Best Soundbar Under 300 | 2012
How to Choose A Soundbar?
Choosing a soundbar when you have no knowledge about speakers or even what a soundbar is can be mentally and emotionally challenging.
The good news is that it doesn't have to be difficult!
I will make this lens as easy as possible to understand to help you choose a soundbar.
Do You Have A Soundbar?
Why Should I Buy a Sound Bar?
The reasons are many...
For some, it gives a sense of pride to have a really cool looking gadget.
For the rest, it is a matter of reducing clutter but I'll tell you why you might need it in your home.
- Flat screen TVs whether or not they are 3D or LED or HD LED TVs simply don't produce good enough sound. I still say the most modern TVs focus on screen size, quality and screen clarity. You need a separate gadget to get richer and fuller sound into your lounge.
- For practical purposes, sound bar speaker systems are cheaper and less clutter than buying conventional 5.1 or 7.1 speaker systems. imagine having to setup up to 7 different components of your brand new hifi system compared to just setting up a soundbar speaker! I'm sure most of us will not have the time to do so.
I'm not saying that sound bar speakers can replace a full surround sound speaker system but they are definitely a good middle ground for those who want great sound but have not much of a budget to spend on expensive surround sound speaker systems.
How to Choose A Soundbar? Check out This Video
"Check out my Top Three Sound bar Speakers Under 300 bucks below...!"
Best Soundbar Under 300 #1 - Sony HT-CT150 3D
Of all the soundbar systems out there, this Sony HT-C150 3D system produces one of the best sounds albeit the surround sound effects isn't quite as there yet. You certainly won't get 5.1 surround sound with this system. You will need a more expensive system. The sub system is also not wireless.
The beauty of this Sony model is that the sound controls is very easy and setup is easy as well. I must warn you that you need to know a thing or two about jargons like HDMI, surround sound, LPCM, BluRay Audio Out, Audio DRC, Dolby Digital and Dolby Tru. Yes, they sound like a mouthful but each of them carries specific functions that can really alter the way sound comes out of this system.
Testing the soundbar with my Panasonic TV produces incredible sound that has strong bass and clear trebles. They also have enough power to fill up my entire medium sized room measuring 10 x 16 feet. I only turn the volume up to 25 and is already sufficiently loud and thumping for my taste. Vocals are very clear and crisp. I've tried opera music, broadway and even rock and they all come up surprisingly clear for all of them. The bottomline is if you want to watch movies, listen to music, connect to your iPod, the Sony HT-CT150 3D soundbar system truly rocks.
You will be impressed by how well it performs.
Unlike the VIZIO soundbar, the remote in this soundbar is effective at longer range and at more acute angles. If you have a Sony Bravia TV, this soundbar will easily connect to it like a lock and key
Best Soundbar Under 300 #2 - Yamaha YAS-101BL Speaker
Yamaha has a long reputation of making good quality audio equipment and this soundbar system from Yamaha is no exception.
On the outside, you will be impressed by the clean outline and features of this system. The dark piano black together with the glossy external appearance will immediately give you the impression that it must be a good speaker system!
The plus points of the Yamaha YAS-101BL speakers are that it is easy to install. It delivers very clear mid range tones and high trebles. The bass is powerful and deep and you have to listen to this speaker system to believe it. I did not believe that the bass was as good as the Sony soundbar speaker system above. I've tested a few movies including Lord of The Rings, Matrix and Mission Impossible and it sounds absolutely fantastic. Acoustic music and classical music is clear and crisp coming from this speaker set.
I also love that the remote "learns" how to manage yout TV remote control.
I must also comment that the 7.1 surround system delivered by this speaker is pretty impressive. At this price range of under $300, you certainly will be hard pressed to find a similar system that can deliver 7.1 surround sound quality.
Best SoundBar Under 300 #3 - VIZIO VSB200 Universal HD Speaker
The Vizio VSB200 Universal HD Speaker is one of the most commonly mentioned soundbars.
Although most people will know this particular soundbar model, it isn't the best out there below the price of $300 but it certainly meets expectations for most people looking for a decent sounding sound bar that ticks all the right boxes including sound quality, ease of setup, compatibility and ease of use.
If I were to be more picky, I would think that the bass isn't as powerful as the Yamaha and Sony soundbar speakers mentioned earlier. The mid range and higher notes are great sounding. The SRS feature is much better turned on permanently. I don't see the point of turning it off ever again
One annoyance that most other people will complain of is the IR receiver on the soundbar. An inherent design flaw makes the IR receiver receptive only at straight lines at not if you try directing it at an angle or at a distance
My final verdict for this speaker is this....
If you are looking for a much better speaker than those found on your flatscreen TVs, this soundbar system is for you but don't expect it to blow you away with incredibly rich sound and low bass like the earlier two models.