it even has a bass boost option that optimizes and enhances the bass levels in any music or video to make it sound deep and bassy. As far as connectivity is concerned, it comes with support for Bluetooth and an HDMI port for wired connections. Best Features:
1 channel surround sound External wireless subwoofer The rated power output of 420 Watts Supports Dolby Digital 5.1 processing
Pros:
Build quality is quite good Bass Boost works great Fair pricing
Cons:
Does not have Wi-Fi streaming support
7. TCL Alto Dolby Atmos Smart Sound Bar
TCL is another popular and well-known brand in the market that sells feature-rich TV options in the market, along with excellent soundbar options to pair with them. We were impressed and picked the TCL Alto 8 soundbar due to its amazing smart features and slim design. Stream music from any device by using Apple AirPlay 2, Alexa, and Google Assistant, as it has a built-in Chromecast. Since it supports both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, you can connect the laptop or your smartphone with this sleek soundbar. Coming to its sound quality, thanks to its Dolby Atmos surround sound technology and 2.1 channel audio system will provide multi-dimensional sound with great depth to enjoy a theater experience. with its ROKU TV Ready, you can have a smooth setup, easy access to sound settings, and compatibility with the TCL Roku TV remote. Also, it boasts RAY-DANZ technology that creates a wide sound stage and elevates your experience while watching movies. The right and left channels on the soundbar will care about background details, while the center channel will ensure the dialogues to reach clearly with crystal-clear voice/sound. Additionally, a wireless built-in subwoofer comes with this soundbar takes care of the low-end notes, and provides a rich and deep bass. You can stream all podcasts and music from apps wirelessly from your laptop or smartphone via Bluetooth wireless technology. Best Features:
Comes with 2.1 channel surround sound Wireless subwoofer unit Built-in Chromecast Works with Apple AirPlay, Alexa, and Google Home Assistant Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
The subwoofer delivers deep, rich bass Slim design and high build quality. Wireless music streaming via Bluetooth Compatible with Apple AirPlay 2, Google Assistant, or Alexa
Cons:
Doesn’t get much loud
8. LG Sound Bar High-Resolution Audio Speaker
LG has been known as one of the most reliable and customer-friendly brands out there from which you can buy almost any home appliance blindly, including this soundbar as well. It’s a great option to pick if you are looking for a 3.1 channel soundbar as it comes for really decent pricing and features. As we mentioned about the 3.1 channel audio system, it also supports DTS Virtual: X, which can virtually create a surround-sound atmosphere in your room and provide you with enhanced bass and crystal-clear dialogues at the same time. The total peak power of this soundbar goes as high as 420 Watts which makes it one of the loudest soundbar options in the market. Well, no matter how high the volume is, the sound does not distort or lack any bit of detail which is quite an impressive feature of this one. In fact, it has an AI Sound Pro feature that automatically adjusts the volume levels according to the content you watch on your TV. For connectivity, LG has loaded it with HDMI ARC, Optical port, and even Bluetooth. So, you can simply connect your mobile phones and enjoy your favorite music directly. Best Features:
1 channel surround sound AI Sound Pro The rated power output of 420 Watts DTS Virtual: X
Pros:
Comes with a subwoofer High-resolution audio Can be expanded to 5.1 ch surround sound
Cons:
Subwoofer could be more effective
9. Philips Dolby Atmos Performance Soundbar Speaker
Philips is also a good brand choice to pick as their engineers are quite good at making speakers and other audio devices such as soundbars, headphones, etc. If we particularly talk about this soundbar option from Philips, it’s a 3.1 channel soundbar that supports Dolby Atmos, and even comes with an external subwoofer. Hence, what else do you need to fill up your room with thrilling bass, and cinematic surround sound, this soundbar does it all for you. In fact, we personally like its design a lot as it’s super slim and suits any TV. Meanwhile, the subwoofer unit is also not very bulky and won’t catch much attention while still doing its job as expected. In fact, it can get really loud as the power output is mentioned to be 320 Watts. The setup is fairly simple as all you need to do is plug some simple wires in the soundbar and the TV. On the other hand, the subwoofer unit operates totally wirelessly and comes pre-paired with the soundbar, so all you need to do is plug it in, it’ll work on its own. In addition, this soundbar also features Bluetooth connectivity, so you can stream your favorite music right from your phone and use the soundbar as a Bluetooth speaker. Moreover, Philips also provides a 1-year warranty for this soundbar which is great. Best Features:
1 channel surround sound Comes with an external subwoofer The rated power output of 320 Watts Dolby Atmos Surround Sound
Pros:
Low-profile design The subwoofer is quite compact Audio output is adequately loud
Cons:
Rear speakers can not be added
10. JBL BAR5.0 5-Channel Multibeam Soundbar
The last option on this list comes from a highly reputed speaker brand in the market, JBL has been known as one of the best brands when it comes to making high-quality audio devices. If we talk about the soundstage, this 5-channel soundbar performs wonderfully, thanks to the Dolby Atmos and Multibeam surround sound. However, the lack of an external subwoofer does feel like a shortcoming for this one. JBL has tried to fix it using built-in passive radiators for delivering bass, but it’s not as effective as a subwoofer. Apart from that, there are no complaints about the sound quality as almost everything about it is perfect. Best Features:
5 channel surround sound Built-in passive radiators The rated power output of 250 Watts Has Bluetooth connectivity
Pros:
Compact and stylish Easy setup Audio quality is very crisp
Cons:
Not as loud as other options
Buying Guide for the Best Soundbar under 500
Since the list of all the best soundbars under 500 is already mentioned above, there are high chances that you have already decided which one to buy. No doubt, all the options are unique and good in their own way, so you are free to pick anyone that you like or fits your budget. But, in case you are looking to pick the best one on the basis of features, then this buying guide will take you through all the necessary factors that every buyer should check before buying a new soundbar from the market. With that said, don’t forget to read this buying guide until the end so that you can get more knowledge about soundbars and make a choice wisely.
Audio Channels
One of the most important reasons why people choose soundbars for TVs is because they offer a much better sound experience than the in-built speaker of the TVs. That sound experience is good, all because of the multiple audio channels, or say surround sound. In soundbars, you will find options with 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1 channel sound systems. Basically, with the help of multiple speakers, a soundbar can create a theater-like soundstage in your room. So, for smaller rooms, soundbars with 2.1, 3.1 channels are a good option to pick. However, if the room is fairly large, you can go for better options such as 4.1, 5.1, etc., audio systems.
Connectivity Options
Similar to most other types of speakers, soundbars are also quite easy to connect to any TV. In most soundbars, you will definitely find connectivity options like AUX, RCA, USB, HDMI, etc. Hence, multiple connectivity options make a soundbar versatile and possible for you to connect it to many devices. On the other hand, these days, soundbars also come with wireless connectivity options like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc. that allow you to connect the soundbar with a smart TV wirelessly. Or, you can also choose to pair your mobile phone or laptop with the soundbar, and use it as a Bluetooth speaker.
Power Output
One of the major shortcomings of TVs is that they don’t have loud enough speakers. Well, a soundbar can be a great alternative to use in this case as you not only get a better sound quality but also a louder output as well. Depending on the size of your room, you can simply pick a suitable soundbar option. As you might already know, the power output of any speaker is usually mentioned in watts. So, if you want to compare the loudness of soundbars to pick a louder one, you can simply look for the power output and compare them. It’s obvious that a soundbar of 400 Watts output will definitely be louder as compared to a 200 Watts soundbar.
External Woofer
There are barely any TVs out there that come with decent sound systems. And, when it comes to low-end response, in-built speakers of most TVs tend to struggle. However, if you want to make sure that this is not an issue with the soundbar, always check if it comes with a woofer or not. Soundbars with external woofer systems are usually much appreciated for their good sound quality and impressive low-end response. In fact, if you are fond of listening to bassy music, an external woofer unit can make your overall sound experience a lot better. Although the installation of a woofer unit along with a soundbar might take a few extra minutes off your clock, it’ll always be worth it.
Frequency Response
If you want to know the range of audio a soundbar can produce, you must look at its frequency response. In general, human ears are capable of perceiving audio frequencies ranging between 20Hz – 20kHz. However, when it comes to music, the frequency range is much larger as there are so many low-frequency notes, and high-pitched voices are included. Hence, if a soundbar has a wide frequency range, it’ll be able to produce such sounds and will offer you a better audio experience. As we said earlier, an external woofer unit is a must if you want to experience accurate low-end response from the soundbar. But, at the same time, the soundbar should also be capable of producing sounds of such low frequency. Hence, all you need to check is how wide is the frequency response as it tells a lot about any speakers’ quality.
Conclusion:
If you are bored of listening to the flat-sounding TV speakers, using a soundbar instead can truly change the way you experience watching movies on your TV. As we have already mentioned some of the best soundbars under $500 in the list above, you can simply choose a good option to pair with your TV setup and enjoy a completely new experience. All you need to do is make sure the soundbar has all the necessary options and features that you might need, and pick one accordingly. If you need any help, you can go through the detailed buying guide as it’ll make it a lot easier for you to pick the best soundbar for yourself. However, if you are not able to make the final decision, feel free to consider buying one from our personal recommendations:
If you are looking for a soundbar option that offers you good value for money, the SAMSUNG HW-T650 3.1Ch Soundbar with 3D Surround Sound (2020) is one of the best options that we would recommend. With the support of DTS Virtual: X and an external subwoofer, this soundbar can highly elevate your experience. Moreover, it does have both wired and wireless connectivity options and even comes with a 1-year warranty. On the other hand, if you are looking out for a premium option, the Klipsch Cinema 600 Soundbar should be your go-to option. It’s the loudest and most clear-sounding soundbar option in this list with a power output of 600 Watts. Moreover, its 3.1 channel surround sound system truly turns your room into a theater. In fact, the build quality of the soundbar is quite impressive and it also comes with a 1-year warranty. For those of you who want to purchase a budget-friendly soundbar for your TV, the VIZIO SB3651-F6 Soundbar is one of the most affordable options that you will find on our list. Despite being the cheapest option, it comes with two additional rear speakers to provide a complete 5.1 channel surround sound experience, backed up by DTS Virtual: X technology. Moreover, it supports both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and features a 1-year long warranty as well.
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