Even a cheap TV will give you pretty great picture quality these days, but as sets have gotten thinner and better, the speakers have become tiny and awful. Want explosions that put a boom in your room? Your TV won’t cut it; those speakers can barely deliver solidly intelligible dialogue. Given all that, a soundbar is all but essential to a decent viewing experience.
While a soundbar won’t deliver as broad or immersive of sound as a proper set of 5.1 speakers, they find a happy medium in terms of space and sound quality. They’re also typically more attractive, in case a significant other is huffing and puffing over the idea of filling your living room with speakers. Looking for a great new soundbar for your space? Here are picks from our pals at Gizmodo.
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Best Place to Buy Soundbars
We have an array of picks below, but if you prefer to browse the listings yourself, we have a few recommendations for where to start. Amazon typically has the best prices on a wide array of brands, but it’s always worth checking Best Buy to see if they have a better deal. Otherwise, retailers like Newegg and B&H Photo are good alternate options to scope out.
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Best Cheap TV Soundbar: Vizio 2.0 Soundbar
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If you’re ready to move on from TV speakers but don’t want to drop hundreds on a high-end upgrade, the Vizio 2.0-channel soundbar system will do the job. At just 20 inches long, it’s compact enough for nearly any space, although it also means you don’t get huge base or stereo separation. Still, it’s cheap.
Gizmodo’s Adam Clark Estes summed it up, writing: “There’s a difference between a good deal and a great soundbar. The Vizio 20-inch 2.0 soundbar is only one of those things.” Still, it’s a huge step up over my TV’s speakers, and you can always bundle in a subwoofer to fill out the low end.
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$115
From amazon