Speakers Under $400

Best budget home theater speakers

Although many audiophiles insist that skimping on speakers is a sure path to disappointment, the fact remains that some sub-$400 home theater speakers can deliver astoundingly good audio quality, especially if they will be used primarily for watching TV shows.

While most surround-sound systems use a powered subwoofer to deliver bass, the Fluance AVHTB+ (*Est. $200) instead relies on its large, full-range front-channel speakers to take care of the low end. The build quality of these speakers is much higher than their price suggests, reports say. The Fluance speakers feature solid-wood construction and are magnetically shielded so they can be placed close to a television.

The Fluance AVHTB+'s right and left front-channel speakers in particular are a far cry from what's normally seen in most budget home theater speaker systems, instead harking back to the days when speakers were expected to deliver high, mid and low frequencies in one cabinet. Each is 33 inches tall and weighs 27 pounds. The customary tweeters and midrange/high bass drivers are joined by 6.5-inch woofers and tuned bass ports in the front surrounds. The result is pleasing bass, though the low end does lack some punch on special-effects-heavy movies when compared to systems that include a powered subwoofer. If that's a concern, a subwoofer (*Est. $200) is available, but the system should be more than satisfactory for smaller spaces (CNET recommends 250 square feet or less) as-is, and reports say that sound is otherwise "shockingly good." Although Fluance recommends power inputs as low as 20 watts, CNET's Steve Guttenberg says that the AVHTB+ is inefficient, and that low-powered receivers/amplifiers are a poor match if you like to play your music or movies loud.

Like many high-end home theater speaker systems, the Fluance AVHTB+ can grow with you. In addition to a subwoofer, additional rear-channel satellite speakers are available (*Est. $100 each) if you want to expand the system for a six- or seven-channel setup. Some reviews predate a minor upgrade that added gold-plated binding posts and floor spikes (to isolate the speaker from the floor) to the original AVHTB+.

Fluance also offers a step-up system, the SXHTB+ (*Est. $300). Improvements over the AVHTB+ include higher-end speaker elements, an upgraded crossover network and stronger cabinet bracing. CNET gives these speakers a listen and rates them just a hair higher than its not-so-little brother. The configuration is the same, which means relatively huge -- by home-theater standards -- speakers and no subwoofer. Sound quality doesn't compare to high-end speaker systems costing many times more, but is more than competitive with those that are similarly priced. Best bass is heard with the speakers moved out from room walls and when the speakers are spread apart from each other, CNET reports. Because of that, Guttenberg says that the SXHTB+ isn't really a good candidate for small rooms.

For those looking for tons of bang for the buck, there are some good notices for the Onkyo SKS-HT540 (*Est. $295). That 7.1-channel system draws some great comments from owners and experts, with CNET's Guttenberg saying "The Onkyo SKS-HT540 is the best-sounding surround-sound speaker package you can get for less than $300."

Despite its rock-bottom price, the system receives terrific feedback for its sound quality and construction. One drawback is that the speakers aren't small, but the spacious cabinets are one reason why the satellites can deliver better sound quality than other budget systems -- especially those that use physically small speakers. On the other hand, though the black ash cabinets are attractive, they don't exactly disappear in a room. The 10-inch, 230-watt subwoofer is capable of providing deep and satisfying bass.

While some budget home-theater speakers can struggle with music, the Onkyo SKS-HT540 is a happy exception. CNET reports that all types of material -- ranging from acoustic jazz to driving rock -- sound great. Thanks to the gravitas of the big and beefy subwoofer, the system has enough kick to easily fill a biggish room with enough sound to keep a party hopping. The sub also does a great job with low-frequency effects that are what make action flicks what they are, and Guttenberg says that the "chest-thumping dynamics were a treat."

One caveat is that the Onkyo SKS-HT540 has been available for quite some time and no professional reviews compare the home-theater system to newer ones. However, you can find current user reviews at Amazon.com and elsewhere and those show that most buyers continue to be more than satisfied with performance and value.

We've also seen some good feedback for the Harman Kardon HKTS 15 (*Est. $385). It's the highest rated 5.1 home theater speaker system in one comparative professional review, and while user feedback is limited, all that we've seen is positive. Sound quality is good, and bass is satisfying, especially considering the price. Unlike the Onkyo system above, the 100-watt 10-inch subwoofer doesn't have enough oomph to shake the walls in a large space, but reports indicate that there's more than enough power to seriously disturb the neighbors for apartment dwellers. The HKTS 15, which is finished in black, is a 5.1 system but can be expanded by adding additional Harman Kardon HKS 6 speakers (*Est. $100 per pair).