The Best Soundbars Under £200

Whether you’re watching the latest action blockbuster, moody Nordic noir drama or sci-fi romp, the sound mix has been designed and refined with the greatest of care.

While a screen with 4K resolution will deliver depth and detail for the eyes, TV show or movie audio provides ambience, tension and joy with just as much precision and intent. So, you need to be able to make sure you can hear it.

While there are some TV sets with cracking audio performance, most flatscreen TVs don't have the space to facilitate the speakers required to do the cinematic sound justice.

The Best Soundbars Under £200 Shortlist:

• JBL Bar 2.0- Best soundbar under £200
• Bose TV Speaker - Best Bose soundbar under £200
• Majority K2- Budget-friendly subwoofer combo

It’s also the case that most of us don’t have the space or budget to deck out our living room with a 7.1 surround sound system. This is where soundbars come in. These unassuming devices sit underneath a TV screen and push out rich, full and loud audio comparable to having a dedicated surround sound system.

We’ve rounded up the very best soundbars under £200 to help you find some revolutionary sound without breaking the bank. Here, you’ll find compact options that’ll suit home offices, bedrooms and smaller living rooms, right through to units with a companion subwoofer, kicking out some fierce low end to add drama and weight to movies, TV shows and video games.

Jargon busting: what we look for in a speaker

Output:

Output is measured in wattage (W) and refers to the power being pushed through an amplifier. The resulting signal gets kicked out of the speakers to become the bit we all know as volume. The more watts, the louder the soundbar will be.

Output can be used as a rough gauge of a soundbar's volume when considered alongside other factors. It's also worth noting that a 100w speaker will not be twice as loud as a 50w speaker. Decibel gains are incremental, and doubling wattage adds only about three decibels overall.

Several factors determine a soundbar's volume, including output, speaker sensitivity and component quality, so some brands choose not to report output wattage. There’s also no legal requirement for them to do so.

Frequency Response:

Frequency response is a measure of the audible frequencies a soundbar can deliver. It can be useful when determining the quality of a speaker system.

20Hz - 20KHz is the average human audio spectrum, so having a soundbar close to these parameters is important for delivering a full sound performance. It’s not the end of the world if a soundbar falls a tad short - as we age, many lose the ability to hear the extremes within this range.

As with power, some brands chose not to report this measurement.

Tone:

The tone of a soundbar is hugely important.

A soundbar needs to have punchy bass because the low frequencies add power and presence to movies, TV shows and video games. A well-carried middle frequency range is important because this is where the human voice sits. Many soundbars have features applied to bringing these tones through clearly, with some even dedicating entire speakers to the process. Finally, highs need to be handled with care - too much and everything will sound tinny, but a complete lack of highs will ruin any audio detail.

Connectivity:

Connectivity determines how the soundbar receives input, so, the more connections there are, the greater the soundbar’s flexibility.

Bluetooth and WiFi connections are neat and fuss-free, and can often connect to multiple devices, including smartphones and stereos. HDMI connections allow for quality low-latency signal transfers, and HDMI ARC can streamline the audio output across several devices. Optical connections allow digital signals to transfer without a HDMI cable, while RCA and 3.5mm Aux-in connections are widespread physical interfaces, albeit with limited functionality elsewhere.

Size:

The physical size of a soundbar is crucial - it can make or break a compact home cinema. It’s worth assessing where a soundbar will sit in relation to a TV’s feet or stand. Additionally, a tall soundbar risks blocking the bottom portion of a screen and IR receivers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are soundbars worth it?

If you’re unsatisfied with your current TV audio then yes. Most flatscreen TVs don’t include much room for specialised audio equipment, so getting an external speaker of any kind will give you a much better audio experience. Soundbars are just one example of such and what they offer is simplicity – they’re sleek, tend to be all-in-one units (sometimes with an additional subwoofer speaker), and don’t require much tech know-how to set up.

Can soundbars do surround sound?

Soundbars are, with all the lingo pulled away, long tubes filled with smaller speakers. This means that they’re not true surround sound systems. However, some more advanced and expensive models can offer something akin to surround sound, with audio technology designed to bounce sound across different corners of your living room and fill all four walls. Some options can link up with satellites at a later date to create a true surround sound system.

How do I choose a soundbar?

Think of the most important criteria for you – is it low cost and plug-and-play simplicity to get that little bit more from your TV audio? Do you want more connectivity (like the higher-end HDMI-ARC inputs for ultra-HD audio) at a potentially higher price? Do you want a booming subwoofer, or do you have neighbours who wouldn’t appreciate that thumping bass? (In this case, maybe check out these surround sound headphones instead.) Either way, be sure to check your TV’s connectivity settings, find a soundbar that’s compatible with your existing setup, and that fits the purpose you’re looking to fulfil.