Best Soundbars Under £100 in the UK

The Sony HT-SF150 soundbar raises the bar, both figuratively and semi-literally speaking. Though not much more expensive than most mid-range 'bars, this model's good enough to compete with the best in the business. From where we're standing, the tech here is what sells this product but we'll start somewhere else. You can debate until the cows come home but first impressions last, therefore appearance matters more than we sometimes care to admit.

With its slim and elegant profile, the model's making an excellent first impression, featuring soft edges and polished accents to make this device an excellent addition to most interiors, from modern to contemporary. Plus, the touch buttons are sleek and subtle, disappearing into the soundbar's housing to make the casing even more elegant and polished.

Sure, measuring 90 x 6.4 x 8.8 centimetres, with that "90" measurement referring to the model's length, this device is quite long, so you'll have to make sure there's enough space before the TV (though you can always mount this thing onto walls too). Also, the optical cable that comes with the package is pretty short, which means you'll have to take that into account too when placing the model but not too much since most people do not use optical cables these days anyway. What most people use nowadays are HDMI, Bluetooth, and USB and the device's not shipped without those.

Though the preceding product is difficult to compete with, the Panasonic SC-HTB208EBK is brilliant in its own right. To start with, the device measures 45 x 5.1 x 13.5 centimetres, with these numbers representing length, height, and depth respectively. Sure, featuring 13.5 centimetres depth-wise, the model's pretty fat yet still thin enough to fit underneath most small TVs, especially thanks to the reduced length. Considering only name brands, this device is easily among the most compact units we've looked at.

The product looks pretty stylish yet discreet, stylish enough to compliment most décors yet discreet enough to make sure the unit does not stand out, disappearing into its surroundings when necessary. The buttons have been moved to the right side, making the model's housing smooth and polished, featuring clean lines and uninterrupted forms.

With the reduced size, you'd expect the people behind this device to somewhat sacrifice the sound output but, on the contrary, this is where the product's not trailing behind its more sizable and more expensive competition at all. The sacrifice here is that you cannot attach this compact soundbar onto walls, which's unfortunate but, let's be honest, most customers do not secure soundbars onto walls anyway.

Besides that, the Bluetooth 2.1 module is somewhat outdated yet good enough to let you connect the device to most smartphones and, using the Panasonic Music Streaming app (available on iOS and Android), control the 'bar from a distance without even using the supplied remote. The remote is pretty good too though, comfortable and ergonomic yet also compact.

The Sharp HT-SB140(MT) looks sharp, we'll begin there. Yes, measuring 95 centimetres length-wise, this device might stretch the entire entertainment centre. At the same time, capping at only 6.3 centimetres where both height and depth are concerned, the model's slim and low profile can fit underneath most screens without obscuring the picture, making the device barely noticeable when looking at the TV. Tabletop placement aside, this elongated unit can be mounted onto walls too, not something that most people will be entertaining but it is always nice to have the option available to you nonetheless. What's also nice is that the mounting hardware comes with the package so that you can install the device without purchasing anything separately.

Going back to that "sharp" statement we've made before, we're primarily referring to the model's smooth and polished top, though the company's subtle yet noticeable iconic logo in the middle and discreet buttons above the logo also add to this sharp aesthetic.

Sure, even considering the 6.3-centimetre height and depth, some people might find the device's 95-centimetre length unnecessary. But the length also hides and enables its 150-watt amp, which's pretty huge since drawing and outputting this much energy, the unit is able to fill the largest spaces (as long as 50 square metres) with the loudest, most audible presence.

Majority is not the biggest name in the audio business, which is why the company's Bowfell model is affordable yet much more impressive from most perspectives than the budget soundbars we're all used to. The device sounds pretty great considering the price tag, we can give you that much. Before that though, the model's strength lies with the most space-saving, compact, low-profile design. Measuring only 38.8 x 5.4 x 7.2 centimetres, this device is tiny, even compared to most TV soundbars that market themselves as compact audio solutions. You can fit this small unit underneath most TVs, beneath most screens' frames, and between most displays' stands. Even the smallest entertainment centres will have no issues housing this device.

The controls have been moved to the side too, something we've seen many times before, except that with most soundbars, that makes the buttons not as easily accessible as you'd want them. But here, thanks to the model's miniature stature, you can always access these buttons with comfort and matching ease. Not that you'd have to do that often though because the remote that's shipped with the device is even more comfortable, not too large but with ample space between the keys to minimise misclicking and to let you manage the soundbar's settings without even looking at the buttons.

The Bomaker Tapio is quite different, from its sleek metallic body to certain construction elements contributing towards improving the sound output.

First things first, the device measures 41 x 6.6 x 9.5 centimetres, much more compact compared to most soundbars, especially from the length standpoint. Add to the model's size its 1.5-kilogramme weight and the device doubles as this great Bluetooth speaker that you can bring with you anywhere you go. In fact, this is how you ought to look at this product first and foremost because, with its 30-watt output, the model's not that great compared to standard soundbars yet much more robust and dynamic compared to average BT speakers.

Because the unit has been designed with mobility aspirations, there are certain things here that you do not normally find inside and outside ordinary soundbars. First, you have the mesh fabric covering the two passive radiators and full-range speakers, improving the soundbar's transience and rumble and increasing sound permeability, making sure that the sound coming from the speakers is the same sound that you're hearing metres from the device. Second, there's the model's sleek metallic housing that we've mentioned before, adding style points and making the device look smooth and polished, unlike most budget soundbars that look boring and uninspired.

We cannot get behind the remote though because there are too many buttons and these buttons do not feature enough separation, so people with large fingers will have to press them with nails to avoid misclicking.