Soundbars are among hundreds of music systems that entertain us. A soundbar is physically long and slender. There is a quote that goes by; ‘music is medicine. When you listen to music, you feel refreshed, and your mind begins thinking constructively. Soundbars can play music from flash disks, memory cards, cloud (using smartphone/tablet), from smartphones (via audio cable, Bluetooth, and WiFi) and also from a television channel. The best soundbar under 500 has various connectivity methods to allow diversity.

Soundbars are worthy of having in your house since they give you high fidelity sounds from your television and are also great when watching movies. Furthermore, some can connect to smartphones to receive a call so that you can communicate with your caller. The good thing is that the soundbars come at different prices so that you can purchase according to your financial capability. Different brands may have different prices for a soundbar of the same features simply because some may be long-lasting as compared to others.

Most soundbars have two speakers. However, some soundbars have multiple speakers that send sound waves in various directions of the house, thus giving you a surround sound experience. Even home theater systems with wireless speakers produce surround sounds since you can position the wireless speakers in different parts of the house. It creates a theater-like situation in your room. Such music systems are usually expensive but are worth buying due to the quality of sound and ease of operation.

What can a soundbar do?

A soundbar can do various things related to sound. They include the following.

• Can improve the clarity of sound
• Can create a surround sound scenario to reach different corners of a room
• Some can help you to receive calls
• Improves bass of a TV

What are the factors to consider before purchasing a soundbar?

There are various things you need to consider before getting a soundbar. They include the following.

i) Budget

How much money do you intend to spend on a soundbar? You should plan in a way that you will not be financially inconvenienced. Buy within your limits. You may decide to hold a little bit until you get enough money for your favorite speaker system. Remember that a cheap soundbar may fail you. The best surround sound system under $200 may produce quality sounds but may lack some essential features such as voice commands, WiFi, and so on.

ii) Brand

See that you gather enough information to get the best brand from the market. Some brands such as Sony and LG are known to last longer. The good thing is that you can get the best soundbars under $300 from reputable companies and receive the best service ever.

iii) Connectivities

You must know what kind of connections you want. If you want a soundbar for your TV, you must see the audio output of your TV and see whether you need a soundbar with HDMI, audio jack, Bluetooth, or WiFi.

iv) Size

Soundbars come in different sizes. You will find a very long soundbar as well as a short one. Soundbars for TV should match the size of the TV. A 26″ TV will need a soundbar of equally the same match as its horizontal distance.

v) Number of speakers

Soundbars can differ in the number of speakers. If you want a surround sound scenario, you can get a soundbar with three or more speakers. You can easily get the best soundbar under $200 with three or more speakers in the modern-day market.

Which are the eight best soundbars under $500?

The eight best soundbars under $500 include the following.

1. Bose Surround Speakers 700, Black

The speaker is a wireless cinematic soundbar that will give you the best sound quality ever. They are compatible with various soundbars such as Bose soundbar 700, Bose soundbar 500, and sound touch 300 soundbars to help you create a system of soundbars in your house.

The elegantly designed speaker comes with two Omni jewel satellite speakers, two unique for Omni jewel Maxwell wireless receivers, two wireless receivers, two AC2 adapters, two power cords, and two-pin speaker cables.

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2. Sonos Beam – Smart TV Sound Bar with Amazon Alexa Built-in – Black

The soundbar works with Alexa. Just use voice commands to operate the speaker instead of pressing here and there. It has a compact design and is suitable for TV. Furthermore, you can play music, movies, podcasts, radio, audio-books, and video games. The device is easy to control using your voice, remote, or the Sonos app.

The speaker is easy to set up as you just plug it to the power source and play. It has automatic remote detection. The speaker will give you a quality sound that will leave you thoroughly entertained.

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3. Harman Kardon HKTS 16BQ 5.1 Channel Home Theater Speaker Package (Black)

The system is a complete 5.1 channel home sound system to give surround sound. It has five speakers which you can position in different parts of your room. Furthermore, the system has a powerful 200W subwoofer to provide you with heavy bass.

The sound system has a bass-boost control as well as phase switches for the subwoofer. It is upgradable to 7.1 channels to add more surround sound experience. Interestingly, the system is wireless.

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4. JBL Bar 3.1 – Channel 4K Ultra HD Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer

The sound system comes with a wireless subwoofer. You will be able to enjoy music full of heavy bass upon getting this system. Furthermore, it produces surround sound since it is a 3.1 channel sound system. If you want to make your movie experience live, then get the system, and you will never regret it.

Again, the music system supports Bluetooth music streaming. Use your smartphone or tablet and play music wirelessly. It also has true 4K connectivity with 3 HDMI in/1 HDMI out (ARC) to connect with your TV.

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5. Yamaha Audio YAS-209BL Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer, Bluetooth, and Alexa Voice Control Built-In

Use the Alexa built-in voice control to operate the system. You will not need press buttons here and there. Alexa will help in playing music, listening to the news, setting alarms and timers, asking questions, and controlling smart home devices.

Again, you can connect to your TV using the HDMI cable or the Optical cable. The subwoofer automatically connects when powered. You will also be able to play music and podcasts through Spotify Connect, WiFi, and Bluetooth. Get the sound system and enjoy a virtual surround sound.

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6. Klipsch Reference RSB-6 Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer

If you need an elegant sound system with quality sound output, the Klipsch Reference RSB-6 Sound Bar will work right for you. It has a 4K Ultra-HD video pass-through for maximum enjoyment of your favorite movies. The system is easy to set up and begin enjoying music.

The subwoofer will give you a bass that will leave you amazed. It connects automatically to the soundbar when the two are powered. It lacks clear warranty details, but you can request for one when purchasing.

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7. Sony HTX8500 2.1ch Dolby Atmos/DTS:X Soundbar with Built-in subwoofer

If you are a fan of Sony sound systems, then you got this one. It has a dual built-in subwoofer for bass. The sound system has seven different sound modes to make your entertainment more enjoyable. It has an elegant slim design to complement your TV.

The system has a 4K HDR pass-through to ensure a high-quality video experience. It also has one HDMI eARC cable for TV connections. Furthermore, the device easily integrates with your existing AV system since it has optical inputs. It has a remote control.

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8. Sony HTCT550W 3D Sound Bar Home Theater System with Wireless Subwoofer (Discontinued by Manufacturer), Black

One thing I like about this system is the unique assembling of the components. The bar is a 2.1 ch 400W6 simulated surround sound system that is suitable for a 40″ and above HDTV. It has a subwoofer that connects wirelessly for enhanced bass. Furthermore, it has three HDMI inputs and a single-cable AV connection.

The soundbar also has an HDMI Repeater with 3D passthrough for enhanced picture quality. Hurry up and get one from the available stock since the manufacturer discontinued its manufacturing.

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Bottom line

Soundbars are efficient sound systems that are of great help when it comes to playing music. Your TV might have speakers, but connecting it to a soundbar will give you clear and quality sound output. Also, you should consider various factors such as budget, brand, connectivity, size, and several speakers before buying a soundbar. A soundbar with multiple connectivities will serve you better. Soundbars with a subwoofer produce the wealthiest sound output ever.