4 Cheaper Soundbars You Should Try Instead of a Sonos

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We’re not going to sit here and deny that Sonos makes amazing soundbars. Performance and versatility are extremely important to the company, with popular products like the Sonos Arc Ultra and Sonos Beam (Gen 2) delivering one heck of an audio experience. Whether you’re watching a movie or listening to a podcast, you can count on a Sonos soundbar to deliver exceptional sound quality. Unfortunately, most Sonos products also come with premium prices, and soundbars are no exception.

While Sonos isn’t the only soundbar manufacturer on the scene, the company makes some of the most feature-rich systems. Once connected to the internet, Sonos equipment can be controlled and customized using the Sonos app. The software even lets you stream music and podcasts directly from supported platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, as well as remotely from an external device using Apple AirPlay. Don’t want to pick up your phone to adjust a setting or change a song? No problem, because most Sonos hardware also supports voice commands.

A Sonos soundbar leaves some big shoes to fill, but there are a handful of cheaper audio systems that check many of the same boxes as products like the $499 Sonos Beam (Gen 2). We’ve found four options worth discussing, so let’s start by taking a look at a cool JBL soundbar combo.

JBL may be best known for its Bluetooth speakers and headphones, but the company’s home theater technology also makes a serious impact. The $450 JBL Bar 300MK2 delivers up to 450 watts of power, making it perfect for small and medium-sized listening spaces. Although it doesn’t include a wireless subwoofer, the bar’s two bass ports do a good job of bringing the low end to your favorite movies, shows, and music genres.

For what it’s worth, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) doesn’t come with a penny either, and it’s $50 more than the JBL 300MK2 when neither is on sale. And like the Beam, the JBL system can be connected to Wi-Fi (via the JBL One app) to access platforms like Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, and Roon, as well as streaming audio via AirPlay 2 and Google Cast. It also supports Bluetooth if you don’t feel like using the internet – another step ahead of the Beam (Gen 2).

The 300MK2 doesn’t pack any top-firing speakers, but its front channels and side drivers do a decent job emulating Dolby Atmos and DTS:X setups. JBL isn’t one to disappoint when it comes to audio deliverables, so replacing Sonos with the JBL Bar 300MK2 gives us a boost.

It would be strange if an article about Sonos alternatives didn’t feature a Bose product. The audio mainstay has been delivering decibels for decades, and products like the $550 Bose Smart Soundbar 600 are proof that the brand still has it. Although the sticker price is about $50 higher than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2), according to Amazon’s price history tool, the Bose 600 has spent more time priced at $399 than the $550 over the past year.

So let’s take a look at the soundbar itself. First of all, there’s no acoustic calibration to speak of on this model, but Bose’s TrueSpace technology still optimizes the soundstage. This really isn’t a big detractor, especially considering that the Bose 600 has a dedicated center speaker and two top-firing speakers.

It’s designed to convince you that this can be a surround sound setup, and we’re pretty convinced. So did our friends at TechRadar, who praised the Bose 600’s Dolby Atmos capabilities, but also reminded us that the Bose bar doesn’t support DTS (many soundbars don’t). The publication claims that “this is a budget soundbar to be reckoned with,” and we agree, especially if you like to stream music. The Bose 600 natively supports Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, Google Cast, and Alexa, in addition to Bluetooth connectivity if you want to bypass Wi-Fi.

The Bose Music app may not be as robust as the Sonos software, but the latter requires your speakers and soundbars to always be online. Plus, the former still gives you plenty of ways to customize your Bose audio, and you can even pair it with another Bose speaker or the Bose Ultra Open Headphones.

Samsung’s soundbar lineup is constantly evolving, and if you’re looking for a way to improve your TV’s sound that won’t cost you $500 or more, you should consider the $400 Samsung HW-S60D. This is a 5.0 system that does a great job when it comes to dialogue and vocals, thanks in part to its dedicated center speaker. Another reason we wanted to feature this Samsung model is its SpaceFit Sound technology, which calibrates the soundbar to best match the acoustics of your room.

We’d probably say that the Samsung S60D is actually more customizable than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). There are several audio settings you can play with to fine-tune the system, and there’s even a seven-band EQ to create your own sound profile. Available connections include HDMI eARC and digital optical, but you’ll also be able to connect the S60D to Wi-Fi, giving you access to AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, and built-in Alexa features.

The S60D also supports Bluetooth, putting it ahead of the Beam (Gen 2) when it comes to wireless support. While the bar’s Dolby Atmos delivery isn’t all that convincing, it’s hard to say no to a system that costs at least $100 less and delivers a pretty convincing soundstage, even without side speakers or a wireless subwoofer.

Yamaha doesn’t mess around when it comes to soundbars, and the Yamaha True X Bar 40A is proof that you don’t always need a subwoofer. Although it launched with an MSRP of $500, the X Bar 40A’s asking price hasn’t eclipsed $400 over the past year, according to Amazon’s price history feature. The bar actually has two woofers built into the chassis, and you can add the Yamaha NS-SW100BL subwoofer ($250) for even more bass. The X Bar 40A also contains two upward-firing speakers for height effects when watching movies and Dolby Atmos shows.

The Yamaha Bar offers four audio presets, including a Clear Voice mode for enhanced dialogue. Once connected to Wi-Fi, you’ll be able to stream music via AirPlay 2, as well as Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect. The Yamaha companion app isn’t exactly intuitive, however, so we were relieved to learn that all of the app’s controls are also on the soundbar’s remote.

The most direct Sonos comparison is the $500 Sonos Beam (Gen 2), which doesn’t support Bluetooth (but the X Bar 40A does!). The X Bar 40A comes with everything you need in the box to get your new bar up and running in just minutes. While it’s not the cheapest Sonos competitor on the market, it may be a nice option for someone who doesn’t want to spend the extra $100 for the latest Beam while giving up Bluetooth connectivity.

When selecting our Sonos replacements, we stuck to notable brands like JBL and Bose, and tried to match as many features as possible with comparable Sonos technology. We used the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) as a pricing tool, as it is the Sonos soundbar that appeals the most to the general public. Since the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) costs $499, we only included soundbars that either had a lower MSRP or spent the majority of the past year being sold at a lower actual price.

Where possible, we relied on both practical professional reviews and user feedback to help guide our selections. Finally, we haven’t selected any soundbars that aren’t readily available, even if stock is temporarily low on sites like Amazon.