Last Updated On December 27th, 2021
While it’s true some soundbars sell for high-end prices, you can still revolutionise your home entertainment system without breaking the bank. In this article, we’ve selected five of the best soundbars under £200 in the UK. So, whatever your audio priorities are, you can find the right soundbar for your needs!
Our Favourite Soundbar Under £200 Compared
Best Soundbars Under £200 – Top 5 Picks
1. Samsung M360 with Subwoofer (Editor’s Choice)
This Samsung M360 soundbar with subwoofer is suitable for TVs as large as 55 inches wide. Having a wireless subwoofer for powerful bass sound, as well as hi-resolution audio capabilities, it makes an excellent choice for outstandingly clear sound for films, TV shows, sporting events and audio tracks.
Features
You can place it in your room wherever you like while avoiding trailing wires thanks to its wireless connectivity. The soundbar itself can connect wirelessly to your compatible TV of the same brand, to your smartphone or other Bluetooth enabled wireless device to stream beats. This is the best soundbar at a price of less than £200 that is great whether you’re entertaining at home or just relaxing and listening to background music.
However, it’s worth noting that this soundbar doesn’t have any HDMI port. That is why if your television isn’t compatible, you will have to purchase a separate optical cable. Furthermore, even with compatible televisions, there can be a noticeable lag between what you view and its related audio. Although this isn’t frequent in occurrence, you can always resolve any delay by using an optical cable.
If you’re a 3D movie fan, note that this soundbar is not 3D compatible. That said, for standard film and sports viewing, this soundbar offers fantastic quality at an economical price, with the angular design sure to complement any modern home.
- Great for televisions up to 55 inches
- Offers hi-resolution audio
- Connects to compatible Samsung TVs via Bluetooth wireless
- Capable of playing beats from your smartphone or other Bluetooth enabled wireless device
- Powerful bass sound
- Not 3D compatible
- No HDMI port
- Audio lag is possible without the use of an optical cable
2. Samsung N400 Black with Remote Control (Best Compact)
The Samsung HW-N400 soundbar is suitable for TVs from 22 up to 65 inches, making it a great option if you have a large television. Compact yet powerful, this audio bar comes with four built-in speakers for clear, impressive sound.
Features
The N400 soundbar brings out the bass in film special effects and audio tracks, while its DTS virtual surround sound capabilities will bring any sporting event or movie to life, without cluttering up your living space. You can also connect a game console via the HDMI port for fully immersive gameplay.
This soundbar looks great wall mounted. Also, it can be connected to your TV thanks to its Bluetooth wireless connectivity thus giving your system a clean, modern look free from dangling wires. Although this soundbar produces high-quality audio, it’s not hi-resolution sound quality rated and the built-in subwoofer is understandably less powerful than a separate, larger one.
This audio bar connects easily to compatible TVs with the same brand and you can effortlessly stream beats from your smartphone. Although, it should be noted that its audio-sync function is not compatible with other brands, so make sure that you check compatibility before you purchase.
On the whole, this is a great compact soundbar if you’re looking for improved bass and surround sound without extra speakers. It’s also a good option for playing beats from your digital collection via a smartphone or USB stick. Furthermore, if you’re looking for a soundbar to use in conjunction with your games console then the HW-N400 is also an excellent choice.
- Perfect for televisions between 22 and 65 inches
- Four built-in speakers for powerful sound
- Additional DTS virtual surround sound capabilities
- Bluetooth-enabled for wireless connectivity
- Digital audio streaming via Bluetooth
- HDMI port for games console connection
- No hi-resolution audio
- The built-in bass is less powerful than a separate one
- Audio-sync not fully compatible with all TV brands
3. Sony HT-MT300 Black with Subwoofer (Best Audio)
If you’re looking for a soundbar and subwoofer combination and you don’t want to wall mount, then the Sony HT-MT300 Bluetooth speakers with subwoofer could be just what you need. Suitable for televisions that are 32 inches and above, this impressive soundbar features Sony’s S-Force Pro technology for an immersive cinematic-style experience.
Features
Combined with its powerful bass speakers, it provides outstanding quality sound that helps to bring films to life. Unfortunately, this soundbar does not have any HDMI port, nor is it 3D compatible. So if you’re looking for a soundbar to use with your games console or if you tend to watch a lot of films in 3D, then this audio bar isn’t going to cover your needs.
Unlike many other soundbars under £200, this Sony soundbar offers NFC wireless connectivity as well as Bluetooth. This means you can avoid trailing wires and connect to your smartphone and other devices within seconds to stream music. NFC also offers you the possibility to control your soundbar directly from your smartphone, making it extremely easy to quickly adjust the volume or to change a track as desired. You can also take advantage of the USB port to plug in a digital copy of your audio library for simple access.
As an added benefit, this soundbar comes in a stylish grey shade which fit beautifully with any decor. It’s also very easy to set up, which is perfect if you’re not particularly tech-minded.
- Great for TVs 32 inches and above
- S-Force Pro technology for a true cinematic experience
- NFC and Bluetooth enabled for extra connectivity
- Powerful bass
- Convenient USB port
- Separate wireless subwoofer
- No HDMI port
- Not 3D compatible
- Not wall mountable
4. Sony HT-CT290 with Subwoofer (Best Bass)
This Sony HT-CT290 soundbar with subwoofer has a long, slim design that will perfectly complement televisions over 32 inches in size, although it is not wall mountable. You will get excellent bass thanks to its separate wireless Bluetooth subwoofer that can be placed anywhere you like within the room without any trailing wires.
Features
While this soundbar isn’t rated as providing hi-resolution audio, it does nonetheless provide crisp and clear sound that will certainly improve your enjoyment of television, films and music. Bluetooth enhanced, you can use your smartphone or other suitable wireless devices to stream beats directly to your soundbar. This makes the audio bar a great choice for relaxation or during evenings when you are entertaining at home. The USB port also offers you the ability to play music directly from a preloaded USB stick for easy access to your audio collection.
Complete with three internal speakers, this soundbar boasts of Sony’s S-Force Pro technology that offers a surround sound experience without the need for multiple stand-alone speakers. However, if you do tend to watch a lot of 3D films, note that this particular audio bar model isn’t 3D compatible.
- Attractive, slim design for TV’s 32 inches and above
- Bluetooth enabled for wireless audio streaming
- Sony’s S-Force Pro technology for a cinematic experience
- Additional USB port included
- Strong bass performance
- Separate wireless subwoofer
- Not wall mountable
- Not 3D compatible
- Does not meet hi-resolution audio standards
5. Panasonic SC-SB1EB-K (Best 3D)
This Panasonic soundbar under £200 comes complete with two built-in speakers and an internal subwoofer, taking up minimal space on your TV stand. While it’s not wall-mountable, this all-in-one soundbar is a good choice if you want to get an easy, compact solution to improve your television’s sound.
Features
Thanks to its HDMI port, you can also use this soundbar to connect other external devices such as a game console, allowing you to benefit from high-quality audio that will really bring your games to life. If you prefer listening to music, then you can use your smartphone or other Bluetooth enabled device to stream music directly to your soundbar.
It provides good bass sound. However, they are understandably not as powerful as those from an independent, larger one. But make no mistake, the audio produced by this soundbar is still extremely good and rated as hi-resolution audio. Unlike many other soundbars under £200, this model is also 3D compatible for use with 3D Blu Ray films, making your movie nights really stand out.
This soundbar would make a good addition to most televisions. Its superior audio quality makes it a great choice for music, films and sporting events. However, if you would like to use a USB stick for permanent access to your music library, this is unfortunately not an option with this soundbar model.
- Two internal speakers plus a built-in subwoofer for improved bass
- 3D compatible
- Hi-resolution audio for crystal clear sound
- Bluetooth enabled for easy music streaming
- HDMI port to connect external devices
- No USB port
- Not wall mountable
- Less powerful than an external bass
Benefits of Using a Soundbar
Now we’ve seen some of the best soundbars under £200, let’s take a look at the main benefits of owning one.
1. Audio Quality Improvement
One of the great things about soundbars is the ability to instantly improve your television speakers’ audio. Films become clearer and more life-like, the dialogue is easier to understand and with internal or external subwoofers, movie effects and digital music with a strong bass line really pack a punch.
If you enjoy gaming, then using a soundbar with your console attached via HDMI cable offers you a more life-like, truly immersive experience that will thoroughly enhance your gameplay. Even more so, get an audio bar with subwoofers for enhanced sound effects.
Some options aren’t suitable for 3D movies, though. So you’ll need to view the audio bar compatibility if you are planning to watch this format frequently.
2. Easy Wireless Bluetooth or NFC Connectivity
Using a soundbar is an easy way to play your digital music collection in your home. Most soundbars offer Bluetooth connectivity which allows you to stream your music directly from your smartphone or other Bluetooth enabled device to your speakers. This makes it extremely simple to quickly switch over to a song of your choice or to play entire playlists.
Some soundbar models even offer NFC wireless connectivity so that you can even use your smartphone to control your soundbar, ideal for quickly skipping a track or changing the volume.
3. Stylish Design & Space-Saving Functionality
Soundbars take up little space. Unlike traditional speaker systems, they don’t tend to have a lot of trailing wires or a complex wiring setup. Many models will even link with your television via Bluetooth wireless connectivity so you’ll get to avoid unsightly wires when wall mounted. In general, soundbars are sleek, modern looking and would complement large TVs and any modern decor.
Stop, Look and Listen to the Beat
Even though all of the above soundbars are fantastic products, we think the Samsung Soundbar HW-M360 is the best soundbar under £200 in the UK.
Samsung Soundbar HW-M360
Coming complete with a wireless subwoofer, attractive design, hi-resolution audio quality and mobile Bluetooth connectivity – the HW-M360 audio bar really is the one to beat in terms of excellent audio quality and powerful bass sound.
Which soundbar under £200 is your favourite?