Soundbar buying guide
The Best Soundbars Under $300 in 2026
Four soundbars were $300 or less at Amazon on October 26, 2026. Samsung's HW-B750F is the pick for most TVs, the HW-S60D for small ones, and what another $100 buys.
Four of the 14 soundbars we cover were $300 or less at Amazon on October 26, 2026: the Roku Streambar SE at $113.99, the Sonos Ray at $219, the Samsung HW-S60D at $277.99, and the Samsung HW-B750F at $297.99. They're very different bars. Only the B750F has a subwoofer, only the S60D decodes Dolby Atmos, and the Ray has no HDMI at all.
Under $300 you're buying clearer voices first and bass second. None of these four has up-firing drivers or rear speakers, so if surround is the goal, the analysis below shows what $50 to $100 more gets you.
These picks and scores are an editorial synthesis of published testing and the makers' specs, not our own testing. Prices are what Amazon charged on October 26, 2026, not live quotes. The B750F was sold by a marketplace seller that day and sat $2 under $300, so check the price before you buy.
The short list
| # | Best for | Model | Amazon price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Best under $300 |  | 5.1 · Bar and sub | ~$297.99 |
| 02 | Best for small TVs and streaming |  | 5.0 · Bar only | ~$277.99 |
| 03 | Best for an older TV |  | 2.0 · Bar only | ~$113.99 |
| 04 | Best for a Sonos home |  | 2.0 · Bar only | ~$219 |
Amazon prices seen October 26, 2026, not live quotes.
Our analysis
What $300 buys, and what $100 more does
Computed from our catalog and the soundbar finder at build time, so it moves when a price or score does. We don't test soundbars ourselves; findings from other outlets are credited on each bar's page. How we work
Every soundbar we cover up to $400, cheapest first
The two Samsungs are a clear step above the Roku and the Sonos. Both score 4 for dialogue, from RTINGS' 'great' and 'very good', against 2 for the Roku and Sonos. The B750F adds a sub, which is why it scores 4 for bass. The Sonos Ray scores the same as the Roku on all four fit scores and costs more, so its value score drops to 4.
The next two bars add what these four lack. The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 ($348 on October 26) pairs a sub with RTINGS' 'great' for dialogue. The Hisense AX5140Q ($399.99) is the cheapest bar here with rear speakers in the box, and it scores 4 for movies, where nothing under $300 gets past 2.
| Soundbar | Amazon price | In the box | Atmos | Movies | Dialogue | Music | Bass | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roku Streambar SEpick2.0 channels | $113.99 | Bar only | No | 1/5 | 2/5 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Sonos Raypick2.0 channels | $219 | Bar only | No | 1/5 | 2/5 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 4/5 |
| Samsung HW-S60Dpick5.0 channels | $277.99 | Bar only | Yes | 2/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| Samsung HW-B750Fpick5.1 channels | $297.99 | Bar and sub | No | 2/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 53.1 channels | $348 | Bar and sub | Yes | 2/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Hisense AX5140Q5.1.4 channels | $399.99 | Bar, sub, and rears | Yes | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
Prices: what each Amazon listing charged for a new unit on October 26, 2026, not live quotes. Channels: the maker's figure. Scores: our 1–5 fit scores, a reading of published testing credited on each bar's page; value comes from the written price bands on How we work.
Which bars under $300 fit your screen
The B750F is the one that doesn't fit everywhere. At 40.6 inches it's wider than the picture on a 42-inch screen, so on a small bedroom TV the S60D, at 26.3 inches, is the pick. The other three fit under every TV we cover.
| Soundbar | Width | 42" | 48" | 55" | 65" | 75" | 83" |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roku Streambar SEpick | 9.6 in | Fits | Fits | Fits | Fits | Fits | Fits |
| Sonos Raypick | 21.9 in | Fits | Fits | Fits | Fits | Fits | Fits |
| Samsung HW-S60Dpick | 26.3 in | Fits | Fits | Fits | Fits | Fits | Fits |
| Samsung HW-B750Fpick | 40.6 in | – | Fits | Fits | Fits | Fits | Fits |
The width rule: a bar fits when it's no wider than the screen's picture. A 16:9 picture is 0.872 × the diagonal wide (42" → 36.6 in, 48" → 41.8 in, 55" → 47.9 in, 65" → 56.7 in, 75" → 65.4 in, 83" → 72.3 in), and every TV is a little wider than its picture, so a bar that passes won't overhang the set. Widths are the makers' published bar widths.
What the soundbar finder picks for a 48-inch TV
Under $300 the finder ranks the same three bars for every use on a 48-inch or bigger TV: the B750F, then the S60D, then the Roku. On a 42-inch TV, where the B750F doesn't fit, it ranks the S60D, the Roku, and the Sonos Ray.
Raise the budget to $600 and the Hisense AX5140Q takes over for movies and all-round use, while the B750F keeps first place for dialogue, music, and bass.
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Bold names are this guide's picks. Budgets are judged by Amazon prices seen October 26, 2026; “over” marks a bar the finder shows over budget because too few fit.
Ranked
Our picks
- 01
Best under $300
Samsung HW-B750F
- 5.1
- ~$297.99
- Bar and sub
- 48" and up
- Samsung
- 40.6 in
The finder's first pick under $300 for every use on a 48-inch or bigger TV. It's the only bar under $300 with a subwoofer, and RTINGS rates it very good for dialogue and music, with 'a solid low-end punch'. The catches: no Dolby Atmos, HDMI ARC rather than eARC, Bluetooth 4.2 and no Wi-Fi. $297.99 from a marketplace seller on October 26.
Pros
- Pro: RTINGS: very good for dialogue and for music
- Pro: Wireless sub in the box with punchy bass
- Pro: Center channel and side-firing speakers
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: No Dolby Atmos
- Trade-off: HDMI ARC, not eARC; no Wi-Fi
- Value
- 5 out of 5
- Dialogue
- 4 out of 5
- Music
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published testing and specs, not our own measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the breakdown: Samsung HW-B750F - 02
Best for small TVs and streaming
Samsung HW-S60D
- 5.0 Atmos
- ~$277.99
- Bar only
- 42" and up
- Samsung
- 26.3 in
The finder's first pick under $300 for a 42-inch TV, where the B750F doesn't fit. RTINGS calls it great for dialogue, and it's the best-connected bar here: HDMI eARC, Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Chromecast, and Alexa. It decodes Dolby Atmos but has no up-firing drivers or sub, so RTINGS rates it okay for movies. $277.99 from Amazon.com.
Pros
- Pro: RTINGS: great for dialogue, good for music
- Pro: Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Alexa built in
- Pro: HDMI eARC and SpaceFit room calibration
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: No up-firing drivers; RTINGS rates it okay for movies
- Trade-off: Lacks low bass without the optional sub
- Value
- 5 out of 5
- Dialogue
- 4 out of 5
- Music
- 3 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published testing and specs, not our own measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the breakdown: Samsung HW-S60D - 03
Best for an older TV
Roku Streambar SE
- 2.0
- ~$113.99
- Bar only
- 42" and up
- Roku
- 9.6 in
A 4K HDR Roku streamer and a small speaker in one, for $113.99 from Amazon.com. It's the cheapest bar we cover and the most compact, at 9.6 inches. RTINGS calls it okay for dialogue and poor for movies, and it only plays PCM stereo. Buy it to give an older TV apps and clearer voices; on a Roku TV it sets itself up.
Pros
- Pro: Built-in 4K HDR Roku streaming player
- Pro: AirPlay, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi
- Pro: Tiny: fits under any TV we cover
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: PCM stereo only: no Dolby Digital, DTS, or Atmos
- Trade-off: RTINGS: poor for movies, compresses at max volume
- Value
- 5 out of 5
- Dialogue
- 2 out of 5
- Movies
- 1 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published testing and specs, not our own measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the breakdown: Roku Streambar SE - 04
Best for a Sonos home
Sonos Ray
- 2.0
- ~$219
- Bar only
- 42" and up
- None stated
- 21.9 in
It scores the same as the Roku and costs $105 more, but What Hi-Fi?, TechRadar, and Tom's Guide all gave it four stars for clear voices, and it joins a Sonos system over Wi-Fi with AirPlay 2. It connects by optical only, with no HDMI, and has no Atmos. $219 from Amazon.com.
Pros
- Pro: Clear voices: 4 of 5 from What Hi-Fi?, TechRadar, and Tom's Guide
- Pro: Wi-Fi streaming with AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect
- Pro: Small enough for any TV we cover
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: Optical only: no HDMI, so no one-cable CEC control
- Trade-off: No Dolby Atmos; RTINGS calls it disappointing for movies
- Value
- 4 out of 5
- Dialogue
- 2 out of 5
- Movies
- 1 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published testing and specs, not our own measurements.
Disclosure: “Check price” buttons are Amazon affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes the ranking.
How we chose
We took every bar we cover that Amazon sold new for $300 or less on October 26, 2026, ranked them with the soundbar finder at that budget, and checked width, since the B750F doesn't fit under a 42-inch TV. Movies, dialogue, and music scores follow RTINGS' published verdicts; bass comes from what's in the box and what the testing found.
We also show the two bars just over the line, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 and the Hisense AX5140Q, because $50 to $100 more buys a sub or a full surround system. Other outlets' findings (What Hi-Fi?, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, PCMag, Engadget) are credited on each bar's page. We don't test soundbars ourselves.
What you give up under $300
These four bars are a big step up from TV speakers, but each one cuts something:
- Surround: none has rear speakers, and none has up-firing drivers for Atmos height.
- Bass: only the B750F has a sub. RTINGS finds the other three short on low bass.
- Formats: the B750F, Ray, and Roku don't decode Dolby Atmos, and the Roku plays PCM stereo only.
- Connections: the B750F and Roku use HDMI ARC, not eARC, and the Ray has no HDMI at all.
When to spend a little more
If dialogue is the problem and you want a sub, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 was $348 at Amazon.com on October 26. RTINGS calls it great for dialogue, though it finds the bass boomy and the virtual Atmos unconvincing.
If you want surround, the Hisense AX5140Q was $399.99 that day: a 5.1.4 system with a sub and two up-firing rears, and RTINGS' best budget soundbar. Our best soundbars guide ranks it as the best value.
Check your TV's ports first
Plug a bar into the TV's HDMI eARC or ARC port when you can, so one remote runs the volume. The Sonos Ray is the exception: it needs the TV's optical output and learns your TV remote over infrared. If your TV is old enough to lack HDMI ARC, the Roku Streambar SE and the two Samsungs also take optical.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best soundbar under $300?
For most TVs, the Samsung HW-B750F: it was $297.99 on October 26, 2026, and it's the only bar under $300 we cover with a subwoofer. RTINGS rates it very good for dialogue and music. For a TV under 48 inches, where it doesn't fit, get the Samsung HW-S60D.
Can I get Dolby Atmos under $300?
Only decoded and simulated. The Samsung HW-S60D ($277.99) decodes Atmos but has no up-firing drivers, and RTINGS rates it okay for movies. For real height you need up-firing drivers: the Hisense AX5140Q has them, with a sub and rears, for $399.99.
Is the Sonos Ray worth it over the Roku Streambar SE?
If you have other Sonos speakers, yes: it joins the system and streams over AirPlay 2. Otherwise our scores have them level, RTINGS rates both weak for movies, and the Roku is $105 cheaper and adds a 4K streamer.
Do cheap soundbars work with any TV?
Yes, through HDMI ARC or optical. The Samsung bars list Q-Symphony, but only with Samsung TVs from 2020 to 2025 (the B750F) or 2020 to 2024 (the S60D), not 2026 sets.
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Disclosure: Our picks are independent and editorial — a synthesis of published testing and manufacturer specs, not our own lab measurements. Prices are Amazon prices seen October 26, 2026. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.