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    Best Soundbars Under $200

    You don't have to spend a lot to get better TV sound

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    Yamaha sound bar
    A soundbar can be an easy fix for a TV with anemic sound.
    Photo: Yamaha

    With Super Bowl deals ramping up, many of us will be shopping for a new TV. Perhaps itā€™s not too surprising that people tend to focus on picture quality, screen size, and priceā€”while sound quality is often an afterthought. But that can lead to disappointment if you get a new TV home and discover that its built-in audio canā€™t do justice to the great picture.

    Thatā€™s easy to remedy by adding a soundbar.

    You donā€™t have to pay a lot. The top models in our soundbar ratings, available to CR members, tend to be expensive, but there are a number of very reasonably priced models that can add sonic oomph to TV and movie soundtracks. The best soundbars under $200, which are listed below, even do a decent job playing music, though audiophiles may want to pay a bit more to get really top-notch audio.

    More on Sound and TVs

    Although these arenā€™t the highest-scoring models in our ratings, any of the soundbars listed here will improve the audio quality on all but the very best-sounding TVs.

    Some of the best soundbars under $200 come with separate wireless subwoofers, which can generally add deeper bass than most TVs can produce. Only one is a complete 5.1-channel surround-sound system, but a few let you expand the system by adding an optional subwoofer or rear speakers.

    At these prices, you wonā€™t get Dolby Atmos or DTS:X sound, newer audio technologies that add an element of height for a more immersive surround-sound experience.

    Before buying a soundbar for under $200, make sure you know how youā€™ll connect it to your TV. Many models have HDMI inputs these days, but some have only an optical digital input. Choose a model with Bluetooth if you want to be able to play music from a smartphone or tablet.

    Become a member to read the full article and get access to digital ratings.

    We investigate, research, and test so you can choose with confidence.