1. Bose Smart Soundbar 300
Our top soundbar under 500 is the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. If you want a device that’s both elegant and powerful the bose 300 sound bar is the way to go with its clean lines, button-free exterior and stylish wrap-around metal grille. This unit is going to look right at home sitting in front of any TV we can think of moreover, the 300 isn’t just a tv speaker it’s also a smart wireless speaker that can be added to other bose products for a whole home audio solution. The music app option makes the setup pretty effortless in just a few minutes your sound bar will be connected to your wireless network and give you a choice to configure the soundbar 300 with amazon alexa or google assistant. Once that’s done just hook up the HDMI to your TV and you’re good to go if you really want to make the most of it connect to bose subwoofer 2 and get the bass thumping. Moreover, the 300 has an excellent bluetooth feature usually reserved for higher end sound bars. This allows you to connect a range of other devices effortlessly yet control them separately, it’s a great option to have in any case most importantly. If you’re looking for room filling sound this is the device for you the 300 delivers everything you need, whether it’s bigger better sound for movies and tv shows or just for listening to your favorite tunes we found that the speaker’s eq is also pleasingly neutral giving a nice balance of frequencies that work well with the range of music genres and tv content you can also dramatically increase the bass response using the music app finally this unit’s angled full range drivers do an outstanding job of bouncing sound off of your sidewalls toward the listening zone creating a very immersive soundscape.
| Specifications | Features |
|---|---|
| Connectivity Technology | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| Speaker Type | Soundbar |
| Brand | Bose |
| Model Name | Soundbar 300 |
| Uses | For Television, for Smartphone or Tablets |
Pros :
- It has a sleek design.
- It’s effortless to set up.
- It has excellent sound quality.
- It provides a surround sound experience.
Cons :
- It lacks stereo separation.
2. Polk Audio MagniFi Max
The second product on our list is the Polk Audio MagniFi Max. This is a maximum performance home theater sound bar with a wireless subwoofer system that provides more dynamic sound than traditional sound bars it features patented sda surround technology for a wider more immersive listening experience and voice adjust technology for crystal clear dialogue even better the polk smart remote technology works with your samsung sony vizio and lg tv remote right out of the box it also includes hdmi and optical cables for quick and easy setup we like that the 5.1 dolby digital and dts decoding used by the sound bar creates an expansive surround stage in addition to a detailed stereo image for an awesome listening experience we actually found it to be somewhat comparable to what you would experience in a concert or theater what’s more you can wirelessly stream with the google chromecast right from your smartphone laptop or tablet to create a multi-room system this also means that you can play your favorite music tracks from your sound bar and enjoy unlimited playback through services like pandora and spotify you can even connect to a host of smart devices tv and speakers and instantly enjoy high quality sound we found that the poke delivers clear room-filling sound without needing to max out its volume there are also a few different eq modes for music sports and movies which is a nice addition lastly an extra layer of equalization called voice adjust specifically emphasizes vocals singing and speaking making it ideal for films and sports.
| Specifications | Features |
|---|---|
| Connector Type | Wireless, Blutooth |
| Speaker Type | Surround Sound, Subwoofer |
| Brand | Polk Audio |
| Colour | Black |
| Item Dimension | 9.6×109.2×5.3 cm |
Pros :
- It creates a detailed soundstage.
- It is compatible with all android devices.
- It’s settings provide a good amount of customization.
Cons :
- It’s remote control is a bit fiddly to use.
3. SAMSUNG A650
The third product on our list is the SAMSUNG A650. This sound bar has a relatively neutral sound profile perfect for listening to a broad range of audio material as soon as you take it out of the box it even has a visual eq with setting adjustment and many plugins for sound enhancement including adaptive sound light which can really help improve dialogue and bass boost which can give the audio more punch it also does support surround content although it has to down mix it to stereo format to play it moreover this slim samsung hw a650 sound bar comes with a subwoofer that can be wall mounted or set flat on a table top this means you don’t have to worry about getting extra furniture to place the sound bar on we like that there are just four physical buttons on the top of the bar for turning the sound bar on or off altering the speed and changing the input source it’s efficient and simple another good thing about this unit is that there are multiple physical inputs including a full hdmi import enabling you to use the sound bar as a hub for several gadgets what’s more it can also connect wirelessly to devices through bluetooth and this means you can play audio from through your phone without the need for a wired link we also found that the stereodynamics performance of the soundbar is excellent and that it is best for use at crowded events and in large spaces overall it produces a very balanced sound with smooth mid-tones and great clarity making it perfect for daily use
Pros :
- It’s straightforward to physically install.
- It has multiple input options.
- Its audio quality is well balanced across all ranges.
Cons :
- It requires some time messing with setting adjustments to get the most out of it.
4. Samsung HW-A450/ZA
up next in fourth place is the Samsung HW-A450/ZA. The most suitable sound bar for your home can be challenging do you want to build a powerful home theater system or do you want a more reliable audio source to accompany your tv with excellent sound at an affordable price well thankfully the samsung hw a450 fills all these categories this unit has an outstanding frequency response for a stereo system also we like its clean modern design that is not too flashy but is definitely sleekly attractive it’s also a very lightweight unit so it is straightforward to mount on walls without having any issue with load-bearing brackets the volume is also very respectable and it can be enhanced further by connecting it to satellite speakers or the included subwoofer if you really want to splash out what’s more it’s a nice size too not to mention it fits any space you care to place it in and blends in nicely with modern decor the sound profile is generally well balanced and relatively neutral with some solid base to round it all out moreover this sound bar comes with various sound enhancement features including a graphic equalizer and different presets these can be useful for customizing it to your preferred media we also appreciate that the samsung hw a450 has an impressive 120 watt total output which means that it has plenty of power to fill up your room with rich audio quality finally setup is a breeze you can easily pair your sound bar to your tv by connecting it wirelessly through bluetooth or with the hdmi port on the back overall this is an elegant product with an expansive range of features that allows it to be pushed towards the high end of the market but keep an affordable price tag.
| Specifications | Features |
|---|---|
| Connectivity Technology | Wireless, USB |
| Speaker Type | Soundbar |
| Brand | SAMSUNG |
| Model Name | A450 |
| Uses | For Television |
Pros :
- It has an excellent frequency response.
- Its overall audio quality is high.
- It is straightforward to set up.
Cons :
- Its remote operation is pretty clunky to use.
5. TCL Alto 6+
The fifth product on our list is the TCL Alto 6+. If you’ve been pondering on whether it’s worth spending a load of money on better sound for your tv then the tcl alto 6 plus makes that decision much more straightforward this unit does precisely what you want from a sound bar it significantly improves the quality of the sound you hear compared to what your tv’s built-in speakers produce the alto 6 plus has an impressive sound delivering a much more extensive range than you might expect at first glance this 31.5 by 4.2 by 2.4 inch soundbar has two internal drivers and features rounded edges instead of the usual rectangle aesthetic the wireless subwoofer also doesn’t take up much space either as it’s only 12.8 by 7.9 by 7.9 inches in size with this device you can connect to your tv through hdmi arc or use an optical digital or 3.5 millimeter audio jack there’s a usb port for inputs that allows you to play music and stream wirelessly using bluetooth we like the simplicity of this unit there aren’t a lot of buttons on the soundbar itself only power input bluetooth and volume there are five led lights on the front one to indicate the input and four which flash in various combinations to show you which sound mode you’ve switched to and display the volume level and that’s it easy as pie to navigate and control what’s more it’s remote also keeps things uncomplicated with buttons for power mute input and bluetooth a wheel controls the volume and has play pause skip and back buttons for controlling music additionally we found that the alto 6 plus produces a surprisingly big sound given its size and price it also makes dialogue easy to hear thanks to extra resonance that the subwoofer punches in this subwoofer also provides on low end effects that means this little system gets loud enough for most rooms maxing out at around 94 decibels which should be way more than what’s needed for most situations.
| Specifications | Features |
|---|---|
| Connectivity Technology | Bluetooth |
| Speaker Type | Soundbar |
| Brand | TCL |
| Model Name | TS6110-NA |
| Uses | For Television, For Smartphone or Tablets |
Pros :
- It provides clear dialogue with booming bass.
- It’s simple to use.
- It has a surprisingly loud volume for the size.
Cons :
- There’s only minimal sound adjustment.