The Best Budget Atmos Soundbar For 2024

Nicolas Ward By, Nicolas Ward
Updated
SAMSUNG HW-Q950A 11.1.4ch Soundbar
Image credit: Amazon.com

The Rundown

1. Best Overall: SAMSUNG HW-Q950A 11.1.4ch Soundbar

With the latest acoustic technologies, experience realistic 3D audio with sound precisely projected from above, in front, behind, and to the side of you. SAMSUNG HWQ950A allows you to flood your room with sound from all directions for an immersive audio entertainment experience. Read Review

2. Best For The Price: Sony HTX8500 2.1ch Dolby Atmos/DTS:X Soundbar

Vertical Surround Engine is the latest surround technology from Sony. It allows you to enjoy Dolby Atmos, and DTSX, all from one slim unit. Advanced DSP technology allows only two front speakers to reproduce cinematic sound from any room, no matter how big or small. Read Review

3. Best Sound Quality: JBL Bar 9.1 - Channel Soundbar System

With two detachable surround speakers and Dolby Atmos® and DTS:XTM 3D sound, the JBL Bar 9.1 soundbar brings the audio experience of a movie theater into your home. With a total system power of 820 watts, you'll be able to enjoy every Oscar-worthy performance with powerful, crystal-clear audio. Read Review

4. Best Powerful: Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Dolby Atmos

Sound is powerful. Bose Smart Soundbar 900 w/ Dolby Atmos gives you the cinema-like experience in your own home. Bose technology is combined with custom-engineered, up-firing dipole speaker systems that make the room feel flooded with sound. Read Review

Do you own a home theater or just a simple television? If not, then it is time to upgrade and invest in the best soundbar for your TV set. The market for soundbars has grown exponentially in the past few years. There are many affordable options available for anyone looking to upgrade their audio quality.

Unfortunately, most of them aren’t worth your money. With so many brands flooding the market with budget-friendly speakers, it’s hard to know which one stands out from the rest. Thankfully, we have compiled a list of the top 12 best budget atmos soundbar on the market today.

Even if you are on a tight budget, you can still get an amazing piece of technology that will transform the way you experience entertainment at home.

After nearly 19 hours of research, we were able to come up with many top products from prominent brands like Samsung, Sony, Jbl, Bose, Vizio, Lg, Nakamichi, Pheanoo audio, Byl, Yamaha, Vmai, Zvox, Polk audio. Among them, SAMSUNG HW-Q950A 11.1.4ch Soundbar seems to be the first product you can rely on. Alternatively, if you're simply looking for a good-looking option, you may go with Sony HTX8500 2.1ch Dolby Atmos/DTS:X Soundbar.

Our article today focuses mainly on giving you guidelines and tips to be able to buy the right product that best suits your needs. Explore with us right here.

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 SAMSUNG HW-Q950A 11.1.4ch Soundbar
Our Score:
9.9
SAMSUNG
  • Package Weight: 27.216 kilograms
  • Country of Origin : VietNam
  • Package Dimensions: 129.54 H x 27.94 L x 60.96 W (centimeters)
  • Package Quantity: 1
TOP Choice #2 Sony HTX8500 2.1ch Dolby Atmos/DTS:X Soundbar
Our Score:
9.8
Sony
  • 4K HDR passthrough-enabled to ensure a high-quality entertainment experience
  • Voice enhancement for greater clarity
  • All sound upscaled close to 7.1.2ch audio
  • Dual built-in subwoofers for deep bass
  • Easily integrates with your AV system with HDMI and optical inputs
  • One-cable HDMI eARC for simple, high-quality connection to your TV
  • 7.1.2ch Dolby Atmos/DTS X with Vertical Sound Engine
  • Slim, low-profile design complements your TV
  • Seven different sound modes to enhance your entertainment experience
  • In the box: Remote Control, Batteries for remote, HDMI Cable, AC Adaptor, AC Cord, Quick Setup Guide, Instruction Manual
TOP Choice #3 JBL Bar 9.1 - Channel Soundbar System
Our Score:
9.6
JBL
  • Wireless Communication Technology: Wi-Fi
  • With detachable, battery powered surround speakers you can enjoy real surround sound without the wires
  • Connector Type: Optical
  • Included Components: Main Soundbar, Detachable Wireless Surround Speakers (2), Wireless Subwoofer Remote Control, Power Cords, Hdmi Cable, (2)L-Shape Wall-Mount Bracket (Main Bar), (2) U-Shape Wall-Mount Bracket (For Surround Speakers), Kit With Screws
  • Ultra HD 4K Pass-through with Dolby Vision
  • Built-in Dolby Atmos and DTS: X decoding
  • Power Source Type: Corded Electric
  • 820W Output power
  • Experience deep bass with a 300W, 10" powered subwoofer
  • Voice control soundbar — Exclusive Bose Voice4Video technology expands your voice capabilities like no other smart soundbar can. In addition to controlling your Dolby Atmos soundbar, you can control your TV, cable and more with just your voice
  • Latest Bose soundbar — It’s the most immersive Bose voice control soundbar yet. Two custom-engineered upfiring dipole speakers work with Bose technologies to make it feel as if sound is coming from every direction — even overhead
  • Sleek design — From material quality to construction and finishes to controls, Bose obsessed over every detail to produce a Bluetooth soundbar speaker that looks as astonishing as it sounds
  • Easy smart soundbar setup — The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 uses a single connection to any TV. Choose from the HDMI eARC connection or optical audio connection (both cables provided), connect the soundbar to a TV, hook it up to power, and turn it on
  • Bose Music app — Download the Bose Music app to set up your Bluetooth soundbar speaker, set up Voice4Video, and browse your music in one place. It’s another simple way to control and group together compatible Bose products
  • Wireless soundbar streaming, your way — With Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect, you can wirelessly stream whatever you want, however you want
  • Built-in voice assistants (Alexa and Google Assistant) — Noise-rejecting microphones work together to listen in every direction for your commands, even when the music’s playing loudly. For times when you want privacy, just disable the microphones with the mic-off button
  • Dolby Atmos soundbar — This wireless Bluetooth soundbar lends an extra dimension of height to your sound. Proprietary Bose TrueSpace spatial processing analyzes and upmixes sounds for an enveloping listening experience in Dolby, stereo, and more
  • 3.1ch Dolby Atmos DTS: X and Vertical Surround Engine
  • Multiple easy connections so you can enjoy all your media
  • Sound modes to customize listening to movies and music
  • Connect to your TV wirelessly via Bluetooth
  • EARC enabled to easily enjoy immersive Dolby Atmos audio from your favorite streaming providers
  • Immersive AE (Audio Enhancer) upscale audio closes to 7.1.2 each sound
  • Wireless subwoofer delivers powerful bass sound
  • Utilize a simple, clean connection with one-cable HDMI ARC
  • Enjoy high quality movies with 4K HDR pass through
  • SAMSUNG AUDIO LAB: Expert-tested, scientifically tuned; Samsung’s perfectly balanced, room-filling sound is developed by top audio engineers at our California Audio Lab
  • Q-SYMPHONY: Audio that tracks with each scene with perfectly synchronized audio from your compatible Samsung TV* and soundbar for a harmonious, cinematic experience
  • BUILT-IN CENTER SPEAKER: Never miss a word with enhanced dialogue delivered by a dedicated center channel speaker to project voices clearly
  • MULTI-CONNECTION: Easily connect your Soundbar to your TV with either Bluetooth or HDMI**
  • ADAPTIVE SOUND LITE: Enjoy optimized sound for your favorite video content, including sports, games, movies and more - with technology that enhances whatever you are watching
  • ELEVATE YOUR SOUND EXPERIENCE: Sound you can feel; Sound that moves you; Hear the difference a soundbar can make when paired with a Samsung TV
  • DOLBY DIGITAL 5.1 / DTS VIRTUAL:X: Captivating virtual 3D sound moves all around you, including above with DTS Virtual:X technology; Dolby Digital 5.1 enables surround sound capability
  • 9 High-Performance Speakers Featuring Separate Tweeters & Woofers Provide pristine clarity and rich sound
  • Immersive Performance Experience immersive, cinematic 3D surround sound powered by Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
  • 5.1-Channel Sound Experience a powerful room-filling, surround sound experience.
  • Low-Profile Modern Design Seamlessly blends into any environment and ingeniously attaches to select VIZIO M-Series TV stands for quick, clean tabletop or wall-mount installation.
  • Advanced Connectivity & Control The latest HDMI eARC connectivity enables state-of-the-art 4K Dolby Vision pass-through to the TV and lets you control the sound bar using your TV remote.
8 LG SP8YA Sound Bar w/Subwoofer
Our Score:
8.8
LG
  • High Resolution Audio 24bit/96kHz with 4K Passthrough (HDCP 2.3)
  • 4K Passthrough (HDCP 2.3)
  • Meridian Audio Technology
  • Dolby Atmos & DTS:X
  • 3.1.2ch with 440W Total Output Power
  • All units sold since Aug '19 can receive Dolby Atmos surround via TV’s eARC when streaming with TV’s smart apps like Netflix (Note: not all TVs can output Atmos. Refer to your TV brand’s audio output specs). Enjoy advanced connectivity with Dolby Vision, 4K UHD pass-thru and High Dynamic Range (HDR). Connect up to 6 devices via 1 HDMI ARC, 3 HDMI, 1 Optical and 1 Coaxial inputs. The 52-key backlit remote allows seamless control of sources, DSP modes, individual channel and room size optimization
  • With 70+ years of audio excellence, experience the absolute best audio no other soundbar can replicate. Feel the roomshaking bass with industry’s only Dual Wireless Subwoofers & 360° 9.2 channel audio from every direction with our soundbar + four modular surround effects speakers. This plug and play solution’s designed to bring the acoustics of a high performance cinema into your living room in approx 30 minutes. Winner of the best Dolby Atmos soundbar battle (hosted by Brian Tong, Ex-Cnet host)
  • FOUR 2-WAY SURROUND SPEAKERS (industry's 1st!). Each of them (connected to sub via RCA wires) is constructed with a tweeter that reproduces high frequencies with captivating clarity, and a full-range driver that delivers surround effects with power and precision. MODULAR in form, they are designed to work perfectly for any room size or shape. Attach them as dipoles to disperse expanded surround effects or detach as 4 individual speakers (signature setup) to deliver our 360° surround sound
  • Our DUAL 10" WIRELESS SUBWOOFERS (industry's 1st!), the new soundbar reference standard for bass, produce ground-shaking rumbles that turn your living room into an epicenter of adrenaline-pumping action. They merge to distribute bass evenly throughout the room with zero localization. The sound bar, surrounds and subwoofers replicate the perfect theater experience, reaching cinema-level volumes with no distortion. Agreed among experts, TWO subwoofers are a must for ultimate home theaters.
  • Redefine soundbar expectations and surround performance with our exclusive SSE Technology. Featuring 3 advanced audio processing engines working in harmony to enhance directionality, enlarge spaciousness and unlock extra details of any audio soundtrack. Envelop your home theater with up to 9.2.4 channels of Dolby Atmos or DTS:X object based multi-dimensional audio that flows around, above and through you. Unleash the full dynamics of your audio experience with 110dB of room-filling sound
  • One-Cable Connect: Send Audio and Control Information from the TV Using a Single Cable with HDMI Arc
  • S-Force Pro: Virtual Surround Sound Technology Emulates a Theater-Style Surround Sound Experience
  • Ultimate Home Theater Upgrade: Sony 2.1 Channel Sound Bar System With Wireless Subwoofer for Optimized Audio
  • 7 Sound Modes: Choose from Auto Sound, Cinema, Music, Game, News, Sports, and Standard Audio Mode
  • Powerful Subwoofer: Large 6.30 Inches Speaker Unit and 6.16 Gallon Volume for a Deeper, Richer Bass Sound
  • Voice Enhancement: Isolates Voices and Amplifies Them over the Background Noise for Greater Clarity
  • Bluetooth Streaming: Stream Your Favorite Movies, Shows, and Music from Your Smartphone or Tablet
  • Wirelessly Connect: Connect via Bluetooth to Send Audio to the Slim Soundbar and Sub from Anywhere
  • Audio Comes Alive:320W total power output brings content to life with incredible volume and clarity
  • In the Box: Soundbar, Subwoofer, Remote Control, Batteries, Optical Cable, Quick Setup Guide, Manual
Product Images, Product Titles, Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

What to Look For in a best budget atmos soundbar?

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Wi-Fi And Bluetooth

Bluetooth is an important soundbar feature that allows you stream music from compatible phones, tablets and computers to your soundbar. Wi-Fi connectivity allows you to stream music from your Spotify account or access cloud music libraries.

Number Of Channels And Speakers

A soundbar with just 2.1 channels may be enough to enhance the audio quality of your TV. A 5.1 and 7.1 models might offer better sound quality when you watch TV/movies or listen to audio. Dolby Atmos is available on 5.1.2 and 7.1.2 models. This technology allows for a richer experience. It involves placing speakers higher than the roof, to create sound from above.

Connectivity

Soundbars typically only require one cable to connect with your TV. HDMI is the best choice. Make sure that your soundbar is equipped with all necessary ports for connecting to Blu-ray players and USB storage. You should check if your soundbar has a pass-through function that transmits 4K HDR video from your 4K HDR TV.

Additional Features

You might also want these features in your soundbar:
There are special sound modes for various audio types, such as watching movies, listening to music, or gaming. You can adjust the treble and bass settings depending on what you are watching/listening too.
Compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa for voice-controlled music.
Front-panel displays that display important information, such as volume levels. Make sure to check if this display is able to be switched off when it's not in use so that it does not become distracting.

Subwoofer

In large rooms, a soundbar with an external subwoofer (or dedicated soundbar) can be more effective than one without it. A subwoofer that is well made will enhance low-end sound quality and add a cinematic vibe to your system. A sub that is poorly designed can cause a drop in sound quality. A soundbase is a great option if you need bass, but aren't able to fit an external sub. They include an integrated subwoofer.

Ease Of Set-up And Use

It is easy to hook up the soundbar with your TV or other device and get started using it immediately. This can be gauged by looking at the manual or reading some user reviews.

Size

To ensure that the unit will not block the screen, or interfere with the remote control or display of your TV's remote, check its dimensions. You should also check that the design of the unit matches your TV.

Wired/wireless Speakers

Some soundbars allow for wired and wireless connection to other speakers. Some soundbars only support a subwoofer. However, a few models offer "surround sound" connectivity, which allows you to connect other speakers to the rear of the room to replicate 5.1. You can purchase these speakers separately or as a bundle at an extra cost.

FAQs

Can You Use Any Soundbar With Any TV?

There are very few exceptions to this rule. However, you can still use your soundbar with any TV. It is helpful sometimes to match soundbar and TV brands. New soundbars often use HDMI ARC to transmit the audio from the TV's speakers through the soundbar. If both of your devices have this port, you are good. An optical connection is available on some older soundbars, and almost all TVs have them.

Can You Use A Soundbar To Play Music?

A soundbar can make music play through your TV much more enjoyable. Bluetooth is a feature that many soundbars offer, so you won't have to turn on the TV to hear your music. A soundbar that has a wireless subwoofer will work best to reproduce deep bass and dynamics.

Will A Soundbar Improve Sound Quality?

Modern TVs have very tiny speakers which bounce sound off of your TV. As a result, they can be distant and harsh. A soundbar can be added to most TVs to improve their sound quality, particularly when it comes down to reproducing spoken words. It will also allow you to listen to music.

Can You Add Speakers To A Sound Bar?

There are both yes and no. Some sound bars have additional speakers that can be added to the system, which brings you closer to home theatre sound. If the soundbar is multi-room compatible, then wireless rear speakers can be added. This is a good option for those who have or want to install a multi-room sound system in their home.

Can You Add A Subwoofer To A Sound Bar?

Wireless sound bars often come with a subwoofer. You can also add your own wireless subwoofer to the sound bars that do not have one. If you desire an immersive experience, you'll want it.

Are Soundbars Really Worth It?

They are well worth the investment when compared to how loud your TV sounds. A soundbar costs only $100 and can make your TV viewing experience 10x better. A soundbar can make it easier to understand speech by allowing TV speakers to face down.

Can A Sound Bar Be Used As A Center Speaker?

There are some that can and others that can't, but it's not something we recommend. Although a passive soundbar could technically be used to provide center channel speakers, this is not what it was designed for. This is like asking a pitcher to play both catch and second base instead of the only position that he excels at.

Where Do I Place My Soundbar?

The soundbars can be placed directly in front of your TV using a stand, or any other type of furniture. They are usually less than 2 inches high so they won't interfere with the infrared remote port of your TV or block it. Some soundbars are also wall-mountable and include brackets. There are third-party kits that can be used to mount soundbars on the wall.

Conclusion

Its features, not its name, are what define best budget atmos soundbar in 2024. This may seem self-evident, but it's easy to become fixated on a specific company or brand due to its reputation. We strongly advise you to consider your needs and determine which products will assist you in meeting them. With our options above, if you can't choose any suitable one, let's check Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Sound Bar. Wish you a nice shopping day!


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About Nicolas Ward

Nicolas Ward

Nicolas Ward is an elite author with many years of experience in the music field and the owner of many engaging articles at TheAudioInsights. He studies music production and has many years of passionate research into sound systems. Appearing in many popular newspapers, Nicolas Ward provides useful knowledge and the latest information on music and sound.