If you are looking for the best budget soundbar under £100, we recommend checking out our picks in this buying guide.
Admit it or not, we all have been watching lots of TV in the last few months. During the timespan, some of you may have already realized that the audio coming out of your television doesn’t really sound great in contrast to the sharp and vivid 4K HDR video. It makes you wonder whether you can improve the experience.
Simply put, your TV’s integrated speakers are somewhat like the poor-quality earphones shipped with your phone. They get the job done for a while, but you won’t look back again once you upgrade to a better solution.
If you are not into surround sound audio systems, something like a soundbar is perfect for your home entertainment setup. Compared to your TV’s built-in speakers, front-firing soundbars deliver louder and better quality audio. Plus, they don’t take as much space as home theater boxes surrounding your living room.
The best thing about soundbars is that they don’t even cost a fortune– except the very high-end models, of course. In this article, we have reviewed and compiled a list of Best Budget Soundbar Under £100 In The UK. Check it out!
Best Budget Soundbar Under £100 in the UK
Below is a list of the best budget soundbars you can currently get under £100 in the UK. We have picked up the following soundbars based on their sound quality, connectivity options, and additional features. We have also provided buying links to Amazon UK for your convenience.
Alright then. Let’s take a deep dive into the best budget soundbars available right now, starting with:
1. Sony HT-SF150 2ch Single Soundbar
- Connectivity: HDMI ARC, Optical, USB
- Wireless: Bluetooth 4.2
- Remote Control: Yes
- Dimensions: 900 x 64 x 88 mm
- Weight:4 kg
Sony is well-known for its headphones and home theater systems. They also make soundbars, and the HT-SF120 is one of the brand’s entry-level models in the market.
This front-firing stereo soundbar has a rated power output of 120W. The bass-reflex speakers inside the unit deliver punchy bass without sacrificing clarity and detail, making it perfect for enjoying movies, TV shows, and music. Sony’s S-Force virtual surround technology also emulates a spatial effect that fills the room. Plus, you get to manually switch between cinema, music, and standard audio modes using the supplied remote.
The remote itself is comfortable to hold, and all the buttons are easily accessible. You can use it to change the audio source, adjust the sound mode, cycle through sound effects, and more.
In terms of connectivity, you get HDMI ARC, Optical, and a USB Type-A port. The soundbar is shipped with a free optical cable as well. Thanks to the inclusion of Bluetooth 4.2, you can also connect your TV, phone, or computer to the soundbar over a wireless connection and enjoy listening to your media.
This inexpensive soundbar doesn’t look as premium as higher-end models, but it blends well with any sort of home cinema setup. It’s pretty wide in size, but you get easy access to the ports and physical control buttons. An LED light at the front indicates when the soundbar is turned on. You can also mount the unit right underneath your TV.
The Sony HT-SF120 can be a suitable addition to your viewing experience, especially if you are looking for clearer and tighter sound than the built-in TV speakers currently deliver. It misses out on an extra HDMI-in port, but you can’t expect much under £100.
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2. Majority K2 150W Soundbar w/ Wireless Subwoofer
- Connectivity: HDMI ARC, Optical, AUX, USB
- Wireless: Bluetooth 3.0
- Remote Control: Yes
- Dimensions:2 x 5.3 x 6.9 cm (Soundbar unit)
- Weight:36 kg (Soundbar unit)
Majority is a UK-based audio device manufacturer known to deliver quality products at fairly reasonable prices. Its cleverly-named K2 soundbar (inspired by the world’s second-highest mountain) provides exceptional sound quality in its class and offers a wireless subwoofer– all under at a price way less than £100!
The Majority K2 soundbar comes in either black or white color. It boasts a stylish design with tapered edges, which also applies to the free-standing subwoofer. The HDMI ARC, Optical, and DC 12V power ports are placed at the rear portion of the soundbar. Even if you wall-mount the soundbar, you can run down the cables from the back of the unit without running into clearance issues.
You can easily access the physical audio controls, AUX (3.5mm) jack, and the single USB port on the right end of the unit. Note that the included remote control also allows you to enable FM Radio, adjust the volume, bass, treble, and switch between different EQ presets.
This 150W 2.1ch soundbar packs serious punch, especially with the wireless subwoofer. Even though the soundbar only has two primary speakers, its placement and tuning help the unit surround a living room with phenomenal sound. The Majority K2 delivers the clarity and depth missing from most TVs’ integrated speaker solutions. Dialogues also sound crisp and undistorted when watching movies and shows.
The external subwoofer automatically connects to the soundbar over Bluetooth 3.0, but you can also use the soundbar’s subwoofer-out port for a wired connection. There’s a front LED display on the soundbar unit that shows useful info, but you can turn it off using the remote.
The manufacturer throws in all the cables required for setting up the soundbar with your TV over HDMI ARC, Optical, Auxiliary, and even RCA. You also get lifetime support and three years of warranty on the following product.
At its double-digit price, the Majority K2 is a stellar deal in the ocean of entry-level soundbars. It’s easy to set up, provides plenty of connectivity options, and offers a significant upgrade over your TV’s integrated speakers.
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3. Roku Streambar
- Connectivity: HDMI 2.0a ARC, Optical, USB
- Wireless: Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11ac dual-band Wi-Fi (for internet)
- Remote Control: Yes
- Dimensions: 6 x 35.5 x 10.7 cm
- Weight:1 kg
Roku is a major player in the streaming business, and you probably have heard about them before. The Roku Streambar packs in an excellent value at exactly £100, merging a streaming media player with a compact, great-sounding soundbar.
This streamer-cum-soundbar revolves around the same design as other Roku products. It’s relatively small in size, but there are four full-range drivers (5 cm) behind the grill. Two of them are front-firing, and the rest are positioned on the sides.
The Roku Streambar also features a quad-core process that powers the built-in Roku OS. It can deliver up to 4K@60Hz video output with HDR over the single HDMI 2.0a port, which also supports Audio Return Channel.
Like other Roku streaming players, the Streambar allows you to access Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, The Roku Channel, and hundreds of other streaming channels on your television. It has Wi-Fi for internet connectivity, but you can use Roku’s wired Ethernet USB adapter for a wired connection.
You can use the bundled Roku remote to navigate through the Roku interface, launch popular streaming channels instantly, as well as adjust the Streambar’s volume level and mute it. The remote even supports voice controls for both streaming and sound.
While most of Streambar’s functionality is unlocked through HDMI, its Optical and USB ports let you use the device as a standalone soundbar. It also integrates Bluetooth 5.0 for onboard wireless streaming.
The sound quality is exactly what you would expect from a compact soundbar. Audio output from the Streambar isn’t quite spacious as you might expect from a conventional soundbar, but it manages to strike a solid balance between volume, clarity, and detail. Provided that you use the Streambar’s Roku interface, you can manually tune the sound profile from the Settings menu.
In the box, Roku includes all the cables and batteries you need to get the Streambar up and running. It’s straightforward and intuitive to set up with TVs. You can mount the unit under your television or to the wall as long as your mounting hardware supports standard M6 screws.
The Roku Streambar offers decent sound quality and a full-fledged media streaming experience. Whether you are unsatisfied with your TV’s built-in speaker quality or don’t have access to smart streaming features, this is the product you should consider purchasing.
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4. Creative Stage 2.1ch Soundbar w/ Subwoofer
- Connectivity: HDMI ARC, Optical, AUX, USB
- Wireless: Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
- Remote Control: Yes
- Dimensions: 70 x 550 x 78 mm (soundbar unit)
- Weight:2 kg (soundbar unit)
Creative is renowned for its PC-centric audio products. The Creative Stage soundbar aims to replace your TV and computer monitor speakers on the cheap, and it also includes an external subwoofer.
The main soundbar is compact at 21 inches across, and it offers 20W of audio output. It boasts an industrial design that should look great in every living room. The same goes for the 18-inch tall subwoofer, which is rated for 40W output. It’s worth noting that the subwoofer tethers to the soundbar over a wired connection.
You will find the HDMI ARC, Optical, and AUX (3.5mm) port on the back of the soundbar unit. The USB port is situated on the right end, where you also get access to the physical power and volume buttons. Additionally, you can take advantage of its Bluetooth capabilities to wirelessly playback music from your phone, tablet, and other devices.
The Creative Stage is supplied with a user-friendly remote control. You can use it to adjust the volume, treble, and bass level of the soundbar and subwoofer, change the input, and switch between four of the included EQ presets.
The custom-tuned, mid-range drivers on the soundbar produce loud and clear sound and dialogues. Due to its small size, the stereo effect doesn’t work when heard from a distance. After all, it’s designed for near-field listening, and it sounds best in a desktop computer setup. The separate subwoofer does what it’s supposed to do, and you get strong bass kicks out of it.
Considering Creative’s origins as a PC-centric company, its Stage soundbar is heavily marketed for gaming as well. It has a dedicated Game Mode that you can enable from the remote.
It’s also worth mentioning that the unit is shipped with an AUX cable and a wall mounting kit. Plus, the 2-year limited hardware warranty is good to have.
The Creative Stage delivers the right balance of sound quality, design, and features at a reasonable price. If you are looking for a compact soundbar that doesn’t take too much space on your computer table or TV cabinet, this is something we can wholeheartedly recommend.
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5. Majority Snowdon II 2.1ch Soundbar Under £100
- Connectivity: Optical, RCA, AUX
- Wireless: Bluetooth 3.0
- Remote Control: Yes
- Dimensions: 81 x 8.3 x 8.3 cm
- Weight:2 kg
If you are on a tighter budget, The Snowdon II soundbar from Majority is an excellent choice. It has two main speakers and a built-in subwoofer behind the grill, providing a fantastic 120W output.
The Majority Snowdon II omits HDMI ARC connectivity, which is excusable considering its shockingly affordable price tag. However, you still have access to Optical and RCA ports on the back. On the right side of the unit, you also get an AUX port and basic controls. Besides, you can connect your Bluetooth-enabled devices to the soundbar and enjoy listening to music.
The Snowdon II comes with a full-fledged remote that allows you to play with the treble and bass settings, cycle between audio modes, adjust the volume, etc. Both the soundbar unit and remote are made out of plastic, but they don’t feel or look cheap by any means. You still get the option to install the soundbar to the wall or under your television.
In terms of performance, the Snowdon II offers competent sound quality and relatively loud volume levels without distortions. It falls shorts behind its bigger brother, the Majority K2, in bass and clarity, but it still manages to provide marginally better sound than most TV speakers. Despite its shortcomings, you can at least use the remote to tune the soundbar’s sound signature to your preference.
The Snowdon II comes with a free RCA cable and mounting screws in the box, and it’s also backed by Majority’s 36-month warranty period. On paper, the soundbar boasts very impressive specs for the sub-£50 price, and it certainly is a step-up from integrated speaker solutions.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Soundbars
The list above showcases the best budget soundbar under £100. However, if you are still unfamiliar with the concept of a soundbar, we advise you to go through the following F.A.Q section in this buying guide. Here are most of the things you need to know about soundbars:
What is a Soundbar?
A soundbar is a long rectangular unit that houses two or more speakers. It’s a popular alternative to home theater speaker systems that take a lot of space to install. In contrast, soundbars are one single unit. You can place them on a flat surface beneath the TV or mount them to the wall. Some soundbars can be mounted on top of the television as well.
Besides taking less space, soundbars are also more affordable than surround sound systems. You won’t necessarily need to hire a qualified technician to connect a soundbar to your TV, as most of them are plug-and-play solutions.
Higher-end soundbars range from £200 to over £1000 in price, but you can get decent sound quality out of sub-£100 entry-level soundbar models nowadays.
Should you buy a Soundbar over a Home Theater System?
If you have money to shell out on an expensive home theater system, absolutely. Home theater systems come with multiple speaker units that must be placed around the room. When you install and set them up correctly, the speakers fire sounds from every direction and create a spatial audio environment– similar to how it’s in actual movie theaters.
Most soundbar units only have two main speakers that provide a stereo effect. Some also rely on software trickery to emulate surround sound, but they aren’t as convincing as the real deal. For instance, explosions in action movies won’t have the directional impact you would expect from a surround sound setup.
Then again, home theater systems are much more complicated to install, and it leaves a mess of hanging cables for you to manage. You don’t need more than two leads to connect a soundbar to a television. If you are looking for a simpler and affordable way to upgrade your audio game from your TV’s built-in speakers, soundbars are the way to go.
Soundbar vs 2.1 vs 5.1 – Which Is The Best For Home Theaters?
Which Soundbar Size should you go for?
Soundbars come in different sizes, and their peak output generally ranges from 50 to 400 watts. If your living room space is around 15 m2, a 100W soundbar is more than sufficient. For rooms bigger than 25 m2, we recommend buying a soundbar rated for 200-300W of audio output.
However, the higher the audio output, the more expensive the soundbar gets. When choosing a model from a well-known brand, it might cost over £500 to get something that suits your home cinema setup.
And lastly, your purchase decision depends on how well your relations are with your neighbors.
What are the Options to Connect a Soundbar to a TV?
The most common solution to connecting a soundbar to a TV is HDMI ARC. It stands for Audio Return Channel, and one of your TV’s HDMI ports must support the feature.
If your television doesn’t support the feature, you can either use a TOSLINK (Optical) or AUX cable for the connection. An RCA to 3.5mm cable is also a suitable choice for hooking up an old TV set to a new soundbar.
Having said that, if your soundbar unit has more than two speakers and capable of outputting real surround sound, you must use an HDMI or Optical cable to get the most out of it.
What about Soundbars with Subwoofers?
A subwoofer handles low-level frequencies or bass in a sound system. Two of the budget 2.1ch soundbars we have featured in this buying guide come with external subwoofers. One of them connects to the soundbar unit wirelessly over Bluetooth, while the other one requires a wired connection.
Compared to built-in solutions, dedicated subwoofers reproduce amplified bass that fills in the entire room. However, they take extra space in your living room and require additional power from a nearby outlet.
Read – Best Laminators in the UK
Final Words
This is where we wrap up this guide to the best budget soundbar under £100 in the UK. Besides giving you in-depth information and buying links to the featured products, we have also answered some of the questions you might have regarding soundbars.
The good news is that you don’t have to spend a fortune on a soundbar to get a decent movie-watching or music-listening experience. If you do have extra cash to spend, consider getting a surround sound system or a streaming media player to give an uplift to your home cinema setup.
