Budget Sound Bars

Good sound bars can be found for less than $600

Some sound bars tackle the problem of delivering low frequencies by including a separate subwoofer. Among these, we saw the best reviews for the Sony HT-CT100 (*Est. $250), which is also an excellent value. CNET's Steve Guttenberg is among those singing this system's praises, saying it's "a phenomenal value that sounds great with movies and music."

It's pretty clear that CNET is grading on a curve in its evaluation of the Sony HT-CT100, but even though value is a big selling point, the performance is good. Features are limited -- for example, there's no radio tuner or automatic speaker setup feature. While on-board decoders for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio are missing, unlike the Yamaha sound projectors discussed earlier, the Sony sound bar's three HDMI inputs are capable of processing multi-channel PCM for use with Blu-ray players that have their own decoders for those high-definition audio formats -- nice features if you want the most cinematic sound you can get from Blu-ray Discs.

All of the system connections are made through the subwoofer, which is tethered to the sound bar by a 10-foot connecting cable, which impacts the look of your sleek sound bar system if you don't hide the cables in your wall. However, the subwoofer lets the sound bar do a better job in delivering the low-frequency special effects that give many action flicks their jolt. In his review at TestFreaks.com, Kristofer Brozio says "you can feel explosions from movies and games, and things like gunshots are much more pronounced."

The subwoofer also houses an integrated amplifier that, while not overwhelmingly powerful, provides sufficient volume levels for most rooms. One negative is that while the surround-sound stage is decent, it can't stand up to the one generated by the more expensive Yamaha sound bars discussed earlier or any 5.1-speaker surround-sound system. However, as CNET points out, those systems also cost considerably more. Among its competitors in terms of price and configuration, "it easily trumps rival soundbar/subwoofer models," Guttenberg says.

As noted, one drawback with the HT-CT100 sound bar is the tether that ties the subwoofer to the sound bar. The Vizio VSB210WS (*Est. $270) eliminates that bother by using a wireless link. Reports say that while there are better-sounding sound bars, the Vizio VSB210WS is a solid performer.

The most complimentary review comes from Home Theater magazine, where Mark Fleischmann names it a Top Pick. However, this is clearly another case in which a reviewer is grading on a curve as he says that the VSB210WS sound bar "does a great job by budget-product standards." Flaws -- such as unconvincing surround effects -- are noted throughout, but sound is generally good for a product in this class, especially for movies.

CNET also tests the Vizio VSB210WS sound bar and reaches similar conclusions. It is called a "reasonably accomplished sound bar plus subwoofer combination, considering its affordable price tag." Not much in the way of surround sound is noted, but Steve Guttenberg says that the VSB210WS will deliver "noticeably fuller, more bass-rich sound than your average entry-level sound bar." Connectivity is very basic -- and there are no HDMI inputs -- but setup is very simple. Use is a mixed bag. Guttenberg appreciated the inclusion of a subwoofer volume control on the system's remote, but says the remote needs to be pointed directly at the subwoofer for it to work and that an LED display that graphically gives feedback on the sound bar's status and functions is difficult to decode. The wireless subwoofer is a major plus, but CNET says if that's not an absolute necessity, the Sony HT-CT100 offers better sound quality and connectivity.

Moving up in price, the Denon DHT-FS3 (*Est. $500) is a sound bar/subwoofer combo that draws some good reviews as well. It finished in second (behind the Polk SurroundBar 50, a more expensive passive sound bar profiled earlier) in Home Theater magazine's test of five sound bars. Some judges liked sound quality better than others in that review, but everyone agrees that when the entire package -- including price, features, easy setup and design -- is considered, the Denon DHT-FS3 sound bar "strikes a nice balance between all of the elements that the general consumer will appreciate." CNET also gives the Denon DHT-FS3 sound bar a fairly strong grade, though Steve Guttenberg and John P. Falcone have a slightly different take. They applaud the sound bar's "big, room-filling sound," but are disappointed by the lean feature lineup and connectivity given the price.

Like the Vizio VSB210WS, the Samsung HT-X810T (*Est. $500) sound bar uses a wireless link for its subwoofer connection. The HT-X810T sound bar also includes a built-in DVD player and Bluetooth connectivity for music phones and some MP3 players. The radio tuner is FM only, but that's not likely to be a deal killer for many. Sound quality is another matter. Critics say music sounds fine, but the system lacks "dynamic oomph" when played at high volumes, says CNET's Steve Guttenberg. (He adds that things sound better when levels are backed down.) Surround-sound performance is a disappointment; the DVD player is okay, but it doesn't do as good a job of upscaling DVDs as others. Considering these limitations, Guttenberg feels that the Samsung HT-X810T is best suited for smaller spaces and for those buyers who prize keeping clutter to a minimum above other considerations.