What can you expect from a soundbar under 300 Dollars?
In contrast to the soundbars below €200, you can expect a somewhat larger feature set. There is already one model with the 3D sound format Dolby AtmosDolby Atmos is a 3D sound format that adds sounds from above to surround sound systems and can also assign additional information to sounds so that they can be reproduced even more realistically. at this price. In addition, the soundbars get a bit smarter from this price level on, so that the Samsung S60A, for example, is already equipped with Amazons Alexa and Wi-Fi connection. Sound-wise, it is also a big leap from the cheaper soundbars, so you really get a better performance in this price range.
Best Soundbar under 300 Dollars: Samsung HW-S60A
- 200W Soundbar
- Virtual Surround Sound
- Adaptive Sound & Q-Symphony
- Center Speaker
- Slim design
- Wi-Fi & Bluetooth connectivity
- Integrated Alexa
- Apple Airplay2
- Lacks low-bass
- No Dolby Atmos/DTS:X
- No subwoofer
- Few ports
The Samsung HW-S60A has one advantage over the other soundbars in this price range, and that is Samsung’s Acoustic Beam technology. The side- & up-firingThese speakers are positioned diagonally upwards so that the reflection of the sound from the ceiling reaches the viewers from above. They are mainly used for 3D sound formats like Dolby Atmos or DTS:X. speakers create a better surround sound and thus a more immersive feeling when watching movies. It is supposed to be Samsung’s all-in-one solution for every household, with a quite good performance even when playing music and dialogue-heavy content like podcasts. If you do not like the sound profile, you can use the graphic equalizers and calibrate it according to your wishes.
However, a subwoofer would really do the quite compact soundbar good, which would massively improve the home theater experience in particular. It’s a good thing that the HW-S60A soundbar is very easy to expand. It can be expanded with a subwoofer and satellite speakers, so the setup can really impress with movies. But then, of course, the setup is much more expensive than $300.
Also exemplary are the smart features that have been given to the S60A. Wi-Fi ensures access to the Internet, and integrated Amazon Alexa lets you use streaming services without an additional smartphone. However, control via Samsung’s SmartThings app is also possible.
With external Subwoofer: Yamaha YAS-209
- Great stereo sound
- External Subwoofer
- Wi-Fi & Smart Features
- No Center Speaker
The Yamaha YAS-209 also comes with several smart features: It has both an Ethernet interface and Wi-Fi for network connection and can be controlled via app. In order to control the soundbar via voice, Amazon’s Alexa is also integrated, which supports streaming services like Spotify and Amazon Music.
The Yamaha model is a 2.1-channel system. Accordingly, the setup comes without a center speaker, but with an external subwoofer. Unfortunately, the YAS-209 does not support 3D sound in the form of Dolby AtmosDolby Atmos is a 3D sound format that adds sounds from above to surround sound systems and can also assign additional information to sounds so that they can be reproduced even more realistically. or DTS:XJust like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X is also a 3D sound format, with which the surround sound is expanded by height speakers. In addition, it is also an object-based sound format, whereby additional information is assigned to sounds, making them sound even more realistic. due to the lack of up-firingThese speakers are positioned diagonally upwards so that the reflection of the sound from the ceiling reaches the viewers from above. They are mainly used for 3D sound formats like Dolby Atmos or DTS:X. and side-firingThese speakers emit the sound to the side. This creates a wider soundscape and a certain surround sound. speakers. However, it reproduces great stereo sound thanks to its very balanced sound profile.
With Center Speaker: Samsung HW-A550
- 410W total power
- External Subwoofer
- No Internet Connectivity
- No Voice & App Control
The Samsung HW-A550 performs similarly well like the S60A in terms of sound quality reproduction. However, the HW-A550 comes with an external subwoofer, which the S60A misses. Thus, the setup has an impressive total power of 410 watts and can create a more balanced sound.
Despite supporting DTS Virtual:XVirtual 3D sound that can be reproduced by setups without height or down-firing speakers. Psychoacoustic algorithms are used to create surround, height and overhead effects., the surround sound is not particularly convincing. But at least the sound can be adjusted with the graphic equalizer and all sorts of other features. The soundbar also features Adaptive Sound Lite, which automatically adapts the sound to the contents you are viewing. This results in clear voices and dialogs, even though the A550 can not offer a separate center speaker.
Neither via Ethernet, nor Wi-Fi a connection to the Internet is available, so music streaming from your smartphone can only be done via the Bluetooth interface. Voice control is also not integrated for the same reason.
Soundbars under 300 Dollars in comparison
 Samsung HW-S60A |  Yamaha YAS-209 |  Samsung HW-A550 | |
| Channels | 5 (5.2 virtual) | 2.1 | 2.1 (3.1.2 virtual) |
| Dolby Atmos | |||
| DTS | |||
| HDMI 2.1 | |||
| eARC | |||
| WLAN | |||
| Room size | up to 25 m2 | up to 25 m2 | up to 40 m2 |
| Subwoofer | External | External | |
| Satellites | |||
| Dimensions Height x Width x Depth HxWxD | 68 x 764 x 125 mm | 62 x 924 x 102 mm | 55 x 860 x 85 mm |
Frequently asked questions about Soundbars under 300 Dollars
How much does a decent soundbar cost?
For a decent soundbar, which comes with some features and enough ports, you should look in the mid-price segment. This is between 400 and 600 dollars.
What is a 3.1 soundbar?
A 3.1 soundbar features three main speakers which are located on the right, left and in the center. The center channel is responsible for the reproduction of voices and ensures that you can understand dialogs clearly and distinctly.
