Best Soundbar under £300 [2023] | Budget friendly options

If you’re looking for a soundbar for your home, then there are quite a few different options available on the market. Because of the large variety out there, it can be very difficult to know which would be the best option for you.

Fortunately, as long as you know where to look, you can get a good soundbar under £300. This is a pretty reasonable price, and it’s a great balance of affordability and quality. Whilst you can spend a whole lot more than this, I think it’s a pretty good budget for most people.

So what are the top options for someone looking for a soundbar at this price? Well, let’s take a look at some of the best soundbars out there right now.

Best Soundbar under £300

ProductImageGet More InfoType
Yamaha YAS-109Yamaha YAS-109 Soundbar without Subwoofer- TV Speaker with Integrated Alexa Voice Control and 3D Surround Sound, in BlackCheck Price at AmazonSoundbar Only
Samsung HW-Q60TSamsung HW-Q60T soundbar speaker 5.1 channels 360 W BlackCheck Price at Amazon5:1 with Subwoofer
Philips B8505/10PHILIPS B8505/10 Soundbar with Subwoofer Wireless (2.1 Channels, Bluetooth, 240 W, Dolby Atmos, HDMI eARC, DTS Play-Fi Compatible, Connects with Voice Assistants, Low Profile) SilverCheck Price at Amazon2.1 with Subwoofer
Polk Audio Magnifi Mini Sound BarPolk Audio Magnifi Mini Sound Bar with Wireless Sub Woofer, BlackCheck Price at Amazon5:1 with Subwoofer
Bose TV SpeakerBose TV Speaker - Small Soundbar with Bluetooth ConnectivityCheck Price at AmazonSoundbar Only
Sony HT-X8500Sony HT-X8500 Bluetooth Single Dolby Atmos Soundbar for TV with and Vertical Surround Engine, BlackCheck Price at AmazonSoundbar Only
Panasonic SC-HTB400EBKPanasonic SC-HTB400EBK Home Theatre Soundbar with Bluetooth and built-in subwoofer BlackCheck Price at AmazonSoundbar Only

Yamaha YAS-109

Yamaha YAS-109 Soundbar without Subwoofer- TV Speaker with Integrated Alexa Voice Control and 3D Surround Sound, in Black

When considering the best soundbars under £300, then the Yamaha YAS-109 often comes up in conversation. This 120 watt soundbar manages to pack a lot of power into a relatively small frame, which is one of the reasons why it’s a popular choice.

The most important thing, as with any soundbar, is the sound quality that is manages to deliver. With its DTS Virtual:X, you’ll be able to get a true home cinema experience when using it with your television.

It is designed to deliver the same amount of audio as a full surround sound system, and it does a pretty good job at that. The basic design will appeal to those that are more interested in audio performance than how the soundbar looks.

You can also use the wireless Bluetooth integrated into this soundbar very easily as well. This means that if you want to connect your phone, then you can do so. Of course, you also have the more standard connections of using a HDMI cable or a digital optical cable if you want to as well.

Plus, this can be used with your Amazon Alexa too, which was a recent addition to the updated version of this soundbar. It also improved the bass a little bit, which helps it to cope when it comes to delivering a lot of sound.

For those looking for a well designed soundbar with a high quality finish, then the YAS-109 will likely be a good choice. If you’re after a budget soundbar, then the price tag on this model is pretty fair considering what you’re getting.

You can consider upgrading to the Yamaha YAS-209 if you want a subwoofer with your speaker, but that does take us a little over our budget. But for larger rooms, this may be a good idea if you need to deliver a little extra sound.

Samsung HW-Q60T

Samsung HW-Q60T soundbar speaker 5.1 channels 360 W Black

In 2021, Samsung look like they’re going to be the one to beat when it comes to both televisions and speakers for them too. One extremely popular option is the Samsung HW-Q60T, which is ideal to use with a Samsung TV if you own one.

Samsung are really focussing on the Q series this year, so much so that it can be a little confusing. They’re using the same model numbers and names for both TVs and soundbars, so there is a corresponding TV that would work well with this speaker (though not dramatically different than any other TV to be honest).

It’s also very easy to use this soundbar with HDMI ARC if you want to as well. This gets rid of the need of an additional optical cable to deliver the sound bar to the speaker. Although HDMI ARC has been pretty temperamental for some users, it seems to be okay with this model.

The Samsung HW-Q60T comes complete with a subwoofer too, which manages to deliver sound clearly when watching TV shows and movies, but also when listening to music too. So, if you’re looking for a soundbar with a reliable build quality, this is one of the best.

Philips B8505/10

PHILIPS B8505/10 Soundbar with Subwoofer Wireless (2.1 Channels, Bluetooth, 240 W, Dolby Atmos, HDMI eARC, DTS Play-Fi Compatible, Connects with Voice Assistants, Low Profile) Silver

Another good option for those looking for a soundbar and subwoofer combo is this Philips model. It’s also another Dolby Atmos device, so you can be sure that it’s audio is made to a good standard.

It’s a 2.1 sound system – if you’re not sure what this means in terms of a soundbar, then I’ll explain. The 2.1 refers to the 2 speakers in the soundbar (left and right) and the 1 refers to the subwoofer! This is the same for a 3.1 (an extra speaker in the centre of the soundbar) and a 5.1 soundbar, which has two additional speakers each side.

But you won’t need more than 3 speakers with this soundbar, as it still manages to deliver a lot of depth when watching the TV. It’s a good way to give yourself a surround sound experience without actually having to buy a multitude of different speakers.

Overall, this another solid piece of equipment that is in the running for the best soundbar under £300. For those who are looking to watch movies with good sound and comprehensive quality, it’s a pretty safe option.

Polk Audio Magnifi Mini Sound Bar

Polk Audio Magnifi Mini Sound Bar with Wireless Sub Woofer, Black

This Polk Audio Magnifi is really the complete solution to your home audio problems.

It’s not a soundbar alone; it actually comes with your own mini subwoofer, which can work wirelessly from the rest of the device. This gives it a 5:1 setup, with the soundbar having 4 2.25-inch mid-range drivers combined with 2 0.5-inch tweeters.

The fact that you can set these up wirelessly will be a massive plus for many, as it enables you to completely get rid of any wiring between them and your TV. Whilst this is common for a soundbar, it’s less common for a subwoofer; they’re also universal, so they’ll definitely work with your TV.

The additional subwoofer is a good addition to this model, as many soundbars will always tend to struggle with lower frequencies and producing bass sounds. But the subwoofer obviously won’t have any issues with this, and gives it a more full audio experience.

Polk speakers like this have an inbuilt adjustment design where you can use the remote to try and customize the voice levels of the system – this can definitely help to increase voice clarity. The soundbar is only around 13 inches long, so it’s a good size to work with any TV.

For those looking for a reasonably priced was to completely change their film watching experience, then I’d recommend this as a pretty decent solution.

Bose TV Speaker

Bose TV Speaker - Small Soundbar with Bluetooth Connectivity

Although many people say that Bose speakers are overpriced, and I’d tend to agree in most cases, there aren’t many that would argue that they’re specifically bad quality. In fact, for the average person the quality of Bose speakers is pretty good.

And if you’re looking for a soundbar only that can deliver a lot of sound, then this Bose model would definitely be a good option. Even though it’s very small in size, it manages to deliver a good volume of sound from two drivers.

It’s specifically designed to work with television and movies, as it has enhanced voice and dialogue settings built into it. If you’re struggling to hear what people are saying on the TV, then this would be a good choice.

As well as this, you can also connect to this soundbar very easily via Bluetooth too. So when you’re not using it with your TV, you can connect to it with your smartphone and blast out some tunes. It’s very easy to set up, and you can connect it to your TV with either an optical cable or via a HDMI cable too.

So, for many people, they will just be looking to give their television a better quality sound than what it’s got. If you want a reasonably priced and sized soundbar to do this, then this Bose speaker is definitely worth considering.

Sony HT-X8500

Sony HT-X8500 Bluetooth Single Dolby Atmos Soundbar for TV with and Vertical Surround Engine, Black

For a good cinema experience, you can be pretty safe by opting for a Dolby Atmos speaker. These kind of soundbars are pretty much trying to replicate the same experience you’d have when you go to the cinema, so it’s fair to say that the HT-X8500 has a good amount of power and quality.

It’s a good option for those that are looking for a 3D audio experience. It is one of the better choices here if you want to use it with a Playstation or Xbox, as it has 4k lossless pass-through. This means that you can connect your device to the soundbar, and then to the TV, without worrying about losing anything in terms of quality.

Unlike those that come with an additional subwoofer, this model actually has one inbuilt into it. So, you won’t need to worry about bass too much, as this can cope with the lower frequencies on it’s own.

It also has Bluetooth playback, meaning you can set it up with your phone as well as your television. So, all in all the HT-X8500 is another powerhouse of a soundbar that’s worth every penny.

Panasonic SC-HTB400EBK

Panasonic SC-HTB400EBK Home Theatre Soundbar with Bluetooth and built-in subwoofer Black

Another soundbar that’s designed for give you the full cinema experience is the Panasonic SC-HTB400EBK. You won’t need to get an additional wireless subwoofer if you go for a soundbar like this one, as it manages to carry enough bass to do the job of both.

There are 160 watts of power in this soundbar altogether. This is made up of two 40w rear speakers, and a larger 80w subwoofer in the soundbar two. Between them, they deliver a good standard of audio. You can use the Panasonic app if you want to have more functionality.

Something else that is good about this soundbar is that it is slightly tilted upwards. This helps to deliver the soundbar directly to your ears when you’re watching the television. It also has Bluetooth in-built, so you have various different connectivity options.

Whilst this model is designed to be used in the living room, it works as well anywhere in your home, and it could be used to stream music as easily as it can be used for movies. This is another good choice for those looking for a soundbar at less than £300.

Common Questions about Soundbars

Are TV soundbars worth it?

If you’re even considering getting a soundbar for you’re TV, then it’s more than likely going to be worth it. Generally, soundbars can significantly improve your series and film watching experience, especially if you have a television that doesn’t have the best sound. If you want a more complete experience, then you might want to consider getting a home surround system instead, but these often cost a lot more.

What size sound bar do I need?

Another common question about soundbars is making sure that you have the right sized soundbar for the size of your TV. Generally, I’d say that in an ideal world that your soundbar wouldn’t be any wider than the size of your TV. But this isn’t strict, as pretty much any decent sized soundbar at this price should be enough to support any sized TV. So, whether your soundbar is only a few feet long, this should be fine as long as it is in front of your TV.

Will a soundbar improve sound quality?

The main reason why you’re going to want to get a soundbar in the first place is that it is a drastic increase in sound quality over your television. Soundbars are generally designed to cover the full frequency spectrum, and many of them are made to deal with voices and speech, so they’re great for movies. Television speakers are notoriously low quality in comparison.

How do I choose the right sound bar?

When you’re considering the right soundbar for you, then the main thing that you need to consider is which channel soundbar you’re going to choose. If you just want to improve your television, then a single soundbar is going to be fine. If you want a little more surround sound than this, then a 2.1 or a 3.1 soundbar with a subwoofer might be a good choice. And if you want the best a soundbar can offer, then a 5.1 is going to be right for you.

Do I need a subwoofer with my soundbar?

It’s a common question to ask – many people don’t want a large subwoofer taking up a lot of space in their living space. In general, soundbars are designed to deliver audios at all frequencies, including the low frequencies that subwoofers are used for. However, there’s no arguing that a subwoofer can deliver those better than a soundbar can.

Conclusion

Soundbars are one of the best investments that you can make to dramatically improve how you watch your television. You don’t need to spend thousands like you may have to with a home theatre system – you can find a good soundbar for less than £300.

If you want increased bass and audio that’s more capable of dealing with lower frequencies, then a subwoofer is a good choice. But if you want everything all in one small soundbar, then there’s options for that here too.

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About Jon

Hey, I'm Jon. I'm an engineer by trade, so it makes sense that I'm obsessed with anything technology related! On the weekends, you can find me playing around with my computers or fixing something around the house. Feel free to leave a comment if you want to get in touch.

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