A soundbar has quite a few advantages. The sound of the television improves enormously without having to install a receiver with space-consuming speakers. Moreover, thanks to all kinds of (wireless) connections, you can connect many more devices. In this test we discuss six affordable soundbars of up to 450 euros, which all sound very decent.
Since the introduction of flat television, the demand for sound bars has exploded. Understandable, because due to the lack of a sound box, the sound quality of today's picture tubes is not very good. To make matters worse, the speakers are often also located at the bottom of the screen. The result is a tinny and shrill TV sound, with the dull voices sometimes difficult to understand. A soundbar solves this problem. You place this low elongated speaker in front of or under the television. This usually contains several audio drivers, so that a frontal and clear TV sound is created. Due to the narrow design, it is difficult to squeeze enough bass from a soundbar due to laws of physics. For that reason, manufacturers often supply a wireless subwoofer.
Price-friendly solution
Every renowned audio brand has various soundbars in its range. The choice is huge and there is quite a price difference. Dirt-cheap models start at a few tens, while there are also plenty of products with an asking price of well over a thousand euros. In addition to saving space, the relatively low cost is an important consideration for many film buffs. After all, purchasing a soundbar is cheaper than a receiver with separate speakers. In this test we do not go for the cheapest models, while we also ignore expensive products. With a soundbar of between 350 and 450 euros you do your ears a great service, without immediately paying the main price. We therefore requested six widely available soundbars in this price range.
Test justification
We subject every soundbar to an extensive inspection, in which we examine, among other things, the build quality, available connections and functionality. We then look at the operating options and ease of use. We assess the sound quality by releasing various TV programs, Netflix movies and music streams onto the soundbar. We let each speaker play for a while, so that we can give a clear judgment.
The (non) sense of surround sound
Whether it's a Netflix stream, DVD or Blu-ray, when you play movies, you soon have to deal with surround sound. Grab any product box from a soundbar and you will see terms such as dts virtual:x, dts digital surround, dts master audio, dolby atmos and dolby digital 5.1. Although it is nice if a soundbar can decode common film protocols such as dts and dolby digital, but you should not be blinded by this specification. Many soundbar manufacturers promise a realistic surround experience, but in practice very little is achieved. For example, by pointing the audio drivers slightly to the side or upwards, special effects may sound slightly more spacious, but realistic surround sound really requires separate speakers. For that reason, we pay little attention to the alleged surround functions of soundbars in this test. We prefer a balanced 'center speaker' with sufficient dynamics and detail, so that the sound of films and music reaches the sitting position as faithfully as possible. Incidentally, some soundbars can be expanded with physical surround speakers, such as the Samsung HW-MS650, Sonos Beam and Sony HT-MT500 discussed here.
Extended functionality
The main function of a soundbar is, of course, to upgrade the TV sound. This is done via an optical connection or HDMI arc output. The latter connection is preferred, so that the images from a connected TV receiver, Blu-ray player or game console reach the television. At the same time, the television sends the audio back to the soundbar, after which the audio drivers process the sound track. The condition is that both the soundbar and television support arc (audio return channel). Fortunately, this is the case with all six models discussed.
For connecting external audiovisual sources, it is important that the soundbar has sufficient inputs, such as hdmi, s/pdif (optical) and analog (3.5 mm). If you also want to use the soundbar as a music system, then Bluetooth, WiFi and/or Ethernet are useful features. For example, you can stream playlists directly from Spotify via these channels, whether or not using a smartphone or tablet.
multi-room
Soundbars with network support can be combined with other audio systems and active speakers in a multi-room audio network. Via a mobile app you determine which music you play in which room(s). In this test, the Sonos Beam in particular has extensive multi-room audio options, although the Samsung HW-MS650 and Sony HT-MT500 also understand this trick.
JBL Bar 3.1
For an affordable soundbar, the Bar 3.1 from JBL has a rather impressive appearance. The length of the main unit is just over a meter, while the huge product box also houses a hefty wireless subwoofer. So reserve enough space on the floor for this bass speaker. The height of the soundbar is not too bad at just six centimeters, so that you can easily position it in front of the smart TV. JBL also supplies wall mounting.
The housing is solid, with the grille with rear display at the front continuing to the top. There are four push buttons on top, but you can also control the Bar 3.1 with the simple remote control. The back contains two notches with an HDMI arc output and no fewer than three HDMI inputs. In addition, we also see an analog and optical input, and you can connect a storage carrier with music files to the USB port. Ethernet and Wi-Fi are missing, so don't expect network functionality.
The six woofers and three tweeters of the soundbar, together with the subwoofer, create a crystal clear and above all room-filling sound, because the Bar 3.1 plays the loudest of all soundbars in this field. The subwoofer does its job properly. For example, busy action scenes from films still echo nicely, although you can just as easily turn the low reproduction back a notch with the remote control. Music purists who seek refuge in a soundbar may miss some subtlety in the Bar 3.1. Yet this speaker handles Spotify streams (via Bluetooth) and local audio files with ease, with all layers coming out well and with sufficient dynamics.
JBL Bar 3.1
Price€ 444,-
Website
www.jbl.nl 9 Score 90
- Pros
- Powerful bass
- Three HDMI inputs
- Great audio balance
- Negatives
- Takes up a lot of space
- No network functionality
- Missing some subtlety
Samsung HW-MS650
With a length of more than one meter, the HW-MS650 is the longest soundbar that we saw for this test. Samsung makes good use of the space by integrating no fewer than six woofers and three tweeters in a reasonably deep sound box. Although it is a middle class car, the South Korean manufacturer paid a lot of attention to the design. The top and rear have a brushed finish, while the front contains a sturdy grille over the full width. The side has four push buttons for operation, although you can of course also use the mobile app or the supplied remote control.
The HW-MS650 includes two digital inputs (HDMI and optical) and an analog input to link audiovisual sources. The separate power output is striking. It has been developed for an optionally available bracket system (WMN300SB) with which you can mount a Samsung TV and soundbar at the same time. Due to the existing power output, this only requires a single adapter cord.
This soundbar realizes a remarkably wide sound field, so that the device lends itself well to spacious seating areas. Despite the lack of a subwoofer, the six woofers still produce a reasonable bass response, but a separate bass speaker is always preferred. In addition, at a higher volume level, there is quickly an imbalance during audio passages with many tracks. With the curved remote control you can easily switch between different sources, although it took a while before we understood the volume and bass control. You can push this button up and down.
Samsung HW-MS650
Price€ 420,-
Website
www.samsung.com 8 Score 80
- Pros
- Excellent finish
- Wide sound field
- Negatives
- Requires a lot of space
- Relatively high housing
- No external subwoofer
Sonos Beam
In terms of design, there is no soundbar in this test that can match the Sonos Beam. The oval-shaped housing of plastic looks very chic, with the top slightly buried. It contains some touch keys and status lights. The understated Sonos logo shows off on the duster, while the back only contains an Ethernet and HDMI port. If your television doesn't have an HDMI arc input, you can use the supplied optical S/PDIF adapter for this. Connecting other sources to the Beam is unfortunately not possible. As a renowned multi-room audio brand, Sonos assumes that users mainly stream movies and music. This can be done via a connected smart TV and connected mobile devices.
There's no remote control, so you can't avoid using the Sonos Controller app. With this you can easily arrange the installation and get firmware updates, after which you can combine this soundbar with other Sonos equipment within a multi-room audio network. Five separate Class D amplifiers drive four woofers and a tweeter. Voices do sound crystal clear and the detailing is okay, but we do miss some bass power that is so crucial for an impressive film experience. It is not without reason that Sonos also sells the Beam in combination with a subwoofer (total price 1,248 euros).
The extensive app offers access to numerous music services, with the Beam providing the songs with enough dynamics. The support for voice control is striking, although it does not yet work in the Netherlands and Belgium. Those interested can choose from a white and matte black housing. The Beam is rather short by soundbar terms with a length of less than seventy centimeters, so it combines well with smaller televisions.
Sonos Beam
Price€ 449,-
Website
www.sonos.com 8 Score 80
- Pros
- Chic look
- Very comprehensive app
- User friendly
- Dynamic sound
- Negatives
- Connect TV only
- Little low for movies
- Optional subwoofer is pricey
Sony HT-MT500
The HT-MT500 is very complete. An external subwoofer, USB, Bluetooth, NFC, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, multi-room support, built-in Chromecast ... this Sony scion has it all. A point of criticism is the absence of an HDMI input, although you can also connect external sound sources via an analog and optical input. A missed opportunity is that the connections are not incorporated in a notch, so that you cannot mount the soundbar on a wall.
With a length of exactly half a meter, the design looks rather minimalistic, with only room for two full-range audio drivers. In the middle, behind the magnetically detachable grille, is a dimmable display. You can read the active source and the volume level on this. The finish is neatly cared for. For example, the soft cover of artificial leather on the top is particularly striking. Here you will find six control buttons, but you can also use the supplied remote control or mobile app.
The wireless subwoofer is easy to position, because you can place it both vertically and horizontally. It is nice that the HT-MT500 shows a menu on television. With this you can search for music servers in the home network, retrieve firmware updates and add the optionally available surround speakers. Despite the absence of a tweeter, the HT-MT500 still sounds reasonable for film purposes. As expected, the soundbar does drop a few stitches in the high area, but that is not so noticeable when watching movies. Although the bass offers sufficient depth for bombastic scenes thanks to the subwoofer, musical passages lack something extra. Unfortunately, at a high volume, the HT-MT500 quickly starts to distort.
Sony HT-MT500
Price€ 450,-
Website
www.sony.nl 7 Score 70
- Pros
- Neat finish
- Compact Subwoofer
- Many possibilities
- User-friendly on-screen menu
- Negatives
- No HDMI input
- No wall mount
- Mediocre musical performance
Teufel Cinebar One+
The proportions are hard to find with the Cinebar One+. Where the wireless subwoofer is quite large, the accompanying soundbar measures only 35 × 6.8 × 11.3 centimeters. In order to create a wide sound field despite the modest size, Teufel positioned two full-range drivers on the sides. The front also contains two full-range drivers, so the audio system does not have a tweeter for a separate reproduction of the highs. A display is also missing. You can see which source is active via the color of the LED light.
In addition to the now common HDMI arc output, we also see an optical and analog input. Unfortunately, extra HDMI inputs are absent, although the Cinebar One+ does have other interesting features. For example, the available Bluetooth adapter supports the aptx profile, so that you can play music in higher quality from suitable mobile devices. In addition, a USB sound card is built in, so you can connect this soundbar directly to a PC or laptop. Incidentally, this requires a separate adapter cable, which Teufel unfortunately does not supply.
Remarkably enough, the plastic housing does not contain any control buttons, so you are always dependent on the remote control. With this product, the German audio brand focuses on film buffs and gamers who use a small space. The Cinebar One+ is excellent for this. At a normal volume level, the audio balance is perfectly fine, where you can increase the bass to your liking to experience films more intensely. The musical performances are not disappointing either, because the songs sound tight and are full of dynamics. In short, a great performance!
Teufel Cinebar One+
Price€ 349,99
Website
www.teufelaudio.nl 8 Score 80
- Pros
- Original design
- Bluetooth aptx support
- Integrated USB sound card
- Surprisingly a lot of musicality
- Negatives
- No HDMI input
- No control buttons
- No network functionality
Yamaha YAS-207
If you are looking for an affordable soundbar with a decent low reproduction, you have come to the right place at Yamaha. The YAS-207 includes a wireless subwoofer of almost 44 centimeters high. The design has been well thought out, because the slim MDF housing of this bass speaker fits perfectly under a sofa or chair. The soundbar itself is 93 centimeters long, which means that this device matches well with medium-sized televisions. The plastic housing has a sober finish, with the front containing five touch keys and no fewer than nine (dimmable) status lights. We prefer a simple display, because all those lights look rather messy. Moreover, the information is hardly readable from a distance.
Depending on which sources are connected, you can switch between HDMI, TV, analog and Bluetooth with the simple remote control. Behind the duster are four woofers and two tweeters. For a soundbar in this price range, the sound quality is remarkably good, because all layers are well represented. Vocals, guitars and other high tones sparkle, while the subwoofer provides sufficient depth in the bass reproduction. You can easily regulate the bass level with the remote control. It also switches between stereo and surround modes. With the latter setting, film effects sound slightly more spacious. Although the YAS-207 does not offer network support, you can also operate this soundbar with a mobile app via Bluetooth.
Yamaha YAS-207
Price€ 379,-
Website
www.yamaha.com 9 Score 90
- Pros
- Easy in use
- Great sound quality
- Slim Subwoofer
- Friendly priced
- Negatives
- Messy status lights
- No network support
Conclusion
The JBL Bar 3.1 may not be the most sensitive soundbar, but for playing movies with a bit of spice, it's the best choice. The powerful subwoofer gives bombastic passages just that little bit extra, making you sit on the edge of your seat. This audio system also turns you very loud. If you want a soundbar with a little more musicality, you can consider the messy Yamaha YAS-207. Compared to the JBL Bar 3.1, the bass tones are less intense, but the external subwoofer still delivers a well-maintained bass reproduction. In addition, the mids and highs clearly speak for themselves, so songs sound lively and sparkling. The Teufel Cinebar One+ gets our Editor's Tip, it is the cheapest and performs really well for its price.
The Sonos Beam and Samsung HW-MS650 are excellent audio systems for music purposes due to network and multiroom support, but unfortunately we lack a deep bass reproduction for movies. These products therefore do not include an external subwoofer, although it is available separately for the Sonos Beam at a substantial additional cost.
