Last Updated On December 27th, 2021
When it comes to choosing a soundbar for your home, there’s often so much choice that it becomes overwhelming – especially if you’re trying to get the best deals within your price range.
But don’t worry, we’re here to help! We’ve combed through a huge number of models and selected five of the best soundbars under £150 in the UK. Read on to find the right soundbar for your home and budget!
Our Favourite Soundbar Under £150 Compared
Best Soundbars Under £150 – Top 5 Picks
1. Panasonic SC-HTB488EBK (Editor’s Choice)
This stylish, compact soundbar from Panasonic will vastly improve the sound from your television speakers. Suitable for televisions sized 42 inches and over, its wall-mountable design is space saving as well as good looking.
Features
An ideal choice if you have limited space, the wireless subwoofer can be located wherever you prefer without any trailing wires. Setting up and connecting it is extremely simple too, although note that there are no connection cables included within the package.
Thanks to the subwoofer, this music bar offers excellent deep bass tones. Although it is not rated as providing hi-resolution audio, this soundbar does make use of Dolby Sound Technology to provide crystal clear sound. Therefore, if you frequently struggle with muffled sounding voices on your television, it will make the world of difference, allowing you to listen to your films and TV programmes at lower volumes without missing a word.
Thanks to its wireless Bluetooth connectivity, it allows you to wirelessly stream your digital music collection from your Bluetooth enabled smartphone or tablet. However, there is no USB port included. So if you prefer to access your music collection via a USB stick, then you would be better off selecting another compatible model from our list.
All in all, this Panasonic music bar provides excellent sound quality, as well as good looks. It will complement any style of decor and provide you with fantastic audio quality, enhancing your enjoyment of films, music, sporting events and television programmes.
- Suitable for televisions sized 42 inches plus
- Wireless subwoofer for powerful bass tones
- Bluetooth wireless connectivity
- Utilises Dolby Sound Technology for crystal clear audio
- Space saving, wall-mountable design
- No USB input
- Does not provide hi-resolution audio
- No connection cables included
2. Samsung HW-K360 (Best Mountable)
This Samsung soundbar comes complete with a wireless subwoofer for superior bass tones. Wall mountable, with a modern, compact design, it’ll look great paired with any television with 55 inches and under in size. For optimum results and a clean modern finish, this soundbar is suggested to be used with a compatible TV so that it can be paired wirelessly, without the need for any unsightly wires when wall mounted.
Features
Not only does it provide powerful bass tones, but it also has hi-resolution audio capabilities, meaning it has the ability to produce extremely high quality, life-like audio. Whether you’re into sports, music, films or just TV programmes, it will revolutionise your home entertainment system. One minor point to note is that it is not 3D compatible, so if you watch a lot of 3D Blu Ray films, then you may prefer a soundbar with this added capability.
If you’re a music lover, you can use your Bluetooth enabled smartphone or tablet to wirelessly stream your digital music collection directly to the soundbar. There’s also a USB port if you prefer to load up your music collection via a USB stick.
Thanks to its four internal speakers, this music bar provides excellent sound quality, making this particular model great value for money. Set up and installation is extremely easy and wall mounting brackets and a connection cable are provided.
On the downside, if you have a television from another manufacturer and you intend on wall mounting, then this might not be your perfect choice. Although it will still provide you with amazing sound quality. Another slight negative is the size of the remote control. It is very small, making it a bit hard to use and very easy to lose.
- Suitable for televisions up to 55 inches large
- Wirelessly connects to your compatible TV
- Four internal speakers plus a subwoofer
- Hi-resolution audio capabilities
- Space-saving, wall-mountable design
- Very small remote control
- Not 3D compatible
- Less compatible with other TV brands
3. Samsung HW-K335 (Best Wired Subwoofer)
This Bluetooth enabled soundbar from Samsung is a perfect fit for TVs sized 32 inches and over. It’s easily wall mounted and if you have a compatible television it can be paired via Bluetooth so that you won’t have any trailing wires on show between the soundbar and your TV.
Features
The subwoofer that comes with this music bar is wired, which does limit its placement. However, it does provide powerful bass tones that will enhance special effects and add depth to your favourite tunes. While this sound bar doesn’t provide hi-resolution audio, it does make use of Dolby Sound Technology for crystal-clear audio. This will immeasurably improve upon the sound produced by your television speakers alone. Dialogue becomes distinct and easy to understand, even at lower volumes, improving your film and TV programme viewing.
If you enjoy listening to music, you can use your Bluetooth enabled smartphone or tablet to wirelessly stream music tracks directly to this soundbar, which is great for entertaining as well as simply relaxing. However, while it does benefit from smart technology, its app is currently only available on Android. You can also access your digital music collection stored on a USB, thanks to this soundbar’s handy USB port.
As an added benefit, it will automatically shut off when not in use – helping to save you money on your energy bills.
- Ideal for televisions size 32 inches plus
- Features Dolby Sound Technology for excellent audio clarity
- Bluetooth enabled for wireless connection to your compatible TV
- A USB port for playing music from a USB stick
- Energy saving auto shut-off
- Does not provide hi-resolution audio
- Wired subwoofer limits its placement
- Smartphone/tablet app is android only
4. LG SJ2 (Best Budget)
Improve upon your television speakers with this LG soundbar complete with wireless subwoofer for powerful bass tones. While it does not offer high-resolution audio, it does use Dolby Sound Technology to provide stunning audio clarity. You can connect this sound bar via Bluetooth or via optical cable, avoiding any syncing delays.
Features
If you are looking for budget soundbars and you will be using a wireless Bluetooth connection then this is a great choice. On the other hand, if you plan to wall mount, note that wall brackets are not included, nor is the optional optical cable. You will end up spending more for these add-ons so we recommend to instead look at other soundbars from our list.
This is designed to fit comfortably with televisions sized 42 inches and over. Though easy to set up, this audio bar is let down by its poor display quality. On the other hand, once you get used to it, it becomes easier to use. Thanks to its wireless Bluetooth connectivity, you can effortlessly stream your digital music collection directly to this soundbar from your smartphone or tablet. This makes these budget soundbars a great aide to relaxing around the house or for home entertaining. You can also use the 3.0 USB port to connect a USB stick and operate via the remote control.
- Suitable for TVs 42 inches and over
- Complete with subwoofer
- Bluetooth enabled and optical cable compatible for wireless connectivity
- Dolby Sound Technology
- USB 3.0 port
- No wall brackets or connection cables included
- No hi-resolution audio capabilities
- Poor-quality function display
5. Sharp HT-SBW160 (Best For Larger TVs)
Complete with a wireless external subwoofer for the spectacular rendering of special effects, this Sharp soundbar will immeasurably improve your home entertainment system. Music tracks, films, sports events and TV programmes will sound better than ever before.
Features
It’s ideal for televisions from 44 to 55 inches wide but it isn’t wall mountable. So, if you’re short on space and don’t have a TV stand, you may prefer to look at some of our other recommendations.
This soundbar contains six internal speakers for great sound quality, combined with HDMI ARC connection to your television. While it doesn’t have hi-resolution audio quality, it does benefit from smart adaptive sound, thanks to its Dynamic Range Control. This means that the sound bar adapts to sounds appropriately so that you won’t have to keep reaching for the remote control to lower or raise the volume.
The HT-SBW160 also offers Bluetooth-enabled connectivity, so you can stream your favourite playlists and individual tracks directly to the sound bar from your smartphone or tablet. This handy function is perfect for house parties, as well as just relaxing with some soothing background music.
Overall, this is one of the great deals in our list provided you don’t want to wall mount. Our only issue with this model is that there’s no front display, which would make this soundbar a little easier to use.
- Ideal for televisions up to 55 inches wide
- Contains six internal speakers and a wireless external subwoofer
- Connection via HDMI Audio Return Channel
- Stream your music directly from your smartphone via wireless Bluetooth
- Smart adaptive sound with Dynamic Range Control
- No hi-resolution audio
- Not wall mountable
- Would benefit from a front display
Can Soundbars Create Surround Sound?
Whether you’re watching a film, a sports event or playing a game; there’s nothing quite like surround sound to truly immerse your senses and transport you into the heart of the action.
Traditionally, surround sound needs to have a speaker – six to be exact and requires a complex set up involving numerous wires. If you have space, the knowledge and the cash, this isn’t a problem. But if you don’t, soundbars make a fantastic alternative to a speaker.
New Technologies
Thanks to innovative and clever engineering, soundbars are increasingly offering surround sound capabilities that give you that encompassing auditory sensation. Ideally used in small, square-shaped rooms, soundbars have been developed to produce sounds that deflect off the walls of your lounge, creating virtual surround sound.
This alone would suffice in many cases. However, manufacturers and engineers have taken sound bar surround sound development one step further by manipulating certain sounds – to give you the impression that they come from a certain direction. A sound that originates from the left in a film, will be played slightly louder from the left, giving you the impression that it originates from your left-hand side.
Other techniques including cancelling out certain sound frequencies and timing effects in concurrence with volume adjustments and wall deflections. All of these features work in combination to trick your senses into hearing sounds from a variety of different directions.
So, can soundbars really create virtual surround sound? While they’re not that good as dedicated speaker systems, soundbars will certainly give them a run for their money.
Conclusion
If you still can’t pick the best soundbar for you, after reading our reviews then let us help you decide. Our top choice for the best soundbar under £150 is the Panasonic Soundbar SC-HTB488EBK, complete with wireless subwoofer.
Compact and wall mountable, with stylish looks, you get Dolby Sound Technology and Bluetooth connectivity. This budget soundbar is our favourite for its incredible sound when enjoying films, sports events, TV viewing and music.